Testosterone Deficiency
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Testosterone deficiency is a condition characterized by the production of
too little testosterone by the testicles. Deficiency of this vital male hormone
in an adult is manifested in the form of alteration in masculine physical characteristics
and impairment of normal reproductive functions.
Testosterone
is the key male hormone that maintains neurological functions, muscle mass
and strength, fat distribution, bone mass, regulates cholesterol, dilates
coronary arteries, sperm production, sex drive and potency. It is mainly produced
by the testes. Starting
around
age
40, a
man's body produces about 1 percent less testosterone each year. This aging
associated natural decline of testosterone continues throughout life.
Testosterone
production begins in the brain. The
Luteinizing
Hormone (LH) secreted
by the
pituitary gland in the brain prompts the Leydig cells in the testes to produce
testosterone. In females, the ovaries and the adrenal gland produce testosterone.
Testosterone is much more than a sex hormone. There are testosterone receptor
sites in cells throughout the body, most notably in the brain and heart
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- Natural Aging
- Injury to or infection of the testicles
- Chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer
- Genetic abnormalities such as Klinefelter's Syndrome (extra X chromosome)
- Hemochromatosis (too much iron in the body)
- Dysfunction of the pituitary gland (a gland in the brain that produces
many important hormones)
- Inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis
- Medications, especially hormones used to treat prostate cancer and
corticosteroid drugs
- Chronic kidney failure
- Liver cirrhosis
- Stress
- Alcoholism
|
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- Decreased energy.
- Reduced muscle mass and strength.
- Decreased cognitive function.
- Less sexual interest
- Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence).
- Depressed mood.
- Atrophied genitalia.
- Bone Loss (osteoporosis).
|
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Estrogen |
In men, estrogen is secreted by the
adrenal gland and certain amounts of testosterone is
also converted into estrogen within the body. With
aging, a man's body converts larger amounts of testosterone into
estrogen resulting in disorders
resulting due to the combined effects of having too little
testosterone and excess of estrogen. The most
dangerous acute effect of excess estrogen and too little testosterone is
an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. High levels of estrogen have
been implicated as a cause of enlarged prostate gland. Estrogen can compete
for testosterone receptor sites in the body and block the ability
of testosterone to induce a healthy hormonal signal. |
Heart |
Weakening of the heart is one of the consequences
of normal aging. Testosterone is a
muscle-building hormone and there are many testosterone-receptor sites
in the heart. The weakening of the heart muscle can sometimes be attributed
to testosterone deficiency. Testosterone is not only responsible for maintaining
heart muscle protein synthesis, it is also a promoter of coronary artery
dilation and helps
to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
|
Prostate Gland |
High
testosterone levels contribute to enlarged prostate as this hormone
stimulates prostate cell growth. This
may be caused by the combined effect of testosterone and estrogen. The
life enhancing effects of this hormone are underused by most men due
to the fear of developing prostate cancer. Therefore, a serum
PSA (Prostate specific antigen) test and a digital rectal exam is recommended
to rule out existing prostate cancer before starting testosterone replacement
therapy.
|
Depression |
Low testosterone levels correlate with symptoms of depression
and other psychological disorders. It has been consistently demonstrated
that testosterone
replacement
therapy
produces
an increased
feeling of
well-being that is equivalent to that achieved with standard antidepressant
drugs |
Libido |
Testosterone promotes sexual desire and then facilitates
performance, sensation and the ultimate degree of fulfillment. Without
adequate levels of this hormone, the quality of
a man's sex life is adversely affected and the genitals atrophy. The
genital-pelvic
region is packed with testosterone receptors that are ultra-sensitive
to testosterone-induced sexual stimulation.
|
Aging |
Many
of the symptoms in middle-aged men like depression, fatigue, abdominal
weight gain, alterations
in mood and cognition, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, prostate
disease and heart disease may be directly related to testosterone deficiency.
In some men, the testes lose their functional ability to produce testosterone.
A major problem that aging men face is dual effects of low testosterone
production and excessive conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Many
of the degenerative diseases associated with aging in men, such
as Type-II diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are related
to a testosterone deficiency.The common characteristics
of middle age and older age, such as depression, abdominal fat deposition,
muscle atrophy, low energy and cognitive decline are also associated
with less than optimal levels of testosterone.
|
These findings have significant implications in the battle
to maintain youthful
hormone balance and embrace the normal aging process with optimism.
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Testosterone deficiency can be treated through Testosterone Replacement Therapy
(TRT). Synthetic testosterone is chemically different from the natural testosterone
your body makes, however it provides the same effect as natural testosterone.
