A relatively small number of men experience the immediate side effects of testosterone supplementation, such as acne and impaired breathing while sleeping. A relatively small number of men experience immediate side effects from testosterone supplementation, such as acne, breathing disorders while sleeping (worsening of sleep apnea), breast swelling or tenderness, or swelling in the ankles. Doctors also monitor high red blood cell counts, which may increase the risk of blood clots. In addition, some research shows that testosterone therapy may increase the risk of heart disease. Certain existing health conditions make TRT unsafe, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, and heart failure.
That's why healthcare providers perform extensive evaluations and tests before approving the use of TRT. If you don't have these health problems, TRT is generally safe. In this article, we review the literature, which indicates that intramuscularly injected testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) produces greater musculoskeletal benefits and a lower cardiovascular risk compared to transdermal TRT. TRT also causes risks of polycythemia, prostate enlargement and suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
These risks from transdermal administration are unknown. We also reviewed the literature on the use of 5α-reductase inhibitors as a promising means of improving the safety profile of TRT. To accelerate development, doctors may consider short-term treatment with low doses of testosterone, especially if the child is experiencing distress or being bullied.
Testosterone replacement therapy
can improve many of the symptoms of low testosterone levels (male hypogonadism).It's also not clear what effect testosterone may have on other aspects of menopause, and the correct dosage is also under investigation. If so and you're close to 45 and 80 years old, or you're among them, you could be a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy. Some types of testosterone therapy can also increase blood pressure, increasing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This includes checking your testosterone level and having other blood tests to make sure TRT isn't harming your health. It's also possible that these conditions cause low testosterone levels, so treatment may cause increased testosterone levels.
While some men believe they feel younger and more vigorous if they take testosterone medications, there is little evidence to support the use of testosterone in otherwise healthy men. For the therapy to take full effect, healthcare providers usually wait 30 days after starting TRT to check testosterone levels. Doctors may recommend testosterone injections to treat adult men with low testosterone levels or hypogonadism. Testosterone therapy can help reverse the effects of hypogonadism, but it's not clear if testosterone therapy would benefit older men who are otherwise healthy.
While testosterone injections may be beneficial in certain situations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against using products containing testosterone due to the natural decline in testosterone experienced by men with age. In general, the response to lower doses of transdermally administered TRT can be considered modest, while the effects on injected TRT are moderate. While testosterone prescriptions in the U.S. They have tripled in the last decade (, the debate over the risks and benefits of TRT continues).
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is an option for men who have low testosterone levels due to male hypogonadism. Many doctors prescribe testosterone to patients in the form of a topical gel, transdermal patches, pills or injections.
