You received a low testosterone diagnosis. How does your doc know when to put you on testosterone replacement therapy?
It’s complicated.
For starters, find yourself a doctor that knows what they are doing. There is more on the line than just your sexual health here. Studies have shown that men with low testosterone have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and overall higher mortality rates when compared to men with testosterone in a healthy range.
My rule of thumb is that I typically do not consider T therapy in men under 30. With 35-40 year olds I can generally get a guy’s levels up with herbs, nutrition, and exercise. This is where naturopathic medicine shines. I always make sure that they no longer wish to conceive prior to initiating therapy in this population. While on testosterone therapy, males will stop producing as much of their own testosterone. This leads to less sperm. That being said, I would not go as far to say that T can be used as male birth control! I have seen this theory put to the test and fail.
After 40, many men benefit from testosterone therapy. Male T goes down 1-3% per year on average after 30 and some men might need more than just herbs to get their levels back into a healthy range. This is assuming there are no contraindications for testosterone therapy (Prostate cancer, kidney failure, clotting issues, or very high BP to name several).
Being on testosterone therapy is not a license to make poor lifestyle decisions. I expect all of my patients on this therapy to continue to work toward a healthy lifestyle that empowers their own testosterone production. Many of these patients do not need to be on testosterone forever.
What this means for you:
- Don’t let just anyone put you on testosterone therapy (especially under 35 years old). There are testosterone clinics out there that want your money.
- Don’t take testosterone if you are trying to conceive.
- If you are over 40-45 and your levels are bouncing on the bottom it might be time to consider therapy if you have symptoms- but don’t rule out the power of herbs, exercise, and nutrient therapies.
- Testosterone therapy does not have to be for life.
Looking for more research? Check out this meta-analysis looking at testosterone therapy and it's benefits vs. potential risks. Read up for yourself!
Stay tuned for more info on testosterone therapy!
