For men, aging is a delicate thing. Many men have some concept of their identity tied up in their physicality. With age comes change though, and for many men this means diminishing physical capacity. But fret not ye aging men! Big pharma has come up with a name for what ails you. That supposed disease is called “Low T” (low testosterone) and they have a cure, for a price, to sell you.
The cover story on this month’s edition of Time is titled “Manopause?! Aging, insecurity and the $2 billion testosterone industry”. Testosterone treatments are rising and as the article points out, drug companies are making tons of money from these treatments.
“Unfortunately, the number of men that testosterone therapy is truly indicated for pales in comparison to the number of men currently being treated with these drugs,” commented Brandon Bogle an attorney with the Levin, Papantonio law firm who practices in the areas of product liability and mass tort litigation. “This recent boom in testosterone use puts many men at needless risk.”
A number of studies have linked testosterone therapies to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in some men. Many lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of testosterone and finally the FDA has decided to evaluate the safety of testosterone therapies.
Though the science is disputed regarding their safety, the marketing and sales of testosterone treatments isn’t likely to slow down. Ultimately, many of the men receiving testosterone treatments are most likely receiving therapies for symptoms that are simply signs of the natural aging process. According to Time, some of the symptoms of Low-T include diminished sex drive, depression, reduced muscle mass, and hair loss.
It’s nothing new for Big Pharma to create diseases out of natural processes, like aging. It’s their business to sell drugs. Let’s face it, more diseases means more cures.
Joshua is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. You can follow him on Twitter @Joshual33.
