The High Price of Low Testosterone Levels
From energy, sex drive, and strength and muscle-building capabilities, low testosterone levels can quickly deplete a man of his defining male qualities. Unfortunately, with age, males become more and more naturally inclined to sluggish hormone production and depletion. It’s called Low-T, and their overall health often pays a high price for it. It’s a conundrum that’s left many turning to hormone replacement therapy as a possible treatment. Is it right for you?
You’ve Got A Testosterone Problem... Now What?
Not too long ago, I stood in my bathroom, syringe loaded with hCG in hand, asking that same question. Now, human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, isn’t a growth hormone, illegal steroid, or even testosterone. It’s actually a natural glycopeptide hormone formed in human placenta. It’s extracted from the woman’s urine and purified into Pregnyl for injection. So, that sounds icky enough, right? The real issue is if you’re better off with it or suffering through the side effects of Low-T? While hCG is also used as a fertility treatment, in the case of Low-T, it’s used to help the testes produce more testosterone. It has potential negative effects. More on that later. How did I know I had a hormone problem to begin with? I went to my doctor and had a simple blood test because I was having classic symptoms of belly fat I couldn’t shake, weaker erections, low energy, etc. My blood work showed that my testosterone level was under 240 ng per dl when it should be between 300 and 1,000. A second test a few weeks later measured my free testosterone, which is the actionable T that binds with receptors. It was only 45 picograms, which is about the amount a typical boy entering puberty would have floating around. Well, isn’t that lovely. According to NYC endocrinologist and author of “Keep It Up: The Power of Precision Medicine to Conquer Low T and Revitalize Your Life” Dr. Florence Comite, free testosterone should be 150 to 250 pg per ml. It’s important to understand that free testosterone isn’t just the ‘maleness’ of a man. It’s responsible for supporting almost every major system in the body, including organs, arteries, bone density, muscle mass, and even healthy hair. It’s been linked to several serious diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. In other words, Low-T can be a major health problem. Male testosterone levels begin to steadily and naturally decline in the late 30s and continues at a rate of one to two percent drops per year thereafter. It such a gradual decline that most men don’t even notice the side effects until sometime in their 50s. Technically, it’s called hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, but to the lay population, it’s often just called andropause or male menopause. Hi, I’m Joe, and I have male menopause. Again, great news, right.
What Are My Options For Raising Testosterone Levels?
My hormone therapy physiciangave me several pharmaceutical options, including under the skin implants, external gels, under-the- skin implants, and testosterone injections. Each physician-supervised therapy has their own set of pros and cons that you should thoroughly discuss with your practitioner. As a family man, topical treatments were a no-go since it could easily be transferred to others through contact. I found hCG injections most appealing for the ease and naturalness of it. According to Dr. Comite, hCG is a viable therapy option for men who haven’t completely stopped making T. It’s more like a start button for T production by mimicking luteinizing hormone.
Benefits Of T-Therapy Replacement
Clinical science is supporting a number of benefits and positive outcomes of hormone replacement therapies like TRT.
• Body Composition In one UCLA study, men given T gel gained over four pounds of new muscle over six months and almost seven pounds over 18 months. Dr. Comite points out that improved body composition further translates to existing disease processes; diabetics, for example, may see reversed insulin resistance and the ability to better metabolize sugar.
• Bone Density Osteoporosis isn’t just a disease attacking women. Of brittle bone fractures occurring in the 50+ age range, four in 10 are in males. Studies have proven that bone mineral density increases with T-treatment, especially for the spine and hips.
• Cardiovascular Hormones like T are thought to play a significant role in keeping arteries flexible to dilate and constrict in accordance with blood flow. Studies have discovered that low T levels are common in men with cardiovascular disease and/or its risk factors.
• Sexual Function The journal, Clinical Endocrinology, published a review of 17 independent studies concerning sexual function and testosterone supplements. It found that supplementation for three months yielded improved libido, increase in spontaneous nighttime erections, and more frequent sex.
Do You Really Have A T-Problem?
