Millions of American men are on a drug to help with fertility, not knowing they may be \u201ccompromising\u201d the very thing they\u2019re trying to protect.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what Dr. Justin Dubin, MD<\/a>, a urologist and director of men\u2019s sexual health at Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute, tells The Post.<\/p>\n As many as 11 million men are on testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, in the US. After all, it\u2019s easier than ever: Online sellers<\/a> offer scripts without seeing a doctor in person at all.<\/p>\n Testosterone takers range from younger folks looking to get more sculpted muscles, to older men looking to boost bone health and focus, while combating fatigue.<\/p>\n Dubin says men looking to have kids should avoid testosterone. Drobot Dean \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n But sexual health is one of the biggest reasons: Getting extra testosterone will help improve those with low T improve their sex drive, sex performance, and treat erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n As men age, testosterone naturally declines<\/a>. For those who have trouble making enough naturally, TRT is a common prescription. <\/p>\n Dubin says certain men should avoid it, even if you can get it.<\/p>\n \u201cTaking testosterone kills your sperm and causes infertility in men,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you are a man interested in future family\u202fplanning,\u202fI do not recommend taking testosterone.\u201d<\/p>\n Testosterone doesn\u2019t literally kill sperm, but it does cause sperm production to drop dramatically. In fact, it was even considered as a contraceptive<\/a>.<\/p>\n Because the body detects enough testosterone, it stops making more. Without testosterone signals, sperm production stops. In three to six months<\/a>, many men totally stop producing any sperm.<\/p>\n Usually, it takes months, up to two years, for sperm production to return after patients get off TRT. But the return of sperm not guaranteed<\/a>. Some people on TRT may stop making sperm permanently.<\/p>\n Disappearing sperm just one of many issues<\/p>\n TRT can also shrink your balls.<\/p>\n On TRT, all the tubes that are no longer being used as often to release hormones \u201cshut down and shrink,\u201d said Dr. Alexander Pastuszak<\/a>, a urologist and the CEO of Paterna Biosciences. Testicles may noticeably wither \u201cwithin a few months of consistent use.\u201d<\/p>\n High levels of testosterone can cause acne. ivanaculafic \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n As long as testosterone stays in a normal range, Dubin says, taking TRT is safe. That requires frequent monitoring from your doctor to make sure things aren\u2019t going awry.<\/p>\n There have historically been concerns that TRT increases risk of heart attacks and prostate cancer. Recently, the Trump administration rolled back restrictions<\/a> on TRT citing research that TRT didn\u2019t increase risk of heart events.<\/p>\n As for prostate cancer, TRT doesn\u2019t cause it. But the drug can cause existing tumors to grow. It\u2019s possible that patients might not know about their cancer, and end up making it much worse by going on TRT. That\u2019s another reason why the drug needs to be taken with cancer screening and doctor supervision.<\/p>\n