Could Testosterone Replacement Therapy be right for you?

With ground-hog day approaching, and a longing for spring, seems apt to throw some light on how temperature affects testosterone levels right? Cold Showers Boost Testosterone? A cold shower might invigorate, improve blood circulation, give a glowing skin but it does not boost testosterone levels. If it is a hot day or you had a vigorous workout, a cold shower will soothe sore muscles, cool down body temperature, including the testicles which is good for sperm quality. The testicles always are at a slightly lower temperature than the body. In fact scrotal descent, and the way arteries that supply blood to the scrotum are right next to the veins taking blood away from the scrotum is a mechanism to regulate temperature. This evolutionary adaptation along with the thin scrotal skin, has led to scrotal temperature in humans 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius lower than body temperature. Sperm generation works well at 34 degrees Celsius. Taking a cold shower before bed will improve sleep quality which...

  Adjusting dose, dosage, frequency, even mode of administration from IM to sub-Q is one way to deal with edema or water retention while on TRT. Are There Natural Ways to Control Water Retention While on TRT? Water retention can be controlled by a diet rich in potassium, magnesium and cutting back on Sodium. How Much Magnesium and Potassium is Required per Day? Both Magnesium and Potassium should be supplied by diet and the body does not make any naturally. Both are needed to regulate blood pressure which plays a role in water retention apart from other vital functions that each of them perform. NIH Recommends the Following Daily Intake: Magnesium: Adults assigned male at birth — 400 to 420 milligrams of magnesium per day, Adults assigned female at birth need 310 to 320 milligrams per day Potassium: Adults assigned male at birth — 3,400 milligrams Adults assigned female at birth — 2,600 milligrams Substituting Regular Salt A very simple habit of replacing regular bleached table sal...

Hair shedding is a continuous cycle where 30 to 100 strands a day fall and regrow. Hair loss on the other hand is when something prevents the hair from growing back. Hair loss can happen for many reasons ranging from, most common genetic pattern baldness, severe stress, abuse of hair from hair styling to side effects of medication for example — chemo. Hair Loss versus Hair Shedding Excessive Hair Shedding — Telogen Effluvium When normal hair shedding exceeds the usual daily 50 to 100 strands, it is excessive shedding and the medical term for this condition is called Telogen Effluvium Common reasons for excessive hair shedding are Weight loss of more than 20 pounds Stressful situation — Pandemic, job loss, loss of loved one, divorce… Illness — High fever, surgery, recovering from illness, anemia Mental Health — Depression, Anxiety Females — Childbirth or stopping birth control Nutrition — Not eating a balanced, nutrient rich food, junk food, malnutrition Hereditary — Male Pattern Baldne...

  When it comes to Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) or Androgenetic Alopecia both Finasteride (Topical and Oral Finasteride) and Minoxidil works well. Finasteride blocks DHT which shrinks hair shaft and Minoxidil nourishes with increased blood supply as it dilates blood vessels. All types of hair loss will benefit from Minoxidil. Finasteride will work only on male pattern baldness and not on other types of hair loss. Consider Minoxidil as a general OTC hair treatment applied to the scalp while Finasteride pill and topical is used to treat androgenetic alopecia which is genetic and the most common cause of hair loss. M i noxidil is only topical application for hair loss since oral ingestion can cause hair to grow all over the body. Oral minoxidil is prescribed for hypertension and not hair loss. Finasteride blocks DHT, a potent form of testosterone that shrinks the hair shaft and makes it fall out eventually. Such hair loss starts in the 20s accelerating as one ages. So both oral finaste...

