What is Testosterone Therapy?
Testosterone levels in men naturally decrease over a lifetime but can be shown to have lower levels than normal after age 30. Testosterone is an important hormone that maintains muscle bulk, bone growth, adequate red blood cell levels, sense of well-being and a man’s libido for sexual function. Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger necessary changes in the body. It is responsible for a lot of the secondary sexual characteristics like deep voice, increased muscle mass, hair growth and fat distribution. It is an androgen, a male sex hormone, made by the Leydig cells in the testes and also the adrenal cortex. It is also made in the ovaries of women. Testing should be done for Low T for men for any reported symptoms. The range of a man’s normal total T range is about 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) to about 800 ng/dL depending on the laboratory. Treatment would be advisable for those who report symptoms and the necessary blood test result that shows Low T.
Low T Symptoms
Low T symptoms can include fatigue, low concentration, increase in body fat, low libido, erectile dysfunction, depression and mood swings, brittle bones (osteoporosis), decrease in hemoglobin and possibly mild anemia, decrease in body hair and changes in cholesterol levels. A lower-than-normal score on a blood test can be caused by a number of conditions, including: injury to the testicles, testicular cancer or treatment for testicular cancer, hormonal disorders, infection, HIV/AIDS, chronic liver or kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Sometimes the cause is not known. Certain medications and genetic conditions can also lower a man’s testosterone score.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) Treatment Options
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) options are safe and can be started with a consultation by your primary care physician. Options of treatment include intramuscular injections (every two weeks), transdermal patch, mouth patch and by compounded cream or gel. Injections are either implanted as pellets in soft tissues or injected directly into the muscles. The body will slowly absorb the injection through the bloodstream. Testosterone is absorbed directly through the skin via gel or transdermal patch. The mouth patch is a tablet that sticks to the upper gums above the incisors and is absorbed through the oral tissues. The doses used in testosterone replacement only achieve physiologic (natural) levels of hormone in the blood, which is different from anabolic steroids that some athletes use to bulk mass at much larger doses.
Benefits of TRT vary per individual but many men report improvement in energy level, sex drive, and quality of erections. Many have reported elevated mood as well. Improved strength, bone density and endurance are also possible.
Risks Associates with Testosterone Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy side effects most often include rash, itching, or irritation at the site where the hormone is applied. However, there is also evidence of an increased risk of heart attack or stroke associated with hormone replacement. TRT is not advised for those with prostatic cancer. Testosterone may cause the cancer to grow as well as worsen benign prostatic hypertrophy. However, with careful monitoring by a training testosterone replacement therapy physician, the benefits may outweigh any risks.
For more information on how you can benefit from testosterone replacement therapy, contact EHormones today. With many locations throughout the country, EHormones is quickly becoming the go-to resource for testosterone and hormone therapy. Schedule your consultation today and experience the life changing benefits of EHormones.