Today, there are over 5 million U.S. males diagnosed with Low-T, and an estimated 12.5 million more with undiagnosed and untreated T deficiencies. Even with the undiagnosed numbers, statistics show that the number of T prescriptions written between 2001 and 2011 for males 40-years-old and up tripled. And, medical personnel are reporting that males younger and younger are seeking T therapy. According to Dr. Larry Lipshultz, chief of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Baylor College of medicine, T has been optimized by younger gym crowds as an it-factor. This it-factor trend may be largely thanks to the $100 million in marketing dollars that pharmaceutical companies spend each year marketing T-based therapies. They use leading questions and suggestive messages to encourage treating numbers where symptoms may not even exist. The fact is that T-based therapies remain somewhat controversial due to the potential risks of long-term treatment, such as testicle shrinkage, prostate cancer, breast enlargement, and cardiac arrest. Wary doctors continue to cite the unknown safety and efficacy issues and uncertainty of benefits that exist from a lack of comprehensive medical research. Here’s a good example: While professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina and author of “Rethinking Aging” Nortin Hadler promotes exercise over putting a “silly compound” into your body and exposing your organs to unnecessary risks from androgen exposure, associate clinical professor of urology at Harvard Medical Abraham Morgentaler doesn’t believe the aging effects of Low-T should be ignored. Morgentaler points out that no one would argue that glasses shouldn’t be worn because the eyes get weaker with age. This line of thought leads one to believe that there’s no reason not to treat T issues with the same diligence as other age-related disease processes. If you look at the research, Morgentaler makes a lot of sense to the layman. Are T therapies really any different than the hundreds of pharmaceuticals out there, such as statins, that solve one problem at the potential risk for developing others? Plus, much of the research simply contradicts its predecessor research. Back in 2011, Morgentaler and Lipshultz actually monitored men with untreated prostate cancer who also had hormone replacement therapy with T for over two years. The study, published in the Journal of Urology, found no growth of the cancer nor worsening of symptoms a year later. The bottom line here is that if you’re looking for a consensus on the safety and effectiveness of T replacement, you won’t find it. TRT is something you should speak with a medical expert about, confirm that you have an actual clinical problem, and then thoroughly discuss your options and pros and cons of each before deciding on T injections or any other treatment option. Look for physician supervised testosterone therapy and hgh therapyfor men. Dr. Lipshultz suggest clinicians treat symptoms, not lab results, and warns that many facilities are targeting clients with false anti-aging promises and failing to carefully track their patients. Levels of T in the circulatory system must be monitored carefully to make sure it’s high enough for positive effects and low enough to avoid unwanted negatives.
What Are The Known Negative Effects Of T Replacement?
• Reduced sperm production by suppressing natural T production.
• Reduced testicular volume .
• Possible lower HDL cholesterol
• Thicker blood due to higher red blood cell concentrations, which may cause risk of blood clots and strokes.
• Possibility of aggression if your already inclined to it; T simply makes your brain more sensitive to the social cues that create aggressive outbursts.
My Decision To Treat Low-T
I’m not one to tamper with nature... well, unless the reward vs risk favors me. In the case of my T problem, I felt treatment was a reward worth the potential risks. Insurance doesn’t cover it. So, I’m paying a high cost for my improvements, but I ultimately feel assured that the results are not only good for my personal lifestyle, happiness, and appearance but also my overall health. Given that I have pre-diabetes and a family history of heart disease, I also feel some peace knowing that I’m taking a positive proactive step for prevention of future health problems.
My decision boiled down to two key points:
1. Having a trustworthy treatment center dedicated to patient knowledge, safe and precision practices, and a comprehensive monitoring strategy.
2. Lab work that confirmed the hormone imbalance was congruent with how I felt and my body was behaving. Since starting my treatment and enacting some positive lifestyle changes concerning my diet and exercise, I feel like a new person. I’ve gained muscle. My skin is firmer. My blood sugars are under control. My T levels are up in the normal range. My libido is alive and well, and I have the tools to get the job done. I have the energy, stamina, and positive mindset to work toward each of my personal, professional, and health goals. I haven’t had a single negative come out of my decision. The above is enough to make me at peace with my T decision. What will your decision be on T?










