Testosterone Replacement Articles

Deficiency (lack) of testosterone occurs when the testicles produce not enough testosterone. The reasons for this vary a lot. The weaker function of the testicles may be inherited; it can also be caused by toxic substances, tumors, surgery or occurs as a consequence of aging.

Once an idea or cause and effect relationship has established itself in medicine, it can take years to slowly educate and change thinking. Such is the case with testosterone and prostate cancer. It was long ago postulated that testosterone supplementation increased a patient’s risk of prostate cancer; this connection has been assimilated into medical dogma and is often stated as though it is fact. There are some inherent flaws in this association however, including the fact that prostate cancer is most common in older men, who presumably have lower testosterone levels than their younger counterparts, and clinical trials with testosterone supplementation DO NOT demonstrate increased risk of prostate cancer.

It’s almost impossible to turn on the TV or open a newspaper (or website) without hearing about testosterone deficiency in men. We’re barraged with information that ranges from scientifically correct concerns about a very real medical condition, to completely unsubstantiated claims about “miracle” supplements that promise to do everything from improving a man’s mood and sex drive to giving him a body that would rival that of his favorite action hero.

A study of 24,000 Medicare patients found that testosterone therapy didn’t increase the risk of heart attack, contrary to several earlier studies, and that it even lowered the risk of heart attack by about 30% in the group of men judged most likely to have one based on other factors.

The findings are a boost for proponents of testosterone therapy, but still aren’t likely to settle the long-standing debate over testosterone safety any time soon.

Sales of testosterone products have tripled in the last decade, to over $2 billion in 2012, and manufacturers such as Eli Lilly LLY & Co. and AbbVie, ABBV formerly part of Abbott Laboratories, ABT have spent millions advertising the benefits of restoring “low T,” including boosting sexual function and muscle tone.

Low testosterone affects more than sexual dysfunction.

Thanks to pervasive drug company advertising, erectile dysfunction as a sexual disorder is now common knowledge.

What’s less appreciated, experts say, is the role that low testosterone, a contributing factor for erectile dysfunction, can play in other serious diseases, including some of the biggest killers of men: heart problems such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity-related illnesses and diabetes.

Elderly men with low levels of testosterone or other sex hormones have twice the likelihood of having declining physical function over two years’ time compared with their peers who have the highest hormone levels, a new study from Australia finds. The results were presented Saturday at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society: ICE/ENDO 2014 in Chicago.

“We also found that increasing muscle weakness—possibly due to decreasing testosterone concentration in the blood—could explain most of this relationship,” said Benjumin Hsu, MPH, the study’s principal investigator and a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney.

Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Saad: There are two ongoing registry studies in men with testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism, defined by two separate measures of low serum testosterone and the presence of symptoms which are typical for testosterone deficiency). The studies are being conducted by office urologists. The total number of men who have been treated for a maximum duration of six years is 561, mean age just under 60 years. All men received three-monthly intra-muscular injections of a long-acting testosterone depot preparation.

The main findings were that at baseline only five per cent of these men had normal weight, some 25 per cent were overweight and the majority obese. Both overweight and obese men showed reductions in weight and waist circumference. The more obese men were, the more they lost. Men in the highest obesity category grade III (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), had a mean weight loss of 26 kg and a reduction of waist size by 12 cm.

Feeling fatigued? It may not be from getting older. See how low T as well as other health conditions can zap your energy.

Low testosterone can make you feel like you’re aging all too quickly. Just ask Ed Childs, 44, of Scottsdale, Ariz. Childs said that two years ago, he felt like an old man. “I had difficulty concentrating, like my brain was in a fog,” he said. He was also depressed and gaining belly fat.

Childs, a former professional power lifter, at first attributed his lack of energy to arthritis, related hip operations, and even age. “I figured that it was just the norm for approaching 50,” he said.

It wasn’t until he visited local physician Angela DeRosa, DO, MBA, in 2012 that he realized his symptoms shouldn’t be just an accepted part of aging. Exams showed that he had a low testosterone level, and Dr. DeRosa prescribed testosterone pellets. “The treatment saved my life,” Childs said.

He’s now back to exercising and everyday activities, and he’s advanced twice in his job in the past year. His sex life has improved, and feelings of depression have gone away.

