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Men see testosterone replacement therapy as an anti-aging formula. Its benefits like increased muscle mass, improved libido, boosted energy levels and enhanced concentration seem too good. But does it work or does it have some limitations?
What is testosterone replacement therapy?
The levels of testosterone in a man's body reach their peak during adolescence and early puberty and then show a steady decline after the age of 30. A man's testosterone levels decline, on average, at the rate of one percent every year after the age of 30. As the testosterone levels diminish with advancing age, men may experience a reduced sex drive, diminished agility, poor concentration, a reduced sense of well-being, depression and irritability.
On the contrary, men who have received testosterone replacement therapy report that their sex drive has improved, their energy levels have been boosted, and their mood is elevated. These reports have enticed many men to ask their physicians for testosterone replacement once they reach middle age. Statistics reveal that there has been a 500 percent increase in the sale of testosterone supplements in the past few years.
But is testosterone replacement the answer to all your aging problems? According to experts, this is not the case. Testosterone therapy has its own share of side effects. Moreover, the long term effects of this therapy have not been studied well enough yet, either. Therefore, experts suggest that this therapy should be reserved only for those men who have been diagnostically proved to have low testosterone levels and whose symptoms can be attributed to low testosterone levels with certainty.
Not every individual who receives testosterone replacement reports of any significant change in his life. While few of the patients are very happy with the results, an equal number of patients fail to notice any change. Therefore, one should not expect any miracles with a prescription for testosterone replacement therapy.
Different forms of testosterone supplements
Testosterone supplements are available in various forms in the open market or with a prescription. They are:
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A transdermal skin patch. The patch is worn on the upper part of the body once a day.
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Testosterone gels. The gel is applied on to the skin once a day from where it is gradually absorbed through the skin.
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A testosterone mouth patch. The mouth patch comes in the form of a tablet which gets stuck on the gum above the upper incisor. It is used twice a day. The hormone is continuously released into the blood stream through the oral tissue.
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Testosterone injections. The hormone can be directly injected into the muscles from where it is absorbed gradually by the blood stream.
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Testosterone implants. The hormone is implanted in the form of pellets into the soft tissue from where it gets absorbed into the blood.
Testosterone is not administered in the form of oral pills as when taken orally, the hormone passes through the liver, where it is rendered ineffective. Testosterone can be detrimental to the liver tissue. Therefore, other modes of administration are chosen which bypass the liver tissue.
- “Testosterone Treatments: Why, When, and How?”, by Katherine Margo, et al, published in the May 2006 issue of the journal American Family Physician, accessed on March 11, 2013
- “How Effective is Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Premenopausal Women with Severe Androgen Deficiency?” by Henry Burger, published in the 2006 issue of the journal Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology and Metabolism, accessed on March 11, 2013
- “Testosterone replacement therapy for older men”, by Stephen E Borst, et al, published in the December 2007 issue of the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, accessed on March 11, 2013.