TRT San Diego: What You Need to Know About Testosterone Before Getting Therapy

Updated on February 1, 2020

There’s a lot that men need to know about testosterone before considering getting testosterone replacement therapy.

Testosterone replacement therapy or TRT San Diego is a procedure that allows men that have low testosterone hormone levels to normalize them and alleviate any symptoms they may be suffering due to this imbalance. 

This procedure has become quite popular due to the many benefits that the procedure has to offer. This includes promoting a rise in their energy levels, an improved sex drive or libido, increased stamina and endurance, and enhanced muscle mass among others.

As with any procedure, however, one should research as much as they can before they start diving into testosterone replacement treatments to get a better understanding on the changes they’re about to impose on their bodies.

The best way to do this is to thoroughly understand the hormone – its role in one’s body, the effect of too much or too little testosterone levels in the body, and the possible effects testosterone replacement therapy can have on someone with low testosterone levels.

TRT San Diego: All About Testosterone

Testosterone is known as the major sex hormone in the male body. From a male’s time in the womb to his days as a senior citizen, testosterone will be responsible for development of inherently male characteristics as well as trigger the many changes his body will go through. These developments and changes include:

  • The development of his penis and testes.
  • The production of his sperm cells.
  • The start of vocal changes (deepening of voice) during puberty.
  • The growth of facial and pubic hair during puberty.
  • The loss of hair (balding) in his later years.

The testes is in charge of producing this hormone but the pituitary gland controls the production. The chances of someone developing a naturally-occurring testosterone imbalance are pretty slim as the pituitary gland does a fine job controlling hormone levels.

However, it is still possible for one to suffer from an imbalance due to the intake of food or other substances that affect testosterone levels. Developing a disease in one’s pituitary glands can also have a big impact on the production of testosterone in one’s body.

What’s Wrong with Having Too Much Testosterone?

There is a stigma surrounding those with “too much” testosterone in their bodies. Society has associated testosterone with aggression, violence, and a whole lot of other negative behavioral issues. In reality, testosterone doesn’t really play a role in these bad behaviors.

This doesn’t mean that having too much testosterone is still okay, though. Although a naturally-occurring surplus in testosterone is unlikely to happen, one can still spike their testosterone levels by using anabolic steroids and other testosterone supplements.

These supplements are mostly used by athletes who wish to increase their muscle mass, improve their stamina and endurance, and basically just improve their athletic performance in general.

As good as the benefits of this hormone sound, too much testosterone can lead to a plethora of undesired side-effects. These include:

  • Facial and body acne.
  • Sperm count reduction.
  • Shrinking of testicles.
  • Weight gain.
  • Mood swings.
  • Insomnia.
  • Headaches.

Aside from these problems, a testosterone surplus may also increase one’s risk of suffering from the following conditions:

  • Damaged heart muscles.
  • Heart attacks.
  • Liver disease.

What’s Wrong with Having Too Little Testosterone?

Unlike with having a testosterone surplus, it is very much possible for one to develop a naturally-occurring testosterone deficiency. This is because testosterone levels actually do drop gradually as males age (usually starting at age 45).

Men tend to seek immediate treatment for testosterone deficiencies mainly because the symptoms can drastically alter one’s way of life for the worse. These symptoms include:

  • Low sex drive or libido.
  • Reduced facial hair.
  • Reduced muscle mass.
  • Depression.

As bad as these symptoms may seem, a testosterone deficiency isn’t an entirely bad thing, though. In the case of a prostate cancer patient, having low testosterone levels is actually a good thing as the hormone can potentially stimulate the cancer to grow.

When to get Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)?

Testosterone replacement therapy is quite commonly used to treat males suffering from delayed puberty and testosterone deficiencies. 

This means that therapy can improve or even completely reverse the symptoms one suffers when having too little testosterone. Testosterone therapy can strengthen one physically as it strengthens one’s muscles and bones, mentally as it improves one’s mood and cognitive function, and emotionally as it alleviates symptoms that can trigger insecurity or a low self-esteem (such as low libido and reduced muscle mass).

Before jumping in the TRT train, it’s important to have your testosterone levels checked first. Doing so is as easy as getting your blood tested. If your testosterone levels are normal, you won’t need to go through this procedure. However, if you find that you’re actually testosterone deficient, consult with your doctor to make sure you don’t expose yourself to other complications if you go through with this.

What to Consider When Choosing Where to Get Treatment

If you and your doctor are convinced that getting testosterone replacement therapy is the best route for you to take in dealing with your hormonal imbalance, you’d want to choose the best service center for you.

There are a number of service centers that offer testosterone replacement therapy sessions. Not all have the same features, though, so you’d still have to do a bit of research about these centers before you trust them enough to treat you.

Here are some non-negotiables:

Accepts Insurance

Testosterone therapy is a serious medical procedure and it could cost you a pretty penny. Find a service center that accepts your medical insurance so the only thing you lose when you leave will be your hormone deficiency.

Quality Testosterone

It’d be best to choose service centers that only offer good-quality, natural, bioidentical testosterone. Don’t fall for anyone trying to offer you synthetic hormones – this is pretty risky. You’d want to go for the hormones that are identical to what your body naturally produces and nothing else.

In-House Laboratory

Go for a service center that has its own laboratory to do testing. Don’t settle for any center that asks you to get this test here and that test there. Not only are you sure that you’d get quick results, you can also rest easy knowing that you’re dealing with a well-funded center and not some shady back-alley type of gig. 

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