Testosterone: Functions, deficiencies, and supplements

Testosterone Injections: Uses & Side Effects

There are many ways in which a healthcare provider can treat low testosterone. Testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, has several forms such as testosterone gel, testosterone injections, and testosterone patches, and each can be used depending on individual preference. If your testosterone is on the low end, your doctor will determine the best treatment plan, Black adds. Testosterone supplements can be taken in a variety of forms. The gel is convenient, because you can rub it in once a day, after you shower, dry does jerking off lower test and start dressing.

It usually peaks in the morning and falls throughout the day. The grey zone between 8 and 12 nmol/l requires further evaluation, considering the impact any symptoms are having on an individual’s quality of life. Testosterone isn’t your average hormone – it’s integral for developing male characteristics. In teenage boys testosterone creates a deeper voice, a larger skeleton, body hair, developing reproductive organs and “male” patterns of behaviour. You should not take TRT or testosterone boosters if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are currently receiving treatment. People should seek medical advice if they experience any unusual symptoms or suspect a hormonal imbalance. The first port of call is a family doctor, who can, if necessary, refer to a specialist like an OBGYN, an endocrinologist, an internal medicine specialist, or a urologist.

Men taking testosterone replacement must be carefully monitored for prostate cancer. Although testosterone may make prostate cancer grow, it is not clear that testosterone treatment actually causes cancer. As surprising as it may be, women can also be bothered by symptoms of testosterone deficiency. For example, problem with function of pituitary gland or adrenal glands may lead to reduced testosterone production. Affected women may experience low libido, reduced bone strength, poor concentration or depression. So, if you’re living with high testosterone levels, it probably makes sense for each of these main functions to be amplified, right?

TRT seems to be more effective in young men with very low testosterone levels. This treatment is called testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT. TRT can be given as a pill, gel, patch, injection, or implant. Your provider will likely have you get a blood test to check your testosterone level. These include medicine side effects, thyroid problems, or depression. Beginning around age 30 to 40, testosterone levels may start to slowly decrease.

With doctor-led guidance before and after testing, NOVI Assessment Max gives you clear, personalized insights and an actionable health plan. This allows you to have a better understanding of your health so you can take the right steps toward better long-term health. Testosterone is part of a group of hormones known as steroid hormones. Other hormones in this group include estrogens, progesterone, and cortisol. Sex drive is a nonclinical term that means enthusiasm or interest in sexual activity.

In fact, both factors contribute to the behavioral differences, which remain pronounced even as our society becomes more egalitarian. A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. The potential side effects of prohormones plus their unproven clinical benefits make them a poor, possibly dangerous choice for boosting testosterone. One proposed treatment for low testosterone comes in the form of testosterone supplements. Too much testosterone, on the other hand, can lead to the triggering of puberty before the age of 9 years. This condition would mainly affect younger men and is much rarer.

It is important to determine if a low testosterone level is simply due to the decline of normal aging or if it is due to a disease. Your testosterone levels vary each day and over the course of your life. Testosterone levels naturally increase during puberty and remain relatively constant until age 30, when they begin to drop. Women also produce testosterone in the ovaries, but levels of the hormone are higher in men. Most of the testosterone that women produce is converted to the female sex hormone estradiol, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For an average man, total testosterone levels of less than 8 nmol/l highly support a diagnosis of low testosterone whereas levels greater than 12 nmol/l are likely to be normal.

The length of treatment will depend on the condition being treated. It is not known whether testosterone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. If you don’t have a Baptist Health doctor, you can find one using our online provider directory. Hone-affiliated medical practices are independently owned and operated by licensed physicians who provide services using the Hone telehealth platform. For more information about the relationship between Hone and the medical practices, click here. Research-backed tools, tactics, and techniques to maximize your health, delivered to your inbox every Monday.