Are you considering getting testosterone therapy to make you feel younger and vigorous as you get older? Let the experts at Irvine Testosterone Replacement Therapy Clinic guide you on the risks and benefits before you make a final decision.
You might feel drawn into the promising appeal of testosterone therapy, but there are a lot of misconceptions about what it can and can’t do for you. As men get older, the more they turn to testosterone therapy as the ultimate anti-aging formula.
However there is no clear evidence of the health benefits of testosterone therapy for age-related decline. Let’s find out, in this article, what we know, and what we do not, about testosterone for normal aging.
Irvine Testosterone Replacement Therapy: What is Testosterone?
Before we dive into more complicated information about testosterone therapy, let’s find out what testosterone is first.
Testosterone is a hormone that is primarily produced in the testicles. Women also produce testosterone in small amounts, but that’s another story. As a hormone, testosterone helps in maintaining men’s:
- Sperm production
- Sex drive
- Fat distribution
- Bone density
- Facial and body hair
- Muscle strength and mass
- Red blood cell production
What happens to men’s testosterone level as they get older?
Generally, testosterone levels reach their peak during adolescence and the early states of adulthood. The older you get, your testosterone level eventually decreases—usually 1% a year after your 30s or 40s. it is important to know whether a decline in testosterone level (in older men) is due to normal aging, or due to some disease like hypogonadism.
Hypogonadism happens when the body is unable to produce the required or normal levels of testosterone due to a problem in the testicles or in the glands that controls the testicles (pituitary glands). Irvine Testosterone Replacement therapy can improve the signs and symptoms associated with low testosterone count in men. The doctor may prescribe several options such as injections, patches, pellets, or gels.
Declining Testosterone Levels: A Sign of Aging?
A naturally declining level of testosterone does not necessarily mean one is getting older. Men can experience a number of signs and symptoms, as they get older. Some of these symptoms may occur due to low testosterone levels and they can include the following:
- Change in sleeping pattern –low testosterone sometimes causes insomnia and other sleeping problems.
- Change in Sexual Activity –this includes fewer natural erections, reduced sexual desire, and infertility.
- Physical Changes–this could include various physical changes such as decreased bone density, increased body fat, reduced muscle strength, and reduced muscle bulk. Other possible symptoms could also include body hair loss, swollen or tender breasts, and having less energy than you used to.
- Emotional Changes –low testosterone level can impact one’s motivation or self-confidence. You may notice that you feel sad or depressed at times, or you have trouble remembering things and concentrating on certain tasks.
Although most of the signs stated above can be caused by other underlying factors (including side effects from medication, sleep apnea, thyroid problems, depression, and diabetes), it is also possible that they can be the cause of low testosterone levels. Treating said problems could result to better and higher testosterone levels. The only way to properly diagnose a low testosterone level is through blood testing.
Can Irvine Testosterone Replacement Therapy Reverse Aging?
While testosterone effectively reverses the effects of hypogonadism, there is not clear as to whether it has any effect on healthy older men.
A lot of men believe that taking testosterone medications helps them feel younger and stronger as they age. However a few studies have revealed something slightly different. In one study, healthy men who took testosterone therapy gained muscle mass but didn’t get stronger.
Are There Risks When You Get Testosterone Therapy?
Just as with any kind of treatment, there are risks involved with testosterone therapy too. Testosterone therapy can cause the following:
- Acne or skin breakouts
- Contribute to sleep apnea
- Enlarge breasts
- Stimulate non-cancerous growth of the prostate
- Stimulate growth of existing prostate cancer
- Cause testicle shrinkage
- Reduce sperm production
- Increase risk of blot clot in deep veins, which could break loose, get into your bloodstream, stick in your lungs, and block blood flow.
Testosterone therapy may also contribute to the risk of heart disease. Research has revealed that men on long-term testosterone therapy have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems such as heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, and even death. In 2010, researchers put an end to a study on Testosterone in Older Men when early results showed that men on testosterone replacement therapy experienced more heart problems. It appears that in older men, cardiac side effects become a little more noticeable.
Irvine Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Should You Get Testosterone Therapy?
If you’re wondering whether testosterone therapy is the right one for you, consult your doctor about the risks and benefits involved. Your doctor will first measure your testosterone levels at least two times before he can give you his opinion on whether testosterone therapy is ideal for you.
You may have an underlying medical condition that resulted to the unusual decline in testosterone. This could give you good reason to take supplemental testosterone. However, with regards to the treatment of normal aging with testosterone therapy, you’d do best to avoid it for now.
There are natural means to increase your testosterone level too. Your doctor would probably suggest you to try losing weight and increasing muscle mass via resistance exercises.
For men with low blood testosterone levels, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy generally outweigh the risks involved. However, for most men, this decision is something that requires a go signal from their doctor. Irvine Testosterone Replacement Therapy gives men a chance to feel better. It can give them a quick fix for current problems, but that quick fix could also cause unknown long-term hazards.
Testosterone therapy will not keep you young—it is not the fountain of youth. There is no concrete proof it will restore your strength and sexual libido to the same level as your youths’. It can’t make you live longer or prevent heart diseases and prostate cancer. It cannot improve your memory. Do not opt for Testosterone Therapy Treatment with such expectations.