Our hormones control much of what keeps us living life to the fullest. One of the key hormones for men is testosterone, and when levels run low, testosterone treatment can help you get back to feeling your best. At Orchidia Medical Group in Naples, FL, we offer testosterone testing and treatment so you can live life uninterrupted.
Testosterone Testing and Treatment: What Are the Benefits?
1. Get Answers
Low-T causes a ripple effect of symptoms throughout the body, but some of these symptoms can also be caused by other issues. Without testing, it’s hard to know what might be going on.
In some cases, what seems like “classic signs of aging” might actually be something you can address with simple testosterone treatment. In other cases, what you assume could be a sign of lower testosterone could be a symptom of a disease. The point is that you can’t know without testing, so getting that test is the first step towards answers and the peace of mind that comes with them.
2. Enjoy Better Health
Many people think exclusively of better sexual performance and bigger muscles when they think of testosterone. But actually, testosterone treatment has wide-reaching effects that can improve sexual, mental, physical, and emotional health.
Better Sexual Health
When you get a testosterone imbalance addressed, you can expect:
- Help with erectile dysfunction
- Stronger orgasms
- Longer-lasting erections
- Greater sexual drive
Better Mental Health
Because this is a key hormone for brain function, once your levels are optimized again you can expect:
- Better short- and long-term memory
- Less mental fog
- Heightened concentration
- More ability to focus
- Fewer feelings of disorientation
Better Physical Health
Most men are aware that testosterone plays a key role in developing and keeping their muscle mass, but there are other physical benefits, like:
- More stamina and endurance
- Less fatigue
- Strength gains
- Stronger bone density
- Lowered LDL cholesterol
- Better sleep
- Decreased risk of heart disease
- Less hair thinning
- Weight loss (especially around the belly)
- Less joint and muscle pain
- Stronger immune system
- Faster recovery from exercise or exertion
- More lean muscle gains
- More acute vision
Better Emotional Health
Many people are aware of the way hormones affect women’s emotions, but less well known is the fact that hormones play just as big a part in men’s emotional health. Women’s hormones tend to fluctuate more because of menstruation and pregnancy, but when men’s hormone levels drop steadily, the results in emotional health can be just as devastating. When you get testosterone treatment, you’ll notice:
- Less depression
- Less anxiety
- Less irritability
- Fewer angry outbursts
- Better ability to manage stress
- Less tension
- Greater control over emotions
2. Take Charge Again
Perhaps no symptom of a testosterone imbalance is more difficult to live with than the feeling that you’re out of control and not able to do anything about the symptoms you’re feeling.
When you notice that all your work at the gym isn’t keeping on the muscle mass you need, you’re struggling not to cry at movies you normally would never have cried at, or you seem unable not to give in to angry outbursts, it’s easy to feel helpless. It may seem that your body has turned against you and is now running the show, utterly disregarding what you might want. When you treat your Low-T issue, the result is the feeling that you’re finally back in the driver’s seat.
Symptoms of Testosterone Imbalance
If you’re unsure whether it’s the right time to come in for testing, consider these symptoms that could indicate a problem:
Low Sex Drive
It’s not uncommon for some men to feel less interest in sex as they age, but if you’re experienced a drastic drop in desire, the issue is likely hormonal.
Erection Issues
Testosterone is a crucial component in the process of achieving and maintaining strong erections. It directly tells the brain to produce nitric oxide, which is the precursor molecule for all the chemical reactions that cause an erection. When testosterone is low, it may be harder to get an erection and harder to keep it going.
Fatigue
That lack of energy you’ve been feeling lately might not be due to just too many responsibilities and a lack of sleep. It could be Low-T. Ask yourself whether there’s any clear explanation for your exhaustion: have you been sleeping poorly, for example? If it feels like you’re getting enough sleep and yet you can’t find the motivation to exercise and do life, it could be a hormone issue.
Weight Gain
A classic sign of testosterone loss is putting on weight around the belly. Another possible sign is weight gain in the chest with enlarged breast tissue. If you’ve not changed your eating and exercise habits, or worse, you’ve actually been actively trying to lose weight but nothing is working, consider testosterone testing.
Mood Changes
If you’re finding yourself irritable, sad, or depressed more often than you ever remember, Low-T could be to blame. Pay attention to this sign especially if you feel it’s difficult to focus and you are finding yourself irritable because of it.
Memory Issues
Testosterone is very important to cognitive function and memory in particular. It’s normal to forget where you put the key occasionally, but if you find yourself doing this all the time, or if you have trouble holding a conversation because you struggle to remember words, get testosterone testing right away to see if that’s the issue and rule out other possible conditions.
