Cycled Testosterone Replacement Study

Exclusion Criteria

• •Medications such as anticoagulants (Coumadin) and glucocorticoids.
• •History of angina that occurs with exertion or at rest.
• •History of myocardial infarction within the last 12 months.
• •Failure to successfully complete an exercise stress test using the Bruce protocol. Subjects that demonstrate ≥ 0.1 mV horizontal or downsloping ST segment depression, a drop in systolic blood pressure of ≥ 10 mm Hg, and/or frequent or repetitive arrhythmias (defined as ≥ 10 PVC/min, or couplets) during the stress test will be excluded.
• •LDL cholesterol above 200 mg/dL.
• •History of prostatic cancer.
• •Elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) above 4.0 µg/L, or severe benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) by history (frequent urination, reduced stream).
• •Serum total testosterone concentrations of greater than 500 ng/dL.
• •Subjects who engage in high intensity, elite training on a regular basis.
• •Major medical illness such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or sleep apnea.
• •Recent history of smoking tobacco.
• •Hematocrit greater than 51%.
• •Morbidly obese older men (BMI \> 35).
• •Hypertension: Blood pressure on three consecutive measurements taken at one week intervals that has a systolic pressure ≥ 140 or a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90. Subjects will be included if they are on two or less blood pressure medications and have a blood pressure below these criteria.
• •History of hepatitis or a 3-fold elevation of liver function tests (Alk phos, ALT, AST).
• •Bone related disorders such as osteoporosis or parathyroid disease.
• •DEXA scans revealing lumbar spine T-scores of less than -2.5.
• •Subjects currently taking anti-bone-resorptive agents such as bisphosphonates, parathyroid hormone, or calcitonin.