Ladera Ranch Testosterone Replacement Therapy Clinic

Low Testosterone Treatment in Ladera Ranch

By the age of 40, a man's testosterone levels can begin to decrease by as much as 3% every year. But this hormone is still a very important facet of men's health and while a decline doesn't always signal the need for therapy, certain symptoms and conditions might arise that ultimately make it necessary in order to maintain a healthy sex drive and increase overall energy.

Testosterone is plentiful through adolescence and should continue being produced largely unabated through your 20's and 30's. But after that, testosterone deficiency can lead to a variety of issues that could easily be solved through a comprehensive strategy of therapeutic treatments.

Most Common Symptoms

Men who are experiencing certain symptoms related to their sexual or biological functions may be candidates for low testosterone treatments. These are just some of the signs that the body is having difficulty managing with insufficient amounts of the hormone.

• Decreased sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low sperm count
• Hair loss
• Bone density loss
• Muscle mass loss
• Increases in body fat
• Atrophied testicles
• Insomnia
• Growing tired easily
• Feelings of depression
• Loss of interest in activities that previously brought joy
• Chronic illness
• Higher levels of stress
• Obesity

If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, it could be the result of low testosterone and it might be time to seek out treatment.

Treating Low Testosterone

The important thing to remember is that treatment is not a suitable strategy for men who are experiencing a natural decrease in the production of testosterone. After all, it is normal to produce less than you were when you are 25 years of age. However, if any of the symptoms above may be caused by a marked deficiency in testosterone or due to a condition called hypogonadism, than treatments can be very helpful.

The term hypogonadism refers to an inability of the testicles to produce the hormones that men require for supporting normal sexual health and overall positive well-being. This condition can be addressed with low testosterone treatment or replacement, but first the patient must be diagnosed to find out if low testosterone or hypogonadism are contributing factors to the symptoms listed above.

Diagnosing low testosterone is not an invasive procedure but it is a specific one. In order to get an accurate reading of the patient's testosterone levels, he must undergo two separate blood panels in the morning. The appointments must not be consecutive either, each test must be conducted with a period of multiple days in between.

Having the blood drawn in the early morning hours is also critical for getting the most accurate results as testosterone levels are at their highest levels at that time, then rise and fall throughout the course of the day.

In addition to a blood analysis, a diagnosis also incorporates a full examination in consideration of the symptoms that are being experienced. Depending on what those might be, you may need to undergo additional tests that address those symptoms directly. The results of those tests could mean you need more treatments to deal with those as well.

Undergoing Low Testosterone Treatment

Once your doctor has determined that you are showing reduced levels of testosterone in the blood alongside one or more common symptoms as a result, a therapy program will be developed to treat the issue.

However, your doctor may still recommend you refrain from embarking upon a low testosterone treatment regimen if you have low levels of the hormone without any major underlying symptoms. Even if you are experiencing some symptoms, they may not be urgent enough to call for a low testosterone treatment when another form of therapy may be more effective.

But if your levels are low and you are experiencing any form of sexual dysfunction or symptoms of fatigue, low testosterone therapies could be the answer. Should that be determined by your doctor and you wish to start on such a treatment program, we offer a number of options that are designed to fit with your lifestyle.

Testosterone replacement therapy

For many patients, replacement therapies are the most effective method for raising low levels of testosterone. Through these treatment methods, the patient is prescribed medication which is formulated specifically to help promote an increase in the production of the hormone in your body.

Patients may choose how they wish to have the medication administered as these therapies come in many forms. Patches are among the more popular of these options in which the patient applies it to the skin daily. The patch releases metered doses of testosterone through the skin. Topical gels are also commonly used by patients. All you need to do is rub it over various parts of the body and the testosterone is absorbed into the skin.

Testosterone treatments are also available via oral medication. The treatment is placed inside the mouth and the medication is absorbed through the inside of the mouth where it reaches the bloodstream.

Finally, patients can opt to go with injections directly into the skin. These treatments are administered by your doctor every week or every two weeks. Though there are some risks associated with taking testosterone via injection as they can cause immediate spikes in testosterone followed by a steady reduction directly thereafter. Some patients report experiencing extreme fluctuations in energy and overall mood due to these highs and lows that come from direct injection into the system. Though all of these effects typically fade after four to six weeks of treatment.

Low testosterone treatment is a very personal issue that each patient must consider carefully and may want to discuss the matter with their partner and their family before starting a therapy regimen such as the ones listed above. Our experts are ready to review your situation with you and help you determine if these treatment options are right for you and the symptoms you are currently experiencing.