Could Testosterone Replacement Therapy be right for you?

The question really should be to what extent testosterone replacement alleviates depression, and the factors that influence the positive outcomes. But let’s not scare you with long headings. ​ With the backdrop of a sweeping epidemic, debilitating lock downs, social distancing norms it is no surprise world mental health day is trending. Even return gift bags given with thoughtful notes being penned about understanding & empathy, coaxing to reach out if feeling down and depressed. ​ Low-T being the cause of   mood issues, a certain lack of overall well being is well understood, as is the ability of testosterone to boost mood and bestow that spring in the step, feel good, win the world feeling. ​ So testosterone eminently qualifies as a therapy option. Although it can be nuanced and it might not be for everyone, but for a certain subset of people testosterone replacement is simply tailor-made to a T to deal with depressive symptoms. ​ It has long been debated among medical profession

Low-T can affect men of all ages. Even adolescents can suffer from low-T. An aging testis in older males leading to physiologic changes is the main cause of gonadal dysfunction, or primary hypogonadism.​ Hypogonadism  In younger males the cause of low-T is commonly due to congenital or acquired conditions that disrupt the testosterone production in the testes due to HPT axis issues. (Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.) which results in declines of LH(Luteinizing Hormone and FSH(Follicle Stimulating Hormone). ​ This is also called secondary hypogonadism. ​ Diagnosis & treatment parameters for young males suffering from low testosterone To diagnose low-T  i n younger males is challenging due to absence of decreased libido or erectile dysfunction, a telltale symptom of low testosterone, common in older males. Instead, hypogonadism manifests as fatigue and lack of energy, which is the common complaint of younger males suffering from low testosterone. ​ While an underlying congenital

Testosterone has a powerful effect on muscle mass, strength and fat reduction. ​ Myotrophic and Hypertrophic Effects of Testosterone on Muscles In a nutshell testosterone:  Improves how the body processes proteins by inhibiting the breakdown of protein Activating satellite cells which are a type of stem cells that play a role in muscle development Stimulating anabolic hormones, which promote muscle growth and protein synthesis Enhancing tissue growth Myotrophic and Hypertrophic Effects of Testosterone on Muscles Important mechanisms behind the myotrophic (increasing muscle weight) effects of testosterone were uncovered both in athletes using steroids for several years and in short-term controlled studies. Both long-term and short-term testosterone usage accentuated the degree of fibre hypertrophy in human skeletal muscle by enhancing protein synthesis. Hypertrophy is the process of organ or tissue enlargement by increasing the size of cells. Testosterone increase s  the size of the mus

  After blood tests, ruling out a long list of treatable medical conditions and making sure that one is showing symptoms for low-T, TRT Therapy (testosterone replacement therapy) is initiated. Subsequent monitoring is done to confirm the testosterone dose is optimal. Testosterone Dose Adjustment Optimum Testosterone Level The goal for the majority of patients is a total testosterone in at least the mid to normal range of 400 to 600 ng/dL. Aim for higher levels in younger patients and lower levels in older patients is acceptable. Once the dose is opti m ized, levels are not repeated often. Maybe once a year, unless symptoms are present or the dose changes. A baseline CBC before treatment at 3 months, 6 months and then annually after that is required. According to the guidelines, the patient should be evaluated at 3 to 6 months after treatment initiation and then annually to assess whether symptoms have responded to treatment and whether the patient is suffering from any adverse effects.