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Testosterone Replacement Therapy

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Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Testosterone is a hormone that is primarily produced in the testicles of males once they begin puberty, and that production continues throughout the majority of their adult life. Most men naturally begin to produce roughly 1% less testosterone every year after they turn 30, however, some men lose testosterone at a much more rapid rate. For these men who are experiencing low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, the condition can be exacerbated by conditions such as diabetes or obesity.

It is important to determine if a patient’s low testosterone is due to normal aging or if it is due to hypogonadism before beginning treatment. Men with hypogonadism can greatly benefit from testosterone replacement therapy and many will begin to see results in as little as 3 to 6 weeks. If you think this hormone replacement therapy might work for you, reach out to our team today to see if you qualify for testosterone replacement therapy and learn how we can help you get your energy, motivation, and sex drive back!

What Causes Low Testosterone?

There are several things that could lead to a man having or developing low testosterone, or hypogonadism. Causes may be inherited, the result of a disease or health condition, due to an accident or damage, or other circumstances. Determining the underlying cause of a patient’s low testosterone is essential in deciding what treatment options would work best for them.

Primary Hypogonadism

Underactive testes are the underlying cause of primary hypogonadism. This causes the testes to underproduce the necessary amount of testosterone for a male to be healthy. The most common causes of underactive testes include:

Undescended Testicles

The testicles remain in the abdomen after birth. This condition can correct itself before 4-6 months of age but requires surgery to correct after that.
Hereditary Hemochromatosis

An inherited condition that causes an excess of iron to be produced in the bloodstream which the body stores.
Klinefelter’s Syndrome

A condition that causes a male to be born with three sex chromosomes, XXY instead of the normal two, XY.
Extreme physical injury to the testicles

Both testicles must be severely injured to inhibit testosterone production.
Orchitis

A bacterial or viral infection of the testicles, most commonly due to a sexually transmitted infection or as a result of the mumps virus.
Cancer treatment

Radiation therapy or Chemotherapy can cause severe damage to the testicles.

Secondary Hypogonadism

In primary hypogonadism, the damage must occur directly to the testes to cause the lack of testosterone to occur. Secondary hypogonadism, on the other hand, occurs when there is damage to the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus.

Damage to these areas of the brain causes a disruption in the way that necessary hormones are produced which can lead to a lack of testosterone production.

Pituitary disorders

An abnormality in the pituitary gland that is typically caused by a tumor on the gland or elsewhere in the brain reduces the gland’s ability to secrete hormones. Treatment for the tumor can cause hypogonadism.
Kallmann’s Syndrome

An abnormal development of the hypothalamus
Inflammatory diseases

Sarcoidosis, histiocytosis, tuberculosis, and other inflammatory diseases can impact both the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus inhibiting testosterone production.
HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS
Certain medications

Opiates, illicit substances, and some hormone therapies can affect testosterone production.
Obesity

Being significantly overweight at any age, but especially during puberty, can cause hypogonadism.
Aging

After the age of 30, most men gradually produce less testosterone each year, about 1% every year.

What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?

While testosterone levels gradually decline as men age, for some men these levels can become abnormally and extremely low. Not all men with low testosterone (also known as “low t”) will exhibit symptoms, but for those that do, testosterone replacement therapy can be an option. The most common symptoms of low testosterone levels are:

Low libido (low sex drive)
Erectile dysfunction
Fatigue
Low energy levels
Anemia (low iron levels)
Decreased muscle mass
Lack of or loss of body and facial hair
Difficulty concentrating
Depression
Irritability
Low self-esteem
Increased weight gain

Frequently, the first things that men notice are a lack of energy and a low sex drive. In more severe cases of low testosterone, men may experience erectile dysfunction which can severely hinder their self-esteem and sex life. With our telehealth trt (testosterone replacement therapy) services, we strive to restore hormone levels, erectile function, and sexual performance, which sometimes also results in weight loss and improvement in other health conditions.

Individualized Treatment for Best Results

Every man is different, so no two treatment paths are going to be exactly the same. We take the time to understand your unique situation and the underlying conditions that are contributing to your low testosterone.

By working with you one on one at our men’s testosterone clinic, we can help create the perfect treatment plan for you that will have you feeling young, strong, healthy, and virile again in no time. We’ll get you scheduled for labs at your earliest convenience.

Types of Testosterone Medication

Testosterone medications come in many different forms. While oral medications exist, they are not frequently used or recommended because there has been some evidence that oral testosterone medications can negatively affect the liver.

Instead of taking a pill every day, most testosterone medications come in the form of a skin or mouth patch, a topical gel, soft tissue implants, or injections. Depending on the type of medications you take, they may be applied daily or twice weekly.

Gels or Creams

Applied once per day, the gel or cream is worked directly into the skin and is absorbed.

Injections

One of the most common options, injections are done twice per week and patients administer the injections themselves.

In most cases, you will be able to pick which type of medication you’d prefer, however, you should take your doctor’s advice into consideration. For some men, only certain options may be available depending on how severe their symptoms are, if they have any potential health concerns, or how low their testosterone levels are to start.

Benefits of the Treatment

The benefits that a man can expect to receive at low testosterone treatment clinics include a reduction of low t symptoms: heightened libido, improved energy levels, increased happiness, and overall better moods. Some men may also experience other physical benefits from a boost to their testosterone including, muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and bone density.

Although most men will experience some combination of these benefits, not all men experience the same benefits from testosterone replacement therapy, however. Depending on your current testosterone levels as well as a variety of other considerations, you may experience anything from a slight boost to a massive change.

It is important to remember that it takes time for testosterone replacement therapy to build up the testosterone levels in your body. Most men will begin seeing results within 3 to 6 weeks of starting treatment but the biggest results will happen around the 3-month mark.

Benefits of the Treatment

While low testosterone is often not directly responsible for erectile dysfunction, it can severely impact a man’s sex drive and libido. Your sex drive will typically be one of the first things to return, often as early as three weeks into your treatment plan.

A heightened libido not only improves sex drive and deeper sexual desire, but it can also help to improve performance – leading to a healthier, happier, and more satisfying sex life.

Increased Happiness, Energy, and Improved Moods

Low testosterone levels have been directly linked to irritability, chronic fatigue, depression, and an overall lower quality of life. Studies have shown that testosterone replacement therapy may be an effective anti-depressant treatment option for men with hypogonadism.

It is important to determine if your fatigue and depression are directly related to hypogonadism before beginning testosterone replacement therapy though. If your depression has another underlying cause, then you may not see the results that you are hoping for.

Men with hypogonadism, however, should see results from their treatment and should experience a better mood, better sleep, and an overall improvement in their quality of life and enjoyment of life in 3 to 6 weeks.

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How It Works

Testosterone replacement therapy, also known as androgen replacement therapy is a medically approved treatment option for patients that are experiencing hypogonadism, or low testosterone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Common is Low Testosterone?

Low testosterone is common and becomes increasingly more common as men age. 40% of men over the age of 45 have low testosterone levels, with that number increasing to 50% by age 80.

Additionally, low testosterone is more common in men with certain health conditions such as diabetes or obesity. Consistent studies have shown that between 30-50% of men with Type 2 Diabetes also have low testosterone, and 50% of obese men have low testosterone.

Can I Stop Taking Testosterone Replacement Therapy When I Feel Better?

Testosterone replacement therapy is a long-term, and sometimes indefinite, solution to men’s hypogonadism. If you suddenly stop taking your prescription, you may begin to experience symptoms of low testosterone again as your body goes back to underproducing the amount that you need.

Most men will be able to go onto a maintenance plan by the end of their first year of testosterone therapy, however, and will only have to come in for checkups once every 6 to 12 months. This is to ensure that your prescription dosage is still working and that you’re still feeling as healthy as you should be.

Who is Testosterone Replacement Therapy For?

Testosterone replacement therapy is not for everyone. Only men with symptomatic hypogonadism, with a testosterone level under 300 ng/dL who consistently have several of the accompanying symptoms are eligible for testosterone replacement therapy.

Low testosterone is common, affecting nearly 40% of men over the age of 45. Many men who have low testosterone will not experience any symptoms and will not require treatment for their hypogonadism.

Potential Risks of Testosterone Replacement Therapy

The most common side effects associated with testosterone replacement therapy are rashes, itching, or irritation at the application site. Some men may also experience acne, smaller testes, and swelling of the feet or ankles. Because testosterone replacement therapy is a relatively new treatment, its long-term effects of it are still unknown.

Men with certain health conditions should be careful when starting any type of testosterone replacement therapy, as some conditions can be exacerbated during treatment. These conditions include:

Another potential risk is blood clots that can be caused by polycythemia, or a dramatic and abnormal increase in red blood cells. These blood clots primarily occur in the form of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

Additionally, men should avoid testosterone replacement therapy if they are actively trying to have children or plan to have children naturally in the future. TRT can reduce sperm counts significantly and in rare cases may cause infertility.

While this condition is typically reversible, it requires stopping testosterone replacement therapy which can cause previous low-T symptoms to come back.

When Will I See Results From Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

It is natural to feel impatient when you begin testosterone replacement therapy. After all, you’ve spent months or years feeling tired and lethargic so of course, you’re ready to feel better now!

Unfortunately, testosterone replacement isn’t an overnight fix. It took years to develop low testosterone, and it takes time to rebuild it. Each person will have a different reaction to the therapy as well depending on their unique situation.

That said, most patients will begin to notice some improvements in their symptoms within 3 to 6 months, and some men may notice a change even sooner. The typical timeframes for reduction of symptoms in patients who undergo testosterone replacement therapy is:

3-6 Weeks: Sex drive and libido increase while symptoms of anxiety and depression decrease. Mood elevates and energy levels increase.
12-16 Weeks: Some men begin to lose weight as fat levels decrease, inflammation in joints is relieved, and men begin to have an easier time building lean muscle mass and strength.
6-12 Months: Lipid counts decrease, bone density increases, and insulin sensitivity increases.

How Long Should I Stay on Testosterone Therapy?

The answer is different for everyone and it can only be determined on a case-by-case basis by your doctor. For most men, however, testosterone replacement therapy is a long-term, and in some cases indefinite process.

This is because it is often extremely difficult to treat the underlying cause of hypogonadism without testosterone replacement therapy. Men who abruptly stop treatment may begin to experience symptoms of Low-T again.

The good news is that treatment can become more of a maintenance plan once your levels have returned to normal which means that you may not have to receive the therapy as often. Your doctor will set you up with a maintenance plan and check-up schedule to ensure that your testosterone levels are remaining consistent.

Don’t Wait to Get Relief From Your Low Testosterone Symptoms

It takes time to get results from testosterone replacement therapy, but there’s no point in waiting for your symptoms to get worse before you seek treatment. If you are struggling with depression, lethargy, lack of motivation, a low sex drive, low muscle strength, or erectile dysfunction don’t wait any longer!

Reach out to our testosterone replacement therapy clinic team today to learn how we can help you get back to your old self. The sooner that you start testosterone replacement therapy, the sooner that you will get that boost to your energy, libido, and mood and you’ll be able to get back to doing the things you love.

Pure Health & Wellness

Testosterone Replacement Therapy