When you receive a dose of supplemental testosterone, your body absorbs, metabolizes, and utilizes the hormone, and this causes levels to fluctuate. Hormone levels fluctuate, so its important to administer correct doses to keep your testosterone in the optimum range AND in balance with your other hormones. Testosterone Telepathy Technique. Keep in mind that although TRT has been linked with BPH (prostate gland enlargement), polycythemia, andsleep apnea, the evidence is not substantial enough to fully back up many of the potential risks. Through careful monitoring of your overall hormone balance and other relevant factors, such as hematocrit and PSA, we can use precise doses of supplementary testosterone and estrogen blockers to minimize or eliminate the possibilities of the common side effects associated with testosterone. The largest study of its kind to date finds no evidence that testosterone reduces Testosterone is a hormone secreted by the male reproductive biology. Capsules are convenient and, unlike some previous oral testosterone formulations, not thought to cause liver damage. Whether negative or positive, results do something very important: Finally discovering that your testosterone is low (as youve probably been suspecting for a while) can be wonderfully freeing now you know what the problem is. What methods do you use to administer supplemental testosterone? The First Visit To a Testosterone Replacement Therapy Clinic, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) How We Know Its Right for You, The Low T Blood Test Normal Testosterone Levels, Why Being Sure of the Low T Diagnosis Matters, Your Test Results Could Be Wrong Make Sure You Get a Second Opinion, Effects of TRT on Psychosocial Parameters, The Testosterone Replacement Therapy Timeline Conclusions, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) Available Treatment Methods, Injections The Most Reliable Low T Medication Choice, The Advantages of Testosterone Injections, The Disadvantages of Testosterone Cypionate, A Testosterone Cypionate Injection Schedule Is the Best Therapy for Low Testosterone, Topicals, Sublingual Testosterone, Pellets, and Why We Avoid Them, A Few Words About Bioidentical Hormones and Pellets, Bioidentical Hormones Are Custom-Engineered and Mixed for You TRUE, But, Avoid Boosters, Testosterone Pills, and Over-The-Counter Testosterone Enhancers, Because Youre Not Seeing a Medical Provider, Any Side Effects You Experience From Testosterone Boosters May Go Unnoticed, OTC Testosterone Pills and Supplements Dont Work, Prescription Testosterone Pills Are Flat-Out Dangerous, Benefits of Treatment Goals of Treatment, Four Physical Health Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Three Sexual Performance Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Three Mental Health Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy. What are the risks, and perhaps more importantly, can the benefits outweigh the potential side effects? Our clinical experience informs what we adjust, how we adjust it, when we adjust it, why we adjust it and it may not be simply testosterone that we adjust. Inhale and exhale slowly by counting to five and repeat till you feel good. The simple answer is, Too much estrogen, but its not just the simple amount of female hormones present in your system that leads to gynecomastia. Finally, satisfaction with sex life rose sharply by the 3rd week and continued on a dramatic rise through week-30 when the study concluded. This higher viscosity blood exerts more pressure on the cardiovascular system. The use of supplementary testosterone caused pCA to increase. Due to aging, testosterone levels naturally decrease. The number of spontaneous and total erections, as well as the number of ejaculations, increased to stable levels between weeks 12 to 21. In the afternoon and evening, mens testosterone levels tend to drop, sometimes severely. A final problem with pellets is that some insurance carriers will not cover them unless an individual has failed two other forms of treatment (and note that this only applies to the FDA-approved form of testosterone pellets, Testopel BioTE pellets are not FDA approved and will not be covered by insurance). In a final note, smoking cessation and proper management of obstructive sleep apnea, if present, can also have a positive impact here. The third preventative measure is to treat increased hematocrit levels directly with a procedure called a therapeutic phlebotomy removing a quantity of blood to restore the volume of red blood cells to a safer level. Couples have successfully conceived children using sperm that has been frozen for up to 12 years. For these same oral testosterone pills, the negative side effects actually go far beyond liver toxicity. Then, your blood is checked routinely (typically every 90 days) for any abnormalities concurrent with TRT, including careful monitoring of how your PSA level behaves over the course of therapy. Intramuscular injections are given anywhere from twice a week to every other week. Andrology. However, problems with erectile function due to low testosterone may not respond for six months or longer. Although theyre supposed to be the simple answer to patient compliance issues, testosterone pellet implants have a number of complications, including the following: In other words, they can be a much bigger pain than the tiny prick of testosterone injections. Sticking to your treatment plan and following your providers recommendations is critical to long-term success. Remarkably, this very flawed study (only one person studied) spawned concerns that TRT and cancer were directly connected. In diagnosing clinical, chronic low testosterone, what really matters is how