Testosterone deficiency is common in middle-aged and older men but it is underdiagnosed and often untreated ( 1 ). “In cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of men aged 30 or 40 years and above, total, bioavailable and free testosterone concentrations fall with increasing age with a steeper decline in bioavailable and free compared with total testosterone concentrations.” (1)
Nonetheless, thanks to technology, these days we are able to fix our hormones using hormone replacement therapy like testosterone injections because of the many benefits they offer. Despite the fact that they might not be for everyone they are a great idea for many men who are going through signs of low testosterone like low energy and low libido.
Below we have listed the top 5 benefits of low testosterone that may make you raise your eyebrows to the idea of testosterone replacement therapy and if it is right for you.
Benefit #1:
Improve sexual desire and function
One of the main reasons people seek to increase their testosterone using Testosterone Replacement Therapy is the desire to decrease erectile dysfunction and increase sexual function. According to the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, ED is something that is correlated to low free testosterone levels which drop with age. “There was a positive relationship between testosterone and frequency of sexual behavior.” ( 2 ). Men with low-T levels have less sexual desire than men with high-T levels, so it only goes to support the notion that Testosterone Replacement Therapy will increase sexual desire and sexual functioning.
Benefit #2:
Increase bone mineral density
With age comes a loss of bone mass. “Fifty-two percent of older men with low bioavailable testosterone levels had BMD levels below the young adult normal range and are likely at an increased risk of fracture.” ( 3 ). “Rapid hip bone loss was more likely in men with total testosterone deficiency.” ( 4 ) This is one of the great benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy that can make you think again about possibly using it to prevent serious injury and pain later on.
Benefit #3:
Improve mood, energy, and quality of life
Lack of motivation, low energy, and irritability are what most would call a poor quality of life. These aren’t supposed to be normal for people as we age. It’s a sign of low testosterone. In a study of 163 men who applied between 5 to 10 g of AndroGel (T gel) per day for up to 42 months, they found that “Sexual function and mood parameters improved rapidly and were maintained throughout T treatment.” ( 5 ). So, if you are feeling bad right now and don’t know why then it could be a sign of low-T, in which testosterone replacement therapy could be a big help to improve your overall mood and quality of life.
Benefit #4:
Change body composition and improve muscle mass and strength
As we age we lose muscle mass. In fact, “After age 30, you begin to lose as much as 3% to 5% per decade. Most men will lose about 30% of their muscle mass during their lifetimes...One possible contributor to sarcopenia is the natural decline of testosterone, the hormone that stimulates protein synthesis and muscle growth.” ( 6 ) In a study of older men before and after 6 months interaction between testosterone and exogenous amino acids, they found that Testosterone improved fasting net protein balance. ( 7 ) So, doing a hormone replacement treatment can greatly impact your ability to hold onto muscle and strength as you age preventing the steady increase of fat and decrease of lean muscle.
Benefit #5:
Improve cognitive function
Most people understand the decline of memory and thinking abilities as we age. There is a correlation between testosterone levels and cognitive performance such as spatial abilities or mathematical reasoning. ( 8 ) However, lucky for men who get testosterone therapy they can prevent the decline of your mind and cognitive abilities because “high testosterone levels predicted better performance on several tests of cognitive function.” ( 9 ) So, if you don't want to worry about the decline of your smart mind then consider T-therapy as a viable option for you.
Low testosterone wreaks havoc on the lives of millions of men worldwide. It causes so many issues that can easily be fixed by doing a treatment of testosterone replacement therapy. If you like the idea of improving your sexual function, mood, energy, cognition, body composition, bone mineral density and much more then feel free to contact us here at Dynamic Wellness, South Florida’s #1 Anti-Aging Clinic, so we can help you in more ways than one to increase the quality of your life and body.
Here at Dynamic Wellness, we offer health and rehabilitation treatments for all. You’ll experience ageless beauty, a pain-free life, and improved wellness as a result of our services. Contact us today for a FREE consultation!
Resources
Bassil N, Alkaade S, Morley JE. The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2009;5(3):427-48. Epub 2009 Jun 22. PubMed PMID: 19707253; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2701485.
Schiavi RC, Schreiner-Engel P, White D, Mandeli J. Pituitary-gonadal function during sleep in men with hypoactive sexual desire and in normal controls. Psychosomat Med. 1988; 50:304–318.
Anne M. Kenny, Karen M. Prestwood, Kristina M. Marcello, Lawrence G. Raisz , Determinants of Bone Density in Healthy Older Men With Low Testosterone Levels, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 55, Issue 9, 1 September 2000, Pages M492–M497.
Howard A. Fink, Susan K. Ewing, Kristine E. Ensrud, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Brent C. Taylor, Jane A. Cauley, Eric S. Orwoll , Association of Testosterone and Estradiol Deficiency with Osteoporosis and Rapid Bone Loss in Older Men, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 91, Issue 10, 1 October 2006, Pages 3908–3915
Christina Wang, Glenn Cunningham, Adrian Dobs, Ali Iranmanesh, Alvin M. Matsumoto, Peter J. Snyder, Thomas Weber, Nancy Berman, Laura Hull, Ronald S. Swerdloff , Long-Term Testosterone Gel (AndroGel) Treatment Maintains Beneficial Effects on Sexual Function and Mood, Lean and Fat Mass, and Bone Mineral Density in Hypogonadal Men, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 89, Issue 5, 1 May 2004, Pages 2085–2098
Harvard Health Publishing. “Preserve Your Muscle Mass.” Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/preserve-your-muscle-mass
Arny A. Ferrando, Melinda Sheffield-Moore, Douglas Paddon-Jones, Robert R. Wolfe, Randall J. Urban , Differential Anabolic Effects of Testosterone and Amino Acid Feeding in Older Men, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 88, Issue 1, 1 January 2003, Pages 358–362
McKeever, W.F. & Deyo , R.A. Bull. Psychon. Soc. (1990) 28: 305
Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Deborah Goodman-Gruen, Brad Patay , Endogenous Sex Hormones and Cognitive Function in Older Men, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 84, Issue 10, 1 October 1999, Pages 3681–3685
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