The Science of Optimizing Your Testosterone | Abraham Morgentaler, MD

**Dr. Gabrielle Lyon** (0:00)
Does testosterone really cause prostate cancer? What's the relationship between testosterone and libido? And how does the modern stress of life impact your hormones and sexual health? Hi, I'm Dr. Gabrielle Lyon. These are just some of the questions we're tackling today with Dr. Abe Morgentaler, a world-renowned urologist and pioneer in men's health. Together, we'll explore the biggest myths, misconceptions about testosterone, the surprising truths about sexual health, and what every person needs to know to protect their health and their relationship. From how to spot early hormone imbalances to cutting edge advances in hormone therapy, this episode is packed with insights that could help you live longer. So are we looking at testosterone and hormones all wrong? Let's jump in, because these answers could completely change how you think about your health.
I just wanted to jump on here with an exciting announcement that I am hosting the second ever Forever Strong Summit April 26, 27 in Houston, Texas, 2025 There is going to be two days, the VIP day on April 26 You will learn from former Navy SEALs, from former Secret Service, from individuals that you do not want to miss. Myself, my inner tribe will be there to support you to learn everything from muscle health to science to nutrition. You don't have to be an expert. You don't even have to have a background. All you have to have is a will to win and stay strong. I will put a link in the show notes below. Please go to my website, drgabriellelyon.com. We sold out last year and I would hate for you to miss this opportunity. So if you're waiting for a sign, if you're thinking you need to change something up and you need community, friends, we've got you covered. Dr. Abe Morgentaler, welcome to the show.

**Dr. Abraham Morgentaler** (2:12)
Oh, it's great to be here with you. Thank you.

**Dr. Gabrielle Lyon** (2:15)
You are really, I don't even want to say the godfather of testosterone replacement therapy, but you are responsible for bringing testosterone replacement therapy to the modern world.

**Dr. Abraham Morgentaler** (2:30)
Thank you. It's hard for me to accept something like that, but practically speaking, I think that that's right.
And, you know, I started doing this at a time when everybody thought testosterone was going to absolutely give people prostate cancer, like pow, right away. Just a little whiff for a week or two, prostate cancer, that's the fear that we had. And I got interested in it, and I'd love to tell you how I got started. But my work has really been about using testosterone and showing that it didn't really cause prostate cancer. I didn't know that before I started, but that's what happened. And as the barrier to testosterone dropped because people weren't so worried about prostate cancer, then all sorts of things opened up, and here we are 35 years later.

**Dr. Gabrielle Lyon** (3:22)
You know, it's really tremendous. And number one, you went to Harvard, graduated from Harvard College, then went to Harvard Medical School, and then you completed your residency at the Harvard Program in Urology. Just tremendous. You are recognized as an international authority on men's health and a pioneer in testosterone replacement therapy, which, you know, we were all having dinner. You, your colleague, our colleague, Dr. Mokera, my husband, Shane Cronstedt, who is also a urologist, go figure.
And there aren't that many giants left. There is not a ton of innovation happening from the individual level. Right. But you were brave enough to do that. At a time when testosterone therapy, and I want to talk about the history, was really deemed dangerous.

**Dr. Abraham Morgentaler** (4:19)
Right.

**Dr. Gabrielle Lyon** (4:20)
And that people were a hundred percent sure that testosterone replacement therapy was going to give people prostate cancer. And you challenged that notion. I would love to hear that backstory. And how many tomatoes were thrown at your face, and how that you probably had three friends, and one of those included a sibling and maybe a parent.

**Dr. Abraham Morgentaler** (4:40)
Oh my god. So, listen, thank you for that. And it's kind of amazing sometimes I sit here and think back, like, on all the changes that have happened and how we went through things. And truthfully, it did require a certain amount of courage, because I knew I was doing something that was considered dangerous. But I always felt like what I was doing was in the patients' best, my patients' best interest, and with open communication and discussion of what the potential risks were. So, the story originally begins, if I may, when I was 19 years old and I was an undergraduate at Harvard, and I was supposed to be a hockey player, like in my head, I was going to be like a professional hockey player.