What is Testosterone? NRG Clinic: Leading in Hormone Therapy

Testosterone Therapy: What Men Need to Know About Low T and TRT Treatment Los Angeles Times

Because when it comes to low testosterone, the stakes extend far beyond the gym. Even high-performing men balancing careers, families, and fitness can find themselves battling unexplained fatigue, diminished focus, low libido, and persistent sluggishness despite adequate rest. Testosterone pellets are very popular, and many women swear by them, but they are not recommended by most menopause experts. In general, women who use pellets initially love them because the huge bolus of estrogen and testosterone the pellets offer immediately makes them feel sexy, energetic, and fabulous overall. But these women often end up with unacceptably high levels because the dose is too high and the products aren’t regulated.

An important takeaway of this diversity of sex roles across species is that we need to be cautious when generalising findings to humans. Every species has its own evolutionary history when it comes to solving the problem of reproduction, and our own evolutionary pathway is a unique one – not least the cumulative culture and social learning I mentioned before. On my account, cultural norms don’t just ‘dial up or dial down’ evolved traits. Let me recap what I understand your position, and the ‘sensible’ T-Rex approach, to be. Stronger sexual selection on males gave rise to masculine physical and psychological traits that facilitate male competition for mates, status and resources. Testosterone ties all this together, making it ‘the hormone that dominates and divides us’, as you’ve written in your 2021 book.

Moderately elevated testosterone levels in men may produce few noticeable symptoms. Boys with higher levels of testosterone may begin puberty earlier. Low testosterone levels could be a sign of pituitary gland problems. The pituitary gland sends a signaling hormone to the testicles to produce more testosterone. Some men and women experience immediate side effects of testosterone treatment, such as acne, disturbed breathing while sleeping, breast swelling or tenderness, or swelling in the ankles. Doctors also watch out for high red blood cell counts, which could increase the risk of clotting.

These alternative and natural treatments aren’t proven to be more, or as, effective as traditional testosterone therapy. Some may also interact with any medications you may be taking and cause unintended side effects. Research shows that bone density increases with testosterone treatment as long as the dose is high enough. Clinical trials on the effect of testosterone on bone density found increases in spinal and hip bone density.

Therefore, lower testosterone levels are more common among older men. This explains some of the age-related changes in men, such as loss of muscle mass. Some foods, vitamins, and herbs can help boost your testosterone levels. Be sure to talk to your doctor, if you’re concerned about low testosterone.

If you consider your libido levels too low or too high, treatments are available. If a doctor diagnoses a testosterone deficiency, they may suggest a course of testosterone replacement therapy. This should only be done with the guidance of a physician as it can lead to dangerous health issues if done incorrectly.

However, she adds that the blood level of testosterone in young women “is about 1/10th that in men.” As a result, we observed significant effect sizes (ESs) for hormonal responses, particularly testosterone. The ES values ranged from medium to very large, indicating the robustness of the observed effects. Importantly, effect sizes are independent of sample size, reinforcing the strength of our findings beyond conventional significance testing.

But testosterone does testosterone lower sperm count a lot more for the body, and not everyone knows a lot about what testosterone really is. Men with low levels of testosterone may suffer from depression, fatigue, and general irritability. Doctors and researchers have varying opinions regarding the effectiveness of testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone treatment is not advised for men with prostate or breast cancer. Additionally, testosterone therapy may worsen sleep apnea in older people. After the age of 40, the concentration of circulating testosterone falls by about 1.6 percent every year for most men.

If an adult male’s testosterone levels are below 300 ng/dL, a doctor may do a workup to determine the cause of low testosterone, according to the American Urological Association. Low T levels in women can be caused by removal of the ovaries as well as diseases of the pituitary, hypothalamus, or adrenal glands. All of this reduces the active (free) form of testosterone in the body. More than a third of men over age 45 may have reduced levels of testosterone than might be considered normal (though, as mentioned, defining optimal levels of testosterone is tricky and somewhat controversial). It’s best to have the blood test early in the morning while you are fasting. This is when your testosterone levels are usually at their highest. If you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, you may want to talk to your doctor about the possibility of low testosterone levels.