TRAVERSE Trial: Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy (NEJM)
Where this fits: Is Male Menopause Real? What to Say When Your Husband Self-Diagnoses
Claims this source supports
- TRAVERSE enrolled 5,246 men aged 45-80 with symptoms of hypogonadism, two fasting testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL, and preexisting cardiovascular disease or high cardiovascular risk; participants were randomized to daily transdermal 1.62% testosterone gel or placebo.
- Over a median follow-up of about 3 years, testosterone replacement therapy was noninferior to placebo for major adverse cardiac events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke).
- The testosterone group had higher rates of pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, and acute kidney injury, showing the therapy carries real risks even when cardiovascular outcomes are not worse.
- TRAVERSE results apply to men with verified hypogonadism (two fasting levels below 300 ng/dL) and cardiovascular risk factors – not to the general midlife male population, and not to self-diagnosed 'male menopause.'