The following blog post is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis. Please consult your doctor before making any health-related decisions.
Testosterone therapy is misunderstood as an anti-aging treatment. But is it something age-related or not? This is still under discussion, but that’s not exactly what testosterone therapy can do for you. Testosterone therapy sounds promising when you think you are aging.
The low testosterone level can cause fatigue, mood swings, and low energy and after the testosterone treatment, people are reported to be energetic, have more sex drive, and have a better mood. It sounds exciting, so why not go for the testosterone replacement therapy, this is what you are thinking right now, isn’t it? but, hold on for a second, TRT isn’t something that suits everyone. It has known to have certain potential risks associated with the therapy, so it is not for you to decide whether or not TRT is for you.
Testosterone therapy is only for people who are reported with similar symptoms and tested and proved that the symptoms are due to low testosterone and blood levels. Only then, you can go and ask your doctor about testosterone replacement therapy, and he will tell you the rest about what to do.
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is the name of hormone that produces in testicles. When testosterone levels are low, it can cause multiple health issues in men. Testosterone plays an important role in maintaining men’s health:
– Red blood cells production
– Better sex drive
– Facial and body hair
– Improved sperm production
– Bone density
– Better strength
What is testosterone therapy?
Testosterone therapy, sometimes also known as androgen therapy is used to treat the low testosterone levels in men. Low testosterone levels or Low-T can cause fatigue and more health issues for men. This is why they use multiple testosterone products to maintain testosterone levels like gels, patches, injections, and pills, to deal with reduced sex drive and fatigue.
Testosterone levels go down due to some medical conditions like an issue with the testicles, brain, or pituitary glands which can cause testicles failure to produce enough testosterone. This is when testosterone therapy can be done. Low-T can also happen just due to growing age.
But once you have opted for testosterone replacement therapy, it is a treatment that goes lifelong. Every six months or year, a doctor will test your testosterone levels, and based on your current condition, they can increase your visits to the clinic. So, if you are thinking about going for trt then be prepared for all of this. And if you are just thinking about trt for improved sex drive, better mass building, or better energy level, then keep in mind that this is no joke.
Symptoms of low testosterone levels:
Sometimes symptoms of low T in men can be very obvious, like low energy, fatigue, and low sex drive, but sometimes they don’t show. These subtle symptoms could be due to some medical condition, but aging decades may also show low testosterone symptoms. Take a look at the symptoms that might point toward low testosterone:
• Low sex drive
• Stress
• Frustration
• Feeling weak
• Hair loss (body and facial)
• Reduced muscle mass
• Low energy level
• Poor focus
• Erectile dysfunction
Now if you show all these symptoms, they could also be associated with some other medical condition, but when the tests show that you have low testosterone and blood, then a doctor might suggest a treatment. Keep in mind that Low-T due to aging, and not showing samples, may not make you eligible for treatment. It’s the doctor’s call whether you should go for testosterone therapy or not.
Different forms of testosterone replacement therapy:
There are different types of testosterone replacement therapy like skin patches, gel, injections, etc. but why not just a simple pill? Yes, there is a pill for that too, but everything comes with side effects, so some doctors say that an oral pill can harm your liver. So, it’s better to go for other forms of treatment that gradually releases testosterone directly into your bloodstream and bypass the liver.
Let’s take a look at different forms of testosterone therapy:
– Skin patch:
There is a skin patch called endoderm, and it is worn over your upper body or on the arm, once a day.
– Mouth patch:
A mouth patch is a tablet that sticks on the upper gums, on incisors, like the tooth right behind your front two teeth, no matter left or right. And it keeps releasing testosterone in your blood via oral tissue. By using two times daily, it increases the testosterone level in the body efficiently.
– Gel:
Gels come in transparent form. It should be applied to the body to get absorbed. It can be used once daily. Some gels are available in pumps that can be prescribed by doctors to get the required testosterone levels.
– Boosters:
Testosterone boosters are products that increase mass muscle, strength and sex drive in men. But the ingredients included in these boosters can have many side effects like aggression, prostate, cholesterol, and other issues.
– Injections
Injections and implants are other forms of completing the testosterone level in your body. They can be injected directly into your muscles or can be implanted as soft pallets in your skin. Either way, your body will absorb testosterone gradually. This is one of the best forms of TRT and it shows the highest efficiency.
Benefits of testosterone replacement therapy
Different types of testosterone for replacement therapy can impact everyone differently. Because every man is different, so is the response to different methods of testosterone replacement therapy.
Although, many men experienced better energy levels, improved sex drive, and better mass muscle and strength after the treatment. Quality of erections, bone density, and insulin sensitivity was also improved. And yes, mood swings can also get better after the treatment. Improved testosterone level can also bring positive change to your mood, which may not be very prominent, but your feel-good vibes.
Karen Herbst who is an endocrinologist at the University of California and MD, Ph.D. in testosterone deficiency says that almost 10% of men are in a kind of ecstatic state after the treatment, and the same percentage of men just say that they don’t feel any change. But, the rest of them shows a positive response to the treatment.
Risks of testosterone replacement therapy:
Different types of testosterone replacement therapy can have different side effects too. Although many risks and benefits of testosterone therapy are still unknown or uncertain because of less or no proof. But, some most common side effects include itching, rash, or irritation on the body area where testosterone was applied.
But, what’s disturbing is that some evidence also shows that it has long-term side effects like an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. But again, they are still uncertain due to the lack of clinical trials. But, this is why doctors don’t prefer or recommend any type of testosterone replacement therapy until it’s obligatory.
Few health conditions can be worsened with the testosterone replacement; they include:
1. Sleep apnea:
This condition can be worsened by the usage of testosterone and you might not even be able to recognize it. But your partner, that’s sleeping with you would know.
2. Blood clots:
Testosterone can increase the risk of blood clots in veins. This even means fatal blood clot conditions like thrombosis and embolism.
3. Prostate cancer:
Testosterone products can cause prostate cancer to grow. So, men with PSA should avoid testosterone replacement or if they still want to do that, they will be screened for prostate cancer before doing so.
4. Congestive heart failure:
If you have a congested heart failure condition, you should avoid going for any form of testosterone replacement therapy because that could make it worse.
Contact us for more details:
Valhalla Vitality brings to you the place for safe and sound testosterone tests, diagnosis, and replacement therapy. We provide you with the safest platform to get tested for testosterone levels if you show the symptoms like fatigue, increased weight, or low sex drive. Don’t just think that they are the symptoms of aging, they might be, but they might not be due to aging. So, if you feel any of the above symptoms, contact us and we will let you know what to do next. Stay safe!
