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Testosterone: What It Is and How It Affects Your Health

Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age

The experts in endocrinology at Cleveland Clinic are here to provide the best care. Excess testosterone in male children can lead to precocious (early) puberty, which is when puberty begins before the age of nine. However, when you hear people use the term “anabolic steroids” they are generally referring to synthetic (made in a lab) variations of testosterone that are injected into your body. For example, it is normal to feel less interested in sex as you get older. The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes. Transdermal testosterone patches are applied once daily, typically in the evening.

Your body controls the levels of testosterone in your blood. Levels are usually highest in the morning and decline during the day. Healthcare providers use synthetic testosterone to treat and manage various medical conditions. Natural testosterone is a steroid — an anabolic-androgenic steroid. “Anabolic” refers to muscle building, and “androgenic” refers to increased male sex characteristics. LetsGetChecked’s Male Hormone Complete offers a comprehensive insight into your hormone levels and hormonal health, it can help identify any imbalances in your hormones that may be affecting your everyday life. Online results will be available within ~2-5 days on your personalized dashboard.

Your provider will always reference your laboratory’s normal ranges when interpreting your results. Effective monitoring of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is crucial to ensure its safety and efficacy. Healthcare providers employ various methods to track the treatment’s progress and manage potential side effects. These tests measure the amount of testosterone in a sample of blood.

PWNHealth reviews your test results and will contact you directly if they require prompt attention. Included in your purchase is the option to discuss your test results with an independent physician; however, you are also encouraged to speak with your primary healthcare provider. If the results of an at-home test are abnormal or if you are having symptoms, your doctor might want to order another testosterone test. They may also suggest a physical exam or other types of tests to assess your overall health.

Speak to a medical professional, and confirm if treatment is required. While doctors can legally prescribe the supplement, they generally try to avoid this. Having too much testosterone can also cause health problems. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. In this interview, Sir Prof. Cato T. Laurencin, the 2025 Coulter Lecturer, discusses how he is addressing today’s medical challenges using the technology of the future. Effects before birth are divided into two categories, classified in relation to the stages of development.

In theory, at least, testosterone therapy might attenuate or reverse each of these changes. Women’s testosterone levels peak in their 20s and then begin to slowly decline. When a woman starts to experience menopause, her testosterone levels are half of what they were at their peak.

Proper diet and exercise may be recommended for men with obesity. Application sites for men using topically applied testosterone cream are generally the neck, shoulders, or scrotum. Application sites for women are typically the waist, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, backs of the, knees, calves, or genitals. The best methods for getting testosterone into a person’s body safely and effectively are by self-administered injection or by topically applied cream. In rare cases when neither therapy works, we can consider increasing the FSH level as well with injections of the fsh lab test normal range substitute hMG. Medroxyprogesterone (Provera) treats conditions such as absent or irregular menstrual periods, or …

In adult males, the effects of excess testosterone depend on whether the source is from the adrenals or exogenous. Adrenal androgen elevations have few observable effects in males and do not cause an increase in muscle mass or hair growth. In adult females, increased adrenal androgens can lead to acne, hirsutism, menstrual irregularities, infertility, male-pattern baldness, or virilization. In males, the majority of testosterone is secreted from the testes, hence the term “testosterone”. The hormone is also produced in small amounts by the adrenal gland. The production of this hormone is controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain.

Although certain symptoms can provide a strong indication that a person’s testosterone levels are too low or too high, the only way to be sure about your testosterone levels is to have them tested. But when testosterone gets too low or too high, this imbalance can have a significant impact on your health and your life. Unnaturally high testosterone might increase your risk for a heart attack, liver disease, and high blood pressure and cholesterol. While testosterone plays a role in sperm production, supplementing with testosterone actually decreases sperm production and can impact fertility, Dr. Patel says. So, it’s important to talk to your doctor before using testosterone therapies.

Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures. It’s important to note that the timing of testosterone level checks may vary depending on the TRT method used. Testosterone pellets, about the size of a grain of rice, are implanted under the skin, usually near the hip or buttocks.