Testosterone

Testosterone

Testosterone Free and Total. This test determines whether or not you have Low T. Both Free and Total Testosterone are tested to determine the relationship between the two levels.

• The “Total Testosterone” is ALL of the Testosterone that you have in your body (Free and Total).

• The “Free Testosterone” is the active form of testosterone. The “Free Testosterone” is NOT bound to protein, rendering it inactive. This protein is called SHBG or Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, and if elevated may lower your free testosterone level.

The goal of your physician will be to restore the “Free Testosterone” to the high end of the normal range 200-350pg/mL-Quest Diagnostics or 20-35pg/mL if testing at LabCorp. This equates to about 800- 1200 ng/dL for Total testosterone.

TAKE NOTE: Testosterone levels on the “high end of normal” will be easy to achieve. That being said, to achieve the optimal benefits of testosterone, ALL hormones involved with testosterone MUST BE well balanced. The physician will always do chart reviews, not only to see how you are feeling subjectively, but to make sure levels of Estrogen ,PSA, Thyroid, DHEA, and Blood count are within normal limits. This is for the safety of your HRT program. It also serves the purpose to eliminate any side effects that may occur during the balancing phase.

Classic Symptoms of Low T:

• Increase in body fat (notably, in the abdominal region)

• Loss of Muscle mass

• Reduction or Non-Existent Libido

• Problem getting an erection

• Difficulty Maintaining an Erection

• Mild Depression

• Decrease in Mental Acuity, Memory, or Fogginess

• Hot Flashes

• Decrease in Energy

• Non-Productive Workouts / Slower Recovery Time

• Irritability / Mood Swings

• Sleep Disturbances

• Loss of passion For Life

• Night Sweats

If left untreated, you may begin to show long term symptoms such as……….

• Decrease in bone mass

• Not cardio-protective

• Increases risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

• Increases risk of prostate issues

• Continued ED/Libido

• Sleep Apnea

Benefits of Testosterone Replacement (long and short):

SHORT TERM

Once all of your hormone levels are balanced (testosterone and related hormones), you can expect the following short terms benefits from week to week (given a good lifestyle of exercise and diet). This does not mean you need to be a “gym rat”, just be creatively active. YOU will NOT receive these results given poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.

Weeks 1-2:

• Better Mood and Attitude

• Less irritability

• More Productive Sleeping

• Sharper Mental Acuity

• Less Depression

Weeks 2-3:

• Increase in motivation

• Increase in energy level

• Decrease in night sweats

• Increases in Strength, Endurance and Recovery time

• More productive workouts

Weeks 3-4

• Increase in libido

• Stronger/Harder/Sustainable Erections

• Resolving or a Decrease in “Erectile Dysfunction” (“ED”)

• Weight loss becomes evident

• Workouts become very productive

• Much faster recovery from workouts

Weeks 4-6

• Body proportions change (losing inches in the waist)

• Week’s 1-4 benefits optimal

LONG TERM

• The risk of prostate issues including prostate cancer is DECREASED (read more under PSA…)

• Cardio-protectiveness

• Increase in bone density (one Major cause why older men always say they have shrunk)

• Decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease