Are you ready for testosterone replacement therapy
Dec 5, 2019, 1:45 PM | Updated: Dec 6, 2019, 1:36 am
Are you ready for testosterone replacement therapy?
It is well known that testosterone plays a role in a man’s sex drive, but this vital hormone does more than regulate libido and sperm production. It also has a role in regulating systems throughout the body.
“It also affects bone and muscle mass, the way men store fat in the body, and even red blood cell production,” according to Healthline. “A man’s testosterone levels can also affect his mood.”
Symptoms of declining testosterone
Testosterone production maxes out in most men around age 17, and then levels stay relatively consistent for the next 10 to 20 years. Sometime between ages 30 and 40, it’s normal for men to experience a slow decline in testosterone production, averaging about 1% a year, according to Harvard Health.
“You lose muscle mass, mental sharpness and libido (sex drive) begins to decline,” viTal4men says.
Benefits of testosterone
Research has pinpointed other links between testosterone levels and memory. One study cited by Harvard Health found that World War II veterans who had high testosterone levels in midlife had better preserved tissue in some parts of the brain later in life.
Another study found that “men with higher free testosterone levels achieved higher scores on four cognitive function tests, including visual and verbal memory,” according to Harvard Health.
Testosterone replacement therapy aims to address the symptoms men experience from low testosterone levels and possibly help protect cognitive function in later life.
You may benefit from testosterone replacement therapy if any of the following apply:
- You have low levels of testosterone based on a blood test (300 to 900 nanograms per deciliter is a normal range).
- You are experiencing symptoms of low T (fatigue, decreased muscle mass, hair loss, depression, erectile dysfunction, etc.).
- You would like to increase your libido.
- You want to improve your energy level and mental acuity.
- You are concerned with developing testosterone-related memory problems.
- You want increased muscle mass.
Treatment options
“The proper method of testosterone delivery for you is a matter for your physician to determine; however, many find that some gels tend to be messy and less convenient than other treatment modalities,” viTal4men says.
These are typical treatment options, according to Harvard Health:
- Skin patch – This can be applied once a day and releases small amounts of hormone through contact with your skin.
- Oral therapy – You swallow capsules or attach a tablet to your gum or inner cheek twice a day. Testosterone will be absorbed into the bloodstream.
- Pellets – A small implant under the skin in the hips or buttocks slowly releases testosterone. It should be replaced every three to six months.
- Gels – A topical gel is spread onto the skin of upper arms or thighs. Washing hands following application and keeping the treated area covered avoids exposing others to testosterone.
- Injections – A doctor injects a formulation of testosterone directly into the bloodstream, every 7 to 14 days for the duration of treatment.
“Most men feel improvement in symptoms within four to six weeks of taking testosterone replacement therapy, although changes like increases in muscle mass may take from three to six months,” Harvard Health says.
Work with your doctor to find out whether you are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone. Misuse of testosterone can be dangerous, and injections should be administered only by healthcare professionals. Suddenly stopping testosterone treatment can also cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, according to drugs.com.
Schedule a free testosterone level test at vital4men.com, and find out if testosterone replacement therapy is right for you.
