Customer Reviews

The Testosterone Syndrome: The Critical Factor for Energy, Health, and Sexuality--Reversing the Male Menopause

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book based on the glowing reviews I read here and in hopes of recapturing some of the zest and zing of my youth.

Hormones have been getting a lot of interest in the last couple decades and with good reason: hormones regulate every metabolic process in our bodies. Which means, they ultimately control everything that takes place in our bodies from growing -- to growing old. It was an eye opener to find how many processes testosterone is involved in. We usually think of testosterone as a male hormone that builds muscle and drives the sex urge. But, apparently testosterone is involved in many other processes, from maintaining the heart and bones to combating cancer and arthritis. And, it is just as important for women as it is for men.

Not only is testosterone covered in this book but also, to some extent, estrogen, human growth hormone, and several other hormones. We are enlightened that it is not a single hormone that regulates our body but several hormones that work in synergy that maintains our health and well being.

For anyone who wants to know the roll that testosterone plays in his or her life, I highly recommend this book. It is a wealth of information and well worth the read but does not give much useful or practical information that the layman can use. In fact, it states right in the book, that: "What you'll need, if you plan to get back some of your youth and hold onto every scrap of your health, is a physician who believes in the value of hormone testing and treatment and who is willing to work with you to determine your present physical status." So, where the book may arm you with information, putting that information to practical use is another story. Not everyone has the resources to bounce from doctor to doctor until they find the right one. And then, how do they know for sure?

The book does suggest four things you can do to help yourself: exercise, diet, nutritional supplementation, and hormone replacement. The first three you can find in many books and articles on health. The third one requires getting a doctor who is knowledgeable enough to properly diagnose your condition and carry out the correct treatment. Which may not be an easy task.

So, in summary, I give the book 5 stars for information, 3 starts for practical use, and 1 star for self-help.

As a physician specializing in male hormonal replacement, I have read many books on the subject. I find "The Testosterone Syndrome" to be the definitive book on the restoration of healthy levels of testosterone and estrogen. Dr.Shippen has written a book not only grounded in scientific facts but one that is enjoyable to read. Low testosterone is something every man will face in his life time. This is the book to tell you what to expect and what to do about it. I recommend it to all my male patients who are beginning to notice signs of aging.

Discussion (even among physicians...perhaps especially among physicians) of testosterone replacement in men seems to be flavored with more misinformation and emotion than with real data. The reclassification of testosterone about 15 years ago as a controlled substance (meaning it's monitored by the DEA as closely as is morphine or dilaudid) really heightened the hysteria. The tone and content of this book offers a good balance of real data about the risks of testosterone and the potential benefits.

Dr. Shippen also covers several strategies about how testosterone might be administered. This is where the real art of testosterone therapy comes to play and where this book also shines. I frequently see (in my practice of medicine) men who saw no previous benefit from testosterone but who then see tremendous benefit when the interaction of estrogen and thyroid and growth hormone are figured into the equation.

Unfortunately, in medicine, it usually takes about 10 to 20 years to prove a new therapy effective and safe and another 10 to 20 years for new therapies to become common practice. We're presently in this cusp with hormone replacement therapy with both men and women with many changes taking place over the past 10 years. The person (man or woman) who wishes for the best health would do well to educate themselves from more than one source.

--Charles Runels, MD
Author of "Anytime...for as Long as You Want: Strength, Genius, Libido, and Erection by Integrative Sex Transmutation" A 15-Day Course for Men to Improve Sex and Life

For those of us who have hit the bottom with Andropause / Male Menopause this book brings a bit of hope. If your over 40 and are crabby, moody, tired, fat and loosing your sex drive RUN to the nearest computer and order this book. Then if you feel you might have the symptoms of low testosterone phone your MD and ask to be tested. The book has a few imprefections due to it being 7 years old. For example - The standard guidelines for treatment have been changed a bit and while the good doctor does not rate injections highly due to the monthly injections of huge amounts of replacement Testosterone - modern pactice is weekly with less intense amounts which I believe he would approve of. The basics he talks about, and in particular estrogen issues are critical. For these can cripple a simple approach to treatment and are invaluable in making a guys life good (or great!) again. My only wish is that he write a new version reflecting some of these changes in the last 5 years. Otherwise I give it my highest rating.

I have never read any medical book--let me amend that--any book that set off so many alarms and bells simultaneously in my mind. This book has a great deal to say about aging, healthy heart function, mental acuity, and testosterone and other hormonal replacement benefits for both men and women. There is much fascinating information about testosterone and estrogen function in both men and women. He documents his arguments extremely well with case histories--particularly the relationship between lowered testosterone levels and heart disease, physical aches and pains, the ageing process in general, immune function, prostatitis and female bladder problems. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Go out and buy it today! (...)

This book helped save my marriage. I was suffering from low sex drive, poor performance and general malaise and irritability. A doctor suggested I have my thyroid level tested, but it was normal range. Viagra only gave me massive headaches. Then an article I saw suggested this book. It is very readable and informative, but most of all balanced: It does not advocate testosterone treatment as a cure-all for everyone or everything. I had my blood retested, and discovered that I had a severe case of testosterone deficiency. I began the treatments advocated by Dr. Shippen. It took trying several different methods of application (because my level was so abnormal), but within about 8 months, my testosterone levels were normal. Thank you Dr. Shippen.

Tiredness, lack of motivation, blaming work, stress, not enough time out disappears out the window after you read this book. A simple workable solution to the problems of the aging man and woman. A wonderful solution to the decline of one's sex life as well!

This book opened my eyes to the many symptoms that plague me as an aging male. Most people think of testosterone as solely a sex hormone, but this book reveals all the other things that testosterone does to keep you living long and well. I take THOR-Plex regulary and watch my diet (with testosterone in mind), and exercise...much of which I learned in this and other books from Amazon. Get the book, you'll undoubtedly learn quite a bit from it. If you're over 40, I hope you're going to read this book or something like it - soon!

I bought this after my own diagnosis with low Testosterone. The informations is invaluable and has provided a spring board for further research. It was a relief to learn I wasn't crazy or burned out at 41. The TRT has worked wonders, 18 pounds gone just like that. Read it if you suspect you or your man have a Testosterone problem. IT may not be in your head, it may be hormonal.

Additionally, after having both Androderm and Androgel give me a rash, the dietary and supplement advice has been invaluable in keeping me from completely crashing while my Doc searches for an alternative treatment.

Knew this book was really good, but didn't realize how good until I read the garbage titled "The Testosterone Solution" (see my review of same). Complete garbage that is too basic, not sufficiently comprehensive, avoids discussion of the FULL problems with "male menopause", and always, always takes the FDA / AMA / Drug Industry "official line". It is simply a shame that more endocrinologists follow the approach outlined in "The Testosterone Solution" rather than the comprehnsive treatment spelled out by Dr. Shippen in this book! I would love to find an endocrinologist in the Cleveland, Ohio area who followed Dr. Shippen's testing and treatment protocol!