What is testosterone replacement therapy?
It is a treatment for low testosterone in men. (Women can also take testosterone as part of their HRT during the menopause transition). Some men have particularly low levels of testosterone or have a sensitivity to the normal slow decline that happens from your mid-to-late 30s onwards.
You can read more about low testosterone in this blog.
Testosterone therapy seeks to top up your body’s natural supply of testosterone with the aim of improving symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, memory and concentration problems, low libido, erection problems, and mood changes.
The hormone is absorbed into the bloodstream via the skin by rubbing a clear gel on your body on a (usually) daily basis.
What are the benefits of testosterone therapy?
There are a few ifs and buts to answer this question fully. It depends on the cause of your low testosterone and it’s important to note that there’s not many large scale clinical trials over a long time to provide strong evidence of what the possible benefits are.
Some studies have shown – and many men would agree – that potential benefits include:
- Better sleep quality
- More energy and motivation
- Stronger libido (sex drive)
- Ability to get and maintain erections for longer
- Improved mood and more stable emotions
- Better able to concentrate and remember
- Increased muscle mass
- Less body fat
- Improved beard growth
- Stronger bone density
How long will testosterone therapy take to work?
You may notice some improvements within a few days or weeks of starting therapy, more commonly it’s around the 3-6 weeks mark that most men see changes. We would wait for 3-6 months before assessing the full level of improvement gained from the treatment. Improvements to erections and sexual function are often one of the later symptoms to improve.
The pace of improvement also depends on:
- how low your T levels are to begin with
- the type of testosterone you’re taking and the dose
- how sensitive your body is to the hormone
- how well the hormone is absorbed through your skin.
It commonly takes time, and sometimes a few tweaks of your dose or type of treatment, before the desired results are seen so it’s worth sticking with it and following the expert’s guidance.
Are there any side effects or risks of testosterone therapy?
Side effects:
Side effects are rare but in some cases, there may be changes to your blood that can cause thickening of the blood. There may also be some benign (non-cancerous) changes to your prostate. Because of these two factors, your blood and prostate function will be closely monitored while on testosterone therapy.
Other rare side effects may include:
- weight gain and/or increased appetite
- acne
- mood changes
- tiredness
- hot flushes and/or sweating.
Risks:
The risks of testosterone therapy depend on several factors including your age, life circumstances and the presence of other medical conditions. There are very few large scale, long-term studies on testosterone therapy, so definitive evidence about associated risks is not available.
Most experts agree that if a patient has prostate cancer, testosterone therapy is not usually recommended, but this does not mean that the treatment causes prostate cancer in men who are healthy.
Testosterone replacement therapy is not usually recommended if you’re interested in fathering children as it can affect sperm production. These effects are reversible once treatment is stopped.
If you have a consultation with Dr Natalie, she will take the time to consider all aspects of your health and personal circumstances, recommend any other checks needed, and discuss any potential risks and benefits before starting treatment with you. She will then monitor you closely at 3 months, 6 months, and then 12-monthly intervals.
If you do not see the improvements you were hoping for within 6-12 months, it is best to stop treatment.
Where can I get testosterone therapy?
Dr Natalie Summerhill at the Summerhill Health clinic in Hale, Greater Manchester sees male patients who may have low testosterone. She is experienced at diagnosing ADAM and prescribing testosterone replacement therapy under close monitoring and guidance and within a healthy lifestyle.
Book a consultation with Dr Natalie today.
How much does testosterone therapy cost?
You can find out more about prices for a consultation with Dr Natalie, the necessary blood tests specifically for low testosterone and regular monitoring of testosterone therapy here.