Testosterone Therapy: What Men Need to Know About Low T and TRT Treatment Los Angeles Times

Testosterone Therapy: What Men Need to Know About Low T and TRT Treatment Los Angeles Times

The mortality of men with testosterone deficiency is significantly higher than among men with normal testosterone levels. But, it is unclear whether replacing testosterone to a normal level reduces that increased mortality. Treatment is largely focused on the treatment of symptoms, not the specific testosterone level.

As a result, your testicles make too little or no testosterone and sperm. Throughout the life of a male, testosterone plays a crucial role in sexual and physical development and function. During puberty, it contributes to growth spurts along with secondary sexual characteristics such as facial hair, increased muscle mass, and the deepening of the voice. According to the American Urological Society, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may result in improvements in low sex drive, anemia, bone mineral density, lean body mass, and/or depressive symptoms. The evidence is inconclusive whether TRT improves cognitive function, measures of diabetes, energy, fatigue, lipid profiles, and quality of life measures.

He stresses that it’s not necessary for men to have all three sets of symptoms – mental, physical and sexual – for low T to be an issue. “Many will just feel they are not themselves but they don’t know why,” says Dr Foster. The second biggest cause is obesity (or even just being overweight) “as this directly reduces testosterone levels as well as increasing oestrogen and insulin resistance,” explains Dr Foster. Furthermore, GPs often don’t screen for testosterone levels, which he describes as “a perfect storm of underdiagnosis”. The only way to change this, he concludes, is to destigmatise discussions about TD and get men educated around their own hormonal health.

We also go beyond the research, interviewing top experts in their fields to bring you the most informed insights. Every article is rigorously reviewed by medical experts to ensure accuracy. Some other symptoms of anemia include problems concentrating, dizziness, chest pain, an abnormally rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and pale skin. “Bone metabolism is complex and related to two main cell types,” says Calvert. There are osteoblasts, which build the bone, and osteoclasts that break it down. Testosterone stimulates osteoblasts to deposit bone, so if your T levels are low, you may make less bone.

The risk increases with age—affecting only 0.1% of males by age 50 but over one of every 20 males by age 70. If your low testosterone levels are the result of an underlying medical condition or lifestyle factor, then at least part of your treatment plan will be treating the original condition. When you have your testosterone levels tested, or test yourself at home, a healthcare provider will look at both your free testosterone levels and your total testosterone levels. Your total testosterone levels include both free and bound testosterone.

It may be possible in these cases to have testosterone levels return to normal levels after treatment or lifestyle change. In these cases, your healthcare provider may recommend treatment such as testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Aside from changing your lifestyle habits, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can be used to treat low testosterone. This can be administered in different ways, such as having injections, applying a gel on your skin, taking medication, allmax testofx wearing patches, using a nasal gel, and having pellets implanted under your skin. This will be determined by your symptoms, medical history, and any medications you may be taking. Be aware that once you start TRT, you need to continue it indefinitely. You will also need regular check-ups to ensure that the correct testosterone levels are maintained.

Being significantly overweight or obese at any age is linked to low testosterone. The complications of untreated hypogonadism differ depending on when it develops — during fetal development, puberty or adulthood. Hone is an online clinic that helps men and women manage their health. As part of your subscription and as medically indicated, physicians prescribe medications, and recommend supplements that are delivered to you from the comfort of your home. We source research from peer-reviewed medical journals, top government agencies, leading academic institutions, and respected advocacy groups.

“Men may find that while they go to the gym, and train just as hard, they can’t put on muscle, and get fatter despite nothing changing in their diet,” says Foster. “Interestingly, they also often have poorer sleep even though they are always exhausted. A decreased sports ability was reported in 35 per cent of men with low T, found the study. Males with low T sometimes develop gynecomastia or enlarged breast tissue. This effect is believed to occur due to an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen. Studies suggest that 1 in 4 men ages 40 to 70 have low testosterone.

A primary care physician may refer an individual to a urologist, who specializes in diseases of the male reproductive system, or to an endocrinologist who specializes in hormone-related diseases. While changes to the lifestyle and diet alone may not raise levels sufficiently, they can often help. Testosterone helps to produce bone tissue and maintain bone volume. Low testosterone can lead to a reduction in this volume, which can make the bones more susceptible to fractures. Most forms of TRT approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have a negative effect on male fertility and sperm quality. The lack of puberty signs by age 14 warrants testing for hypogonadism in boys.