What is Testosterone Therapy and Why Do I Need It?
If you’re considering testosterone therapy to help you to feel younger, then it’s important to know the risks involved before making this important decision for your health. There are a lot of misconceptions about what this treatment can and can’t do for you. As you age, testosterone therapy may sound like the perfect solution for anti-aging. However, understanding what it is and how it can help certain ailments will lead to a better understanding of whether or not it is meant for you.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone that is produced mainly in the testicles and helps to maintain fat distribution, bone density, facial/body hair, muscle strength and mass, red blood cell production, sperm production, and sex drive. Testosterone levels typically peak during teenage years and early adulthood. As a man ages, his testosterone level declines about 1% a year after 30 or 40.
It is important to determine if this low testosterone level is due to aging or a disease such as hypogonadism. This disease causes the body to be unable to produce normal amounts of testosterone or is due to a problem with the pituitary gland or the testicles themselves. Testosterone replacement therapy may and can improve the symptoms of low testosterone in these men.
It’s important to note that not all signs and symptoms of aging in men may be caused by reduced testosterone levels. They can be caused by thyroid issues, diabetes, depression, medication side effects, or even obstructive sleep apnea. While testosterone therapy can help to reverse the effects of hypogonadism, it is unclear whether it would benefit older men that are otherwise healthy. Although some men think that taking testosterone medications may help them to feel younger, few studies have shown this.
Risks of Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone therapy has various risks, much like other treatments. Some of them include:
- May contribute to sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder where breathing stops and starts
- Enlarging of the breasts
- Cause acne/skin conditions
- Stimulate noncancerous growths in the prostate or growth of existing prostate cancer
- Limit sperm production
- Cause testicle shrinkage
- Increase the risk of a blood clot in a deep vein or deep vein thrombosis, which can break loose and travel and lodge into the lungs, blocking blood flow
Learn More About Therapy for Low T in Men
When you’re curious if testosterone therapy is right for you, it’s important to contact professionals such as those at ThriveMD to discuss the benefits and risks with you specifically. We can measure your testosterone levels and look for any medical conditions that may be leading to this drop in your hormone levels. We have administered this therapy to many men and will always give the most professional advice to our potential clients. Call our Colorado office at (720) 534-2333 today.
