Category Archives: Testosterone Therapy

It is a commonly known fact that men begin to lose testosterone as they age. Most medical professionals agree that the rate of loss is approximately 10% per decade, and the results are not pleasant: weaker muscles and loss of muscle tone, weight gain, breast enlargement, increased fatigue, brain fog, depression, accumulated aches and joint pains that just keep getting worse. Also, there are other problems: increased risk of heart attack, prostate problems, sleep difficulties, decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction or urination problems, and a host of other maladies too numerous to mention. In an attempt to ward off the debilitating symptoms of this affliction, many men have undergone testosterone replacement therapy. This therapy is done by injections of testosterone, under the care of a physician. These treatments have produced excellent results. Other men have resorted to more natural methods of replenishing their testosterone supply: exercise, nutrition, over-the-counter supplements, proper hydration, increased sleep and stress-reduction techniques. This approach has also benefited countless men who have tried any or all of these methods. However, there is another insidious testosterone thief that men encounter on a daily basis, and most disruptors are unaware of this manhood-robbing bandit... Beware of Plastic That's right...plastic! … Read more »

New Studies Show the Testosterone "Controversy" is Non-Existent There's an old cliché: if you wait long enough, what is currently out of favor today will be tomorrow's darling. And it is indeed true; this time the wheel has turned on testosterone. The mighty male hormone is no longer vilified as the bad guy that it was just a few short months ago. How could that be? The answer is quite simple. Two new independent studies concluded that Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) might not cause the cardiovascular problems that it appeared to do in previous research. The Studies Reveal Just the Facts As LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday said in the television series Dragnet: “Just the facts, ma'am,” that is precisely how these two studies were conducted. In the first study, researchers looked at 7,245 men with low testosterone (“Low-T”) levels. Serious cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or death) occurred in 5.5 percent of the men who received testosterone therapy and 6.7 percent of those who didn't. This is an insignificant difference, possibly a statistical anomaly, and shows definitively that testosterone therapy didn't increase the men's risk. On the contrary, it actually offered some protection against heart attack and stroke. Which, of … Read more »

The male hormone evolved 500 million years ago from estrogen. 1. Both genders have testosterone circulating in their bloodstream, although women have far less. Testosterone is produced in the testicles, ovaries and adrenal glands. When pregnancy begins, the development of reproductive organs for males starts as well. 2. Testosterone regulates several processes from fat distribution to red blood cell production. Also, testosterone is responsible for a man's sex drive, muscularity/strength, and bone mass. 3. People ascribed youth-restoring powers to the testicles for a long period. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder dined on hyena genitals for a sexually stimulating effect (with honey, of course...Yummy!). For thousands of years, the search was on for the elusive, so-called “Fountain of Youth.” Two thousand years later, many in the anti-aging and life extension communities refer to it as merely “T,” short for testosterone. 4. Kansas con-man John Brinkley, who inserted slices of goat scrotum into men’s testicles in the 1920s, claimed it would boost virility, sexual function and cure many ailments. 5. It's not just males who experience a skyrocketing sex drive while undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Testosterone can enhance a woman’s libido by targeting receptors in a section of the brain responsible … Read more »

Testosterone Linked to Condition Where Clogged Arteries Restrict Blood Flow  There are many health problems in men who have low testosterone levels: reduced desire for sex, fewer erections that happen spontaneously, such as during sleep, infertility, increased body fat, decreased strength and loss of muscle mass, weakened bones, loss of body hair, swelling/tenderness in the breast tissue, hot flashes, constant, chronic fatigue, higher cholesterol levels, sleep disturbances, and emotional changes. And if these weren't enough, there's more. Keep reading. Some males who have low testosterone and Type Two diabetes are at a higher risk of suffering atherosclerosis (a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries) than men who have diabetes and normal  levels of testosterone, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Atherosclerosis occurs when fats, cholesterol, and other substances build up in and on the walls of the body's arteries. This can restrict blood flow through the body's blood vessels. Eventually, the plaques may burst and cause blood clots. Several studies have raised concerns about the safety of testosterone therapy and the risk of cardiovascular complications. But the results of this study may have some saying, “not so … Read more »

Statins May Lower Testosterone and Libido There is evidence that statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs lower testosterone levels (BMC Medicine, Feb. 28, 2013). A side effect of medications like pitavastatin (Livalo), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor) is that lower testosterone could have an impact on libido and sexual performance (Journal of Sexual Medicine, April 2010). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning against the use of testosterone unless men have hypogonadism, a condition that lowers this hormone. The agency is concerned that prescribed testosterone may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, which is what statins are designed to prevent. The use of statins is usually done as secondary prevention for cardiovascular diseases. Testosterone, a male sex hormone produced by the testes, performs the function of development of male sexual characteristics and makes men MEN. A deep voice and a beard, increased muscle tone and bone mass are examples of such features. Aging is the main culprit that brings on a precipitous drop of the hormone. When the production of it drastically decreases or ceases, a wide array of symptoms and complications occur. Low testosterone is diagnosed if the levels fall below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). The … Read more »

