Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is a prescription treatment helps treat low testosterone, or hypogonadism in men. TRT helps restore testosterone levels in men with low testosterone or symptoms of hypogonadism.

There many different delivery systems for TRT therapy the most common and popular are testosterone injections, topical creams and gels.

Testosterone is a hormone that your gonads (Sex organs) mainly produce. Specifically the testicles in people assigned male at birth and the ovaries in people assigned female at birth produce testosterone.

The adrenal glands also produce a hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone otherwise known as (DHEA), which the body transforms into testosterone (in males assigned by birth) and estrogen (in woman assigned by birth)

Testosterone is the main sex hormone which stimulates the development of male characteristics. Testosterone is essential for the production of sperm and it also signals your body to make new red blood cells, ensures strength in bones and muscles, boost libido, fat storage, mood, and much more as well as a sense of well being. Which is why a testosterone deficiency or low TRT can lead to symptoms that impact your quality of life.

How are testosterone levels controlled?

The male body controls the levels of testosterone in their blood. Levels are typically highest in the morning and decline throughout the day.

A male hypothalamus and pituitary gland control the amount of testosterones the testies produce and release.

hypothalamus releases GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) which then triggers the pituitary gland to release LH (luteinizing hormone). Then the LH makes its way to the gonads and stimulates the production and release of testosterone.

If the following organs below are not working properly, or normally it can cause abnormal testosterone levels or low testosterone levels.

* hypothalamus

* pituitary

* gland gonads

So what happens if your testosterone levels are too low?

Lower testosterone levels typically only causes symptoms in men that assigned male at birth, the condition is called male hypogonadism.

There are two main types of male hypogonadism which is classical (congenital or acquired) and late- onset.

1. Classical male hypogonadism is when low test levels are due to underlying medical conditions or damage to your testicles, pituitary gland or hypothalamus. People born with certain condition (congenital) can result in low test, or males can develop it later (acquired) from something that changes the normal functions of the testicles, hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

2. Late-onset male hypogonadism starts when the decline in test levels is linked to general again or age-related conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Per the Cleveland clinic about 2% of men over the age of 40 years old are affected by late onset hypogonadism

Hypogonadism causes can include the following

• * Aging
• * Weight gain
• * Obesity
• * Certain medications
• * Certain medical conditions
• * Sleep apnea
• * Type 2 diabetes
• * Metabolic disorders
• * Excessive increase in estrogen production
• * Excessive drinking
• * Excessive smoking
• * Complications of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
• * Issues of the gonad

Diagnosing Testosterone deficiency or (hypogonadism) depends on many different factors, which requires a medical provider to assess both comprehensive blood work, medical history, and patients reported symptoms.

What are the symptoms of low testosterone deficiency?

• * Loss of body hair
• * Depressed mood
• * ED related issues
• * Unexplained reduction in muscle mass
• * Increased body fat
• * Low Libido
• * Osteoporosis (Weak bones)
• * Difficulty with being able to focus or concentration
• * Difficulty with memory
• * Anxiety
• * Fatigue
• * Reduced exercise recovery

Patients may report some or all these symptoms, because symptoms are so varied, a tool that we use in the medical field for providers and patients is the ADAM Questionnaire. Which is a questionnaire that helps determine whether a patient is potentially experiencing Testosterone deficiency and could benefit from TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy).

If you answer yes to question 1 or 7 or if you answer yes to more than 3 of these questions you may be struggling from low testosterone. See below for the questionnaire.

The A.D.A.M. Questionnaire

• 1. Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)?
• 2. Do you have a lack of energy?
• 3. Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance?
• 4. Have you lost height?
• 5. Have you noticed a decreased enjoyment of life?
• 6. Are you sad and/or grumpy?
• 7. Are your erections less strong?
• 8. Have you noticed a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports?
• 9. Are you falling asleep after dinner?
• 10. Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?

What is the normal range for testosterone levels?

Testosterone levels are measured through lab work, per LabCorp they define normal range in testosterone for men as 264ng/dl to 916 ng/dl.

Most providers agree that "normal" readings fall anywhere between 300 to 1000 nanograms per deciliter.

Did you know that about 40% of men over the age of 45 will have levels that come in below that range?

Does that mean if your level of testosterone is 264 or 300 and that you're in the normal range and can't experience low testosterone symptoms?

Not exactly, there are a few problems with defined ranges like this. A man that has his levels at 264 might not have the same experience as a man who has a level of 800ng/dl. However, if we go based on the testosterone scale for diagnosis this would be considered normal.

Every man's optimal range is going to vary and is catered to the individual and can depend on so many physiological factors.

Caremont Health also incorporates symptomology into diagnosis. Caremont Health does not offer cookie-cutter programs, we provide patients with a personalized treatment plan that is specific to their needs and their optimal ranges.

Testosterone Injection Therapy

Testosterone injection therapy is the most common delivery system when it comes to TRT. One reason is that Testosterone injections allow for the most control of the dosage, with the medication absorbing directly into the bloodstream. Testosterone injection therapy is also ideal for our provider to make adjustments with ease.

Testosterone injection therapy is just like it sounds - self-administered injections performed at specific intervals throughout the week, either delivered into the fatty layer of the skin (subcutaneous) or into the muscle (intramuscular). The injection interval depends on the patient's individual needs as well as the type of ester used in the Testosterone injection.

Men's health matters, and it does not only affect men it affects everyone that they care about including their spouse, children, and parents.

Take the first step in your TRT Journey, call, text or book through our website for our free 15-min consultation to see if you would benefit from TRT ensure that Caremont Health is a good fit for you and your health journey.

Don't suffer alone, Caremont Health is here for you and will guide you side by side.

Schedule today for a free 15-minute consultation to see if you would benefit from TRT. Schedule by calling or texting us at 813-692-6091 or through our website: www.caremonthealth.com booking section.