Testosterone intramuscular route, subcutaneous route

Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age

You usually rub this on your shoulders, upper arms, or thighs, depending on the instructions on the medication. Be careful about letting children or female loved ones touch the treated area or touch unwashed clothes that were in contact with the gel, as testosterone may get transferred to them. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a shot, patch, or gel of the hormone testosterone to bring the level back to normal. Testosterone is produced in your testes (testicles), the sex organs in men, and is responsible for masculine traits. People can visit a doctor who will administer the injections into the buttocks, or they can self-administer the injection at home by inserting a needle into the thigh.

Additionally, some of these medications are available in low-cost generic formulations. Disadvantages generally include less of a rise in testosterone levels compared to testosterone-containing therapies. Some of these medications are used off-label to increase testosterone. It’s common for men to start naturally losing some of their testosterone when they hit their 30s or 40s. You might need testosterone injections if you are experiencing the following symptoms. If you feel like your levels might be off it will take a blood test to be sure.

This medicine may cause swelling of the breasts (gynecomastia) and breast pain in some patients. Your blood pressure might get too high while you are using this medicine. If you think your blood pressure is too high, call your doctor right away. This medicine should not be used by women who are pregnant or might become pregnant. Testosterone may cause birth defects if a pregnant woman comes in contact with the medicine. If a pregnancy occurs while you are using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Patches, on the other hand, are more likely to produce a slow and steady increase, which may be preferable for men with milder deficiencies. Each of these testosterone injections has specific dosages, administration methods, and approved uses. They are typically prescribed based on your needs and response to treatment. Few studies have evaluated serum concentrations of 5-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol after SC injection compared to the standard IM route. Data suggest that serum concentrations of both DHT and estradiol increase in a similar manner regardless of the administration route or ester, that is, enanthate (25) (Table 2) or undecanoate (Fig. 6B and 6C) (26). Additionally, serum DHT and estradiol concentrations remain stable with few fluctuations after SC injections of testosterone; bodegascrial.es, enanthate (Fig. 7) (27). This was confirmed by pharmacokinetic studies that assessed the Cmax and tmax of testosterone in the serum, and the average serum total testosterone concentration during the steady state.

Further, studies also show more muscle strengthening in injections, bolstering that injections of testosterone are the best method for testosterone replacement therapy. The most important aspect of treatment is that it’s entirely safe when administered in clinically correct dosages. If you are a candidate for treatment, The Edge takes every measure to ensure patients are safe, comfortable, and equipped for lasting results. Some people lose testosterone due to an injury, either by direct trauma to the testes or an interruption in blood supply. Others see a decrease due to illness and diseases, metabolic disorders, chemotherapy treatment, medications, and numerous additional causes. The number one cause of low testosterone isn’t something you can control, unfortunately.

In rare cases when neither therapy works, we can consider increasing the FSH level as well with injections of the FSH substitute hMG. Low-T clinics also tend to overtreat, making blanket recommendations around the patient’s total testosterone and not their individual health needs. You may feel more energetic, less depressed, and have a higher sex drive.

Injections are administered into large muscles (usually the buttocks or thigh). Injections can be given in the clinic or you can be taught by our nurse how to administer them yourself. Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is responsible for more than just promoting a healthy sex drive. It can affect several other areas of your overall health and quality of life. Including your body fat, your muscle mass, your bone density, your red blood cell count, and even your mood. Compared to all three forms of testosterone injections, oral TRT has a much shorter half-life, peaking at four to five hours after the dose.

However, I always discuss this issue with the patient’s cardiologist before starting any form of testosterone replacement therapy. In some cases of elevated PSA development, urologists may hold testosterone therapy until prostate cancer is excluded. Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer will be offered curative therapy in the form of radical prostatectomy or radiation. Many men diagnosed early will be cured of prostate cancer allowing them to resume testosterone replacement therapy with careful oncologic follow-up. Some men who start testosterone replacement therapy will experience accelerated hair loss. This tends to occur predominantly in men who are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. When men are bothered by hair loss, hormone replacement therapy can be stopped or men can see dermatologists who specialize in hair loss management.