Testosterone Therapy: Review of Clinical Applications

Risks of testosterone replacement therapy in men

The hormones and the tissues and glands that release them comprise the endocrine system. Hormone-containing microbeads are effectively micropellets – similar to oestrogen or testosterone pellets in that they are compacted active ingredient, but injectable. Early pre-clinical studies of CSS-encapsulated hormones show a steady release over time. Due to the lack of acceptable options for patients, VitalTE and Likarda joined forces with the goal of developing new HRTs to be administered by the patient with a monthly subcutaneous injection, resulting in the slow release of testosterone or oestrogen.

TRT can increase red blood cell count which in turn increases blood viscosity. Oral testosterone is a less common type of TRT that is more expensive and less practical. However, people using topical treatments must be careful to avoid skin-on-skin contact with other people for at least 6 hours after application. It is important to prevent the risk of transferring the medication onto other people’s skin because it may be dangerous for pregnant people and children. Doctors inject short-acting testosterone under the skin or into the muscle, while long-acting shots go in the gluteal muscles. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. If you stop TRT, the symptoms of low T usually come back, so you may have to stay on the drug for life – unless you decide you don’t want to be treated anymore.

So direct-to-consumer telemedicine services, and even for-profit men’s health clinics, may feel more approachable, less stigmatizing, or more convenient, Dubin points out. Most studies don’t provide enough detail to know exactly when testosterone measurements were taken or how testosterone was measured. While many studies (often company funded) suggest that some of those ingredients can boost testosterone, the results don’t hold up to scrutiny. “Low libido is the most sensitive symptom for detecting low testosterone,” says Dubin. View medical records, test results, book appointments, manage family’s care, pay bills and more.

By instead formulating hormones in biocompatible hydrogel microbeads, the does high testosterone make you emotional (bigteam.es) concentration of hormone needed for extended release is not immediately exposed to the surrounding tissue, thus reducing the likelihood of localised irritation or off-target effects. As the hydrogel degrades in the body, the hormone slowly diffuses to be taken up by the bloodstream. Cylindrical pellets that are about the size of a grain of rice. The usual starting dose is pellets implanted underneath the skin in the office under sterile condi­tions once every 4 months. Single-use packets containing 40.5mg of testosterone in alcohol-based gel OR metered-dose pump which dispenses 20.25mg of testosterone in alcohol-based gel pump. The usual starting dose is 1 packet or 4 pumps daily (about the size of 2 quarters) applied to shoulders, upper arms, and abdomen. Single-use packets containing 50mg of testosterone in 5g of alcohol-based gel OR metered-dose pump which dispenses 12.5mg of testosterone in 1.25g of alcohol-based gel per pump.

Other possible risks include rising prostate-specific antigen levels, worsening lower urinary tract symptoms, polycythemia, and increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Patients receiving testosterone therapy should be monitored to ensure testosterone levels rise appropriately, clinical improvement occurs, and no complications develop. Testosterone therapy may also be used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women and to produce physical male sex characteristics in female-to-male transgender patients. Increased longevity and population aging will increase the number of men with late onset hypogonadism.

During your 30–45 minute consult, a Hone-affiliated licensed physician will dive deep into your personal and family history, review your labs, and pinpoint the root cause of your symptoms. You’ll walk away with a personalized plan—including medications, supplements, diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep strategies—designed to relieve your symptoms and optimize your health. Identifying your unique needs begins with analysis, including in-depth, 50-biomarker blood testing, personal health history, and validated questionnaires.

In comparison with oral medications, topical patches may prove less toxic to the liver. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. One downside is that these pills are expensive and may not be covered by insurance, unless you’ve tried other methods of treatment and had no success or bad side effects. Apply this patch by pushing it against your gums and to the left or right of your front teeth. Keep it in place by pushing on it from the outside of your mouth as well. The patch continuously releases testosterone into the blood through the oral tissues.

Replace it after 12 hours, switching to the other side of your mouth. One type of gel is applied to the inside of your nose via a dispenser pump. You usually apply this three times a day in each nostril, 6 to 8 hours apart. Don’t blow your nose or sniff for 1 hour after using this nasal gel. It’s natural for testosterone to decline as you age and not necessarily a reason for TRT. Your personal risk, however, including the contraindications cited above, can vary and should be discussed further with an andrology specialist.

For more information on our industry-leading care at Men’s Health Boston, click here. For a clinical evaluation, call our office or schedule an appointment with one of our providers today. Once your treatment has been dialed in, and we feel comfortable with how your body is responding to the therapeutics, follow-up evaluations can be scheduled further out – typically every 6 months. This twice per year evaluation includes lab work and allows us to ensure your hormonal system stays balanced, and that the treatment is still effective for you.