Testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, is a treatment for both men and women whose bodies don’t produce enough testosterone. Low testosterone can cause various problems, such as low energy levels, sex drive, and erectile dysfunction.

Testosterone replacement therapy involves taking testosterone through injections, gels, or patches to help restore optimal testosterone levels.

Ideally, testosterone treatment is a long-term process. Stopping testosterone replacement therapy can cause several problems and must be approached carefully.

How do Testosterone Levels Affect our Health?

Testosterone levels are related to health in several ways. For example, testosterone plays a role in developing male sex characteristics, such as facial and body hair, a deep voice, and increased muscle mass.

For women, testosterone production also plays a key role in fertility and the production of red blood cells. As we age, natural testosterone production declines, decreasing muscle mass, hair loss, fatigue, obesity, and more.

Low testosterone levels can even increase the risk of developing diseases like osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.

Conversely, testosterone levels that are too high have been associated with prostate cancer risk, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol.

As a result, striking the correct balance of testosterone by helping it to remain within the normal, healthy range is paramount. Testosterone replacement therapy can have life-changing results along with regular exercise and supplementation.

How does Testosterone Therapy Work?

Essentially, testosterone replacement therapy through the intake of exogenous testosterone works by restoring ideal testosterone levels in the body.

Testosterone replacement therapy can provide several benefits. For example, it can help to increase muscle mass, restore decreased energy, reduce fat mass, improve bone density, and increase red blood cell production. Additionally, it can improve mood and well-being and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

TRT works by administering testosterone to the body to reduce low testosterone symptoms. TRT works to restore normal testosterone levels by aiding the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which stimulates luteinizing hormone and affects how much testosterone the body makes.

One can start testosterone therapy in many ways, such as injections, supplements, gels, patches, or implants.

Depending on your doctor’s recommendations, TRT may be used with estrogen blockers, selective estrogen receptor modulators, or SERMs. SERMs increase downstream testosterone production and are just one tool that can be used to boost the effectiveness of testosterone replacement therapy.

Stopping TRT

If you want to stop testosterone replacement therapy, you must talk to your doctor first. They can help you weigh the risks and benefits of stopping TRT, as well as a plan to taper down testosterone treatments.

Importantly, it is inadvisable to stop the treatment of cold turkey. When receiving TRT, the body will likely experience positive benefits with many unpleasant symptoms alleviated. These symptoms will likely return upon stopping testosterone replacement therapy and should be monitored carefully.

Beat Low Testosterone with Tucson Wellness MD

At Tucson Wellness MD, we empower you to live the life you want by giving you the tools and the medical care needed to help you live longer, live stronger, and live better. Whether you want to burn fat to accelerate weight loss, please take advantage of our beauty services, or reduce the need for invasive surgery along your pain relief journey. Tucson Wellness MD is interested in your best self.

We believe in a scientific, evolutionary approach to health and modern pain relief. As a result we use only the most advanced, pharmaceutical-grade products to stimulate healing and help you reach your goals.

Health should fit your lifestyle, and we will work with you to create a plan that meets your needs and improves your quality of life.

We invite you to learn more by continuing to explore our website.

Testosterone Therapy for Women

Most conversations surrounding testosterone replacement are usually about men seeking treatment for low testosterone levels, or “low T.” Many men and women may not realize that women also need testosterone in smaller amounts.

Testosterone, one of the main sex hormones of a woman’s body, helps many bodily functions run properly, including her sexual desire, energy, and mood. Because of its crucial role in a woman’s everyday life, women may want to know whether or not they have lower testosterone than normal, and if so, explore possible testosterone therapy options.

Postmenopausal Women

During menopause, your estrogen levels fall. Some women get uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Hormone Replacement Therapy is one of the most effective treatments for menopausal women experiencing adverse menopause symptoms and may even play a role in preventing breast cancer.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a type of mental and physical sexual dysfunction in which women lack motivation or lose the desire to have sex for an extended period of time (at least 6 months), causing significant levels of personal distress.

A testosterone deficiency may contribute to a loss in sexual function or desire, and testosterone supplementation has been shown to improve sexual function.

