"Both sexes are critically dependent upon adequate levels of serum testosterone for healing and pain relief. In addition, testosterone is now often classified as a “neurosteroid” along with pregnenolone and DHEA. Why? These compounds exert potent, stabilizing effects on the nervous system, and are necessary for such nervous system functions as nerve growth and prevention of depression."
"Males and females having severe, intractable pain and who require treatment with opioid drugs will commonly develop hypotestosteronemia which can be easily diagnosed by a single serum screening of total testosterone concentration. Testosterone screening should become routine in pain treatment as should testosterone replacement with the new, easy to use topical gels and other preparations. Our pain patients deserve to have the same biologic enhancements of tissue growth and healing that athletes cherish and seek from testosterone and related compounds. These compounds are currently a great area of research and inquiry in pain treatment. While politicians and regulators may rightfully determine a need to restrict access to testosterone and androstendione by athletes, they must leave them available to pain physicians and patients."
— Forest A. Tennant, MD, DrPH
"Males and females having severe, intractable pain and who require treatment with opioid drugs will commonly develop hypotestosteronemia which can be easily diagnosed by a single serum screening of total testosterone concentration. Testosterone screening should become routine in pain treatment as should testosterone replacement with the new, easy to use topical gels and other preparations. Our pain patients deserve to have the same biologic enhancements of tissue growth and healing that athletes cherish and seek from testosterone and related compounds. These compounds are currently a great area of research and inquiry in pain treatment. While politicians and regulators may rightfully determine a need to restrict access to testosterone and androstendione by athletes, they must leave them available to pain physicians and patients."
— Forest A. Tennant, MD, DrPH

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