This distinction gets blurred constantly in advertising, so it is worth stating plainly. Approved testosterone products are indicated for hypogonadism resulting from an associated medical condition affecting the testes, pituitary or hypothalamus. Getting older, by itself, is not that condition.
That does not make every older man ineligible for care. Men do develop genuine, documented testosterone deficiency as they age, and it can be diagnosed the same way it is diagnosed at any age: symptoms plus consistently low confirmed levels, with a look at why.
What it does mean is that a low-ish number on a man who feels fine, or a symptom list attributed to age without testing, is not a reason to start therapy. Where treatment falls outside approved indications, you deserve to be told that clearly.
Risks and limitations
- Evidence for benefit in age-related decline alone is limited and inconsistent.
- Prescribing outside labeled indications should be explicit, documented and discussed.
- Coverage and cost are often affected by the indication.
- Some symptoms attributed to aging have other, treatable causes.