Testosterone is a male hormone that does much more for men than advancing a solid sex drive. It can help with muscle-to-fat ratio, bulk, bone thickness, red platelet count, and disposition. While there are multiple ways to enhance testosterone levels, testosterone injections have become popular.
Ordinary testosterone levels are somewhere between 300 and 1,000 ng/dL. Assuming a blood test shows your levels are far below the standard, your primary care physician (PCP) might recommend testosterone infusions. Also, there is a structured treatment called testosterone replacement therapy.
Learn more about these testosterone infusions and whether they are the right treatment for symptoms of low testosterone levels.
What Are Testosterone Injections?
Testosterone infusions are a type of hormone therapy. They are mainly used as a treatment for sexual dysfunction in males or for testosterone deficiency. Moreover, it can also help with postmenopausal side effects in females.
Transgender people and nonbinary individuals may likewise involve testosterone injections to become masculine.
Testosterone injections are routine for some individuals, yet they can have side effects. The effects might differ for each one, as it is on a case-to-case basis. It also relies upon the motivation behind why the individual uses it.
Evidence suggests that testosterone injections can help with low testosterone caused by ailments. Yet, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not prescribe using testosterone for such issues.
On the other hand, most people use it to treat regular age-related testosterone changes. If you have some medical issues, you must ask your doctor for clearance first.
Low Testosterone Treatment in Men
Specialists might prescribe this hormone injection to males with low T-levels. Low testosterone caused by the gonads is called male hypogonadism. Hypogonadism disrupts testosterone production due to issues with either the testicles or the pituitary gland that regulates them.
Low testosterone can have adverse consequences, hence people go for treatments like the best testosterone boosters for men. The side effects of low testosterone in guys include a lower sperm count and a reduction in bone or bulk. It can even affect muscles, causing expanded muscle versus fat and erectile dysfunction. For every deciliter, the average testosterone levels in the bloodstream are 280-1,100 nanograms (ng/dL).
While treating hypogonadism, testosterone treatment can have the accompanying benefits:
- Enhanced sexual performance
- Boosted lean muscle mass and strength
- Elevated mood
- Improved cognitive function
- Potential osteoporosis prevention
It is essential to note that this treatment treats the side effects of low testosterone instead of the primary reason. Individuals who think they might have low testosterone can see a specialist for a complete check-up.
Be that as it may, the side effects are extensive and could be because of different circumstances aside from being medical.
Not all men with low testosterone will need treatment, which is not guaranteed 100% of the time. The FDA has endorsed testosterone replacement treatment for males with low testosterone. However, they only approved it for hypogonadism, not stress, mental, or age-related decline in testosterone levels.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Females
Hormone therapy is more disputable in females than in males. Testosterone levels in grown-up females are 15-70 ng/dL. Low testosterone in females can cause pregnancy issues, sporadic periods, vaginal dryness, and a low sex drive.
Moreover, specialists do not prescribe testosterone injections to treat low testosterone in females unless they are after the masculinizing effects.
Specialists might prescribe testosterone treatment to women. It mainly assists with hypoactive sexual craving issues in females after menopause. Aside from that, the classic signs and symptoms of menopause include nervousness, temperament changes, weight gain, and diminished bone thickness.
Research has not upheld their use for different symptoms. Moreover, there are various side effects individuals might suffer from after taking the hormones.
The FDA has not supported any items for testosterone treatment in females. Furthermore, there are no accessible details in the USA that give females the suggested treatment dosage of 300 micrograms each day. So, females might need to seek other therapy options to address their issues aside from testosterone treatment.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Masculinizing
Testosterone treatment permits individuals to foster a more masculine appearance. Transgender men and nonbinary individuals might decide to involve testosterone injections to improve their physique. This use of testosterone infusions is known as masculinizing hormone treatment.
Testosterone treatment assists an individual with creating male sexual attributes and decreasing female qualities. It can also prompt any of the accompanying changes:
- Alterations in emotional and social functioning
- Increase in facial and body hair
- Elevated acne
- A deeper voice
- Male pattern baldness with a receding hairline
- Changes in body fat distribution
- Lean muscle mass gains
- Cessation of menstrual periods
These testosterone treatment regimens are like those that treat hypogonadism in males. Hence, you can take testosterone infusions once every seven days; it is the ideal way to keep the levels of this hormone at their optimal level.
Different Types Of Testosterone Injections
Testosterone infusions can come in various types. These include:
- Type 1: Testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone)
- Type 2: Testosterone enanthate (Xyosted and accessible in its nonexclusive structure)
- Type 3: Testosterone undecanoate (Aveed, which is a long-acting formula)
How To Use T-Booster Injections?
When you get a testosterone injection, the hormone enters the body through the muscle and acts as a natural testosterone-boosting supplement for men. You can pick between two sites:
- Self-administer the injections at home, using a home infusion pack to infuse the hormone into the thigh
- Having a specialist/doctor inject it directly into your gluteal muscle during a visit to the specialist’s office
Before having testosterone infusions at home, you might want to visit your doctor to check for safety and proper handling. Moreover, this type of therapy could be continuous or long-term, depending on your condition or the effect you want from it.
Is Testosterone Treatment Safe?
Testosterone injections might work for some individuals when they adhere to the proper guidelines. Research has additionally linked testosterone treatment with a few secondary effects and potential complications.
Possible adverse outcomes of testosterone treatment are:
- An increased risk of cardiovascular problems
- Worsened symptoms in the lower urinary tract
- Polycythemia, an uncommon blood cancer
- An increased risk of venous thrombosis
Specific individuals might have an untoward response to testosterone infusions. For instance, there might be a risk for sleep apnea, tumor growth, and edema (fluid retention) after therapy. It can also result in breathing issues, so it would be best to have someone monitor you after the treatment.