Testosterone Levels in Women

While it’s true that men produce far more testosterone than women do, during the early reproductive years women produce testosterone through their adrenal glands and have 10 times more testosterone than estrogen within their bodies.

Experts believe that testosterone loss may result in many of the symptoms women go through in midlife, such as low libido, fatigue, low muscle tone, weight gain, and loss of mental focus.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone Levels in Women

Low testosterone can cause one or more of the following symptoms in women:

• sluggishness
• loss of muscle mass
• fatigue
• sleep disturbances
• reduced sex drive
• decreased sexual satisfaction
• weight gain
• fertility issues
• irregular menstrual cycles
• vaginal dryness
• loss of bone density because the symptoms linked to low testosterone are so common, a doctor will look for signs of other issues or conditions before making a diagnosis, such as:
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • chronic stress
  • thyroid disease
  • transition to menopause

Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Testosterone therapy may be a consideration if you:

• Have moderate to severe hot flashes. Systemic hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for the relief of troublesome menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.
• Have other symptoms of menopause. Hormone therapy can ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse.
• Need to prevent bone loss or fractures. Systemic estrogen helps protect against the bone-thinning disease called osteoporosis. However, doctors usually recommend medications called bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis. Hormone therapy may help if you either can’t tolerate or aren’t benefiting from other treatments.
• Experience early menopause or have estrogen deficiency. If you had your ovaries surgically removed before age 45, stopped having periods before age 45 (premature or early menopause) or lost normal function of your ovaries before age 40 (primary ovarian insufficiency), your body has been exposed to less estrogen and testosterone than the bodies of women who experience typical menopause. Estrogen and other androgen therapy have been shown through randomised controlled trials to help decrease your risk of certain health conditions, including osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, dementia and mood changes. Increase WellbeingTestosterone in the female body supports our sense of wellbeing. It supports energy, endurance, stamina, and the ability to maintain muscle mass. When women maintain muscle mass it helps to maintain metabolism. Testosterone is vital for women in terms of women’s sexual health process. Testosterone treatment can boost collagen and skin thickness. Wrinkling of the skin happens as the skin becomes much thinner, due to a lack of collagen and a lack of testosterone. Testosterone helps to support a healthy cardiovascular system in both men and women. Testosterone has been shown to be apoptotic to breast cancer cells (meaning it can help to kill cancer cells) and has been used in oncology to treat breast cancer.

How to Check Your Hormone Levels

Hormone levels change as you age and some even change throughout the day. Hormone testing is used to detect and evaluate hormone imbalances that may be making you feel unwell. Hormone testing is often conducted using a blood sample, but some tests require urine or saliva samples.

Testosterone Therapy at Tucson Wellness

At Tucson Wellness, we use only bioidentical testosterone replacement therapy for women (TRT). Since bio-identical hormones have the same molecular structure as the hormones a woman’s body naturally produces, hormones can be properly used and naturally metabolized and excreted by the body.

If you think you might be suffering from low testosterone,  schedule your free consultation for testosterone replacement therapy for women. We offer same-day consultation that includes blood work to determine your current testosterone level. If you do have low testosterone, we use your numbers to dictate treatment so your body receives precisely what it needs to thrive. Learn more by continuing to explore our website.

Testosterone replacement therapy helps to correct testosterone deficiency and raise testosterone levels back into a healthy range. TRT or androgen replacement therapy (ART) is a treatment that doctors give to males who have testosterone deficiency and are showing symptoms of hypogonadism. Taking prescription testosterone through testosterone replacement therapy helps restore the levels of this hormone in the blood, reversing the symptoms of low testosterone.

Causes of low testosterone

Low testosterone affects almost 40% of men aged 45 and older. It is difficult to define normal testosterone levels, because levels vary throughout the day and are affected by body mass index (BMI), nutrition, alcohol consumption, certain medications, age, and illness.

Testosterone may play a role in red blood cell production. Men tend to have higher red blood cell counts than women. Additionally, those levels tend to increase significantly around the time of puberty, when the body produces a lot of testosterone.

