Testesterone Replacement Therapy for Men
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for men is the therapeutic provision of synthetic hormones to replace those that are no longer produced naturally within the body. In most cases, by effectively returning hormone levels to normal, HRT can successfully combat the effects that are onset by low testosterone.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is the primary male hormone produced mainly from the testes, or testicles. The hormone drastically increases as males enter puberty and peaks by early adulthood. It’s responsible for a multitude of major bodily functions, including:
- Boosting the male libido, more commonly referred to as “sex drive”
- Producing sperm
- Maintaining a healthy bone density
- Building muscle bulk and strength
- Generating and maintaining a healthy red blood cell count
- Decreasing inflammation
- Protecting your organs and brain
- Distributing fat
- Promoting the growth of body and facial hair
What Happens to Testosterone As You Age?
It dramatically decreases. Men over 30 lose between 1 to 1.5 percent of their natural supply of testosterone every year. It’s a slow and natural decline.
So, how does declining testosterone play into aging?
Serum testosterone levels mostly drop when your aging testes increasingly become unable to produce enough of the hormone. Your body and brain gradually start to exhibit the effects—energy wanes, pounds begin to add on around the midsection, your mind and mood fluctuate more, and your appetite for sex diminishes.
What is Low T?
If your hormone levels rapidly exceed their natural decline, you could be experiencing what’s known by too many men under several names: Andropause, aka male hypogonadism, aka low testosterone or “low T.”
Low T has also been associated with numerous, sometimes severe health issues, including increased risks of:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke
- Respiratory disease
- Osteoporosis, or the thinning of bone density, making you more prone to injury
- Depression
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Decline in all-cause mortality
Symptoms of Low T
- Feelings of sadness, moodiness, irritability
- Difficulty enjoying life in general
- An increasing lack of energy and enthusiasm
- Weight gain and fat redistribution, most notably around the midsection and/or breast tissue
- Loss of muscle, stamina and strength
- Decreased desire for sex or intimacy
- Diminished sperm volume
- “Brain fog,” or an inability to focus and think clearly
- Waning performance at work
- Some hair loss, or less growth in body and facial hair
- Trouble sleeping, feeling constantly tired
- Reduced ability in playing sports, exercising
- Increasing withdrawal from family, hobbies, going out
How Do You Measure Your Hormone Levels?
Labs will measure your levels of total and free testosterone, PSA, prolactin, and hematocrit levels.
How Do You Know If HRT Is Right for You?
Once the lab has tested your sample, you will have a personal consultation with our Nurse Practitioner. The Nurse Practitioner will review your intake information, your complete medical, social, and family history, as well as the measurements of your hormone levels. At the consulatation we will. discuss how you’re currently feeling, educate you on available medications, and will review those medications and side effects.