Men and Testosterone
By the age of 80, a man’s level of testosterone may be only twenty percent of what it was in his youth. This decline happens gradually, starting as early as the mid-thirties. Known as andropause, changes in testosterone levels are the male equivalent of female menopause.
Low testosterone can lead to increased risk of life-threatening conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. As a result of andropause, a man may also experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- anxiety
- depression
- osteoporosis
- reduced libido
- cognitive decline
- loss of stamina and lean muscle mass
Unlike menopause, the drop in testosterone is so gradual that the symptoms of andropause appear slowly over time and are often ignored for a while or chalked up to “getting older.” The good news: Many symptoms of andropause can be reversed by restoring more youthful testosterone levels.
Testosterone Deficiency – an increasingly prevalent problem
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, vital for sustaining proper erectile function and libido. It is also involved in building muscle, burning fat, and supporting energy level, mood, immune functions, and bone density. Millions of men in the United States suffer from the effects of low testosterone levels.
Recent studies have shown that low testosterone levels may be a predictive marker for high risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, low testosterone is associated with a higher incidence of depression, heart disease, osteoporosis, broken bones, frailty, and dementia.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a member of the steroid family of hormones. Interestingly, your body needs cholesterol to make these hormones. You probably thought that all cholesterol was bad for you, and the lower the blood level the better. In reality, without cholesterol your body will not have adequate amounts of steroid hormones.
Benefits of Testosterone Replacement
- Stronger Bones and Muscles. Testosterone helps build muscles, bones and connective tissue. As such, it has an important role in preventing and treating osteoporosis in both men and women. By building muscle mass, testosterone not only improves physical appearance but also reduces strain on joints.
- Reduced Risk of Diabetes. Testosterone is also important in preventing and treating Type 2 Diabetes, which is characterized by high blood sugar. Normally, sugar leaves the bloodstream and enters our cells as a result of the action of insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas. All of our cells have receptor sites for insulin, and when the insulin attaches to these receptors, sugar enters the cells. In diabetic patients, cells are not able to adequately respond to insulin: The receptor sites stop working properly, and sugar stays in the bloodstream instead of moving into the cells. Testosterone helps the insulin receptors work more efficiently, thus reducing the tendency for diabetes, a tendency that increases with age.
- Immune System Regulation. Patients with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis may also benefit from testosterone. It can improve appetite, increase weight in malnourished patients, improve wound healing and increase resistance to infection. Testosterone builds body mass while reducing obesity. In addition, it may lower blood fats such as high cholesterol and triglycerides. In Europe, testosterone is used to treat gangrene as well as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Improved Body Weight Profile. Testosterone affects body weight by inhibiting fat storage, stimulating fat burning, increasing insulin sensitivity, and enhancing growth of muscle fibers. By promoting lean body mass and reducing fat, health levels of testosterone are beneficial for weight loss programs.
- Helps Treat Depression. A recent Australian study clearly showed that men with depression had significantly lower testosterone concentrations than men without depression. Both younger and older men with low testosterone levels and depression improve remarkably after testosterone supplementation.
- Improves Cognitive Abilities. Short-term testosterone administration exerts a beneficial effect on spatial and verbal memory and enhances cognitive function in healthy men.
Testosterone and the Prostate
A common misconception among physicians is that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has an adverse effect upon the normal prostate. This idea is not supported by the medical literature. A 2002 study indicates that testosterone is actually beneficial for the prostate gland in the vast majority of cases. Ninety percent of participants showed the following improvements as a result of testosterone replacement therapy:
- PSA was lower.
- Prostate glands decreased in size.
- Urinary symptoms such as frequency, urgency, dribbling, and getting up at night to urinate all improved.
On the question of whether testosterone therapy causes prostate cancer, the answer clearly appears to be “no.”
Treatment of Low Testosterone Levels
For the best treatment program, we recommend the following:
- A medical history and physical examination should be performed.
- A blood-testing panel should be ordered that includes not only testosterone levels, but also other important parameters such as fasting glucose, PSA, estradiol (estrogen), and complete blood counts (CBC).
It is important to work closely with a knowledgeable physician who is readily accessible and who can adjust treatment as needed.
For men who no longer produce enough testosterone, an experienced doctor can prescribe a skin cream to restore testosterone to youthful ranges. Testosterone cream is used rather than tablets because oral testosterone can rapidly degrade in the liver, resulting in wildly inconsistent blood levels. Testosterone cream, on the other hand, releases gradually into the bloodstream, providing consistent levels.
Frequently Asked Question
Q: I’ve just picked up my prescription for testosterone cream. How soon can I expect to feel better? A: Often results can be seen an felt within just a few days.
