Testosterone is a hormone that plays an essential part in men's health, but its primary purpose is to enhance sex drive and performance.
Testosterone levels tend to drop as people become older. They reach a peak in early adulthood and then begin to decline at a rate of up to 1% each year around the age of 40. An injury or disease (such as an infection), chemotherapy or radiation treatment, or some medicines can induce a sudden fall.
Men might suffer from a weak libido and erectile dysfunction when testosterone levels drop too low. Low levels can also lead to tiredness, mood swings, loss of muscular mass, and bone strength.
Most men can maintain sufficient testosterone levels long into their late adulthood. Maintaining good health might also assist to slow down the ageing process. Many older men, however, consider testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) as a way to replenish decreased levels. It's reasonable to believe that TRT might make a man feel younger and give his sex life more physical strength and good health.
Is it that simple? Is TRT truly beneficial? The simple answer is yes, but only in certain ways.
Men must understand that TRT will not turn back the clock.
"Although TRT enhances muscle mass and strength in older men when compared to a placebo, this gain has not translated into enhanced physical function. TRT has also not been shown to improve physical strength and good health or memory in major clinical studies.
TRT, on the other hand, has been proven in studies to increase overall sexual activity and sexual desire in older men with low blood testosterone levels.
Even this impact, however, has its limitations. TRT improved libido and erectile dysfunction in men with low testosterone levels and moderate ED, according to a 2017 meta-analysis published in Current Opinion in Urology. TRT proved particularly beneficial for men who did not respond to ED medications such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), or tadalafil (Tadalafil) (Cialis).
TRT, on the other hand, might not assist men with moderate or severe ED, according to the study. Low testosterone is typically not the reason for their ED in these situations, and alternative therapies, such as ED medications, are more successful.
Consider potential risks to your health.
TRT (testosterone replacement treatment) carries various health concerns, which you should address with your doctor. Consider the following :
Erythrocytosis.
Erythrocytosis is a disease in which the body produces an excessive amount of red blood cells, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack.
A heart attack.
According to research published in the September 2019 edition of The American Journal of Medicine, men aged 45 and older with low testosterone who used TRT had a 21% higher risk of heart attacks and strokes (even without erythrocytosis) in the first two years than non-TRT users. Large clinical study results are still needed.
Prostate cancer is a disease that affects men. There is no apparent relationship between TRT and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Research published online by PLOS One on June 22, 2018, revealed no link between TRT and aggressive prostate cancer in over 58,000 males aged 40 to 89. However, additional study is required.
Are you one of the candidates?
If you're worried about low testosterone and how it affects your sex life, talk to your doctor. A diagnosis can be confirmed with a review of symptoms and at least two early-morning blood tests to assess testosterone. (Blood testosterone levels should be between 300 and 1,000 nanograms per deciliter.)
If TRT is given, you can get it by injections, patches worn at night, or daily gels applied to your upper arms, shoulders, or thighs.
Traditionally, testosterone is injected into a big muscle once or twice a week. Injections given less often can result in a spike in testosterone immediately following the injection, which then drops substantially a few days before the next dose. This might cause mood swings, energy levels, and sex drive to fluctuate.
The most recent alternative is a gadget that injects testosterone beneath the skin once a week (much like insulin injections). This technique is frequently more costly than traditional muscle injections.
Keep in mind that even if you have low testosterone and multiple symptoms, TRT may not be your doctor's first recommendation.
Losing weight, for example, boosts your own testosterone production. Changing medicines might also cause levels to rise. These changes can sometimes help relieve symptoms.