Testesterone Therapies for Men

 Some men are interested in testosterone therapy even if their testosterone levels are considered normal. Find out whether testosterone therapy could be helpful for you.

If you want to remain looking like a young man, you need a steady flow of testosterone, or androgens, as this hormone is responsible for the normal growth and development of male sex organs, and the maintenance of secondary sex characteristics. Without enough of it, you can feel anxious, depressed, become intellectually muddled, and develop a low sex drive. Also, low levels of testosterone may result in a decline in muscle mass and strength, and an increase in upper body and abdominal fat.

A little-known condition called androgen deficiency occurs when bodily tissues do not have enough exposure to androgens, or testosterone, to function normally. There is hope — with Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), lower-than-normal testosterone levels can be regulated and modified.

While young males do not typically suffer from a testosterone deficiency, the presence of certain medical conditions that hamper the body’s ability to produce testosterone can result in this condition at any age. In fact, approximately one in 200 men under 60 years of age suffers from androgen deficiency.The testosterone levels in men usually decrease with age. They gradually begin to fall from the age of 40 years and decrease by approximately 0.3% per year. It has been estimated that up to 20% of men over 60 will experience a decline in androgen production that is significant enough to warrant a diagnosis of androgen deficiency.Some controversy still exists over whether or not older men experience what is known as “andropause,” or male menopause, a much more gradual and subtle change of life than female menopause. The question of whether such naturally decreasing levels of testosterone should be remedied, or if TRT should simply be reserved for extreme cases, remains largely unanswered. For now, it is best to assume that unless your doctor diagnoses you with a deficiency, TRT is not the solution.

The possibilities of testosterone therapy are enticing — increase your muscle mass, sharpen your memory and mental focus, boost your libido, and improve your energy level. As you get older, testosterone therapy may sound like the ultimate anti-aging formula. But health benefits from testosterone therapy aren’t quite so clear-cut. 

Men’s bodies produce the hormone testosterone in their testes. In men, testosterone helps maintain:

• Bone density

• Fat distribution

• Muscle mass

• Muscle strength

• Red blood cell production

• Sex drive

• Sperm production

Testosterone therapy using testosterone replacement medications may be necessary for men who have very low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism). Testosterone therapy medications are available as injections, patches and gels.