Pros of Testosterone Therapy: Weighing the Benefits and Risks

Should you consider testosterone therapy to manage your hormonal imbalance? Testosterone is the main sex hormone in males and helps in many body functions. After 30, it naturally starts declining and over time it declines causing many side effects in the body. However, with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) it can treat and improve your testosterone levels. Learn about the pros of Testosterone replacement therapy in this article to properly discuss this therapy with your doctor. You can contact us by visiting our clinic or visiting our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com.

 

 

Pros of Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Here are the most common you can enjoy with testosterone replacement therapy:

  1. Increased muscle mass and strength: Testosterone is essential for developing a man’s muscle growth and strength. However, as the testosterone levels decline, it also decreases your muscle tissue which leads to muscle weakness. When you opt for TRT, you feed your body with additional testosterone hormone which can reduce your fat mass and stimulate lean muscle growth, which means an increase in muscle mass.

A study also found that elderly men got a significant increase in lean body mass only after 3 months of TRT treatment. Additionally, it also improves grip strength and physical performance. As muscle mass is increased and body fat is reduced, it results in healthier body composition with overall improvement in health.

  1. Stronger bone density: Testosterone directly affects bone density because it acts on osteoblasts or bone cells which are required for bone formation. This also indirectly affects bone metabolism by stimulating and increasing the activity of cytokines, a small form of proteins that helps in sending signals to prompt the growth and activity of other cells in the body to regulate and maintain consistent bone growth. However, as testosterone levels decline for any reason, it makes you lose bone density and makes you more vulnerable to bone-related issues such as bone fractures and osteoporosis. Research found that TRT can increase bone mineral density especially, in older men with low serum testosterone levels. It is also effective regardless of age because it increases estradiol levels rather than directly increasing your blood testosterone.
  2. Improved sexual function and libido: One of the main testosterone functions is to promote healthy sexual function which includes your sex drive and performance. This hormone is responsible for managing the erectile process that is activated by sexual desire, allowing men to achieve an erection. As your testosterone declines naturally, it significantly reduces your interest in sexual activity, causing low libido that leads to decreased sexual performance and even erectile dysfunction. Using testosterone treatments such as TRT, can boost sexual desire and improve blood flow to the penis to promote stronger and longer-lasting erections, thus enhancing sexual performance, which leads to more sexual activity. A recent study also found that TRT improves libido, erectile function, and sexual satisfaction in men with low testosterone. The same study also found that mild forms of erectile dysfunction are fully cured with testosterone therapy alone.
  3. Improved mood and cognitive function: Many studies found testosterone makes a major impact on the central nervous system by regulating the signals sent to the brain, especially the ones that maintain spatial cognition, thinking, memory retention, and behavior. So, of course, when your testosterone levels decline, it causes chemical imbalances in the brain which may lead to cognitive function impairment and sudden mood disorders such as irritability, anxiety, and depression.

However, research shows that testosterone therapy in men with low testosterone can positively affect neuroprotective effects that improve cognitive processing, which reduces feelings of anxiety and irritability, which automatically improves your overall mood. According to a 2016 study, testosterone therapy improves mental acuity and memory. Whereas other study participants who experience brain fog notice a significant improvement in concentration and focus with treatment. It is also linked with a reduction in depressive symptoms in hypogonadal men, particularly at a higher testosterone dosage. However, more clinical trials are needed before using testosterone as an antidepressant treatment, but improvements in mood are expected.

  1. Protection against cardiovascular disease: The testosterone hormone usually helps in maintaining healthy red blood cell production, which protects the body from adverse cardiovascular complications such as heart disease. However, when testosterone levels decline, your body loses this natural protection, which makes you more prone to certain cardiovascular issues such as coronary atherosclerosis and potential heart failure. Testosterone treatments like TRT can widen coronary arteries, which increases the blood flow and boosts heart muscle contractions, thus, improving your overall cardiometabolic function and reducing the risk of potential cardiovascular complications. TRT may also lower LDL cholesterol, which lessens the chances of developing adverse cardiovascular events.
  2. Improved insulin sensitivity: Testosterone helps manage various factors associated with body composition, including metabolism and weight distribution. These two factors especially affect how the body releases insulin in response to the amount of glucose received from food consumption. When Testosterone levels decline, it can accumulate body fat and decrease the body’s insulin response to glucose causing insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes.

According to a study published by the National Institute of Health, TRT can improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control, reducing the risk of developing excess weight gain that leads to obesity and diabetes.

  1. Increased energy levels: TRT also boosts energy levels in men with low testosterone, however, this benefit only works because it reduces depressive symptoms, increases muscle mass, and improves sleep. Additionally, it also makes you feel more energized because testosterone plays a role in red blood cell production, this process is called erythropoiesis. Testosterone produces a dose-dependent stimulant effect on erythropoiesis, which means the higher blood testosterone levels you have, the redder blood cells you produce. Red blood cells also carry oxygen in the body and deliver oxygen wherever needed. You may feel tired when your body is running low on oxygen, increasing oxygen-carry capacity in the blood may fight fatigue.

 

  1. Better sleep: Low testosterone is also linked with bad sleep quality, a symptom that gets better with TRT. A study focusing on hypogonadal men with sleep disturbances reported that they noticed a significant improvement in their sleep quality after using 12 months of testosterone treatment. Better sleep also benefits your testosterone in the long term. However, short-term administration of high-dose testosterone can worsen sleep apnea in older men. Long-term sleep improvement also may be related to fat loss which takes time to reduce. Better sleep also improves your energy levels.

Need help with your testosterone levels declining, visit our endocrinology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. You can schedule an appointment with Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center’s best urologist in Brooklyn and inquire about your concerns. Our specialists will work with you in managing your condition. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.