7 Things You Should Know Before Undergoing Testosterone Replacement Therapy

If you’ve recently hit your late 30s or early 40s, you may have noticed that you are constantly tired and feeling down. Perhaps, your sex drive has also taken a nosedive?

If so, chances are you’re experiencing male menopause. This is where your testosterone and other hormones steadily decline as you age.

Fortunately, testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, can help you to overcome the issues that come with male menopause. Here’s a rundown of the benefits of TRT and seven key things you need to know before starting treatment.

Let’s jump in!

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Side Effects

One of the most important things to know about TRT is that it does come with side effects. These side effects and risks include the following:

• Trouble urinating
• Enlarged prostate
• Breast enlargement
• Baldness
• Testicle shrinkage

You may also develop oily skin or acne after starting TRT. In addition, your sperm count may drop.

TRT might also increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. In light of this, you should dial 911 right away if you begin to experience symptoms like slurred speech, weakness in the right or left side of your body, or chest pain. Calling 911 is also a wise move if you have breathing trouble.

Having Children

As we mentioned earlier, TRT can cause your sperm count to decrease. However, it can also reduce the quality of your semen. As a result, you might experience infertility after undergoing TRT.

For this reason, if you desire to have kids within the next few years, you might want to delay TRT. That’s because this side effect may linger for years even after you discontinue treatment.

Watching Your Blood Cells

While undergoing TRT, a doctor will need to monitor your PSA and blood cells.

The doctor will need to test your red blood cell and PSA levels before you begin treatment. Then, they can track these levels during the TRT process. This is critical given that TRT may elevate your red blood cell count to an unhealthy level.

Experiencing More Energy and Libido

One of the biggest benefits of replacement therapy is that it will give you more energy if your testosterone levels are abnormally low.

TRT may also treat erectile dysfunction, therefore helping you to enjoy healthy erections. As a result, you may experience a boost in your sex drive and, in turn, a greater desire for intimacy.

Keep in mind that your erectile dysfunction may have more causes than just low testosterone. For this reason, if you’re struggling with erectile dysfunction, you should ask your physician to help you to determine the root cause of your ED.

Additional TRT Benefits

After going through TRT, you may additionally notice a decrease in your body fat, leading to weight loss. In addition, your muscle mass/tone may increase after TRT.

With TRT, you might also experience a rise in your enthusiasm and a decrease in your mental fogginess. This means you may experience less fatigue.

When Testosterone Replacement Therapy May Not Be Right for You

You may not be the best candidate for replacement therapy if you currently have breast cancer or prostate cancer. However, if you have successfully undergone cancer treatment, you may still be able to undergo TRT if your doctor continues to watch you for cancer signs.

TRT also might not be ideal for you if you struggle with sleep apnea, as it may worsen this condition. TRT might additionally worsen urinary tract issues, like urinary urgency and frequency.

You also shouldn’t go through TRT if you suffer from heart failure.

Length of Treatment

A high-quality TRT program will involve receiving testosterone cypionate and human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, hormone injections. You can also expect to take anastrozole tablets. This drug will keep your aromatase enzyme from turning testosterone into estrogen.

You can expect your symptoms to safely dissipate in 3-5 weeks when your TRT is administered correctly.

How Difficult Is the Injection Process?

What’s great about TRT injections is that the needle gauge is extremely small. After you puncture your skin, the injection needle should smoothly glide into the muscle.

Remaining steady and taking deep breaths when inserting your needle will help you to complete the process without discomfort.

Avoid jabbing yourself with the needle quickly to bypass any type of sensation. Instead, keep your grip on your syringe barrel firm, and penetrate the skin slowly yet firmly.

Once the needle enters the muscle tissue, pressure should be applied to the syringe’s plunger. This will allow the testosterone or HCG to be dispensed.

Note that your muscle may twitch a little during this process. However, this is a natural reflex. The sensation you experience should not be painful.

All in all, your TRT injection process should take 15 seconds at most. Make sure that your environment remains sterile during the injection process.

For instance, use alcohol wipes to clean your injection spot beforehand, as this will help you to disinfect your skin. Also, don’t reuse syringes or needles, as this can increase your infection risk.

How We Can Help with TRT

Testosterone replacement therapy offers numerous benefits, including improving your libido and muscle tone. In addition, it can eliminate your male menopause symptoms in just 3-5 weeks. However, TRT does come with a few side effects, like acne and testicle shrinkage.

At Anti-Aging Northwest, we’re excited to offer a top-tier testosterone replacement treatment program. We’ll deliver the tools you need right to your doorstep and answer any questions you have about TRT.

If you want to learn more about the TRT program, contact us today or give us a call at (509) 474-0597.