While commonly thought to be a primarily male-bodied hormone, testosterone is produced by all healthy human bodies to one degree or another. The majority of testosterone in the human body is produced in the reproductive system, either the testes or the ovaries. Testosterone plays a vital role in all human bodies, and those experiencing low levels of this hormone may experience related medical concerns. Dr. Whelan works closely with the world’s leading experts in treating low testosterone and provides expert care backed by an understanding of the nuances of diagnosing and treating this condition.
What Symptoms Will Let Me Know I May Have Reduced Testosterone Levels?
A reduction in testosterone in the body can have a variety of effects on the body, some of which are subtle, while others may be more obvious to the patient. Included in the list of potential symptoms are a reduction of sex drive, diminished muscle mass, and increased body fat, a reduction in body hair, the growth of unwanted breast tissue, and sexual and erectile dysfunction in men. As part of your intake questionnaire, we will ask you to fill out a research-proven study to identify men experiencing symptoms of low testosterone.
How Can My Testosterone Levels Be Improved?
Changes to your lifestyle can have a meaningful impact on your testosterone levels without resorting to more invasive or pharmaceutical treatment options. As a specialist in Functional Medicine, Dr. Whelan will help you address lifestyle and dietary changes as well as dietary supplements that can help boost your testosterone without medication. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating a healthy goal-directed diet, and losing weight are often the most effective first steps in improving your testosterone levels. If you desire, as a concierge services patient at The Testosterone Replacement Clinic you will also have access to nutritional counseling including specific recommendations for patients with diabetes or pre-diabetes, workout programs, sleep hygiene advice, mental health exercises and the ability to track a multitude of health metrics that go far beyond your weight and blood pressure.
If you desire, Dr. Whelan can also provide you with other applications and resources that he feels are particularly effective. As a disclaimer, Dr. Whelan and The Testosterone Replacement Clinic are not associated with these services. We just want to provide you with the absolute best resources to optimize your life. If these prove ineffective or are inappropriate for the root cause of your low testosterone concerns, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) may be another effective option.
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Testosterone Replacement Therapy includes a combination of treatment modalities that are often used for patients suffering from concerns such as male hypogonadism. Testosterone levels can be boosted in many ways, including with research-proven supplements, oral and injectable medications to stimulate the body’s natural production of testosterone, as well as the direct administration of testosterone to the body to correct these hormonal imbalances. Three methods of direct administration of testosterone are available through the Testosterone Replacement Clinic, including topical gels, oral, and injection forms. Some patients prefer the topical gel option because it doesn’t require injections, but they require specific safety precautions to prevent the transfer to other people (especially women and children). Injections are generally very well tolerated, more affordable and effective, as well as easier to dial in the dosing for optimizing your levels. All forms of treatment accomplish the same goal – optimizing your hormonal levels to make you feel stronger, better, more fit and healthy, improve sexual health and performance, improve sleep and mood, while also helping to relieve the complications of other chronic diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol.
What Risks Are Associated With Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
All medical treatments come with some degree of risk, and TRT is no exception. While side-effects are relatively rare, the following have been reported to be associated with the treatment:
- Acne or Skin Conditions
- Sleep Apnea or worsening of sleep apnea
- Lower Sperm Production
- Reduction in testicle size
- Enhanced Heart Disease Risk
- Breast Enlargement
That being said, many research studies have shown that in men with low testosterone levels, TRT actually lowers your risk for serious heart conditions and disease, improves metabolic parameters like reduction in obesity, body fat content, and hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and has shown impovements in other conditions like sleep quality and mental health, Low testosterone also comes with its own additional long list of risks, including hip fracture, heart attack, and stroke.
How Our Clinic Addresses Concerns of Low Testosterone
If you express concern over low testosterone levels, Dr. Whelan will start with a comprehensive testing process. This process will involve obtaining a comprehensive lab testing panel, and reviewing your list of current medications, medical history, and health concerns to see if they may be having an impact. The particulars of your current lifestyle will also be addressed, such as diet, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, and activity levels. We provide a level of treatment both in expertise and available options often not available in other practices.
Many concerns over low testosterone can be narrowed down to lifestyle and diet, and can be addressed by making changes without the need for medication. At The Testosterone Replacement Clinic, if we can help you achieve your goals without needing medication, then we have fulfilled our ultimate goal. If your labs confirm low levels of testosterone, we’ll discuss possible treatment methods, including lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, medication options, and together we will set appropriate goals and develop a custom treatment plan tailored to you specifically. Throughout the treatment, we’ll monitor your progress and ensure that you’re responding well and in optimal health.
If you think you may be living with symptoms of low testosterone, sign up and schedule an initial consultation. Dr. Whelan will order a comprehensive lab panel for you, review your intake forms with a focus on your specific goals, and create a custom treatment plan for you. The initial consultation is free, so you will be able to be educated on all treatment options to determine what is best for you before committing to treatment.
What types of results can I expect from Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Men with low to low-normal testosterone levels who receive Testosterone Replacement Therapy often report:
- Increased focus and memory
- Increased motivation and drive
- Increased energy
- Better sleep and mood
- Increased muscle mass and strength
- Faster recovery from workouts and injuries
- Lower body fat percentage
- Improved self-esteem
- Increased libido and sex drive
- Longer lasting and harder erections
In addition, in men with low testosterone treated with Testosterone Replcemenet Therapy, we often see improvement in blood sugar control, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and heart disease.
If I start Testosterone Replacement Therapy, can I ever stop it?
This is a very important consideration when thinking about starting Testosterone Replacement Therapy. In some cases, lifestyle changes, diet, and exercise are enough to help bring your testosterone to normal levels and keep it up, so as long as you maintain those habits, you will feel good. In other cases, natural supplements can do the same. In cases where medication is needed to boost your testosterone to normal levels, the chances are that if you stop the medications, your testosterone will drop to its previous levels and you will experience the symptoms of Low T. If you are considering Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Dr. Whelan will discuss all options and expectations with you before moving forward.
If I start Testosterone Replacement Therapy, can I still have children?
The answer to this question is dependent on the kind of treatment that you receive for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. If you are being treated with lifestyle changes, dietary supplements, or medications that stimulate the body’s natural production of testosterone, your fertility generally will not be affected. In fact, these therapies can actually increase your sperm counts and the health of the sperm you produce, potentially making you more fertile. On the other hand, if you are being treated directly with any form of testosterone (topical gels, oral, or injectable forms), the resulting increased testosterone levels in the blood can signal the brain to reduce or stop your own natural testosterone production. This can cause testicular shrinkage and reduced sperm counts which can lead to infertility.
In almost all men, when they stop taking testosterone, their normal testosterone and sperm production rebound to prior levels (usually over 1-6 months), but there is a small chance that they do not. For this reason, Dr. Whelan always recommends having a sperm analysis performed before starting Testosterone Replacement Therapy to check your sperm counts, health, and motility as well as providing you the option of freezing semen samples if needed for fertility later in life. We have vetted many companies that provide these services and will provide you with recommendations for ones that provide the best and highest quality testing and services.
Dr. Whelan has also developed protocols based on current research that uses a combination of direct testosterone replacement with other medications and supplements to stimulate normal testosterone production, helping to prevent testicular shrinkage and infertility, which means you could potentially still have children while also being on Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Dr. Whelan has also developed protocols to help men who are currently on Testosterone Replacement Therapy come off of it safely while preventing adverse side effects and boosting their normal hormone and sperm production.
