Useful Facts About Testosterone Replacement Therapy St Petersburg FL

By Karen Sullivan


Low levels of the hormone testosterone might not need any treatment. There are side effects that are related to testosterone replacement therapy, plus there are no known long term benefits. When one is considering the procedure, the best thing would be to talk to a doctor to know whether the procedure is ideal. When considering testosterone replacement therapy St Petersburg FL residents need to know what the treatment involves.

There are instances where symptoms of low testosterone are obvious while in some cases they are subtle. The levels of the hormone decline naturally in men over time because of aging. There however are some conditions that lead to low levels. They include decreased muscle mass, depression, erectile dysfunction and irritability. If a man has low levels of the hormone and subsequent tests indicate they have abnormally low levels, they will need replacement therapy. If there are no symptoms, treatment might not be recommended.

There are different options available for the treatment. The skin patch is one such option and is worn on arms or upper body. It is supposed to be applied once daily. The other option is the use of gels. Gels come in clear packets and have the hormone. When gels are applied, the hormone gets absorbed into the body. A mouth patch is an option too and is taken as a tablet or other oral means. Implants and injections are ideal in some cases.

It is important to know what you can expect from the therapy. The outcomes are not very easy to predict because people are different. For many people, there will be improvement of energy levels, sex drive and quality of erection. It is also possible that there will be improvement of mass of muscles and bone density in some men.

There are side effects of replacement therapy that one should be versed with. Some of them include rashes, irritation and itching. For people that have such conditions as heart disease or stroke, they will be worsened by the treatment. There are such conditions like blood clots, sleep apnea and congestive heart failure that will be worsened.

There are men that grow breasts after the procedure. That is not a common occurrence but is a possibility when there is conversion of testosterone into estrogen. The effects of testosterone are diminished by estrogen. The use if aromatase inhibitors controls this effect but should also be closely monitored. The monitoring is important because if there is over-suppression of estrogen, there will be a feeling of fatigue.

It is possible that the treatment could lead to infertility. The testicles will be made to atrophy and be unable to make adequate sperms and testosterone. This will have an impact on fertility. Those that are on the hormone for a long term could have their natural hormone production affected.

For those that are uncertain whether the treatment is suitable for them, a doctor should be consulted. They will explain the benefits and risks. Most importantly, a doctor tests the level of the hormone several times before advising on whether treatment is advisable.




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