As a man ages, the amount of testosterone in his body gradually drops. This natural decline starts after age 30 and continues (about 1% per year) throughout his life, putting him at increased risk of low t.

There are many other potential causes of low testosterone, including:

• Injury (trauma, interrupted blood supply to the testes) or infection of the testes (orchitis)
• Chemotherapy for cancer
• Metabolic disorders
• Dysfunction or tumors of the pituitary gland
• Medications, including opioids, hormones used to treat prostate cancer, and steroids (such as prednisone)
• Acute or chronic illness
• Alcohol abuse
• Kidney failure
• HIV/AIDS
• Inflammatory conditions such as sarcoidosis (a condition that causes inflammation of the lungs and other organs)
• High levels of the milk-producing hormone prolactin
• Obesity or extreme weight loss
• Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Estrogen excess
• Previous steroid abuse
• Hypothyroidism
• Trauma (head injury)
• Aging

And more.

Symptoms of low testosterone

Low testosterone is diagnosed by measuring the amount of testosterone in the blood with a blood test. It may take several measurements to determine if a patient has low testosterone since levels tend to change throughout the day.

The highest levels of testosterone are generally in the morning, near 8 a.m. This is why doctors prefer to measure testosterone levels in the early morning.

Symptoms of low testosterone include the following:

• Low sex drive
• Fewer spontaneous erections
• Erectile dysfunction
• Decreased sense of well-being
• Depressed mood
• Difficulties with concentration and memory
• Fatigue
• Moodiness and irritability
• Loss of muscular strength
• A decrease in body hair growth
• Thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
• Increased body fat
• Breast development (gynecomastia)
• Infertility

Benefits of Testosterone Therapy

Potential benefits of testosterone replacement therapy include:

• Fat loss
• Increased bone density and protection against osteoporosis
• Improved mood and sense of well-being
• Improved sexual function
• Improved mental sharpness
• Greater muscle strength and physical performance

Build Muscle Mass

Muscle mass is one of the largest factors in long-term healthspan. The greater amount of muscle individuals is able to maintain later into life, the better many health outcomes and resistance to wasting disease.

Your muscles help keep your metabolic system intact. By maintaining this muscle mass you’ll help protect yourself against obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease while keeping your metabolism and hormone levels functioning at higher profiles (including maintaining enough testosterone).

Testosterone is responsible for increased muscle mass. Leaner body mass helps control weight and increases energy. For men with low testosterone, studies show that treatment can decrease fat mass and increase muscle size and strength.

Testosterone Treatment Options

What can you expect from testosterone treatment? It’s impossible to predict because every man is different. Following hormone replacement therapy, many men report improvement in energy level, sex drive, and quality of erections. Testosterone also increases bone density, muscle mass, and insulin sensitivity in some men.

Oral testosterone supplements must pass through FDA drug safety communication and be monitored by your healthcare provider.

Treatment options may look like:

• Skin patch (transdermal): A skin patch worn on the arm or upper body. It is typically applied once a day.
• Gels: Testosterone is absorbed directly through the skin when you apply a gel once a day. Some testosterone gels come in a pump that delivers the amount of testosterone prescribed by your doctor.
• Mouth patch: A tablet that sticks to the upper gums above the incisor, the tooth just to the right or left of the two front teeth. Applied twice a day, it continuously releases testosterone into the blood through the oral tissues.
• Injections and implants: Testosterone injections can be injected directly into the muscles, or implanted as pellets in the soft tissues. Your body slowly absorbs the testosterone into the bloodstream.

We, at Tucson Wellness, provide various Testosterone Treatment Options for men and women as well.

Give Your Body the Best

Tucson Wellness MD only sells pharmaceutical-grade products to help you reach your goals. Our products meet actual pharmaceutical standards, which means they are 99% pure with no binders, fillers, excipients, dyes, or unknown substances. Store and Internet-bought supplements are unregulated and often diluted. We give your body the best, so your body will give its best.

Learn more about professional, medical-grade testosterone replacement therapy while continuing to explore our website.