THE SPECIALIST: DR. RONALD TAMLER ON MEN’S HEALTH AND LOW TESTOSTERONE
The director of the Men’s Health Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Tamler is an endocrinologist who specializes in treating men with low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis and diabetes.
WHO’S AT RISK
Low testosterone is a problem for about 15 million American men, most of whom remain undiagnosed and untreated. “Testosterone is the main male hormone,” says Tamler. “It’s what makes guys guys and drives sexual desire, but it also has other health functions, like protecting against osteoporosis and preserving lean body mass. And low testosterone is highly predictive of future heart disease and diabetes.”
Testosterone levels go down naturally as men age. Men over the age of 45 are considered at especially high risk of having low testosterone — also called hypogonadism — if they are obese or have sleep apnea, heart disease or diabetes. These conditions can cause low testosterone, or they can be caused by low testosterone. “It’s a chicken-or-the-egg thing,” says Tamler.
Other risk factors include chronic kidney or liver disease, HIV, certain medications and excessive alcohol intake. “Men who experience trouble with fertility should be tested, as should men who get a fracture, especially an unexplained one,” says Tamler. “Hypogonadism is a big risk factor for osteoporosis in men.”