Different types of testosterone, including testosterone enanthate, may increase the pulse rate. This risk can result in a stroke or coronary episode. Individuals with strokes, respiratory failure, coronary illness, or hypertension must be careful. They inform the specialist of all their conditions before beginning testosterone injections.
Assuming you experienced any of the side effects after testosterone treatment, you ought to look out for these symptoms since it can be considered an emergency:
- Breathing difficulties
- Slow or slurred speech
- Chest pain
- Weakness in an arm or leg
- Excruciating pain in the arms, neck, back, or jaw
- Dizziness, unable to think clearly
- Feeling of faintness
Assuming a specialist recommends male testosterone infusions to young adults to treat health issues, the aim is to increase the hormones to match their development.
This treatment should be able to address the problems in a controlled manner but not go over the normal T-levels in their bodies. Especially since young adults below 30 could still optimize their T-levels naturally without the help of injections.
Side Effects of Testosterone Injections
Individuals might encounter common side effects from testosterone infusions, for example:
- Breast enlargement or tenderness
- Acne
- Deepening of the voice
- Fatigue
- Hoarseness
- Back pain
- Redness, swelling, or hardness under the skin of the infusion site
- Having trouble staying alert
- Difficulty sleeping or staying awake
- Weight gain
- Joint pain
- Mood swings
- Headaches or migraines
You have to contact your doctor if you experience any severe side effects; for example:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain, redness, or warmth in lower legs
- Edema or swelling in the hands, lower legs, or feet
- Difficulty breathing
- Extreme fatigue
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin
- Prolonged erections
- Changes in urine include trouble peeing, increased frequency, weak flow, urination urgency, or blood in the pee.
- Extreme pain in the upper right corner of the midsection
- Rapid changes in your state of mind, including depression, anxiety, or feelings of self-harm
Benefits of Testosterone Injections
The benefit of testosterone injections is to improve male hormone levels. This aids in resolving issues connected with low T-levels. For men with this issue, the advantages of these infusions can include:
- A boost in sex drive
- More energy
- Further developed temperament
- An increased sperm count
- Fat and muscle changes
For the most part, men have less muscle versus fat than women. It is halfway connected with testosterone, which manages fat circulation and muscle support in your body. However, with low T-levels, you will notice an increase in muscle-to-fat ratio, particularly around your waist.
Your hormones likewise assist with managing muscle development. Along these lines, you might feel like you are losing muscle size or strength. Nonetheless, this happens if your low-T is drawn out and extreme.
Testosterone shots can assist with controlling the fat circulation. However, you should not expect critical weight changes from hormone treatment alone. Testosterone treatment has been found to help develop muscle bulk but not strength.
Advantages of Testosterone Replacement
What could you, at any point, expect from testosterone treatment? It is not easy to predict because each body is unique. Many men report improvement in energy, libido, and quality of erections. Likewise, testosterone improves bone density, muscle bulk, and insulin control in some patients.
Men likewise report an improvement from testosterone substitution. Whether these effects are observable or a significant change is individualized, testosterone therapy is effective for most men.
Karen Herbst, an endocrinologist, spends significant time on testosterone inadequacy. She appraises that around one out of 10 men is “elated” about their reaction to testosterone treatment, while a similar number “don’t see a lot.” However, the more significant group has shifting responses to testosterone substitution.
Disadvantages of Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone treatment side effects include rashes, tingling sensations, redness, and swelling. It usually happens at the site where the testosterone is applied.
Moreso, there is more proof of a possible increased risk of cardiovascular failure or stroke related to testosterone use. The advantages and dangers of long-haul testosterone treatment are obscure. It is because solid clinical studies are not yet finished.
There are a couple of medical issues that specialists think testosterone treatment can worsen:
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
A male’s prostate becomes bigger as they age, pressing on the urethral tube in some men. It results in incontinence or trouble peeing. This condition, benign prostatic hypertrophy, can be aggravated by testosterone treatment.
Prostate Disease
Testosterone can cause malignant prostate growth to develop. Most specialists suggest evaluating prostate disease before beginning testosterone substitution. Hence, men with prostate cancer or raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) should avoid testosterone treatment.
Rest Apnea
This condition can be worsened by testosterone substitution. It might be challenging for men to recognize this themselves. However, their partners, spouse, or caretakers might notice it. Also, a sleep study (polysomnography) might be used to find the best analysis for this condition.
Blood Clots
The FDA has warned the public about the risks of hormone therapy, including the high risk of developing blood clots. Moreover, it could lead to profound vein apoplexy (deep vein thrombosis); and pneumonic embolism, a dangerous blood clot. We have warned you about the risk of blood clots because of polycythemia, an abnormal increase in red blood cells with testosterone treatment.
Congestive Cardiovascular Breakdown
Men with severe heart issues should not take testosterone substitution. It can deteriorate their health and worsen their condition.
It will be long before clinical preliminaries welcome any concrete responses on the advantages and dangers of testosterone treatment. Likewise, whether the potential benefits offset any risks with any medication depends on you and your primary care physician.
Conclusion: Is it Worth Taking Testosterone Injections?
Doctors prescribe testosterone injections to address low testosterone levels in males caused by specific medical conditions. While it doesn’t cure the underlying issue, it can relieve some symptoms.
Additionally, these injections can be used for sexual dysfunction resulting from menopause or as part of hormone therapy for transitioning. However, it’s crucial to be aware of potentially serious complications in both short-term and long-term use. Doctors should thoroughly evaluate the benefits and risks, and provide proper instructions to minimize potential risks.
Plus, they can test you for low T-levels properly. Hence, you can discuss whether these injections are your proper treatment of choice.