youre feeling your symptoms. Put all of this together and you have the first demonstration of telepathy: One person concentrates on something in particular, this is read as specific EEG brain activity, that is sent by wire to a TMS wand, and that stimulates another persons brain and they see a flash of light. When testosterone levels go far beyond what they should be, we start to see some negative results. We need to confirm these suspicions by more concrete means. Proper monitoring of hematocrit levels can help to prevent these potential side effects. Even if those supplements worked as advertised, theres another, potentially worse issue: Hypogonadism (having low testosterone, estrogen, or other hormones) is a medical condition, and it requires medical treatment. Unlike many other medical practices, we respect your time and dont leave you in the waiting room wondering when youll be next all of this sets us apart. At this point, apply pressure on the area between the anus and scrotum. Your hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that signals the pituitary gland to generate two key fertility hormones, which are known as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH). Now serving patients in all Texas cities. Anyone embarking on TRT should realize that response to treatment manifests in different ways in different individuals. There are three major benefits that can result from Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Losing the ability to achieve an erection and physically perform in the bedroom is a particularly distressing symptom that can occur in men suffering from low testosterone. This is a hug that will make him pull you into his heart. The focus should not be on reaching a predetermined number on a lab test. To put that another way, a blood test confirming your suspicions about low testosterone levels can free you from the stress of uncertainty. When we talk about those benefits in detail, patients are surprised that healthy testosterone levels can improve their lives unexpected ways. Results for absorption of sublingual testosterone also vary widely from person to person. This style of treatment allows patients to stay above borderline low levels, which often are still associated with unwanted symptoms, while keeping you out of the borderline high range that increases your risk of side effects. A blood test for Low T can provide much of that information for you and your health provider. For this reason, it is extremely important that your urinary habits, prostate health and PSA be closely monitored if you are on treatment for Low T. Reported upon by Jody Charnow, a study by Dr. Kevin McVary, of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine showed no significant increase in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients being treated with testosterone when compared to those not on TRT. The more interesting debate at this point is the potential consequence of increasing a mans testosterone level, even to a normal range, in the presence of an existing prostatic growth. Relationship issues, work-related stress, a family illness, financial difficulties, the loss of a job, and many other life events can take a toll on your mental and physical health. A very recent study conducted at Boston University Medical Center found a significant improvement in both sexual and urinary function (as well as improved perception of quality of life) for more than 650 hypogonadal men who underwent long-term Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Adding testosterone can increase the effectiveness of these drugs when low testosterone contributes to the problem. That aside, because PSA is essentially a tumor marker for prostate cancer, patients with a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and those with an elevated PSA level should proceed with caution and be monitored closely. Gynecomastia is enlargement of the male breast tissue, a condition thats commonly referred to as man boobs, an undesirable physical side effect. It gives women an idea to win mens hearts and gain their total attention. A man may be born with hypogonadism, or it may develop later in life. Although TRT has become a popular treatment, many experts do not recommend TRT for age-related symptoms of low testosterone. When a mans hormone levels are restored to balance through a treatment plan that includes TRT, many men see a rapid improvement in their physical ability to perform sexually. I used that phrase, abnormal territory, for a reason theres not a clear line dividing whats abnormal from whats normal. The benefits of TRT often reach beyond just boosting energy and sex drive. Dont be afraid to get a second opinion. If you dont feel comfortable for any reason, choose a different provider. Was anybody monitoring the overall health of these patients during the course of treatment? While this is not the best way to maintain normal testosterone levels, and these medications carry their own profile of potential side effects, they are options that we would be happy to discuss with you if maintaining fertility is a concern for you or your family. This metabolism, or break down of testosterone, occurs in the same manner for both exogenous and endogenous testosterone (naturally produced testosterone), but because of an increased abundance of testosterone this may lead to higher than normal levels of these metabolites. While there is concern that TRT might cause existing prostate cancer to worsen (the studies show mixed data), properly monitored administration of supplementary testosterone does not appear to cause prostate cancer in otherwise healthy men. . WebTestosterone is a hormone secreted by the male reproductive biology. PSA levels in the blood between 0-2.5 ng/mL are considered normal. 