HRT for men ‘can improve sex lives of the elderly’

MALE hormone therapy can restore the sex drive of elderly men and cure erection problems, a study found.

Older men with a low libido and depleted testosterone levels can be treated with a male form of HRT therapy to get them sexually active again, say researchers. Men given the hormone became more interested in sex and no erectile problems.

Testosterone is a key male hormone involved in maintaining sex drive, erectile function and sperm production but levels drop as men age.

In a year-long study in the US involving 470 men aged 65, the subjects either had testosterone gel applied to the skin or a placebo.

The participants answered questionnaires about sexual function at the outset and every three months during the study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The men all had symptoms of testosterone deficiency but those who received the hormone therapy showed consistent improvement in libido and in 10 of the 12 sexual activity measurements, including frequency of intercourse. Those given a placebo saw no improvement in their sex life.

Dr Glenn Cunningham, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said: ‘Our findings indicate low testosterone is one cause contributing to reduced libido and erectile dysfunction in older men.

‘Men experiencing these symptoms should be evaluated for testosterone deficiency. For older men with low levels, testosterone therapy led to consistent improvement in most types of sexual activity.’

The use of hormone therapy has rapidly expanded among men in the US, having quad- rupled since 2000. However, in the UK there remains some scepticism of his effectiveness.

If a man approaches his GP with concerns over his libido he is likely to be asked about his work and personal life to see if the symptoms may be caused by a mental health issue, such as stress or anxiety.

The GP may order a blood test to measure testosterone levels and a low result could mean a referral to an endocrinologist, who specialises in hormone problems. The specialist may offer testosterone replacement to correct the deficiency, which can be administered through either tablets, patches, gels, implants or injections.