How can TRT improve quality of life in men who are deficient in their own testosterone?

Although in the United States it is a very common thing, in our country it is only just coming into people's awareness. We are talking about testosterone replacement therapy, which is usually associated with an increase in energy and appetite for sex, improved erections, an increase in muscle mass, and overall men are promised a better quality of life. The reality, however, may not be nearly as simple, and in this article we will by no means be encouraging you to take testosterone. Still, it's worth taking a look at what benefits of TRT are being confirmed by new scientific studies, what negatives it may have, and whether it can improve quality of life in men with a lack of testosterone of their own.

Article Content:

• How does TRT work?
• Who should consider TRT?
• What are the risks of TRT?
• What are the benefits of TRT?
• What are the benefits of TRT?
• Results and experiences of men undergoing TRT

How does TRT work?

If perhaps you have never heard of testosterone replacement therapy, you should know that it is a method in which you supply your body with synthetic testosterone because it does not have sufficient production of its own hormone. So you can think of this situation similarly to taking insulin for diabetes, where the body is also unable to endogenously produce enough of the hormone and therefore it has to be supplied artificially. In most cases, testosterone is injected, but there are also testosterone creams or patches in the US that absorb testosterone into the blood through the skin. In both cases, however, the goal of treatment is to bring testosterone levels back to normal.

Testosterone replacement therapy in practice most often means regular injections with this hormone.

Who should consider TRT?

The acronym TRT itself, which we will use in today's article, is based on the English testosterone replacement therapy. The Czech equivalent is usually testosterone replacement therapy, but less often you may come across variants such as testosterone replacement therapy. It is true that in the United States many men over the age of 50 reach for it, but of course it can be prescribed earlier in the case of symptoms of hypogonadism and low testosterone. Symptoms of a deficiency of this indispensable anabolic hormone include:

• Decreased libido as well as sex-drive
• Low energy during the day
• Loss of muscle mass or fat gain
• Difficulty concentrating, hair loss
• Erectile dysfunction, general weakness and sleep problems

If you suspect that low testosterone levels may be affecting you, it's not a bad idea to make an appointment for tests that will be able to accurately determine your testosterone levels, and a follow-up consultation with a specialist should give you a better idea of how severe any deficiency is and what your options are for addressing it. One option is to deal with it through your doctor, the other option is private clinics that routinely perform this testing - in the Czech Republic, for example, SynLab operates, where a basic test costs a few hundred crowns.

TRT is most often prescribed by doctors for patients with hypogonadism and those with low testosterone levels.

What are the risks of TRT?

Although it may sound a bit unbelievable, there are not enough relevant studies yet that address the issue of the negative effects of TRT. As Harvard Health argues, the existing research often only has a small sample of participants, or uses doses of testosterone that are so high that regular people on TRT don't come close.

It is therefore quite difficult to talk about specific negatives based on scientific studies. But in general, you can read within professional sources that TRT may not be appropriate for people with prostate or breast cancer. An enlarged prostate, obstructive sleep apnoea or an abnormally high red blood cell count may also complicate the possible use of TRT. In short, it is generally best to discuss the whole situation with your doctor before taking testosterone, who should alert you to any contraindications.

If you decide to take TRT on your own or ideally in consultation with your doctor, there may of course be some negatives. These may include, for example, acne and oily skin, reduced sperm count, reduced testicular size, increased risk of blood clots and, in extreme cases, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, based on information from specialist websites.

What are the benefits of TRT?

On the other hand, however, it is important to note that testosterone replacement therapy can potentially have a huge number of benefits as well, and often in areas where most people would probably not expect it at all. For example, some research shows that people whose testosterone levels returned to normal also experienced a significant reduction in the likelihood of both stroke and heart attack. At the same time, your bone mass may also benefit from TRT, as studies show an increase in bone density as well. It probably won't surprise anyone to learn of the other potential benefits, which for men with hypogonadism may include, for example, increased self-esteem, improved libido and erections, and a more frequent desire for sex.

For example, one study published in JAMA (2018) that looked at men with hypogonadism came up with similar conclusions. Other rather interesting results come from research published in The Lancet (2019), for example, which points to improved cognitive function in men with TRT, and The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism even talks about the relationship between replacement therapy and lower risk of death, both of which focused on men with hypogonadism. So the bottom line is that TRT may indeed be useful in improving the quality of male health, performance, sexuality and appearance in justified cases.

What is TRT treatment like?

If you decide to have TRT treatment based on some testing, you should know that it is a long haul and the results don't come quickly and may not be who knows how dizzying at first. Many people begin to notice the absence of the negatives associated with testosterone deficiency after about a month of taking TRT, but it can take even longer.

First of all, if low testosterone is suspected, an examination should be performed, which will include both a consultation with a specialist and blood tests. Most often, doctors should focus on testosterone, blood lipids, prostate specific antigen as well as other biological markers that are really important in this regard. Then the doctor should evaluate whether you are a suitable adept for TRT and possibly educate you about everything that is associated with injecting the hormone into the body. Of course, you should maintain a sterile environment and not reuse injection equipment to minimize the risk of infection.

Testosterone injection itself only takes a few seconds and usually uses an injectable form where a depot oil is delivered into the muscle tissue, which can be absorbed over a period of days to weeks depending on the testosterone ester chosen. A common side effect associated with the application is soreness at the injection site, which can be relieved by massaging the muscle as well as applying a warm compress for a few minutes.

Results and experiences of men undergoing TRT

It is worth reiterating in this paragraph that it is not good to expect results right away and most people who expect results immediately after application are disappointed. However, during the first month on TRT, some of the shorter-term benefits should start to appear, such as increased libido and erections, improved energy levels, and some even praise better sleep. After a longer cycle, some other benefits may then appear including, for example, increased confidence, pubic hair growth or better recovery after exercise and sport. However, TRT is highly individual and it is good to remember that each patient needs to be treated individually. Someone may benefit from testosterone quickly and in small doses, someone may need to adjust the dosage several times before finding the optimal system.

If you are afraid of needles, testosterone can be injected in other ways. But the injectable option is usually preferred.

What to take away from today's article?

Just like any other drug, testosterone can have its side effects. And although many men, especially those with insufficient production of their own testosterone, are satisfied with the results of TRT, of course, it may happen that you expect more from injectable testosterone than the hormone is even capable of offering and then you will be disappointed. However, it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor, and although we highlight the many benefits of TRT in today's article, we certainly don't want to encourage you to take it lightly.

If you start without the necessary tests, you could be in big trouble, because even seemingly subtle predispositions such as an enlarged prostate, suboptimal red blood cell count or an innate susceptibility to certain cancers can have fatal consequences if TRT is not administered properly.