Online Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Update on Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Factors such as exacerbation of prostate cancer, male breast cancer, worsening benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), polycythemia and an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) should be considered when administering TRT to a patient. The goal of this review is to highlight the risks and summarize the current literature on safety of TRT. Many men report improvement in energy, sex drive, and quality of erections.

A doctor will also monitor changes in symptoms and side effects at 3 and 6 months after the initial treatment and then annually. Testosterone pellets are small plastic pellets that doctors implant under the skin. The pellets dissolve slowly and can deliver TRT for 3–6 months. The dosage varies between individuals and a person should discuss this with their doctor prior to the first implantation. However, these benefits were quite modest and went away with the discontinuation of TRT. Around half of the participants in the 2019 study still had bone mineral density in the ranges of osteopenia or osteoporosis while on TRT.

This coordinated care program provides everything you need for treatment delivered right to your door each month, as well as ongoing treatment monitoring from your treatment team. You get everything you need to treat low testosterone from the comfort of your own home for as little as $105 per month. You can easily prioritize your health with fewer in-office appointments and affordable prices through our home testosterone replacement therapy options. Our team at Low T Center provides testosterone replacement treatment solutions tailored to your needs and budget. I’ve become a big advocate of pellet therapy since it offers more consistent testosterone levels, it doesn’t require daily or weekly delivery of the hormone, and the testosterone is bioidentical instead of synthetic.

Oral testosterone capsules cost between $1,000–$2,000 monthly without insurance. Cost may vary based on dosage, baseline testosterone levels, and the reason for taking them. You can stay books on testosterone testosterone replacement therapy for as long as it’s benefiting your symptoms and not causing health issues. If you stop taking testosterone, your levels will return to baseline. If you don’t notice an improvement in your symptoms after taking TRT for three to six months, your provider may recommend stopping the therapy. This is because if your symptoms don’t improve, your testosterone level may not be the cause of your symptom. Just being tired isn’t enough to seek testosterone replacement therapy.

Testosterone pellets have a long duration of action; however, they require an in-office procedure. Given the plethora of treatment options and direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, it is crucial for pharmacists to understand differences between these therapies and educate patients on their profiles and administration techniques. Beyond statistical significance, clinical relevance is another key factor. In analyzing the literature, it is imperative to determine whether or not statistically significant results are clinically meaningful.

Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles and is responsible for the proper development of male sexual characteristics. Testosterone is also important for maintaining muscle bulk, adequate levels of red blood cells, bone growth, a sense of well-being, and sexual function. You need a prescription from your doctor to access testosterone. But even if your doctor finds out that your testosterone levels are low, they may want you to try other remedies first – for instance, losing weight or seeing a psychologist for depression – before prescribing testosterone. Taking the drug is often a lifelong commitment (unless the low T is caused by a medical illness), so you’ll need to be continually monitored by a doctor.

This measures free testosterone plus testosterone attached to a blood protein called albumin. This is not a common test, but it can be given to check for certain medical conditions. It measures both testosterone attached to proteins in your blood and testosterone not attached to proteins (called free testosterone). Most testosterone is attached to proteins; the proteins control the amount of active testosterone in your body and prevent your tissues from using the hormone right away. Especially in older men, you’ll want to have your level taken in the morning because a decline is more noticeable if blood is drawn at that time.

A relatively small number of men experience immediate side effects of testosterone supplementation, such as acne, disturbed breathing while sleeping (worsening sleep apnea), breast swelling or tenderness, or swelling in the ankles. Doctors also watch out for high red blood cell counts, which could increase the risk of clotting. The quality of the pellets that providers can use varies dramatically. I’m excited to partner with Biote because I believe in its commitment to investing in the highest-quality products and its overall philosophy regarding hormone replacement therapy.