Does Testosterone Therapy Put Your Heart at Risk?

For years, many men with low testosterone have been afraid to treat it — worried that testosterone therapy might cause a heart attack or stroke. This large study set out to answer that very question, and the results may surprise you. Researchers followed over 200,000 U.S. male veterans with low testosterone levels — most of whom also had serious health problems like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure — for an average of about 4 years. They tracked who had heart attacks, strokes, and dangerous blood clots, and compared men who were actively using testosterone to those who had stopped using it. Two types of testosterone were studied: the kind given as a shot (intramuscular) and the kind applied to the skin (transdermal patch or gel).

Neither type of testosterone was linked to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots — even in men who already had heart disease. In fact, men with existing heart disease who used the skin-applied (transdermal) form actually showed a 20% lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared to former users.

That said, this was not a randomized trial, so we can't say for certain that testosterone caused those protective effects. The authors are clear that doctors should still carefully weigh the risks and benefits for each patient. But for the many men hesitant about treatment, this study offers meaningful reassurance that testosterone therapy — when used appropriately — does not appear to be the heart threat it was once feared to be.

Can Orgasms Help New Moms Recover Faster After Childbirth?

It sounds surprising — but a 2022 clinical study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests the answer might be yes. Researchers studied 55 first-time mothers who had vaginal deliveries, splitting them into two groups: one doing Kegel exercises alone, and one doing Kegels plus aiming for at least two orgasms per week.

After 6 months, the results were hard to ignore. Women in the orgasm-plus-Kegel group had significantly better sexual function scores every single month. They also regained the ability to relax their pelvic floor muscles faster, which matters because tight, unrelaxed pelvic muscles are linked to pain during sex, bladder problems, and constipation. By month 6, their pelvic muscle strength was also measurably stronger, with a statistically significant difference (P = .0278).

The key takeaway? Orgasms cause involuntary rhythmic contractions of the pelvic floor — essentially a natural, pleasurable "workout" for those muscles. When combined with Kegels, this appears to speed up recovery in a way that exercises alone cannot match.

The study was small (only 55 women), and orgasm couldn't always be verified — both honest limitations the authors acknowledged. Still, this is the first study of its kind, and its findings could reshape how postpartum recovery is approached at home, without any special equipment or clinic visits.

This week, someone asked me, “What causes a dry orgasm on a ed suffering man”. A “dry orgasm” in men with erectile dysfunction can happen when ejaculation occurs with little or no fluid, or when semen goes backward into the bladder instead of exiting the penis (called retrograde ejaculation). This can be related to prostate surgery, diabetes, nerve changes, certain medications (especially those for prostate symptoms or blood pressure), or significant pelvic nerve dysfunction. Low testosterone can also play a role. It’s important to evaluate medications, prostate health, and nerve function with a urologist, because the underlying cause often guides the most effective treatment.

I love hearing from you, so if there’s a question you’ve been wanting to ask, just let me know. Who knows? Your question might be the one I dive into next!

I've been recovering well and enjoying some much-needed time with my family. It's been nice to slow down, be present with the people I love most, and focus on getting back to full strength.

I talked about why your wife might have stopped wanting sex and the surprising reasons behind it, especially during midlife. "Sexual desire is complex and, in women...there's hormonal changes, physical changes and a lot of life stressors and mental health changes that can all occur at the same time."

Here are some quick takeaways:

Remember, this is about understanding and supporting each other through these changes! Check out the full episode for practical tips on reconnecting.

I had an eye-opening conversation with Drs. Rachel Mann, Richard Natalie, and Paul Rusilko about why erectile dysfunction (ED) matters more than most people realize—even for young guys. Dr. Rosilko puts it perfectly: “Penile health, sexual health, is health… we can make your penis work better and stay healthy for the rest of your life, but you have to do the work.”

Here’s what we covered:

If you want to keep things healthy, both in and out of the bedroom, check out the episode—it might seriously change how you think!

So listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here and see why people are commenting, “Dr Malik is my hero❤❤❤❤❤ my GPs and Specialists have sucked compared to her. All doctors should be as competent and dedicated to actual medicine as Malik is”.

Think exercise and diet are the keys to better health? Check out my new Substack: The Overlooked Superpower for Heart Health, Weight Loss & Happiness.

In this article, I explore how sleep impacts everything from heart health and metabolism to mood and cognitive function—and why improving your sleep may be one of the most powerful things you can do for your overall well-being.