Everything You Should Know About Testosterone Therapy: 5 Surprising Benefits of Increased Testosterone
Feeling confident about your energy, mood, sexual drive and physique? If so, you can likely attribute it to healthy testosterone levels among other important factors. If not, your body may be telling you that it needs more testosterone to function more favorably.
Testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced in the Leydig cells of the testicles in men, and in the ovaries and adrenal glands in women. The brain and pituitary gland supervise and control testosterone levels. Once produced, the hormone moves through the blood to carry out its various important functions. Within the body, a small amount of circulating testosterone is converted to estradiol, which is a form of estrogen. As men and women age, they often make less testosterone, and produce less estradiol as a result. Hormonal imbalance can be attributed to both a deficiency in testosterone and estradiol, and may bring on unwanted side effects. More than 20 million men in the United States alone suffer from some form of low testosterone, and such a condition can severely diminish one’s quality of life. Further, when ignored, low testosterone can be a gateway to diabetes, osteoporosis, and many other serious diseases and conditions.
Testosterone aids in a number of areas including, but not limited to:
- Maintaining mood and quality of life
- Increased bone density
- Muscle strength and mass
- Facial and body hair growth
- Sperm production (men)
- Sexual drive
- Memory and thought process
- Red blood cell production
- Reduction of stress
While testosterone plays a more obvious role in the male body, females also need optimal levels of the hormone to thrive. According to the American Urological Association (AUA), a testosterone level of at least 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) is normal for a male. Males with a testosterone level below 300 ng/dL likely have low testosterone. For women ages 19 and above, normal testosterone levels can vary between 8 and 60 ng/dL, according to Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
Signs of Low Testosterone
Testosterone levels usually peak at adolescence and then decline starting at age 30 for men, and between 45 and 55 (after menopause) for women. For older men, it’s important to determine if a low testosterone level is due to the normal aging process or if it is due to a disease like hypogonadism. There are always exceptions, however, and both men and women can suffer from low testosterone outside of this range of reference.
Low levels of testosterone can cause:
- Infertility (men)
- Erectile dysfunction (men)
- Low libido
- Loss of hair
- Osteoporosis
- Testicular shrinkage (men)
- Decreased sexual function and performance
- Increased body fat
- Poor sleep
- Poor concentration
- Lack of motivation
- Low muscle strength
- Low bone density
- Larger breasts (men)
- Fatigue
- Depression & emotional changes
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
A blood test along with a physical exam are usually the best measures in diagnosing a low testosterone level. If a diagnosis is made, low testosterone therapy is recommended to reach an ideal range.
Benefits of Healthy Testosterone Levels
- Promotes Vitality
Optimal testosterone levels can promote hair growth, improve energy levels, and boost fertility and development of sperm (men).
- Increased Libido
Higher levels of testosterone usually lead to an increase in sexual drive, performance, and arousal.
- Enhanced Mood
Low testosterone can cause depression, fatigue and other disruptive emotional changes. Optimal levels of testosterone reduce activity in the amygdala, which is an almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the brain associated with the fight or flight response. Higher levels of testosterone improve motivation, mood, mental well-being, and can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Reduced Fat & More Muscle
Testosterone can increase appetite and decrease the rate at which you gain excess weight and fat. The hormone also helps regulate the breakdown of fat to provide your body with energy. In numerous studies, an increased level of testosterone in healthy adults can discourage the formation of new fat cells.
- Healthy Heart, Strong Bones
Higher levels of testosterone have shown great promise in the increase in bone mineral density and athletic performance. Testosterone also aids in the production increase of red blood cells, thus providing the body’s organs and muscles with the oxygen-rich blood needed for maximum performance. Testosterone can also increase the production of nitric oxide in our bodies, which can aid in the relaxation and widening of blood vessels and shorten recovery time after strenuous physical activity.
Testosterone Therapy
If you suffer from low testosterone, know that there is a solution! Testosterone replacement therapy, in the form of testosterone enanthate, commonly referred to as “test-e,” can improve the signs and symptoms of low testosterone in both men and women.
Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone enanthate is likely the most commonly used and prescribed form of testosterone replacement in the United States. The weekly injectable is extremely effective for increasing libido and energy levels, building muscle, and enhancing strength. Testosterone enanthate can also help with losing fat.
Testosterone enanthate is only available in an injectable form and is regularly used to treat andropause conditions. Most people will find that a single injection once every seven to ten days is a convenient way to restore their quality of life.
Get Started Today
If you wonder whether testosterone therapy might be right for you, give us a call! At CHC Medical Weight Loss and Spa, we provide affordable and effective treatment for low testosterone. The process is easy! Our medical providers start by conducting lab work during a patient’s initial visit. The lab work will audit several things, including testosterone levels. Our team of experts at CHC Medical Weight Loss and Spa will make recommendations on treatment and perform repeat bloodwork at their discretion; however, it is typically done every 12-16 weeks to ensure levels are improving.
Contact us today at 813-915-8666 to take control of your health and discuss your best lifestyle plan.
*Facts and figures derived from Healthline Media, Mayo Clinic, and Medical News Today – July 2020.