AndroGel - Hair Loss?
September 3, 2015 12:11 PM   Subscribe

Im a 40yo Male and I just had some blood work done and although my Testosterone levels are withing the normal range, they are on the low side said my doctor. He prescribed androgel. Ive read all over the interwebs about a possibility of hair loss. Well this makes me very scared to take it. I have no signs of male pattern baldness and im quite attached to having hair as opposed to being bald. Can anyone chime in with personal experience/advice/etc....? Im on the fence here and would like some feedback. Thx!
posted by flipmiester99 to Health & Fitness (16 answers total)
 
Hi! I'm not sure about hair loss but many people don't know that testosterone replacement completely kills your body's ability to create sperm. I understand that clomid can be used as an off label alternative that helps your body make its own testosterone again. Good luck!
posted by pairofshades at 12:34 PM on September 3, 2015 [2 favorites]


my Testosterone levels are withing the normal range

I wouldn’t take a hormone to move a number from normal to more normal.
If you don’t have a strong specific medical complaint why take a drug with a great deal of side effects?
posted by French Fry at 12:34 PM on September 3, 2015 [6 favorites]


What is the testosterone boost fixing that is potentially worth your hair?

Selling testosterone to men who do not need it by playing on fears of emasculation is a huge market right now. Keep that in mind.
posted by griphus at 12:40 PM on September 3, 2015 [7 favorites]


It might be worth your while to read this article.
posted by zeusianfog at 12:41 PM on September 3, 2015 [3 favorites]


And this one.
posted by griphus at 12:45 PM on September 3, 2015 [3 favorites]


this thread is drifting way off course, but if that's ok, then maybe i can suggest hitting the gym instead? i'm nearly 50 and about 6 months ago now, i started going to the gym at a sports clinic (not a place full of weights, but somewhere with physios and trainers, with exercises mainly using body weight, or "rubber bands", or small weights, or machines), and i've noticed a general feeling of more energy, more comfortable, etc. i've also lost a little weight.

i had never been to a gym before, and i still wouldn't know what to do in most, but this place worked well for me and would maybe address whatever it was that had you seeing the doctor (also, i am not the oldest, or fattest, there, which helps).

(i guess any exercise would do, but i've got a dodgy knee right now, which rules out a lot of things - a gym in a clinic can work round things like that).

on the other hand, i also have shaved hair (not smooth head shaved, but to a few mm of fuzz, where it still grows). it looks pretty good. being "bald" is not a problem if you embrace it.

[and seconding what everyone else is saying. i just came back from the docs, and one of the things we looked at was a blood test. several times she said "well, you're slightly out of range there, but you've got no other symptoms, so we don't care". so it sounds very odd to me to be taking action for something that is within range.]
posted by andrewcooke at 12:58 PM on September 3, 2015


I'm in my late 40s, and I've been taking AndroGel 1.62% for a few months now with no adverse effects. My testosterone levels were such that the benefits far outweigh any risks. I went bald in my 20s, so I can't speak for the hair loss effects. I will say that correcting an endocrine problem is more important than vanity.

I would suggest that you find out your testosterone levels, both free and total, and find out what your doctor considers a normal range, then make a determination as to whether you want use it. Further, if your testosterone levels are such that your doctor is prescribing AndroGel, hitting the gym isn't going to raise your testosterone.
posted by Rob Rockets at 1:18 PM on September 3, 2015 [1 favorite]


You might want to get a second opinion on the whole thing. My testosterone levels are under the normal range, but my doctor said that if I felt like I had enough energy to get through the day (yep!) and didn't have complaints about my sex drive (nope!) that he would recommend I just continue on as normal, since testosterone treatments significantly raises your risk of cardiovascular problems. I'm rocking along just fine.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:58 PM on September 3, 2015 [1 favorite]


Testosterone alone doesn't make you lose hair. It's based on genetics. Is/was your mom's father bald? In his 40s? That is what is most likely to happen to you.

(Note: I have just started Androgel, but I am a trans man so I'm taking it for very different reasons. Also note: it's expensive. I certainly wouldn't do this without a very compelling reason.)
posted by desjardins at 5:35 PM on September 3, 2015


Get a second opinion. That stuff can be really dangerous.
posted by persona au gratin at 1:31 AM on September 4, 2015


The way you've presented things makes it sound very much like your doctor has been sucked in by a drug rep. (Androgel has been on the market for maybe 15 years (the 1% just went generic and that was after some shenanigans adding on a few years). It's only been in the last three or four years that 'low T' has suddenly become a problem for middle-aged cis men courtesy of the marketing department. The target demographic was always cis men, but not those whose testosterone production is declining naturally due to age, afaik.)

What prompted them to test your T levels in the first place? Was it 'routine' or were you experiencing symptoms? The normal range for total testosterone is quite large. It's conceivable (in my non-medical, transmasculine) opinion that being at the bottom of the normal range doesn't work for your body, prompting the blood test. I'd be skeptical if your doctor ordered the blood test just due to your age.

All that said, T isn't going to magically make your hair fall out. However, if you're disposed towards hair loss somewhere down the line, increasing your testosterone levels could accelerate that.

Like desjardins said, Androgel's stupidly expensive (as are all other the other topical testosterone medications). Your first step is to figure out if insurance will pay for it and whether they'll pay if your blood work is normal. Basically, your only option for paying out of pocket is to do injections.
posted by hoyland at 4:23 AM on September 4, 2015


Response by poster: What prompted the blood test was:
#1 Yearly Physical
# 2 I stated that my libido was lower and I just didnt have as much energy as I used to.

That being said. To answer the other questions my Testosterone was 277. I was told the normal range was between 241 - 827 for my age. I have already checked and insurance will cover it. One other thing, once started do i have to contiue this for life? If / When I were to get off, would my level go back to 277?

Thanks for all the replies!
posted by flipmiester99 at 9:01 AM on September 4, 2015


I stated that my libido was lower and I just didnt have as much energy as I used to.

If you're within the normal range, there are so many things you can try for both of these issues that aren't going to mess with your endocrine system and have little to no side effects: dietary changes, viatmin supplements, more/different exercise, sunlight exposure, etc. Did your doctor suggest anything else before going right to the testosterone because that is really, really shady.
posted by griphus at 9:05 AM on September 4, 2015 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: I have been exercising for the past three two and half months. Mostly cardio with pushups and kettle bell. So I just had my test this week. I have lost 18 pounds so far. He suggested doing some exercise everyday and changing my diet, which i have also done for the past two months. He prescribed due to it being low and my concern for libido. My hopes would to be take it for six months or so then get off of it.
posted by flipmiester99 at 9:16 AM on September 4, 2015


I am surprised by all the advice you are receiving to disregard your doctor's advice and prescription. If this is truly a question in your mind, have a second consultation with your doctor or consult with a new doctor to receive a second opinion. You always have a right to a second professional opinion.

To the meat of your question, I have MPB but shaved my head years ago. I would not go back to having hair even if a djinn were to grant me locks grander than those of John Stamos. You may value your hair more, of course, but it is a great look for me.

Lastly, lift heavy iron to increase your testosterone and growth hormone production. Deadlift, squat, bench press, military press.
posted by Tanizaki at 12:47 PM on September 4, 2015


One other thing, once started do i have to contiue this for life? If / When I were to get off, would my level go back to 277?

You have to assume the answer's yes. I'm not sure where you can find reliable information. The traditional users of testosterone (trans guys and cis guys with something causing hypogonadism) aren't going to suddenly start producing more T (which means my reflex was to say "of course you'll revert to your baseline"). You're basically left with the marketing blather and you'll note that they aren't talking about kickstarting your T production. That or sketch body-building forums.
posted by hoyland at 4:13 PM on September 4, 2015


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