2014 Jan;30(1):2-7. doi: 10.4103/0970-1591.124197. I still worked out, but the results were lagging, and I just didnt feel the same intensity I used to. In other words, it varies. This is important. Any lag in symptomatic response represents the time it takes for your body to achieve balance. If you have clinically diagnosed hypogonadism (Low T), you should expect improvements in your symptoms as hormone levels normalize and become more consistent. How Are Supplemental Testosterone and Gynecomastia Connected? A greater number of favorable-outcome cases, meaning tumors more likely to respond to treatment, were found compared to the more life-threatening varieties. We usually dont recommend topicals because they: (Click here to read a scholarly article containing a lot of information on transdermal and sublingual testosterone.). By evaluating the results of the PSA velocity test we discussed above, we keep track of potentially abnormal changes that could fly under the radar by remaining below the upper limits of normal. Blood donation (phlebotomy) is solution for men with elevated hematocrit while taking TRT. Cautions about a connection between TRT and OSA appear frequently, but the scientific literature and research findings are inconsistent and methodologically flawed, which suggests that the connection is actually a weak one. Hormone replacement therapy does have side effects. Your body is supposed to create its own testosterone. What Are the Possible Side Effects of Treatment and How Will You Mitigate Them? The idea was simple create a time-release testosterone product and implant it in the body. The pituitary gland then produces less FSH and LH, which signals the testes to slow both testosterone and sperm production simultaneously. Once gynecomastia becomes established, simply cutting out the cause is not going to reverse the present condition. If you increase the solid portion, but dont increase the liquid portion (plasma), the solution becomes thicker. Essentially, you can think of activation as concentration and alertness in this context. When I was trying to figure out what to expect from Testosterone Replacement Therapy, having it work right away was NOT on the list! Theyre made by a variety of companies, and its largely up to the companies selling these products to ensure your safety. It is true that they use a natural source for the raw ingredients (plant sterols), but those ingredients must still be manipulated in a lab and then compounded in a sterile pharmacy to make them appropriate for human treatment, so claims that they are identical to your bodys natural hormones is plainly misleading. 817.918.4763, 4150 Justin Rd. 1. And when doctors from the Mayo Clinic reviewed 30 trials of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, they did not find any overall effect of hormone treatment on cholesterol levels, for good or ill.. While some seemed to show negative effects, a very large study of over 6300 patients treated with testosterone found testosterone had a mild protective effect on the heartread the study here. In fact, its not even clear that a baseline for prostate-specific antigens even exists. We are aware of a handful of risk factors, but we can draw few conclusions beyond them. Making numbers look better is one thing carefully balancing hormonal shifts and the potential side effects is where the art of medicine becomes crucial. Flower Mound,TX75077 The amount of shrinkage that occurs depends primarily on the follicles sensitivity to DHT, rather than the amount of this chemical in the body. All Rights Reserved. When you come into one of our clinics, we evaluate you very carefully, through a series of rigorous tests, to determine if you suffer from hypogonadism. Additionally, it is this same process that is responsible for the potential reduction in size and/or change in firmness of the testicles. When it comes to Testosterone Replacement Therapy, were not increasing your testosterone levels by huge amounts just enough to get you back into a normal range so its highly unlikely that this additional testosterone will cause baldness that would not have otherwise occurred. Ultimately, we have found the following to be true: In the study titled, Timetable of effects of testosterone administration to hypogonadal men on variables of sex and mood (Jockenhovel, Minnemann, et al, The Aging Male, December 2009: 12 (4): 113-118), 40 men with testosterone levels definitively established as low were evaluated for timing of response to therapy. If you suffer from low testosterone, you can feel better. At best, OTC testosterone boosters will be inert and fail to address your symptoms. Once your optimal dose is determined and safe, effective levels are maintained, then blood work is only performed every 90 days. You wouldnt have the guy who installs windows build your entire house. The men who participated in the study, all in their 50s and 60s, reported the following negative occurrences prior to receiving Testosterone Replacement Therapy: After receiving long-term TRT treatments, participants in the study reported a drastic decrease in these unpleasant symptoms and a significant improvement in urinary performance. Theyre suspended in the liquid component of your blood: Plasma. The risks of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, in terms of baldness, are practically nonexistent. Next, youll go to your appointment. