Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age

TRT Dosage Explained: Finding the Right Testosterone Replacement Therapy for You

The degree of improvement varies, but most men experience enhanced mental clarity, improved mood, and increased motivation. One of the most notable benefits of TRT is bringing back your zest for life. In a year-long study, men receiving TRT experienced a marked reduction in fatigue compared to those who did not receive the therapy. Having an in-depth conversation with your healthcare provider before deciding on TRT is an important first step. Emergency medical attention is needed right away when serious side effects occur, and these include symptoms of a cardiovascular event. It is important for men interested in future fertility not to receive standard testostosterone replacement therapy since this can lead to low or no sperm count and infertility issues.

There don’t seem to be any benefits for women as far as energy, mood, or bone health. Gradual absorption causes more stable testosterone levels in the blood. And a large randomized trial of testosterone, the T Trials, showed that men who received T had a greater improvement in mood than men who received a placebo. Muscles respond to testosterone, and starting T-therapy can increase muscle mass, says Dr. Morgentaler.

TRT can significantly improve sleep quality by addressing several underlying issues caused by low testosterone levels. One key benefit of TRT is its ability to help regulate your body’s circadian rhythm—the internal clock that controls sleep-wake cycles (8). When testosterone levels drop, this rhythm can become disrupted, leading to fragmented sleep and difficulty falling or staying asleep. By restoring testosterone to healthy levels, TRT can help rebalance your natural rhythm and promote more consistent, restful sleep. It typically takes about three months of TRT for your lipids to stabilize, restoring energy and sharpening your biochemically dulled brain.

Experts are still trying to fully understand the risks and side effects of TRT. According to Harvard Health, many existing studies have limitations, such as being small in size or using larger-than-usual doses of T. Find out what’s known — and not known — about testosterone therapy for normal aging. TRT can also lead to temporary infertility in some men by suppressing sperm production. This effect is typically reversible if you stop taking TRT [36-37]. Alternative treatments or sperm banking may be considered for men who wish to preserve fertility while undergoing TRT.

Testosterone declines by 1% per year, 10% per decade starting at age 30 years in all men. You may feel more energetic, less depressed, and have a higher sex drive. You might also notice you gain more muscle mass and lose body fat.

This means that the dosage you receive through injections might be different from what you would need with a patch or gel. Stress is another lifestyle factor that can affect your TRT dosage. When you are stressed, your body produces more cortisol, which is a hormone that can lower testosterone levels. Chronic stress can lead to low testosterone levels, even if you are on TRT. One of the most effective ways to manage side effects from TRT is through dosage adjustments. If side effects appear, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider before making any changes on your own. They can adjust the dosage in small increments to see if the side effects decrease while maintaining the benefits of the therapy.

A thorough assessment ensures safety and effectiveness for each individual’s needs. It’s important to establish what constitutes a normal testosterone level before considering testosterone replacement therapy. Many men notice an improvement in mood within 3 to 6 weeks of starting TRT. Depressive symptoms may continue to improve over the first 18 to 30 weeks, contributing to better mental health and well-being.

But since I found a strip-mall TRT provider, I’ve never felt stronger. Many men see initial results within 3 to 6 weeks, with ongoing improvements over months. By Sherry ChristiansenChristiansen is a medical writer with a healthcare background. She has worked in the hospital setting and collaborated on Alzheimer’s research. Use of TRT for those with hypogonadism has been shown to be effective and generally safe, but additional clinical research data is needed to fully establish long-term safety. 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.

Testosterone, a hormone, helps men maintain muscle, bone health, libido, and the ability to perform in the bedroom. But beginning in their mid-30s, men lose an average of just under 2% per year. Eventually, that drop could lead to hypogonadism, or low testosterone. This happens to 1 in 5 men in their 60s, and the likelihood rises as men get older. Testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) aims to boost those low levels back up. Although some men believe they feel younger and more vigorous if they take testosterone medications, there’s little evidence to support the use of testosterone in otherwise healthy men. TRT may stimulate the growth of the prostate gland, potentially increasing the risk of prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

After 12 months, these effects reach their peak, bringing you one step closer to improved overall health (2). In addition to mood improvement, TRT has been found to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, conditions that are often exacerbated by low testosterone levels. Several studies have demonstrated that testosterone plays a crucial role in regulating mood and managing stress (6). Several studies have investigated whether erythrocytosis caused by testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) increases the risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism, VTE). The majority of large-scale and systematic studies have not found a direct causal link between TRT-induced erythrocytosis and increased risk of blood clots in otherwise healthy men. Your lifestyle also plays a role in how to reduce testosterone levels in males long it takes to find the right dosage.