Testosterone replacement therapy must be done under the supervision of a licensed
physician who can monitor your testosterone levels regularly.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy is used to Treat the Following Conditions
in Men:
Diseases
of Aging Men |
Depression |
Cardiovascular diseases |
Decreased libido |
Erectile Dysfunction |
Infertility |
Decreased Production of Testosterone |
Hypopituitrism |
Testicular failure |
Chronic illness |
Prolactinoma |
Though potentially beneficial
for some men, testosterone therapy is not risk-free. The table below highlights
some of the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy.
-
Improves muscle mass, strength & energy.
-
Increases bone density.
-
Thickens hair and skin.
-
Improves sex drive.
-
Decreases irritability and depression.
-
Improves
cognitive functions.
- Improves feeling of wellness.
|
Risks of TRT
- Causes or aggravates sleep
apnea.
- Stimulates
non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland
- Causes or worsens
urinary symptoms due to prostate problems.
- Stimulates the growth of already present prostate cancer.
- Enlarges the breasts.
- Limits sperm production.
- Stimulates excess blood production.
- Causes acne.
|
Talk with your doctor to find out whether testosterone replacement therapy
- and in which form - is right for you! Men with prostrate cancer, breast
cancer or allergies to testosterone or any ingredient in the dosage form should
avoid testosterone replacement therapies.
Commercially testosterone is available in the following forms.
Pills |
Andriol (testosterone undecanoate)
|
Orally administered testosterone in the form of pills is not
absorbed well and may increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases, increase
cholesterol levels and cause liver damage. |
Injections |
Depo-Testosterone® (brand of testosterone
cypionate)
|
Intra muscular testosterone injections are painful but safe
and effective. Testosterone injections are generally administered every
two to four weeks and can be given either by your doctor or can be self
administered. |
Delatestryl® (testosterone enanthate) |
Skin Patches |
Testoderm® (Scrotal Patch) |
Skin patches effectively and consistently deliver testosterone
into the body and they can be applied to various parts of the body (non-scrotal
patch) or directly on to the scrotum (scrotal patch). |
Androderm® (testosterone transdermal system) |
Gel |
AndroGel® 1% (testosterone gel) |
The gel can be rubbed on the skin on various parts of the
body. As the gel dries, testosterone is absorbed through the skin. A potential
side effect of the gel is the possibility of transferring the medication
to your partner. This can be avoided by waiting approximately 5 hours
after an application or covering the area before having skin-to-skin contact. |
Testim® |
Buccal Gel |
Striant® (testosterone buccal system gel) |
This preparation delivers tetosterone through the mucous memebrane of
the mouth from where it is rapidly absorbed directly into your blood stream.
This mode of administration of testosterone is easy and extremely effective. |
- To maintain an optimum level of Testosterone in the body,
the following steps can prove to be very helpful.
Physical Exercise
|
A routine of regular high-intensity
exercises contributes to maintaining testosterone
at optimal levels in the body. |
High-Protein Diet
|
A diet high in protein can contribute to
maintain normal testosterone levels in the body. |
Soy
|
Consumption of
soy-based-food products lower levels of
estrogen. |
Fish Oil
|
Essential fatty acids found in fish oil
make more testosterone available
to perform their normal functions. |
Nutritional Supplements
|
Zinc
|
Zinc is essential for
maintaining a man’s sexual functioning and is involved in almost
every aspect of male reproduction, including testosterone metabolism,
sperm formation and sperm motility. |
Indole-3-carbinol
|
Getting an adequate intake of indole-3-carbinol either
through vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage or via
supplements, may prove helpful in keeping estrogen levels in check and
decreasing the risk of prostate cancer |
Natural Extracts
|
Chrysin
|
Chrysin
may offer libido-enhancing effects in the aging male by increasing
free testosterone, decreasing excess estrogen, producing
anti-anxiety effects.
|
Nettle
|
This highly concentrated extract from the nettle root
provides a unique mechanism for increasing levels of testosterone
by blocking the binding of testosterone leaving more in
its sexually activating form. |
Muira Puama
|
Muira puama comes from the stems and roots of a plant
and is widely used in some parts of the world as an aphrodisiac, tonic
and cure for rheumatism and muscle paralysis. It is possible that this
herb induces these positive changes by favorably altering the hormone
balance in aging men, i.e. increases free testosterone and/or suppresses
excess estrogen
|
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LifeMD
Men's Health Canada
C Health
Andropause Canada
MEDLINEplus
MayoClinic
Healthfinder
Cleveland Clinic Glickman
Urological Institute
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
American Association of Clinical
Endocrinologists (AACE)
Health Canada
Aging and Seniors
Sympatico Health
Canada Food Guide
Health Reserve.com
Healthnet Canada
Centre For Medical Consumers
The 2nd World Congress On The Aging
Male
ClinicalTrials.gov
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