Testosterone is a hormone produced primarily in the testicles of men and is responsible for all men’s characteristics. However, as you age, the testosterone level drops by 1% every year, which is normal but can lead to reduced sex drive. Additionally, your testosterone level can decrease faster than normal, which leads to male hypogonadism. This can be caused by several causes, such as injuries or conditions affecting your testicle, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland. The good news is that this is treatable using testosterone replacement therapy.
What is Male Hypogonadism
Male hypogonadism is a condition in which your testicles don’t and can’t produce enough testosterone. The testicles, which are the gonads, have Leydig cells that help produce testosterone.
So What Does Testosterone Do?
Testosterone is responsible for maintaining and developing the sex organs and genitalia, muscle mass, bone density, an adequate level of blood cells, and sexual and reproductive systems.
When you think you have low testosterone, a crucial specialist will refer you to the laboratory for further diagnosis and confirm your testosterone level. When you contact a leading TRT provider, they will conduct total testosterone measures, steroid hormone-binding globulin, and free testosterone. In addition, they will analyze the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone levels to differ if you have primary or secondary hypogonadism.
The common measure used to test the total testosterone is normal 10.4 to 34.7 nmol per l. With most of the circulation testosterone being bound to albumin or steroid hormone-binding globin, any changes can affect bioavailable testosterone. You should also note that there is no standard measure for the bioavailable testosterone, which makes it hard to define the total testosterone level that could indicate male hypogonadism. However, most studies show that hypogonadism can occur when the total testosterone level is less than 6.9 nmol per L.
Benefits of Testosterone Therapy in Men
Testosterone therapy aims to restore the normal testosterone level, which helps increase functionality and good health in men. Some benefits often include increased libido in patients with HIV or AIDS. Below are the benefits you leap from testosterone therapy.
When you have low testosterone, it affects your sexual life by reducing your sexual drive or erectile dysfunction. There are many different options you can use for testosterone therapy to treat sexual dysfunction, such as using gel, intramuscular injection, and transdermal patch. It’s important to be consistent with the treatment as recommended by your doctor for better results. Irrespective of the methods, you will have an improvement in sexual function and libido.
Bone Density, Muscle Strength, and Body Composition
When the testosterone level decreases, the bone mineral destiny also decreases, which can lead to an increased risk of fractures. It’s important to note that most density changes are often correlated with estrogen levels and bioavailable testosterone. Testosterone replacement therapy may help increase bone density and stop bone loss. When testosterone therapy is used in healthy men, it has indicated an increase in lean body mass.
Most men with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) often have decreased androgen levels. Androgen deficiency can lead to symptoms such as hot flashes, reduced sexual desire, depression, loss of body hair, and reduced ejaculation. With testosterone therapy, you can increase the level of androgen and increase mood. Additionally, you can increase libido, muscle strength, and energy.
Mood, Cognition, Depression, and Well Being
Testosterone therapy has greatly improved mood, cognition, depression, and overall well-being. Low testosterone affects the uptake of serotonin activity in the brain, and it is often linked to depression. Testosterone therapy helps boost testosterone levels, increase serotonin uptake, and improve overall mood. Additionally, testosterone is associated with neurobiological processes associated with cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Using TRT, you can improve cognition by boosting the level of testosterone.
Testosterone Therapy Is Safe
When you have low testosterone, many market options are unsafe. However, testosterone therapy is effective for hypogonadal men with no or fewer side effects. However, no long-term studies indicate that most states only approve for use from conditions set by the Food and Drug Administration.
It’s important to consult with your doctor to confirm that your symptoms resulted from low testosterone and not other conditions. Use the right option to get the best result and ensure fewer side effects. If you have sensitive skin, you can consider using an injection. Using testosterone in men is to restore the testosterone concentration to a normal range. It’s important to avoid oral preparation due to the first-pass metabolism that is associated with hepatotoxicity.