Testosterone Therapy Treatment Types, Uses & Risks
Testosterone use and male infertility patient education fact sheet
Testosterone is FDA-approved as a replacement therapy only for men who have low testosterone levels due to disorders of the testicles, pituitary gland, or brain. Matsumoto cautions that those were “observational studies that only provide clues to the presence or absence of safety signals,” instead of more definitive studies like the TTrials. In some cases, lifestyle changes also may be able to rectify low testosterone levels.
Today these evidence-based guidelines statements represent not absolute mandates but provisional proposals for treatment under the specific conditions described in each document. For all these reasons, the guidelines do not pre-empt physician judgment in individual cases. Treating physicians must take into account variations in resources, and patient tolerances, needs, and preferences. Conformance with any clinical guideline does not guarantee a successful outcome. The guideline text may include information or recommendations about certain drug uses (‘off label’) that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or about medications or substances not subject to the FDA approval process.
Testosterone replacement comes in many forms, including shots, gels, patches, or implantable pellets. However, it is important to know that testosterone treatment usually leads to either low sperm counts, or no sperm seen whatsoever in the semen. If not diagnosed and treated properly, testosterone injections may cause blood clots, stroke, heart attack and liver toxicity. While there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy, most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefully. “My testosterone levels could be up to 30 percent lower in the late afternoon than they are in the morning,” Anawalt explains.
Some foods, vitamins, and herbs can help boost your testosterone levels. Be sure to talk to your doctor, if you’re concerned about low testosterone. These alternative and natural treatments aren’t proven to be more, or as, effective as traditional testosterone therapy. Some may also interact with any medications you may be taking and cause unintended side effects. Bone density decreases as men age and testosterone levels drop. Strong bones help support your muscles and internal organs, which can boost athletic performance.
Testosterone therapy is increasingly common in the United States, and many of these prescriptions are written by primary care physicians. There is conflicting evidence on the benefit of male testosterone therapy for age-related declines in testosterone. Physicians should not measure testosterone levels unless a patient has signs and symptoms of hypogonadism, such as loss of body hair, sexual dysfunction, hot flashes, or gynecomastia. Depressed mood, fatigue, decreased strength, and a decreased sense of vitality are less specific to male hypogonadism.
Once we establish a good history, we will need to rule out other causes of symptoms such as Prostate Cancer, Sleep Apnea, Anemia, or Thyroid Disease. We will require you to obtain labs to establish a baseline, confirm a diagnosis, and rule out other medical problems. However, if you are vomiting incessantly and can’t keep even liquids down, you run the risk of becoming severely dehydrated. An emergency room will be able to put you on an IV drip and help keep you hydrated during the food poisoning. Most urgent care facilities lack the means to start an IV, so if you’re at risk for severe dehydration, an emergency room will be your best bet for treatment. Testosterone therapy is a deeply personal and complicated issue. If you have any questions about treatments or suspect you may have low testosterone, submit your questions to Dr. Pastuszak by email at
Around age 30, a man’s testosterone levels may slowly begin to decline. Approximately 35% of men in their 70s have low-T, according to the American Urological Association. In 2015, the FDA announced that it would require drugmakers to issue a new warning label surrounding testosterone and cardiovascular safety. The agency cited certain studies that found testosterone therapy increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that the benefits and safety of TRT for treating low testosterone levels due to aging are not known. The organization requires that testosterone products carry warnings mentioning the possible risk of stroke and heart disease.
It typically involves the administration of testosterone through injections, skin creams, patches, gels, pills, or subcutaneous pellets. ART is often prescribed to counter the effects of male hypogonadism. In some men, estrogen levels will increase as testosterone levels increase. Men naturally need some estrogen, one of the main sex hormones that women have, in the body for bone health and other body functions. But too much estrogen can cause conditions such as gynecomastia (male breast tissue).
This causes most prostate cancers to stop growing or shrink for a time. In both women and men, it’s normal for testosterone levels to drop with age — starting at about age 30 in men and around 40 in women. The decline doesn’t mean that it necessarily needs to be replaced, either for health or longevity. If that’s the case, medical treatment can help you feel better.The expert urologists at Emory Healthcare offer testosterone im injection site replacement therapy to boost your testosterone levels. We’ll work with you to find the best way to deliver this treatment. TRT involves the use of anabolic steroids, a synthetic drug, to increase testosterone levels. It can be administered via injection, oral medication or topically with gels or patches.