Testosterone for Life: Recharge Your Vitality, Sex Drive, Muscle Mass, and Overall Health [Paperback]

Abraham Morgentaler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2008

"Dr. Morgentaler, an internationally recognized expert in sexual medicine and male hormones, shares his secrets for a healthy life."
--Irwin Goldstein, M.D., Director of Sexual Medicine, Alvarado Hospital, San Diego, and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Sexual Medicine

"A highly valuable resource. Finally debunks many of the myths about testosterone's safety, which has been an impediment to its appropriate usage for far too long."
--David E. Greenberg, M.D., President, Canadian Society for the Study of the Aging Male

From a Harvard doctor and a leading expert on testosterone--the groundbreaking book that shows you how to raise your testosterone levels--and live your life to the fullest

Better sex. Increased vitality. More muscle. Improved health. Greater mental agility. These are just a few of the life-enhancing benefits that men with low levels of testosterone can experience when they increase their testosterone level. If you've noticed a decrease in your sex drive; experienced erectile dysfunction; or felt tired, depressed, and unmotivated, this authoritative, up-to-date guide from an expert at Harvard Medical School will help you determine if you have low testosterone--a surprisingly common but frequently undiagnosed condition among middle-aged men. Learn how to:

• Recognize the symptoms of low testosterone
• Diagnose the problem with simple tests
• Find the treatment that's right for you
• Explore options your doctor might not know about
• Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Abraham Morgentaler, M.D., is an Associate Clinical Professor of Urology at Harvard Medical School, and is the founder of Men’s Health Boston, a center focusing on sexual and reproductive health for men. He is the author of a number of popular books including The Male Body and The Viagra Myth.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (October 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071494804
• ISBN-13: 978-0071494809
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Health
  • #46 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Men's Health > General
  • #57 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Reference

More About the Author

Abraham Morgentaler, MD, is a medical maverick, pioneer, and one of the leading world authorities on men's health. Dr. Morgentaler is an Associate Clinical Professor of Urology at Harvard Medical School, and is Director and Founder of Men's Health Boston (www.menshealthboston.com), the first center in the US focused on the special medical needs of men. Dr. Morgentaler's research and clinical work have been acclaimed by the academic, mainstream medical world as well as the non-traditional fields of integrative, functional, anti-aging, and wellness medicine. Yet Dr. Morgentaler's passion has been to write for the reading public on the hot topics of the day that relate to men, sex, and relationships, based on his unique and remarkable clinical experiences.

Dr. Morgentaler's academic work has appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, The Lancet, and Cancer. Best-selling author Suzanne Somers has suggested Dr. Morgentaler receive the Nobel Prize for his work reversing the decades-old erroneous belief that testosterone caused prostate cancer. And noted futurist Ray Kurzweil has written, "No one knows more about men, sex, and relationships than Dr. Morgentaler."

Dr. Morgentaler's latest book is WHY MEN FAKE IT: THE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED TRUTH ABOUT MEN AND SEX. His previous books are TESTOSTERONE FOR LIFE, THE VIAGRA MYTH, and THE MALE BODY.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 115 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful - But omits key areas completely January 22, 2010

By M. Philip Levy

Format:Paperback

Testosterone for Life is indeed useful as other reviewers have pointed out, but the author simply omits key areas such as testosterone - estrogen balance and how that effects testosterone treatment strategies. Shippen in his book, The Testosterone Solution, describes how a man's estrogen levels can effect his free testosterone levels and how some types of testosterone delivery systems can cause more conversion of testosterone to estrogen than others. More estrogen is not what you want.

If you check out Shippen's book or just do searches on the internet you will see how much discussion there is of the testosterone - estrogen balance and conversion issue. Does Morgentaler disagree with Shippen? Does he think estrogen does not matter? If so, why not say so and explain his position? That would be useful to me. As it is, there is a conversation in books, in articles, in blogs and in men's health forums indicating this is an important area to consider when deciding on testosterone strategies. The author simply ignores this conversation giving no input, acting as if it did not exist. This failure to discuss all the issues does not serve the reader well and it was a disappointment to me.

78 of 81 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Plain Spoken Review on Testosterone Therapy February 12, 2009

By M. Hampton

Format:Paperback

I think "Testosterone for Life" is the best book on this subject for laypeople seeking diagnosis and treatment. Clearly written and plain spoken, it's easy to overlook the fact that Dr. Morgenthaler is in fact a clinical professor involved in research as well as a practicing Urologist.

"Testosterone For Life" will give you succinct treatment advice and guidance that will help you get on the most optimal path of hormome therapy if you suffer from testosterone deficiency. If you only read one book on this subject - this is the one.

I've suffered from testosterone deficiency for four years, and have been through a variety of Physicians and treatments. Through trial and error, I was underdiagnosed and undertreated for the first two years of treatment. My current Physician's treatment plans and ongoing test assessments completely coincides with Dr. Morgenthaler recommendations. I feel pretty good now.

It took me two years to figure out how to understand my lab assessments, treatment plan options and how to discuss them with my Physician. You can figure it out in one day if you get this book!

What's important about this book for those seeking treatment, is the chapter on the measurement and assessment of testosterone levels. To summarize, many Physicians measure, diagnose and treat testosterone deficiency on the sole basis of one's "Total Testosterone" level. In practice, the measure of "Freely Available Testosterone" is also important in establishing an effective treatment plan and level of medication. This chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

The rest of the book is excellent as well. As mentioned by other reviewers, the chapters discussing hormone therapy and prostate cancer are thoughtful and present hormone therapy in a new light.... Very interesting reading.