If you’re over 45, male, have type 2 diabetes, and are having trouble with your sex life, the problem could be low testosterone.
“There is increasing evidence that low testosterone is associated with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes,” says David Fenig, MD, associate director of male fertility and sexuality at Chesapeake Urology Associates in Baltimore, Md.

Testosterone therapy specialists have responded to recent negative studies with a large database analysis that found no increased cardiovascular risk with the therapy — and potentially even protective benefits for the heart.

When comparing event rates for myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke with those seen in the general population, testosterone therapy patients had a seven-fold lower risk of heart attack and a nine-fold lower risk of stroke, reported Robert Tan, MD, of OPAL Medical Clinic in Houston, and colleagues during a late-breaking session at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists meeting here.

Medicalresearch: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Tan: Our findings¹ are similar to that of an early study by Shores et al ² and other studies on endogenous testosterone that found testosterone lowered mortality. In the analysis of 39,937 patients at the Low T Centers up to 5 years, the rate ratios of new MI and strokes on testosterone as compared to general community based data sets (3,4) was 0.12 (C.I. 0.08-0.18, p<0.0001) and 0.05 (C.I 0.02-0.13, p<0.0001) respectively. Thus, there appears to be a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes with patients on testosterone.

Testosterone Makes the Man

Think of testosterone and you probably conjure images of Rocky Balboa, cavemen, or Christian Bale — and with good reason. The most potent male hormone is responsible for big muscles and a hearty sex drive. But testosterone plays a bigger role than its macho reputation suggests. Here are 6 ways it impacts your everyday actions.

In this episode Dr. Stork reveals how the amount of sleep you get at night has a direct relationship to weight loss struggles. New studies show fascinating connections between metabolism, sleep patterns, appetite, and weight loss. Getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye each night helps you burn more calories during the day. Meanwhile, sleep cycles of less than 6 hours can have a negative impact on your weight by affecting your metabolism and appetite.

Lack of or a low sexual desire is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions. Getting to the root of low libido can help you enjoy sexual activity again.

As many as 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men have experienced sexual dysfunction, and one of the most common problems is low libido, or a low sex drive.

Missing the spark that makes you want to enjoy sexual activity is a prevalent type of sexual dysfunction, but it is also one of the trickiest to solve.

Recognizing Low Libido

For some people, low libido is a new problem that has a physical or emotional cause. Others may have had low sexual desire their entire lives, and that may be a result of the way their brains are hardwired, says Carolyn Nemec, MD, a women’s health specialist at Cleveland Clinic Willoughby Hills Family Health Center in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. When it’s an ongoing problem, doctors call it hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Adequate amount of testosterone allows both men and women to improve their mental and physical well-being. Testosterone is required to increase both muscle strength and bone density and also helps to decrease the fat mass. Additionally, it may also help to prevent chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and also increases libido.

What Is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a hormone that is produced primarily in the testicles and is essential to the development of male growth and masculine characteristics. Testosterone production peaks during adolescence and early adulthood. After that, it’s natural for levels to drop slightly each year.

Testosterone plays a key role in the creation of muscle mass and strong bones. It’s also responsible for the development of men’s deeper voices, and it contributes to sex drive too. Low testosterone levels in a man is called hypogonadism.

A new study hints at why forgetfulness plagues older men. Loss of testosterone, which happens normally as men age, seems to be at the root of some memory loss.

The research was presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego this week.

Previous studies have shown memory loss to be common in men with prostate cancer (search) who have had treatment with testosterone deprivation therapy (search). The therapy involves reducing the body’s production of testosterone and is a common treatment for prostate cancer. However, it wipes out most of the male hormones in the body.

Three medical organizations and an international group of over 130 scientists and physicians have issued a letter to the Journal of the American Medical Association requesting the retraction of an article which associated testosterone therapy with cardiovascular disease.

Associate Clinical Professor of Urology Abraham Morgentaler, MD, of Harvard Medical School, and chairman of the Androgen Study Group said, “To have several professional societies and so many of the most accomplished experts in the field unite in this action indicates the seriousness of the article’s errors, and the magnitude of damage this article has caused to the public’s perception of testosterone therapy.”

