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TRT in the UK and EU | Contact: +44 (0) 203 9003 209 | Login
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Testosterone is an important hormone that controls different processes, such as fat distribution, sex desire, bone density, red blood cell formation, and muscle mass. Any fluctuation in its normal concentration can adversely affect your mental, physical and emotional health.
Healthcare professionals often prescribe TRT to men with low T. This FDA-approved procedure involves the administration of exogenous testosterone to help men restore their testosterone levels and feel like their best selves again.
In this article, we have explained TRT in detail, including its effects on your health, diagnosis, treatment options, etc., to help you understand why it has become an important part of men’s health management today.
As mentioned earlier, TRT is prescribed to men whose bodies are unable to produce testosterone in healthy amounts for one reason or another. We will discuss its common causes in the next sections, but it is essential to first learn what low T does to the body.
Men suffering from low T often report the following symptoms.
These symptoms negatively influence the quality of men’s lives. For instance, if you are in a romantic relationship, poor sexual performance may disturb your relationship with your partner. Similarly, losing self-confidence could result in fewer social interactions, influencing your social life.
Men experiencing these symptoms should discuss their condition with their healthcare provider to find a suitable solution fast and start their journey to recovery.
TRT is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of the symptoms mentioned above and improving the quality of your life. Studies indicate men experience the following benefits once they start taking testosterone.
Improvement in low T symptoms can have a significant impact on the quality of your life. It makes it easier to perform day-to-day activities, and it may also enhance your work performance. You will regain the lost confidence, and your social life will also be improved.
If you have low testosterone levels, you should consult a doctor and start a suitable treatment as soon as possible. Your doctor will first identify the actual cause of the problem and then create a treatment plan accordingly. They will monitor your testosterone levels throughout the treatment to ensure you achieve maximum results and have the least side effects.
Low T can be due to primary hypogonadism or secondary hypogonadism.
Primary hypogonadism: It occurs when there is a problem with your testes. Your hypothalamus and pituitary gland keep sending signals to testicles to initiate testosterone production, but they fail to perceive those signals.
Its common causes are:
Secondary hypogonadism: It occurs when the testicles are healthy, but there is a problem with either the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland. They do not release hormones that activate testosterone secretion. Hence, the testes fail to produce healthy amounts of testosterone.
Common causes of secondary hypogonadism are:
Diagnosing the actual cause is important as it helps the doctor design a suitable treatment plan.
Your doctor will conduct a complete TRT blood test. The blood sample will be taken in the morning. It will find concentrations of the following elements in your blood.
Total testosterone: It is the sum of free or unattached and bound testosterone. Healthy testosterone amounts range from 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).
Free testosterone: It is the biologically active form of testosterone that can enter cells and carry out different functions.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone: It is released by the hypothalamus to stimulate testosterone production. Its low level in blood may indicate a problem with the hypothalamus.
Luteinizing hormone (LH): It is secreted by pituitary glands and stimulates testosterone production. Low LH levels indicate that there might be a problem with the pituitary gland.
Prostate-specific antigen: TRT may increase your prostate-specific antigens (PSA). That is why PSA levels are recorded at the start of the treatment. They are later compared with levels during the treatment.
Full blood count: It gives information about your blood cells. Raised red blood cells may increase the risk of heart attack or heart disease.
The doctor will conduct a physical examination to look for the signs of low T. They will also ask questions to understand what you feel about your condition. Inform them about your medical history and how you have noticed physical or emotional changes in yourself.
MRI of the brain will be done to exclude pituitary gland tumours.
It will be done to exclude testicular infections.
If you have been diagnosed with low T, your doctor will prescribe you testosterone doses based on your current testosterone levels. There are three ways to administer testosterone.
Subcutaneous: It is testosterone administration in the area between muscle and skin. The area is less vascular; thus, absorption through it is potentially slower.
Intramuscular: It involves the injection of testosterone into muscles. Absorption through muscles occurs fast because of the high vascularity of muscles.
