Nbc News: Men’s Magic Youth

With the promise of making its user look younger, lose weight and feel sexier, more and more men are opting to use hormone replacement therapy to turn back the clock on aging.

Bill Rayl, 58, told NBC 7/39 that he credits it with changing his life. Rayl said he looks forward to exercising and has vigor, energy, and muscles. He said he feels better than he did eight years ago.

"I was wearing 40-inch pants at that time and didn't have the energy to exercise a great deal," Rayl said.

Kevin Lester is Rayl's doctor at Cenegenics, an age-management program.

"Andropause is the normal depletion of male hormones that occur in every man," Lester said.

He said men's testosterone is highest at age 30, and every year after, they lose between one and three percent. By the time some men are 50, they might experience depression, the inability to exercise or recover quickly from exercise or develop muscle tone, said Lester.

As part of his therapy, Rayl takes three pills and rubs testosterone on his skin. They're not the high levels some athletes are accused of taking, but a measured amount.

"We know what high normal is, and that's what we're looking for -- high normal for your age. And a man feels better at high normal for his age," said Lester.

Lester calls the prescription a "hormone symphony," one which includes human growth hormone -- the controversial drug pitcher Roger Clemens is accused of taking.

"The important part of a well-managed medical care program is not the abuse of drugs -- it's the use of drugs in a healthy way," said Lester.

Rayl added it to his hormone symphony but stopped because he said he didn't see any additional benefit.

Dr. Jeffrey Sandler, an endocrinologist, said HGH could grow unwanted cells -- and while testosterone is indicated for some symptomatic men -- he would not recommend it for anti-aging. He also said while there is no evidence testosterone causes prostate cancer, it can enlarge the prostate.

Lester said the prostate's condition is evaluated during treatment, along with the lab, and there are clinical evaluations.

"Aging is absolutely natural. We're not trying to stop aging, but if we can affect it in a nice way, that's good," Lester said.

Cenegenics costs $3,000 for an all-day evaluation, plus whatever prescribed drugs are needed. It is not covered by insurance.

Sandler said if you are a man with Andropause symptoms, you should see a doctor to determine if testosterone levels are too low for your age group.

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