TRT stands for testosterone replacement therapy. For all of humanity men have been dealing with the impacts of low testosterone, but thanks to science there is now testosterone replacement therapy to help.
The basics of testosterone replacement therapy are simple, but can take a little time to understand everything there is to know. This article has put all of the vital information about testosterone replacement therapy into one place to make it easily digestible and convenient for you.
Keep reading to get the complete guide to testosterone replacement therapy including what it is, where you can get it, the benefits, and more.
What is TRT?
Before you get into the nitty gritty let us first understand exactly what testosterone replacement therapy is. Testosterone replacement therapy is the process of increasing natural testosterone hormone levels with a carefully crafted treatment plan. If it is discovered that you have low testosterone levels testosterone replacement therapy can help to increase the level back to its previous state.
As men age, their testosterone levels steadily decline along with their youthful feel. Testosterone replacement therapy can help men to regain their quality of life all with the help of a healthcare provider and perfectly dosed testosterone replacement therapy just for them.
What is Testosterone?
If you are not a scientist you may be wondering what the testosterone in testosterone replacement therapy is.
Testosterone is a sex hormone that is in both men and women, however it is available in much higher levels in men. Hormones are a chemical messenger released by a gland in the body to signal to the body to carry out a function. In the case of testosterone it is released by the tesicles and signals the body to carry out a wide range of functions.
Testosterone has many functions, including increasing the sex drive or libido. This allows men to want to have sex more and enjoy it more while it is happening. In the same realm, it also allows men to sustain an erection.
While testosterone has many duties regarding sexual functioning, it also helps in balancing mood, muscle mass, body fat, energy, and more. Because testosterone has all of these great effects on the body, you can begin to understand why it would be so detrimental if the levels began to lower.
How Do You Know If You Need TRT?
Before you can get started on testosterone replacement therapy you have to begin to recognize the signs that you may need it. The signs to look out for can be broken down into physical signs and emotional signs.
The physical signs that could indicate you have lowering testosterone levels are hair loss, losing muscle mass, erectile dysfunction, low semen count, and increased body fat.
The emotional signs you may notice are feeling moody or having mood changes, having lack of energy, and a low sex drive. If you are noticing these some or all of these signs it could mean that you have low-t levels and should visit your doctor.
Once you get to your doctor, the final step to determine if you need testosterone replacement therapy is by getting a blood test done. The doctor will draw your blood and order labs to be done to check your hormone levels and other things that could be causing similar symptoms. If the test reveals that you have low testosterone, then your doctor will know if you could benefit from testosterone replacement therapy.
Comprehensive Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy does not mean that you will only be prescribed testosterone as part of your treatment plan.
Elite HRT takes a comprehensive testosterone replacement therapy approach to optimize testosterone levels and bodily functioning. Comprehensive testosterone replacement therapy includes the use of estrogen blockers and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).
Keep in mind that not everyone’s plan will include estrogen blockers and human chorionic gonadotropin, but it could if your specialist thinks that it would be most helpful for you.
Estrogen blockers also known as aromatase inhibitors prevent testosterone from being converted into estrogen. An increase in the hormone estrogen can cause feminization of the body including the formation of breasts, increasing body fat, and even cause erectile dysfunction. As men age testosterone is more easily converted to estrogen, resulting in these symptoms and less testosterone in the body. This can occur because estrogen is a precursor to the testosterone molecule. So, estrogen blockers can be a helpful tool in keeping testosterone levels up by preventing them from being broken down into estrogen.
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that functions similarly to luteinizing hormone in men. Luteinizing hormone is released by the pituitary gland in the brain and signals the testicles to make more testosterone. By taking human chorionic gonadotropin alongside testosterone therapy it will continue to signal to the testes to keep making natural testosterone as well. This will prevent the testicles from becoming atrophied if testosterone replacement therapy occurs for a long time without human chorionic gonadotropin alongside it.
Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy is so popular because of the many benefits that it has. It is helpful to those who have low levels of testosterone, also known as hypogonadism. The main benefits to testosterone replacement therapy are promoting sexual functioning and desire. There are also potentials for boosting bone and muscle health, while helping strength. It could also have a positive impact on mental clarity, boosting mood, and improving perceived quality of life. Overall, there are many great benefits to testosterone replacement therapy to be considered.
Risks of of Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Like almost any treatment there are some risks to be considered. To make an informed decision you and your doctor should review the risks that come along with any treatment to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. Some of the risks you may experience with testosterone replacement therapy are acne, reducing sperm production, growing breasts, increasing the risk of increasing the prostate size, and risk of a blood clot. While some people do experience side effects from testosterone replacement therapy, it has been shown to be effective and safe.
Where To Get Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy is not something that you can go to the drug store and get. It requires a process of working with your doctors to make sure it is the right choice for you.
One option you have is to consult your primary care provider about your concerns and work with them to make a treatment plan. While your primary care provider is very skilled and educated it can be difficult to be an expert in all areas when they have so many conditions to know about. This is where choosing a specialist can be especially helpful to make sure you have the most knowledgeable team creating your testosterone replacement therapy treatment plan.
If you are wanting to work with a team of specialists for testosterone replacement therapy, consider working with Elite HRT.
Elite HRT works together with your primary care provider to create a customized care plan for you. After your doctor confirms the need for testosterone replacement therapy through blood work, you can work with Elite HRT whose team of hormone specialists will prescribe a testosterone replacement therapy regimen to fit your needs.
Dealing with your hormones is no joke and should not be taken lightly. That being said it is important that you do not get hormones from an unlicensed person including friends or family. Because hormones are so personalized someone else’s dose is unlikely the same as yours. You also want to get your hormones from a reputable source because if it is not regulated they could put any ingredient they wanted into your body without you knowing.
Conclusion
Testosterone replacement therapy is the process of increasing testosterone levels through supplementation with hormone medicines. It is prescribed by your primary care provider, an endocrinologist, or a care team like Elite HRT.
Testosterone replacement therapy is carefully tailored to each person to fit their needs and treat their unwanted symptoms. Testosterone therapy has both risks and benefits that need to be carefully weighed with the help of a care provider.
If you are experiencing low libido, fat gain, muscle loss, reduced energy, or other signs of low testosterone you should consider speaking with your doctor to see if testosterone replacement therapy is right for you, and if so, what is the best way to go about it for your specific needs.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2701485/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/drugs-and-medications/testosterone–what-it-does-and-doesnt-do