Testosterone Replacement: Know the Benefits

Maybe you’re tired. Or you joke a little too much about feeling your age. And perhaps, in the midst of the jokes, you start to wonder if what you’re feeling is just about age. You’ve heard other men talk about the amazing results they’ve had with testosterone replacement therapy. You’ve done a little research, perhaps. And now you’re wondering: is it worth it to take the next steps?

As you get older, your body’s production of testosterone starts to decline. For some men, that means they suffer real symptoms that they might not even recognize as signs of a hormone deficiency. If that sounds like you, it could be time to look into the facts about and the benefits of testosterone therapy.

THE ROLE OF TESTOSTERONE IN YOUR BODY

Testosterone has played a vital role in your development going back to before you were born. It helped determine the fact that you would be a boy, and it was key to your developing male genitals. You certainly remember how it kicked in when you hit puberty, what with your sudden interest in sex, your ability to grow facial hair, the deepening of your voice, the maturing of your genitals, and your overall growth and muscle development.

And into adulthood, testosterone helps you remain sexually active while preserving your muscle and bone strength. However, you do start to lose testosterone once you hit your 30s. That decline in hormone production happens slowly, at about 1% per year. Because it’s so gradual, you may not even notice the changes that are occurring in your body at first. But after a while, for many men, they become too pronounced to ignore. The only problem is that because these signs are so disparate, you may not realize they all stem from the same cause.

HOW YOU FEEL WHEN YOUR TESTOSTERONE LEVELS ARE LOW

The one symptom that alerts many men to a problem with low testosterone levels is a decline in their sex drive or libido — and, yes, that’s certainly something to pay attention to. Many men also find that they’re experiencing fewer spontaneous erections (including during sleep) than they used to. But the other symptoms of testosterone deficiency aren’t necessarily so obvious.

You might find yourself gaining weight, especially around the belly, losing that slim silhouette you prided yourself on a few years back. Along with that, you could notice that you’re not hanging on to the muscles you’ve worked so hard to maintain at the gym. You may also experience an overall loss of body hair and even a tendency to see swelling in the breasts.

Many men find themselves having problems with concentration and focus, unaware that these can be signs of testosterone deficiency. Memory lapses can go along with this, as can an overall decline in your energy levels. You might find yourself sad, depressed, anxious or unable to care much about anything. You may also find your motivation lagging or feel less confident than you used to.

Some of the symptoms of testosterone deficiency aren’t as obvious. For instance, you’re unlikely to be aware that your bone density is decreasing unless you suddenly break a bone for no clear reason. Low testosterone levels can also affect your cholesterol levels and your red blood cell count — symptoms that you likely won’t notice unless you have blood work done.

Of course, many of these symptoms can be the result of other medical issues, including thyroid problems, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, sleep apnea, or even the effects of the medications you’re taking. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor and avoid self-diagnosing. You need to understand exactly what’s going on with your body, and that means seeking medical consultation.

HOW TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY WORKS

The journey to seeing whether testosterone replacement therapy is the solution for what ails you begins with a visit to your men’s health clinic. There, a doctor will order some blood tests, which they’ll want you to take early in the morning when your testosterone levels are highest.

Among the tests your doctor will want to review is a measurement of your testosterone levels. The normal range for male testosterone is from 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter. If you fall below that range, you’ll be diagnosed as having low testosterone, regardless of the symptoms you’re experiencing.

At that point, your physician will present to you the option of testosterone replacement therapy. You may be surprised to realize how many symptoms this therapy can address all at once.

You have quite a few options to choose from if your doctor feels that hormone replacement therapy is right for you and if you choose to pursue it. You’ll make the final decision based on your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Some men are most comfortable applying testosterone transdermally — that is, through the skin. You might apply the gel to your upper arm (or, in some cases, inside your nose) daily, or you might opt for a skin patch, similar to a seasickness or nicotine patch, that you also apply daily.

Other men don’t want to fuss with their treatment on a daily basis (and some men avoid testosterone gel because they don’t want to risk their kids getting into it). In this case, you might opt for injectable testosterone, which you’ll need to take every week or so. If you want to adopt a “set it and forget it” attitude, you might instead ask to have testosterone pellets implanted under the skin of your buttocks. With this treatment method, you don’t have to think about your therapy again for several months.

THE BENEFITS OF TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Many studies have added to researchers’ knowledge of the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, notably the so-called “Testosterone Trials,” a set of double-blind trials conducted and reported on in 2018. These studies, in addition to the lived experience of thousands and thousands of men, make it clear what you can expect if you embark on testosterone replacement therapy.

INCREASED ENERGY

Many men report increased energy once they start testosterone therapy. It’s not surprising, once you realize that testosterone increases muscle mass. That leaner body mass helps keep weight under control and gives a boost to the metabolism, which in turn boosts energy levels and decreases that feeling of fatigue.

IMPROVED ERECTIONS

Erectile dysfunction can occur for many reasons, with testosterone deficiency being only one of them. When low testosterone levels are behind the issue, though, testosterone replacement therapy can improve erectile function significantly. Many men report enjoying much better erections, including in the morning, once they start therapy.