Some Questions You Might Ask Your Health Care Provider about Low Testosterone
Summary northwestern medicine “secret shopper” study is the first to identify guideline-discordant practices among online men’s health providers joshua halpern, md chicago — demand for testosterone therapy has soared in the united states with more men seeking to increase hormone levels in hopes of enhancing virility, strength and energy. Testosterone therapy has become a burgeoning business with direct-to-consumer men’s health platforms proliferating online in recent years. While testosterone therapy benefits some men, it can be harmful for others, making it critical that patients understand the benefits and risks before starting the therapy. A new northwestern medicine study published in jama internal medicine found that many of these platforms are not providing care in concordance with the american urological association (aua) and endocrine society (es) guidelines for the safe and effective management of men on testosterone therapy. When to seek help Demand for testosterone therapy has soared in the united states with more men seeking to increase hormone levels in hopes of enhancing virility, strength and energy. Testosterone therapy has become a burgeoning business with direct-to-consumer men’s health platforms proliferating online in recent years. While testosterone therapy benefits some men, it can be harmful for others, making it
read moreWhy Testosterone Therapy (TT)?
The standard treatment for testosterone deficiency is testosterone therapy (tt), which comes in formulations such as topical gels, self-injection, and pellets under the skin. These medications should be avoided in men interested in having children, as they can decrease sperm production and fertility. Men taking tt should be seen regularly by their physician. Side effects of tt can include changes in mood, headache, hair growth, male pattern baldness, breast tenderness, acne, and decreased testicular size. Regular blood tests are necessary to check testosterone levels and blood counts, which can become abnormally high. There is no strong evidence that tt increases risk of blood clots. Last reviewed: august 26, 2021 testosterone is the primary male hormone, and plays an important role in establishing and maintaining typical male characteristics, such as body hair growth, muscle mass, sexual desire, and erectile function, and contributes to a host of other normal physiologic processes in the body. The primary systemic treatment for prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy ( adt ), lowers testosterone and causes side effects related to low testosterone. Although most men may experience only a few of these symptoms, the list of potential effects of testosterone loss is long: hot flashes,
read moreErectile Dysfunction in Young Men — 3 Common Causes
Men with low testosterone levels commonly complain of decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction. Treatment with testosterone gel, transdermal patch, or intramuscular injection is indicated for men with low total testosterone levels who have these symptoms. Regardless of the route of administration, studies have shown improvement in libido and sexual function in hypogonadal men. 10 – 13 other small, short-term trials of sexual function in men, including some with men who have normal testosterone levels, show mixed results. The optimal delivery method has not been determined. Although it’s generally uncommon for low testosterone to cause severe or persistent ed, some men with low-t may find it difficult to get or maintain an erection. If you have erectile dysfunction and low testosterone, your healthcare provider might prescribe an ed medication such as sildenafil (the active ingredient in viagra ®, as well as generic viagra) to make it easier for you to get and maintain an erection. Other medications for erectile dysfunction include tadalafil (cialis®) and avanafil ( stendra ®), a newer oral medication for ed that has a lower risk of causing side effects. Our guide to the most common ed treatments goes into more detail about
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