Is testosterone replacement therapy bad for you?
After testosterone therapy, many men with low testosterone note better energy levels, sex drive, and mood. Over the years, there have been a large number of individuals in America prescribed testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) to improve energy levels. Sometimes referred to as a testosterone supplement, TRT may help your body produce more of this hormone.
There are still certain organizations and people asking whether testosterone replacement therapy is harmful, even if the medication offers some positive outcomes.
For men with low testosterone and symptoms of insufficiency, TRT is not a good option, even if it has side effects and risks. Speaking with your doctor is the only way you can determine if testosterone therapy is fit for you.
What is testosterone replacement therapy?
TRT, or androgen replacement therapy (ART), is a treatment prescribed to men who exhibit symptoms of hypogonadism due to low testosterone levels.
There are a number of advantages to taking prescription testosterone, including the fact that it can restore the level of testosterone in the body, reversing symptoms associated with low testosterone. The benefits may include increased alertness, improved sexual function, increased energy, improved mood, and improved overall well-being.
What are testosterone injections?
Injections of testosterone can be considered a type of hormone therapy. They inject testosterone into the bloodstream to give the body a dose of the sex hormone.
The levels of testosterone are higher in males than in females, but they are present in both genders. As it affects many functions in the body, such as sexual development, libido, and mood, it is crucial to the health and well-being of all individuals.
There has been an increase in the popularity of testosterone therapy in the United States over the past several years. The number of testosterone prescriptions for men aged 60 and older has doubled over the years.
Key advantages of testosterone replacement therapy
For males with low testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) changes everything. Affecting energy levels, mood, muscle mass, and sexual performance, this disorder may seriously compromise physical and mental health. Low testosterone replacement therapy yields the following lists of advantages:
- Improved Mood
Control of emotional well-being and mood depends critically on testosterone. Mood swings, anger, and despair have been linked to low testosterone levels. Men who use TRT frequently report better moods and fewer depressive symptoms, which helps them to see life more favourably.
Increased muscle mass and strength
Testosterone is a necessary hormone for muscle growth and maintenance. Men lacking testosterone might lose muscle and have lower strength. With a good diet and exercise, TRT may help boost strength and encourage muscular development, enhancing a more active and strong way of life.
Improved Bone Density
Maintaining appropriate bone density depends on enough testosterone levels. Low testosterone may lower bone mass, increasing men’s susceptibility to osteoporosis and fractures. Bone density may be raised, the risk of bone-related issues lowered, and skeletal health promoted by TRT.
Enhanced cognitive capacity
Certain research has shown that TRT may improve cognitive ability. With ideal testosterone levels, memory, mental clarity, and focus may improve. Although further study is required in this field, these possible cognitive advantages enhance all the advantages of TRT.
Causes of Low Testosterone
Though testosterone will gradually drop with age, low levels may be experienced at any age. This may be the outcome of numerous outside variables, including:
- Starting smoking
- Having weight
- a lazy existence
- Stress previously used steroids
- Thyroid malfunction, or hyperthyroidism.
Should you be suffering any or all of these symptoms, you may want to investigate men’s testosterone replacement choices. Certified testosterone replacement therapy experts like Dr. Jumnah Thanapathy at South County Med Spa & Wellness Center can offer safe testosterone replacement treatment.
When might TRT be bad for you?
As TRT brings along various side effects, it turns up the debate of “Is testosterone replacement therapy bad for you?” In this regard, there is a varying response.
Usually, if given the right dosage of testosterone required to raise their testosterone levels, most men may reap many health advantages from testosterone therapy.
If you take large dosages of testosterone over an extended length of time, TRT might, however, potentially compromise your general health. Furthermore, causing unwelcome symptoms are high testosterone levels and medical disorders, including:
- liver ailment
- Low count of sperm
- sleeplessness
- Extreme blood pressure
- Smaller testicles
Your doctor will monitor your testosterone throughout therapy for these reasons: to ensure that it does not get too high. Should your T levels rise excessively, your doctor may quickly change the dose or slow down therapy until your testosterone levels revert to normal.
Who shouldn’t use TRT?
Those with the following disorders are advised not to begin with TRT:
Obstructive sleep apnea
Prescription of TRT to persons with severe obstructive sleep apnea should be done with great care, advises research. Along with chemical changes in the metabolism, TRT alters neuromuscular aspects of the airways. It may also produce hypoxia or low quantities of oxygen in the human tissues.
Improved hematocrit levels and thrombophilia
Those with thrombophilia and a high red blood cell count should not use TRT. TRT may raise red blood cell count, raising blood viscosity as well. Blood clots, stroke, and ischemia might all follow from this.
Prostate cancer
Since testosterone is necessary for prostate cancer to flourish, using TRT could accelerate the growth of the cancer cells. Men with greater testosterone levels in their blood are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to research.
Heart problems
The FDA issued a statement advising TRT users that only those with low testosterone levels resulting from hypogonadism should use it. Hypogonadism is the condition wherein a pituitary gland, brain, or testicular issue causes your body to produce inadequate testosterone.
According to their statement, males using TRT for low testosterone brought on by aging—rather than hypogonadism—have more heart-related issues. These include strokes, heart attacks, and other kinds of blood clots.
When do testosterone levels drop?
Men around age 17 have the greatest testosterone levels; as they get older, their levels diminish, beginning between the ages of 30 and 40. Although the decline is slow—about 1% annually—as you grow older, it accelerates. Though often within the normal range, the average man’s testosterone at age 70 is 30% below its peak. Many men in their 70s and beyond may thus father children.
You could mistake low T or testosterone for erectile dysfunction. While low T may cause erectile dysfunction (ED), some persons with low T have little trouble achieving an erection, while others have ED with normal amounts of testosterone.
Conclusion
For those with low testosterone levels, TRT offers several great advantages that might improve their general quality of life. Before starting, one should consider all the advantages and drawbacks of using TRT. Sometimes the advantages of TRT could exceed the drawbacks.
Though TRT has been related to prostate gland growth, polycythemia, and sleep apnea, the data is not strong enough to support all of the possible hazards.