Topical: Creams or gels are applied directly to the skin from where testosterone gets absorbed into the bloodstream. It is the least invasive mode of administration.
There are different forms of TRT. Ask your doctor to explain the pros and cons of each form so you can choose the best one. Here are the most commonly used testosterone treatment options.
It is one of the most convenient forms of TRT. You need to rub testosterone gel daily on your dry and clean body part that is easy to cover with clothing. Doctors usually suggest upper thighs, upper arms, and shoulders for gel application.
Follow the instructions written on the gel packaging to use the product right away. Testosterone gel can catch fire, so stay away from the fire until the gel dries.
Your doctor may combine testosterone gel with the HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) if you want to maintain your fertility and sperm count and prevent testicular shrinkage. This hormone will increase the production of natural testosterone from Leydig cells.
The injectable form of testosterone is given every 1 to 4 weeks. It has a slow release rate, and its dosage is determined based on your testosterone levels when starting the treatment. It should always be given in muscles and never in veins because administration in veins can significantly reduce its efficiency.
Testosterone patches are applied directly to the skin. A patch is usually applied at the same time daily and left in place for the next 24 hours, after which a fresh patch is applied.
These are small grain-size pellets that are implanted under the skin. They contain crystallised testosterone that is released into the bloodstream slowly and steadily for up to 6 months. The pellet is implanted under the skin through a minor procedure under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Your doctor will alter your testosterone doses and the frequency of administration to manage TRT side effects, including acne, obstructive sleep apnea, enlarged breasts, and increased red blood cell count.
In the beginning, They will ask you to closely examine your body and treatment side effects and contact them immediately if you experience any severe side effects. They may ask you to come for a monitoring session after 3 to 6 months of starting TRT.
During this session, they will evaluate your testosterone levels, prostate-specific antigen level, and red blood cell count. They will ask you to fill out a questionnaire. They may bring a few changes to the treatment based on his evaluation.
TRT has become a part of men’s health management programs because of its incredible benefits. It can help them reduce hypogonadism symptoms and improve the quality of their lives.
Men suffering from hypogonadism should discuss the issue with their healthcare provider to start their recovery journey and enjoy the benefits of TRT. Their doctor will diagnose the actual cause of the condition and create a unique treatment plan that best suits their needs.
References/Scientific studies/Bibliography/Further reading
Bassil, N., Alkaade, S. and Morley, J.E., 2009. The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review. Therapeutics and clinical risk management, 5, p.427.
Moon, D.G. and Park, H.J., 2019. The Ideal Goal of Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Maintaining Testosterone Levels or Managing Symptoms?. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(3), p.362.
Corona, G., Torres, L.O. and Maggi, M., 2020. Testosterone therapy: what we have learned from trials. The journal of sexual medicine, 17(3), pp.447-460.
This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts.
References, sources and studies used alongside our own in-house research have been cited below, most of which contain external clickable links to reviewed scientific paper that contain date stamped evidence.
Our team of healthcare experts and GMC registered doctors are licensed to UK GMC standards. We strive to provide you with the latest evidence based, researched articles that are unbiased, honest and provide you with accurate insights, statistics and helpful information on the discussed topic to ensure you gain a better understanding of the subject.
We value your feedback on our articles, if you have a well-researched paper you would like to share with us please contact us.
If you know your total testosterone reading from a previous blood test input the results to the left above to see if your testosterone levels are normal.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
The Total Testosterone Level You Entered Is Incorrect. Figure Must be in nmol/L you can use our converter here.
Your testosterone levels appear to be in the normal range.
You must be over 38, have had your ovaries removed or have suffered with premature menopause to warrant further hormone tests.
Please contact us to discuss your hormones, we need your total testosterone levels to validate your hormone deficiency. You can order a blood test here.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
You appear to have higher than normal testosterone levels, please contact us for further investigation.
You appear to have normal testosterone levels. Contact us if you have any concerns.
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones Ltd which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
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