Testosterone use and male infertility patient education fact sheet

Testosterone Therapy Vasectomy Reversal, Infertility, Hypogonadism Treatment, Urologist

If you stop, your body’s natural production will resume, returning to levels similar to what you had before you started. It is not recommended to cycle on and off testosterone replacement therapy. Exercise in particular increases the body’s demand for testosterone in order to support muscle growth and repair, and exercise has been linked to higher levels of testosterone. In addition, cardiovascular and weight training can also help to increase muscle mass and reduce body fat, helping to raise testosterone levels. Testosterone replacement therapy is a gradual process, with results unfolding over time. It takes about 6 weeks on average to start seeing significant and systemic improvements in overall health, with peak results at around 12 months. Tulsa Men’s Clinic is a leader in comprehensive hormone replacement therapies like testosterone replacement.

For example, outcomes of meta-analyses using RCTs alone are generally more robust than those that also include cohort studies. Meta-analyses that are limited to only including RCTs may be restricted to a small number of studies and relevant studies may be excluded that could provide sufficient power to make alternative conclusions. This is particularly relevant for the current guideline as it provides context to situations where the pooled odds ratios and mean differences may contradict or fail to support published meta-analyses. There are several areas in the testosterone deficiency space, more specifically, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and adverse events, which warrant more detailed investigation.

These symptoms may be a sign of an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Most tablets also come with warnings about the drug causing hypertension and stroke. As a result, only individuals who cannot use other forms of TRT resort to taking testosterone by mouth.

Of note, there is no consensus on the necessity and timing of repeated PSA testing and digital rectal examination for men on testosterone therapy. Although the Endocrine Society and a multidisciplinary Canadian panel recommend annual PSA and digital rectal examination screening in men 40 years and older,9,11 the U.S. Researchers carried out clinical trials on 15,401 men aged over 45 years who had low testosterone levels. Those who were given TRT showed a 21% greater risk of cardiovascular conditions such as cardiac arrest and cerebrovascular disease compared to the proportion of men who did not take TRT. To receive a definitive diagnosis, blood tests must show that a person has low testosterone levels, which the American Urological Association notes as being below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl). The individual must also have other symptoms, such as fatigue, breast growth, and sexual dysfunction. Treating normal aging with testosterone therapy is not advisable.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help improve the symptoms of low testosterone due to male hypogonadism. TRT has certain risks and benefits, so your healthcare provider will carefully evaluate if it’s safe and right for you. Although some men believe they feel younger and more vigorous if they take testosterone medications, there’s little evidence to support the use of testosterone in otherwise healthy men. Guidelines from the American College of Physicians indicate that testosterone therapy might improve sexual function somewhat in some men, but there’s little evidence that it improves other functions, such as vitality and energy. Patients should be sure to tell their doctor about all medications and supplements they are taking, including over-the-counter herbal medicines.

The Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved testosterone therapy for women. However, doctors can prescribe it for low sex drive after other causes, including medical and psychological ones, are ruled out, said Dr. Jan Shifren, director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Midlife Women’s Health Center in Boston. If a patient does having sex raise testosterone have symptoms of “low T” — including depression, lethargy and low sex drive — doctors typically gauge levels with a blood test before deciding treatment. TRT seems to be more effective in young men with very low testosterone levels. While on testosterone therapy, you will need periodic testing to monitor your blood counts, liver function, and PSA to evaluate your risk for prostate cancer.

No, only whole blood donations are drawn while enrolled in the testosterone replacement therapy program. If you do not feel well and healthy due to side effects of testosterone (high blood pressure, high pulse, fever, feeling unwell because your blood is “too thick”, etc.) please contact your physician immediately. TRT can have short-term side effects, such as acne, disturbed breathing while sleeping, breast swelling or tenderness, or swollen ankles. “But for most men who qualify for treatment, the benefits of TRT usually outweigh these potential risks,” says Dr. O’Leary.

Combined estrogen-methyltestosterone capsules have been discontinued. They were used to treat delayed puberty in men and boys and breast cancer in women. The active ingredient, testosterone cypionate, is a powder mixed with other ingredients to make a solution. To avoid this type of gel transfer, apply it to clean, dry and intact skin that clothing can cover. Once the gel has dried, cover the area with clothing and keep it covered until you have washed it well or showered.

An increasing PSA while on TRT may indicate underlying malignancy and warrants evaluation. There has been no increased risk of prostate cancer demonstrated with TRT. Additionally, studies have demonstrated no increased risk of recurrence in men on TRT after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Small studies of men with active prostate cancer have shown no progression of disease on TRT.

Testosterone nasal gel requires multiple applications per day and has nasal side effects. Oral testosterone is easy to administer, but it must be taken with food. Although injectable therapy has flexible dosing, there is a risk of symptom fluctuations. 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. Men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits. Men with significant heart disease may be at risk for blood clots or additional heart disease if taking testosterone therapy.