Testosterone, Blood Clots and Time

When it comes to the potential risk of blood clots associated with testosterone treatment, time may play an important role, a new study found.

The risk for blood clots in men taking testosterone appeared to peak within the first six months of testosterone treatment and decrease after that, according to this study.

Past research on the risk of blood clots associated with testosterone treatment has produced conflicting findings, so the researchers behind this study set out to better understand this reported risk. They studied the length of testosterone treatment and the timing of blood clot risk.

Testosterone is often prescribed for men who do not produce enough of the hormone. These researchers noted an increase in treatment with testosterone in the last 10 years, often for sexual issues and decreased energy. 

This study looked at over 19,000 men with venous thromboembolism, a blood clot in the vein. The blood clots in this study were in the leg or lung.

The men who participated in this study were divided into three groups: those who were currently taking testosterone, those who were treated with testosterone recently and those who had no treatment in the last two years. 

The risk for blood clots appeared to peak in the first six months of treatment and then decline, these researchers found. In fact, they found a 63 percent increase in risk of blood clots within the first six months of treatment. 

Since this study was an observational one, the authors could not definitively name a cause and effect. They called for further research on this topic. 

Speak with your doctor about the risks associated with testosterone treatment. 

This study was published in The BMJ. 

The authors disclosed no external funding sources. Several authors had financial ties to pharmaceutical companies.