Testosterone is the male hormone responsible for the primary and secondary sexual features of a man. It is present in a small amount in women as well. The normal level of testosterone in a man is between 300 and 1200 nano grams per deciliter. When the level falls below this range, the man is said to be suffering from hypogonadism or low testosterone

Hypogonadism in a male may be defined as a clinical syndrome that results from a decrease in either of the two major functions of the testes: sperm production or testosterone production. When these abnormalities result from disease of the testes, it is called primary hypogonadism. If the pituitary gland or hypothalamus is the source of the dysfunction, then the disease is known as secondary hypogonadism.

WHAT IS TESTOSTERONE?

In the male body, testosterone is the most important sex hormone. Testosterone is responsible for development of male characteristics such as body and facial hair, muscle growth and strength, and a deep voice. Normal levels of testosterone also influence the production of sperm, promote sexual function and promote sex drive.

We now know that some men’s bodies do not make enough testosterone. These men may experience uncomfortable and sometimes distressing symptoms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that 4 to 5 million American men may suffer from low testosterone, but only 5 percent are currently treated.

Male hypogonadism means the testicles don’t produce enough of the male sex hormone testosterone. There are two basic types of hypogonadism:

•Primary. This type of hypogonadism — also known as primary testicular failure — originates from a problem in the testicles.

•Secondary. This type of hypogonadism indicates a problem in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland — parts of the brain that signal the testicles to produce testosterone. The hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which signals the pituitary gland to make follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Luteinizing hormone then signals the testes to produce testosterone.

Diabetes, obesity, and even certain medications can be causes of low testosterone. Staying on top of your health and managing chronic conditions can help reduce your risk for low testosterone.

Testosterone is a hormone made in the male body by the testes, under the direction of other hormones produced by glands in the brain. Low testosterone levels can interfere with sexual function and even your moods. Yet low testosterone itself can be a side effect of another, potentially more serious, condition — one that you may not know you have. Low testosterone and type 2 diabetes have been linked, and associations with low testosterone have also been noted for high cholesterol, excess weight, and metabolic syndrome (often a precursor to diabetes), although the direct connection is still under investigation. For instance, in a recent study in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, researchers explain that science hasn’t yet clarified whether metabolic syndrome causes low testosterone or if low testosterone contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome. Similarly, although there seems to be a connection between low testosterone and heart problems, it’s unclear if low testosterone causes or worsens heart disease.

Fatigue (bodily or emotional weakness) and lack of energy typically go hand in hand. Though both symptoms are common and often mild, persistent or extreme cases may indicate a serious underlying condition, such as depression, testosterone deficiency or a sleep disorder. Since fatigue and energy shifts are symptoms of countless conditions, seek your doctor’s guidance for best results.

The first question a man asks about male menopause is usually about declining sexual function. Can I continue to perform? Will I still enjoy sex? Will sex even matter to me in the future? Somewhere is his 40’s, maybe 50’s, a man may notice that things are not the same as they used to be in the bedroom and he begins to worry. While male menopause symptoms are not just about sex, concerns in this area are real and with reason.

In the United States alone, perhaps as many as 30 million men will at some time suffer from erectile dysfunction, the most recognized male menopause symptom. And if the other symptoms are added in, it’s clear that tens of millions of men in their 40’s and older may need treatment.

“Male menopause” is sometime used to describe the natural decline in testosterone levels among men as they age. However, the term can be misleading, because female menopause is significantly different in comparison. Whereas women experience a dramatic decline in production of the hormone estrogen over a short period of time during female menopause, men undergo a gradual decrease in testosterone over a period of many years.
As such, many doctors prefer to use the term andropause, or more accurately, Androgen Decline in the Aging Male (ADAM), to describe age-related low testosterone in men. ADAM is often responsible for changes in sexual function, energy level or mood, which can be subtle and go on unnoticed for years.

Testosterone is the primary male hormone responsible for keeping a man’s muscles and bones strong, and maintaining his interest in sex. In the normal developing male, testosterone peaks during early adulthood, and once he reaches age 30, it is common for testosterone levels to slowly decline by approximately one percent a year. While testosterone levels vary greatly among men, older men generally have lower testosterone levels than younger men. In fact, low testosterone affects roughly 39 percent of all men over the age of 45.

The Male (Menopause) Mystique
Want to experience serious information overload? Google “male menopause.” Within seconds, you’ll be faced with reams of advice, from acupuncturists, news outlets—even Dr. Oz.

