Not all males with low testosterone will need treatment, and it is not always safe. The FDA have approved testosterone replacement therapy only for males with low testosterone due to disorders of the testicles, brain, or pituitary gland and not for natural age-related declines.
Read about other ways to increase testosterone levels and eight foods that may increase testosterone here. Low testosterone in females can cause fertility problems, irregular periods , vaginal dryness, and a low sex drive.
Despite this, doctors do not often recommend testosterone injections to treat low testosterone in females, as they can have masculinizing effects. However, doctors may recommend testosterone therapy to help with hypoactive sexual desire disorder in females after menopause.
Research has not supported their use for other signs and symptoms that people may experience after menopause, which include anxiety , mood changes, weight gain, and reduced bone density. Currently, the FDA have not approved any products for testosterone therapy in females.
Additionally, in the USA, there are no readily available formulations that provide the recommended treatment dose of micrograms per day for females. As a result, a female will typically need a compounding pharmacy to fill the prescription. Testosterone therapy allows people to develop a more masculine appearance. Transgender men, nonbinary people, and other individuals may choose to use testosterone injections as part of a gender transition.
This use of testosterone injections is known as masculinizing hormone therapy. Testosterone therapy helps a person develop male sexual characteristics and reduce female characteristics, and it can lead to any of the following changes:. These testosterone therapy regimens are similar to those that treat hypogonadism in males.
Taking testosterone injections once a week may be the best way to keep the levels of this hormone even. When a person receives a testosterone injection, the hormone directly enters the body through the muscle. People can choose between two methods:. When having testosterone injections, people will usually visit their doctor every few months for monitoring.
However, research has also linked testosterone therapy with several side effects and possible complications. Possible negative effects of testosterone therapy may include :. Some people may have an allergic reaction to testosterone injections. For example, testosterone undecanoate may cause a serious allergic reaction or breathing issues following the injection.
Symptoms can include breathing problems, dizziness, and skin rashes. Other forms of testosterone, including testosterone enanthate, may increase blood pressure , which can raise the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
People who have had strokes, heart attacks, heart disease , or high blood pressure should make the doctor aware of this before starting testosterone injections, as they may have a higher risk of complications.
Talk to a health professional about which one is right for you. Used for men who do not produce enough testosterone, enanthate is a type of injectable testosterone that is derivative of the primary endogenous androgen testosterone, for intramuscular administration. In their active form, androgens have a beta-hydroxy group. A dose of approximately to mg, to start, of this form of testosterone is commonly administered via intramuscular injection IM every five to seven days.
This should bring a patient within optimal ranges ng to ng. Every patient is different, however. Baseline testosterone levels and other factors may influence initial dose and maintenance plan. It is important to note that this type of testosterone should never be injected into the vein and should be done by a medical doctor or under supervision of a medical professional. This type of testosterone is an eight-carbon ester form of testosterone.
Similar to enanthate, treatments involving cypionate usually start with a dose of approximately mg to mg, but only administered every seven days. The dosages vary with each patient and depends on your testosterone blood levels and your medical condition. This type of testosterone is a slow-releasing anabolic steroid with a short half-life of 4. Dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA is a hormone that occurs in the body, and people can purchase it as a testosterone supplement.
Much like other alternative treatment options, there is little evidence for their effectiveness for increasing testosterone. There may be concerns about dose, quality, and purity in these products that are not overseen by the Food and Drug Administration FDA. People may wish to supplement their testosterone to counteract these natural effects of aging.
However, the possible benefits of taking testosterone need to be in a balance with the higher risks of cardiovascular events. The FDA do not recommend a person take testosterone supplements to counteract the effects of aging because of these higher risks.
If a person is transitioning, they may choose to have testosterone therapy to make the aspects of their body that society understands as masculine more apparent. According to an article in the journal Translational Andrology and Urology , a doctor should explain the potential risks of hormone therapy to a person considering this treatment.
They can then make a better decision about the potential benefits they would have and weigh them against the risks. A person may have a condition that causes them to have low testosterone levels, most commonly hypogonadism.
According to an article in the journal American Family Physician , if a person has hypogonadism, the best course of action is for them to begin testosterone therapy once they know the risks. For some people, such as those who have hypogonadism or those who are transitioning, these risks may be worth the benefits. However, current recommendations are not to take testosterone supplements to reverse the effects of aging.
Alternative treatments have little evidence to back them up, meaning they may be ineffective and create some level of risk. Testosterone is the male sex hormone, and its levels in the body decline steadily with age. Many people wish to supplement it when they are deficient…. Learn more about testosterone levels here. Sweating at night may be a sign of low testosterone in males or menopause in females. Treatment often involves supplementing the hormone to correct an…. Boosting testosterone levels can have many effects.
Saw palmetto may help boost testosterone levels.
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