Testosterone is linked to increased libido as well as muscle mass. But this is not the whole story.
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You can’t open a men’s magazine or watch a news segment on health nowadays without someone in the media warning you of the dangers of “low T”, or low testosterone levels. Unfortunately, because most of this coverage by drug and supplement marketers, men are now awash in information about the supposed benefits of testosterone replacement therapy but few or none of the drawbacks or potential dangers.
Why is Testosterone Important?
If you are to believe media coverage, testosterone only exists to increase sexual performance and bulk up the muscles of body builders. There is some truth to this: testosterone is linked to increased libido as well as muscle mass. But this is not the whole story.
Testosterone injections are not the “fountain of youth” that many advertisements imply…
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Testosterone also plays a role in many aspects of a man’s health. It maintains bone density and preventing serious problems like osteopenia and osteoporosis, which can lead to an increased risk of fractures. Another important role that testosterone plays is to help maintain red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. It also affects a man’s appearance due to its link to the distribution of fat and of facial and body hair.
However, natural testosterone production in men peaks early and after age 30, men can expect to lose around 1% of their testosterone a year–and this can lead to some of the problems discussed below.
When is it Really a Problem?
There are some men who really do suffer from a condition called hypogonadism, a condition where a man’s body is not able to make sufficient amounts of testosterone. Men who have this condition will suffer from an array of possible symptoms, including:
- Sleep disturbances and fatigue
- Hair loss
- Decreased bone density
- Emotional issues such as depression and irritability
- Decreased muscle and increased body fat
- Decreased libido and sexual energy, decreased ability to maintain an erection
- Swelling or tenderness in the breasts
For these men, doctors can prescribe testosterone in the form of an injection, a slow-release pellet, gels or creams to help bring their hormone levels up to normal. For men with this condition, this can help restore quality of life.
What are the Risks and Drawbacks?
Before merrily beginning hormone replacement therapy, however, there are some facts that men should be aware of so that they can make a truly informed decision about which course of action they want to pursue:
Testosterone injections are not the “fountain of youth” that many advertisements imply, although for men who do suffer from fatigue caused by low testosterone, hormone replacement therapy can help to boost energy levels.
As a matter of fact, one study showed that younger men with risk factors for heart disease as well as older, otherwise healthy men, increased their risk of heart problems if on testosterone supplements.
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While testosterone therapy may be easy to begin, it’s not so easy to get off of–at least not without consequences. Why? Your body is lazy. If you are supplementing with replacement testosterone, your body will stop making its own, meaning that you have to continue with the replacement therapy just to maintain regular levels.
There has been research to the effect that testosterone therapy can increase the risk of heart problems–however, while some studies have found a link between hormone replacement and higher incidence of heart disease, others are not and frankly the scientific evidence in inconclusive. However, even this should be cause for concern, since heart disease in the number one killer of American men.
While testosterone therapy can help men with hypogonadism, there is no scientific evidence to date that shows that replacement can help otherwise healthy men with age-related loss of testosterone. And sometimes it can do more harm than good. As a matter of fact, one study showed that younger men with risk factors for heart disease as well as older, otherwise healthy men, increased their risk of heart problems if on testosterone supplements.
What to Do?
To sum up, testosterone is a hormone which plays an important part in a man’s health – not just their sex lives or the size of their pecs…
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Firstly, if you are concerned that your testosterone levels may be low, you should go in to see your doctor to report your symptoms and get a work-up to see what the underlying problem might be. Some simple blood tests can let you and your physician know if you are suffering from low testosterone levels–although many doctors say that, for most men coming in to see them about issues like fatigue or stress, testosterone levels are usually not the issue. However, there may be other underlying problems that you are not aware of.
Secondly, if it turns out that you are low in testosterone, you should discuss this with your doctor and carefully weigh the risks and benefits of this therapy. If you are already a heart patient, you might want to be particularly careful of beginning this kind of treatment, since there is at least some research to show a link between testosterone replacement and heart disease.
Thirdly, it is also important to realize that many health problems attributed to low testosterone–such as decreased libido or fatigue–can also be the result of other factors, including an unhealthy lifestyle. These, too, should be discussed with your doctor: poor eating habits, lack of exercise, overuse of alcohol or use of street drugs and problems in relationships can also cause many of these symptoms. The good news is that consistent, healthy choices can help to decrease these symptoms naturally and without the use of supplements or hormone replacements.
To sum up, testosterone is a hormone which plays an important part in a man’s health–not just their sex lives or the size of their pecs, but in other important factors like sleep cycles, red blood cell counts, bone density and other significant parameters. And there are some men who do appear to benefit from testosterone replacement as they age.
However, men should be aware that much of the mainstream media information on this topic is coming from the manufacturers of these products, who have a financial stake in selling what they have made. That is why it is so important to talk to your doctor and get tested as well as to get the facts on the true benefits and risks of hormone therapy before beginning this kind of treatment.
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Photo: Getty Images
Great article and very comprehensive.
It’s important to think before deciding to do TRT, for many it is for life since it can damage the endocrine system permanently same as steroids can do.