Companies that want their managers to perform at peak levels should offer more stress-busting perks like yoga, Chi Kung, Tai Chi, and meditation classes, modern, well-stocked gymnasiums and extended vacation policies. Besides, they should consider changing their corporate culture to both reward and take pressure off the managers who show the most potential. That’s the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The study follows other provocative research on leaders’ hormone levels and leadership and empathy. In this recent study, researchers evaluated the hormone levels of male executives in an executive education program at Harvard University. They discovered that managers who had greater leadership responsibility had higher levels of the hormone testosterone, which stimulates the development of male sex organs and has been shown in numerous studies to be associated with leadership qualities like aggressiveness and risk-taking. The study looked only at men because women’s testosterone levels tend not to fluctuate much. Additionally, the dominant managers also had low levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Study subjects who had both high levels of testosterone and high levels of cortisol had fewer subordinates, and thus less leadership responsibility. The study’s conclusion: stress can suppress … Read more »

Are you still uncertain about trying Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)? Do you think you might have a genuine clinical and medical necessity for Testosterone replenishment with the intention of treating hypogonadism, Low-T, hypotestosteronemia, andropause or androgen deficiency syndrome? Have you talked to a friend who has experienced the miracles that TRT can deliver? But at the same time, you are somewhat concerned about the possible adverse side effects? But at the same time, you are somewhat concerned about the possible adverse side effects? Good. You should be concerned about the benefits and side effects of TRT. Even if properly administered, Testosterone treatments can potentially be risky. It is a potent hormone just like growth hormone, and specific, precise medical protocols need to be followed to avoid side effects. In short, this is nothing to “try at home” by yourself.  TRT requires a protocol prescribed by a physician specialist if you want to do a hormone program properly. Our physicians are experts in tailoring testosterone programs that work to replenish deficiency in men or to stimulate the natural production of T within the body. Both topics are essential knowledge factors in your decision to undergo a Testosterone therapy program. By contacting … Read more »

Scientific Evidence Backs Up What Millions of Men Already Knew You've heard the drumbeat of advertisements on the radio and seen the incessant commercial interruptions on television from law firms. The familiar refrain goes something like this “If you or your loved one has suffered a heart attack, stroke, or any adverse side effect as a result of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), contact our law firm at...” The implication is clear. Testosterone, when given to elderly men to combat the debilitating effects of aging, is dangerous...and at times, even fatal. Certainly not something to be taken lightly. In fact, after hearing enough warnings, it may seem like no one should ever undergo such treatment. If that weren't bad enough, many men have been refused TRT by their physicians. This refusal was then followed by a verbal lecture (at times, more like a scolding) that went something like, “At this time, we just don't understand the risks,” or “more research is needed.” Similar to a few doctors who have been saying for 50 years that “vitamin supplements are useless” (in spite of mountains of evidence to the contrary), you may suspect that you will hear the same thing about testosterone replacement … Read more »

You've come to our clinic after hearing about the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and you'd like to learn more before trying the treatment. Great -- Knowledge is power. Here is a short primer on testosterone esters that will cut through the confusion, and allow you to make an informed, educated decision. What is an “Ester”? The term ester is often used in the language of testosterone replacement therapy. As with all new words, it may sound confusing, but relax, it's not nearly as complicated as it seems. Most testosterone replacement regimes are injections that include a few different types of testosterone: Testosterone Cypionate, Testosterone Propionate or Testosterone Enanthate, or, more commonly, a blend of these and possibly a few other substances. These components are all testosterone and contain identical molecules. The only difference between them is the “ester.” The definition of an ester is “a chain composed of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen atoms attached to the testosterone molecule which must be broken down creating a 'timed release' in the body once injected.” The critical thing to remember? In spite of the testosterone molecule remaining the same regardless of the ester, each ester can yield somewhat different results. Another definition … Read more »

Research Makes a Case for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) Testosterone. When that word is mentioned, the first things that often come to mind are huge muscles...powerful libidos...social and business dominance, and primal aggression. All of these mental images may be true. But these traits are not the entire testosterone story...far from it. Healthy levels of testosterone in men affect far more than muscles, sex drive, and dominance. Low levels of testosterone (“Low-T”) can result in several unwanted, dangerous and debilitating adverse health problems in men such as: Chronic fatigue and less stamina. When it becomes a struggle to get out of bed in the morning, life is no fun, no fun at all. Nor is it any fun to become exhausted and tire out far quicker than ever, which changes working out from an activity that you used to enjoy to something approached with impending dread. Mood swings and depression. These two conditions are not unrelated to the fatigue that results from plummeting testosterone levels. The frustration of being unable to enjoy the activities that you have relished for decades is almost indescribable and dramatic mood swings, and depression is often the result. Muscle shrinkage and increased weakness. No man … Read more »

Testosterone: How Much Do You Really Know About This Potent Hormone? Keep Reading and Find Out What You May Not Know The dictionary definition of testosterone is “a steroid hormone that stimulates the development of male secondary sexual characteristics, produced mainly in the testes, but also in the ovaries and adrenal cortex.” That definition is accurate. But testosterone is more than what is mentioned...way more. Testosterone is genuinely the hormone "king," an almost magical substance responsible for male characteristics of potency, libido, energy and all-around vibrant health. But There is Confusion About Testosterone Most people are aware of the benefits of testosterone, as well as its importance in maintaining men’s health. But there are facts about testosterone that many folks are unaware of. For example, did you know… Testosterone is not only found in men. That’s right. Women also have a small amount of testosterone in their ovaries. Low Testosterone (“Low-T”) has several names: Andropause, Male Menopause, and Late-onset Hypogonadism. Whatever it is called, low testosterone produces several adverse health consequences. Women, as well as men, suffer from the effects of low testosterone. But menopause is not responsible for this decline in women. In both genders the real culprit is … Read more »