As you dig deeper, you’ll learn that the condition is quite controversial. Health experts argue about every aspect of “male menopause:” what it is, what to call it, and even whether the condition exists at all.
So what is male menopause, anyway? If it does exist, how can you tell if you have it?

Testosterone shots can not only overcome low libido in men but also protect them against heart attacks, says a US study. A five-shot course of the hormone boosted male sex drive as well as their fitness levels, mood and their ability to concentrate. They also reported weight loss.
The incidence of low libido dropped from 64% to 10% after treatment.

The study was conducted on men with medically deficient levels of testosterone, known as hypogonadism. Experts believe the findings could be relevant to the far larger group of ageing men whose testosterone has simply dropped to low levels.

Guys like to make jokes about testosterone, but testosterone deficiency is no laughing matter. The latest research suggests that guys without enough of the hormone face a higher risk of several serious illnesses, including diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. A simple blood test can reveal whether a guy has low “T,” but there are plenty of other clues that a problem exists, as you’ll see.

As men age, many become trapped in a vicious cycle that leads to life-threatening abdominal obesity.

No matter how much they exercise or how little they eat, these men are unable to shed this excess weight that accumulates in their belly. Published studies have shown that low testosterone and obesity reinforce each other, trapping men in a spiral of weight gain and hormonal imbalance.1-5

In spite of this widespread threat to men’s health, most physicians do not test for testosterone levels in their obese male patients. If they did, millions of men could be protected against the scourge of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and cancer.

If you happen to be one of these plagued men, please have your testosterone blood levels measured and share the results with your doctor.

This article describes the science linking testosterone insufficiency to weight gain and its deadly cousin, the metabolic syndrome. You’ll learn how testosterone determines body composition and fat accumulation. You’ll read why experts now recommend testosterone testing for most men of middle age and beyond. And you’ll see compelling evidence for the role of testosterone therapy as a means of promoting weight loss.

Aging-related hormone changes in men — sometimes called male menopause — are different from those in women. Understand signs, symptoms and treatment options.

Hormone changes are a natural part of aging. Unlike the more dramatic reproductive hormone plunge that occurs in women during menopause, however, sex hormone changes in men occur gradually — over a period of many years. Here’s what to expect, and what you can do about it.

The term “male menopause” is sometimes used to describe decreasing testosterone levels or a reduction in the bioavailability of testosterone related to aging. Female menopause and so-called male menopause are two different situations, however. In women, ovulation ends and hormone production plummets during a relatively short period of time. In men, hormone production and testosterone bioavailability decline more gradually. The effects — such as changes in sexual function, energy level or mood — tend to be subtle and might go unnoticed for years.

When men are young, testosterone tends to get a bad rap, often blamed for aggressive and overly competitive behavior. But as men get older, the bad rap continues, though for a different reason.

In older men, it’s low testosterone that has captured attention. Testosterone, the male hormone, plays a vital role in many body functions, and low testosterone levels can leave men tired, uninterested in sex, infertile and with thinning bones, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

It’s also a fairly common problem in older men. As many as four in 10 men older than 45 have lower than normal levels of testosterone, according to the American Urological Association.

Testosterone replacement therapy has been demonized by many as cheating and unnatural. Some experts claim that testosterone replacement therapy can have detrimental health effects and that testosterone should be avoided under any circumstance. Replacing a hormone that is produced naturally in the body can significantly improve overall quality of life and should not be overshadowed by guilt.

The free testosterone range is from 25.0 – 80.0pmol/L (for men)

When asking a doctor to test testosterone, it is important that the doctor check for free testosterone. Total testosterone includes testosterone that is bound to sex-binding globulin hormone and albumin; this is not biologically available testosterone, meaning any bound testosterone is useless.

The Free testosterone range is very wide. The individual with a free test of 30pmol/L, and the individual with a free test of 75pmol/L should not both be considered normal. A free test of 30pmol/L is considered a “low normal” and a free test of 75pmol/L is considered a “high normal”. An adult male with a free test of 75pmol/L would be 2.5 times more likely to add muscle, have a fulfilling sex life and a heightened sense of well-being. Equating the two individuals with normal testosterone levels is a disadvantage to the individual with a testosterone of 30pmol/L. That individual with a “low normal” free testosterone deserves the same positive effects as the individual with the high normal level.