Men's crisis doctor: testosterone reduction can lead to osteoporosis

Testosterone is very important for bone density. Doctors say that the reason why women are at risk of osteoporosis is the decrease in estrogen concentration after menopause. Estrogen is one of the most critical chemicals responsible for bone growth and maintenance. Once a man's testosterone level decreases, it will indeed have an impact on bone density, making it easy to form osteoporosis and cause fractures.

Dr. Zhan Dingzheng said that a small number of men have poor sexual function due to insufficient testosterone secretion, and although they are not old, they will suffer from bone loss and osteoporosis. (Photo by Zhang Shijie)

Zhan Dingzheng, secretary general of the Osteoporosis Society of the Republic of China and director of the Department of Geriatrics at the National Taiwan University Hospital, said that part of the effect of testosterone on bones is through conversion into estradiol, a form of estrogen, and part of it is a direct effect.

Clinically, testosterone has been found to increase bone density in the hip and spine, and men with reduced testosterone levels also have a higher risk of osteoporosis and fractures. As men age, they lose muscle mass and strength. The testosterone concentration in men will also decrease with age, and low testosterone concentration will make muscle degeneration more serious.

In particular, a small number of men have insufficient testosterone secretion and poor sexual function. Although they are not old, they will suffer from bone loss and osteoporosis. Especially for thin men with a body mass index (BMI) below 18, as they have a small frame and fewer bones, they should pay more attention to the risk of male osteoporosis.