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Spiritual commitment is doing An enzyme in your body breaks down testosterone, and DHT interacts with your hypersensitive follicles. The fact of the matter is that therapy, when done right, requires the diligent tenacity one would put toward any other serious medical issue. Any significant increase in hemoglobin may be treated by altering how much testosterone you receive. Discuss your lab results on your 2nd follow-up and discuss treatment decision. Men with male pattern baldness, which is scientifically known as androgenic alopecia, have genes that make their hair follicles weak, but weak in a specific way. Every man is different, and the causes for ED vary. A total lack of aggression is most often a social liability and can sometimes lead to missed opportunities, especially in the workplace. If your treatment requires estrogen blockers or blood donation, which are common side effects of HRT, we handle those at the clinic itself as much as possible. With proper monitoring by the healthcare provider, including thorough health history, regular office visits, and frequent lab checks, TRT may be a safe and effective treatment for some people with low testosterone levels. And a simple, almost stupid Testosterone Telepathy technique you can use on ANY man to make him worship you like his personal queen (even if he barely pays attention to you, Choosing the right provider of Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be difficult, so heres what you should expect when you start looking at different providers, and here are some questions you should ask. Telepathy is the ability to transmit words, emotions, or images to someone elses mind. While theres no evidence that telepathy exists, you can still give it a try. Relax your body and mind, visualize the receiver is right in front of you, and focus your thoughts on sending them a simple word or image. To control hormone levels, the researchers first gave the participants injections of a drug that suppressed their normal testosterone and estradiol production. The men were randomly assigned to 5 groups that received different amounts (from 0 to 10 grams) of a topical 1% testosterone gel daily for 16 weeks. You can now have a clear idea of what the issue is and start seeking treatment with a fair level of assurance. Although, frankly, in a review that I wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine where we reviewed as much of this as we could, we found no cases of stroke or severe clotting related to testosterone therapy. It could potentially help to: Some experts in the field cite testosterones natural anti-inflammatory effects as the reason why some men enjoy a reduction in joint pain. A provider who is not well-informed on all forms of hormone treatment (including testosterone, estrogen, thyroid, and progesterone treatment) and cannot explain the differences wont be able to properly assess what is really right for you. There arent a lot of guarantees, but reasonable measures can be taken to lessen the negative impact that exogenous testosterone and TRT has on fertility. Well, I learned that all of those feelings can be indicative of low testosterone. The following are some of the more common symptoms Low T clinics treat: So ask your provider what are the goals of my treatment? Anyone considering TRT should certainly have a conversation with their medical provider about testosterones role, or lack thereof, in cancer prior to determining if treatment is the right decision for them, but we believe there is no definitive evidence linking TRT and prostate cancer. Testosterone Replacement Therapy can possibly worsen existing prostate cancer, but it cannot cause new prostate cancer to grow. The answer to that question will vary for each Low T clinic, just like any other business. Up to 40% of men over the age of 45 (and many younger like me!) Something went wrong. These testosterone replacement pellets were originally conceived to help with patient compliance compliance basically means taking the medication the way youre supposed to take it. Even if a particular supplement worked and wasnt directly dangerous, you wouldnt know what they were actually boosting your testosterone levels up to or with because your levels arent being accurately monitored. Dependent on the type, these gels can be applied to the armpits, biceps, groin, and other body parts. In these circumstances, many men feel their manhood has been seriously threatened or tarnished, but Testosterone Replacement Therapy often achieves an increased sexual arousal and a restored sex drive after only a few weeks. Many men, from around age 35 to 65 or so, live with ED (erectile dysfunction) symptoms along with low libido, weight gain, difficulty building muscle, and increasing fatigue. I set up my second blood test there so they could test the rest of my testosterone levels. Since prostatic enlargement is affected by a metabolite of testosterone called DHT, it is common for prostate volume and PSA levels to increase when testosterone levels are normalized in hypogonadal men. The most important factors in whether you achieve maximal response are your consistency with treatment and how well your care is managed. Had these men not initiated TRT and not underwent regular testing of their PSA level, these cancers may have gone undetected for years. A very nice person with great manners and a pleasant disposition will call you on the number youve given and schedule an appointment. The Low T medication that medical providers have preferred for decades is called testosterone cypionate, delivered by means of intramuscular injection. Even within the normal range, men with the lowest testosterone levels tend to have the highest cholesterol levels. That means you can expect a spare tire or squishy midsection to be harder to work off and keep off. Research related to the connection between TRT and heart health has increased lately. By the same token, theres a wide variety of other diseases and disorders that can cause these same symptoms. Pellets have a variety of problems. When he was holding his daughter, she was absorbing the testosterone medication that was still on his skin. And a simple, almost stupid Consider this quote from a Harvard Health article on testosterone and cholesterol: Men who receive [testosterone]-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer drop their testosterone levels nearly to zero, and when that happens, their cholesterol levels rise. You would have to constantly test your own testosterone levels, which is a practice fraught with its own issues. Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, and hemoglobin transports oxygen to your organs. That means that we study our craft critically and thoroughly. Its a very treatable condition. . As TRT restores your testosterone levels to the optimum range specific to your body, studies show you can expect this trend of losing muscle mass to slow and possibly reverse. Just as the symptoms of testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) can vary widely, the same can be said about the benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy from patient to patient. Generally speaking, TRT is a very safe endeavor when managed appropriately in the right individual. After your initial consultation, you should know your potential out-of-pocket costs. Estrogen levels become comparably higher, which leads to an increase in adipose tissue (the technical term for fat). We continually seek to deepen our knowledge base in order to provide the most comprehensive level of care. Placing your health at risk with unnecessary medication or the wrong form of treatment can cause even more problems than you began with. More testosterone leads to more circulating DHT, higher DHT levels can increase the size of your prostate and your PSA. I learned later that I could have scheduled my lab appointment for another day and just gone in to my first appointment to gather information, but I was really ready to get this problem figured out. The reason is simple: We know that, with sublingual testosterone, testosterone levels will typically spike quickly. Testosterone replacement therapy is the process of increasing natural testosterone hormone levels with a carefully crafted treatment plan. Being sure about your diagnosis is critical. No matter what the marketing claims, testosterone replacement pellets simply arent as reliable as advertised, and are certainly no match for the precision provided by a weekly schedule of testosterone cypionate injections. The symptoms that led me to getting my levels checked were certainly there for a while before I went, and I can honestly and (very!) In this way, Testosterone Replacement Therapy may actually play a role in cancer prevention. The result is fragmented sleep. By the time they make it through your digestive system, theyve lost a lot of their potency. It I turn thirty-eight in a week, so Im in the younger category of people receiving TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy), but even so, I probably could have started a few years sooner. There are also long acting injections (Aveed) that only require an injection five times a year. Much of this is the same prescription or OTC, ingesting testosterone through the stomach is ineffective or harmful. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. A healthy hormone balance keeps your body tuned to produce more muscle and less fat, which can lead to a healthier self-image and higher perception of quality of life. It seems that the protective effect is mostly related to heart attacks and not necessarily to other types of heart issues. We know, for instance, that some inherited genes can increase your risk for prostate cancer. With oral forms of testosterone, including sublingual testosterone, not only do we see a rapid spike in testosterone levels, but we also see them plummet relatively quickly. Although youre not going to become a competitive bodybuilder or return to your high school physique just because you have normal testosterone levels again, some extra effort in the gym or on the trails will likely produce better results for your appearance than youve been seeing lately. You feel weaknesson one side of the body. The secretion of the hormone increases significantly during puberty. Having an in-depth conversation with your healthcare provider before deciding on TRT is an important first step. In summary, theres just too much up and down going on to feel comfortable with the safety of this form of Low T medication, which is why we never recommend sublingual testosterone at Testosterone Centers of Texas. Each of our clients is subject to an extensive medical history review and evaluation prior to TRT even being considered. The endocrine system is complex and requires individual treatment and adjustments over time to achieve/maintain the right hormonal balance. When I say that TRT, or Low T treatment, is more complex than it may seem, understand that we have done our homework. Lets pretend, for the sake of the argument, that OTC testosterone supplements work (they dont) and that they are safe (theyre not theyre actually very dangerous for your liver). How is treatment suitability determined and progress monitored? Men who find such benefits through TRT are glad to be back on top of their game at work and in life. Use of TRT for those withhypogonadismhas been shown to be effective and generally safe, but additional clinical research data is needed to fully establish long-term safety. Sexual thoughts and fantasy rose considerably by week three and remained at levels approximately double initial scores thereafter.