It is safe to say that both topical finasteride and oral finasteride are extremely safe medication and does not interact with any other medications to affect the body negatively. Finasteride has been used from 1992, with many long term studies where side effects were extensively researched. The beneficial effect of finasteride in stopping  hair loss  from male pattern baldness was an accidental discovery since finasteride was first used to treat benign prostate enlargement. Literally a hair raising experience when this good side effect of finasteride was seen in patients treated for benign prostate enlargement. 😉 Topic a l Finasteride or oral finasteride both are safe to take, and both do not affect liver, kidneys or the heart. No internal organs will be affected by using topical or oral finasteride. The amount of topical finasteride which is always mixed with Minoxidil is even less than oral finasteride. It is .1 Mg. Minoxidil or Rogaine(brand name) is extremely beneficial t...

  Testosterone therapy helps replace deficits which is essential for the well being of a male, especially as they get older and testosterone synthesis starts tapering down. Testosterone therapy effectively counters hypogonadism or low — T. Finasteride & Minoxidil for Patients on TRT Long term external replacement of testosterone might lead to an excess production of DHT(Dihydrotestosterone) which shrinks hair follicles eventually leading to hair loss. A genetic disposition to MPB(Male Pattern Balding) is the leading cause for a thinning crown and a receding hairline. But being proactive and starting early treatment will help reverse this condition. Finasteride ,  a 5AR blocker blocks the enzyme called Type -II Alpha Reductase that synthesizes DHT from testosterone. More 5AR enzyme, more DHT, leading to MPB hair loss. Minoxidil, which is a scalp treatment, helps increase blood flow to the hair follicles. Together  finasteride and Minoxidil  help regrowth of hair, ...

  So A and B both got diagnosed with male pattern balding. It starts thinning hair from the crown area and a receding hairline, and is probably inherited. Both get a prescription for Finasteride pills and Minoxidil topical application. ​ Finasteride & Minoxidil A got his Finasteride & Minoxidil prescription filled with generic meds at a reputed, online men’s clinic with a compounding pharmacy spending X dollars. ​ B went to a huge retail chain and got his prescription filled for Y Canadian dollars for branded Finasteride & Minoxidil. ​ Any guesses wh o  saved the most money, and didn’t have to lose hair on the cost of pattern  male pattern balding medication prescriptions in Canada ?​ Yup, you guessed right. A saved a ton of money that he paid 10% down payment for a Condo in Bridal Path, Ontario. Just kidding. But A is certainly living happily ever after with his Finasteride pills and Minoxidil topical application purchase, cheapest in Canada, getting the same...

External testosterone from TRT after a while, might increase estrogen levels from aromatization which needs to be countered. Too much estrogen can lead to side effects such as gynecomastia or male breasts, high water retention among other side effects. ​ Men are from Mars and women might be from Venus, but hey, we all share the same hormones, but in different proportions. Estrogen (E) is also crucial for men’s health as much as women’s though. Maintaining hormonal balance of different hormones as nature intended while optimizing deficits should be the goal of TRT for men. ​ One  o f the reasons TRT patients are monitored diligently at ON MEN via blood work and quarterly check ups is also to monitor estrogen levels. Means not eliminating estrogen from the body, but making sure the proper proportions of hormones are maintained for optimum health. ​ Testosterone is the most significant hormone for male sexual development and function. Naturally in males, testosterone levels decline wi...

Witches cauldrons’ brewing potions, ghouls & goblins haunting sidewalks, bewitching parties galore in the twilight zone…we thought it is time to scare the hell out of testosterone self-diagnosing, and dosing, DIY wizards keeping with the spirit. If we had to put a piece of candy in a bowl for every testosterone self medication misadventure that comes our way, the bowl would have to be replaced by a barrel now. Here is a typical horror story shared verbatim we see at ON MEN: “I have been using   anabolic steroids for several years now and have been experiencing severe side effects lately. I am looking to get a blood test requisition for a few parameters I am looking to get tested for. I am concerned for my health and am looking to minimize the harm I am putting on my body. Is the requisition something you could offer?” This theme is consistent across age groups. Younger men report steroid or testosterone use for gains at the gym. But eventually their natural testosterone product...

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 profes...