A past reference work for me was "The Testosterone Syndrome" by Eugene Shippen, MD. While still a fine book on this subject, it has not been updated in many years. Read more ›

48 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A better perspective on testosterone. November 30, 2008

By Doubting Thomas

Format:Paperback

Dr. Morgentaler will ease any fears you have about supplementing with testosterone under a doctor's care. He explodes the myth that testosterone causes prostate cancer and suggests that it might actually be low testosterone that causes prostate cancer. There are a few people who should not supplement with testosterone but then I'd have to recreate the entire book to tell you who they are. Rather than having me recreate the entire book I'd suggest you read it yourself. It's an easy read (not too technical for the layman)and very informative.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Great Book January 18, 2009

By Petewen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a prostate cancer survivor, I have read more than my share of books, medical journals, research reports, etc. but this book was the most enlightening. The author did an excellent job explaining everything in terms that we laymen can understand. This is the most up to date information on what has been a very misunderstood, and much maligned treatment option that could benefit a lot of men.

It is indeed gratifying to find that there are still some physicians out there that have the courage to tell others that the "emperor has no clothes" so to speak. Especially when what he has to say is the opposite of what all too many urologists have been led to believe.

Many men have symptoms of low testosterone, but are seldom if ever properly diagnosed, much less treated for it. If you suspect you may be one of them, this book will tell you all you need to know about this topic.

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Men and Women Over 50, even over 40 January 24, 2009

By Kathryn Esplin VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Not just for men. Though low testosterone directly affects men more often than it affects women - and this book is directed primarily at men who suffer or who think they may suffer from low testosterone - the women in men's lives also benefit from reading this book.

Young men (men under 40, especially men 30 and under), rarely have problems with low testosterone.

However, by the time a man reaches 40, some men will have low total testosterone or low bioavailable testosterone.

Between 40 and 49, nearly 10 percent of men will have low total testosterone or low bioavailable testosterone.

Between age 50 and 59, nearly 30 percent of men low total testosterone or low bioavailable testosterone.

Between ages 60 to 69, that percentage increases to more than 40 percent.

The percentage increases even more over the age of 70.

Low testosterone (Low T) can lead to both physical and sexual effects. Low T can contribute to prostate difficulties, increased risk of prostate cancer, Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which is a risk factor for heart disease, heart attacks and stroke); the weakening of bone and muscle mass in men, increased adipose (fat) tissue in men.

Men who are significantly overweight and who have fatty 'male breasts' often suffer from a lack of testosterone, as the increased weight caused some of their testosterone to the hormone estradiol, which causes an increase in breast size.

Men with Low T often have less interest in sex, even if they love their partner, and find their partner attractive. The author cites one patient whom his friends said was lucky because he had such an attractive wife, yet this patient did not want to do anything sexual with her, or with anyone....

Men with Low T are also likely to have difficulty with getting or maintaining an erection, which treatment with Viagra does not seem to cure. Men with Low T are likely to have difficulty reaching orgasm, sometimes known in the medical profession as 'retarded ejaculation.'

In Boston, we would call that "retahded ejaculation."

This, of course, is a huge issue with men - and with the women or woman in a man's life.

Medical conditions or medications can also contribute to sexual difficulties, most notably overweight, diabetes or taking the anti-depressants that are SSRIs - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - which includes many common anti-depressants.

The upside of this is that diagnosis and treatment for Low T is easily available, and it can restore confidence, happiness, and health for a man's life, and their partner.

Males have testosterone from the time they are in the womb, as testosterone imprints itself upon the brain of a male fetus, which accounts for the failed experiments of the 1970s when parents would refuse to give guns to young boys, thinking that the absence of guns would make a boy less likely to behave wild or boyish. Parents were often amazed that boys would pick up sticks or branches and then use them as guns or swords.

Men over the age of 40 who think they might have Low T should talk with their physician, because diagnosis is easily confirmed with some simple blood tests. Treatment is not difficult, either.

Worst is when a person ruminates over possibilities but does not take action.

Of course, not every sexual or marital difficulty is due to Low T or ED. Relationship difficulties can contribute, but if a man has no sexual interest - or low sexual interest in his partner - and little or no sexual interest, generally, Low T could be the cause, according to Morgentaler.

Men who have been successfully treated for Low T reported back to Morgentaler that they could not believe how often they now thought of sex and how much improved their life was, and that the men's wives 'complained that they were chasing after them like a teenager.'

Morgentaler distinguishes between the 'desire for sex' and the 'hunger for sex,' noting that one patient said that he wished to have sex with his wife, whom he very much loved - but that he did not have 'this primal hunger for sex', and clenched his fist.

Early on, it was believed that low desire was primarily a neurological function, and doctors would sometimes pinch the penis to determine the level of sensation in the penis. Doctors often discovered, as Morgentaler did, that their patients jumped across the room, howling in pain.

The chapters include:

Chapter 1: Recognizing the Symptoms

Chapter 2: Testosterone and Your Health: Understanding Testosterone
Chapter 3: Could You Have Low Testosterone?

Chapter 4: What You Should Know About Being Evaluated for Low Testosterone

Chapter 5: Benefits of Testosterone Therapy

Chapter 6: Treatments for Low Testosterone Levels

Chapter 7: Testosterone and Prostate Cancer

Chapter 8: Risks, Side Effects, and Medical Monitoring

Chapter 9: Treating Men Who Have a History of Prostate Cancer

Chapter 10: The Future of Testosterone

A must read. Read more ›