Hair Loss
Balding is natural for some men as they age, but for other men, it can be a sign of testosterone loss. If balding doesn’t run in your family, or if you find yourself losing facial hair as well as hair on the head, consider getting tested.
Less Muscle
Interestingly, it’s possible for a drop in testosterone to cause a decrease in muscle mass but not necessarily a strength drop. If you are doing all your normal things at the gym but just feel like you can see your muscles getting smaller or looking more flabby, your hormones could be to blame.
Smaller Testicles and Less Sperm
Many men with Low-T issues notice less sperm upon ejaculation. Having lowered hormone levels can also cause smaller-than-average testicles. If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to find out what’s going on since there are other things that can cause these same symptoms.
Poor Sleep
There are several ways that a lowered testosterone count can contribute to trouble sleeping. If you’re consistently having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, getting tested is a smart move towards improving sleep quality.
Myths About Low Testosterone
It’s a Normal Part of Aging
It’s normal for men to gradually produce less testosterone as they age. By the time you’re in your 40s, 50s, and 60s, you will certainly have less than you did when you were a teenager. But that’s not the same thing as true low testosterone.
There’s a wide range of “normal” for men, and if you’re suffering from the symptoms of Low-T, you should consider testosterone treatment. Along with this comes the reality that Low-T can happen at any age, and men who are obese or suffering from Type 2 diabetes are especially at risk.
It’s Rare
A study done in 2006 found that low testosterone was affecting nearly 40% of men over 45. Researchers have also found that increasing numbers of younger men are suffering. On average, the risk of developing Low-T roughly correlates with age, so that about 20% of those in their 20s experience it, 30% of those in their 30s, 40% of those in their 40s, and so on.
What’s important to remember is that it can happen to anyone. If you have symptoms, come talk to us at Orchidia Medical Group and see how we can help.
Its Treatment Is Limited to Hormone Therapy
Testosterone treatment does usually involve hormone therapy, and at Orchidia Medical Group, we use bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for the best results. But there’s more to it than that. When you’re dealing with the whole person, it’s important to address every aspect of health that could be affecting the hormones.
This means getting a handle on obesity and diabetes, addressing sleep apnea–if that’s part of the problem–and learning how to follow a heart-healthy diet while keeping up with regular exercise. Just 200 minutes of exercise a week can make a real difference in weight and testosterone levels.
It Only Affects Men
While the actual hormonal issue is only occurring in the man’s body, the effects are reaching everyone he loves. When Low-T causes a drop in sex drive, increased depression, mood swings, or fatigue, it can strain close relationships.
Spouses may struggle to understand that a lowered libido doesn’t mean a man loves them any less. Irritability and mood swings can put increased pressure on that relationship and also create distance among friends, children, and even coworkers. This problem is an issue for men: but it doesn’t affect only them.
Testosterone Treatment at Orchidia Medical Group
At Orchidia Medical Group, we offer in-office testing and treatment so you can get back to feeling like yourself as soon as possible. We start with a consultation where we get to know you and understand the symptoms you’re experiencing. Then we can order the appropriate testing so we know exactly what’s going on.
Depending on the results of your tests and your personal preferences, there are various methods we can offer for treating your problem. For many men, the ideal treatment is a combination of IM injections and pellets.
What to Expect From Treatment
IM Injections
Intramuscular injections, or IM injections, are delivered deeply into the muscles where the hormones can be quickly absorbed by the bloodstream. This provides fast relief.
Pellets
Bio-identical hormone pellets are concentrated hormones in a compressed form. They are implanted in the body where you won’t feel them, and they don’t cause any discomfort. There they gradually dissolve, releasing controlled amounts of hormones into the body at consistent intervals. This method is a longer-lasting alternative, providing you with a kind of “set-it-and-forget-it” way of dealing with treatment. All it takes is a visit every three to six months for another pellet.
Choosing Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy
Bio-identical hormones are made to be chemically identical in every way to those that occur naturally in the body. Synthetic hormones are the older type and have small differences from natural hormones: and sometimes bigger side effects as a result. At Orchidia Medical Group, we use bio-identical therapy for the best compatibility without the same risks as synthetic options.
Get Started on Testosterone Treatment Today
If you’re living with the symptoms of Low-T, you don’t have to any longer. Visit Orchidia Medical Group in Naples, FL today and get started with a consultation. We can help you understand if this is the right therapy for you and get your started towards optimal wellness and feeling like yourself again.
