The human body is a complex biological machine that uses many combined systems to operate efficiently. Yet, we take much of this quite fantastic human machine for granted. Take hormones: what are they, and what purpose do they serve? Are they necessary, and what happens when they don’t do their job?
This article will discuss testosterone, the ‘male hormone,’ and how testosterone therapy may become necessary for some men. We’ll look at the changes to testosterone in men over the years and the effects of hormone replacement therapy. Let’s start with a short explanation about testosterone and what its purpose in the body is.
The Purpose of Testosterone
Men in and around Kingwood who work out or keep fit will understand the importance of testosterone. This hormone – primarily produced by the testes – is instrumental in building muscle tone and influencing greater bone density. Furthermore, research has shown that testosterone also affects cognitive performance.
However, when we think of testosterone, we usually associate it with sexual performance. This hormone is essential for providing an erection and responding to arousal. Hormones carry signals from the brain – think of them as chemical messengers – instructing organs what to do. That’s what happens when a man is sexually aroused.
So, how does testosterone therapy come into the picture? We’ll move on to look at how testosterone production changes naturally in men and other factors that can influence testosterone production.
Why Men Need Testosterone Therapy
We know that testosterone is a natural product produced by the body. For men in Woodlands and across the world, there is one fact of life that we cannot escape: aging. It is a common belief that testosterone deficiency –having less of the hormone than is expected – is caused by aging. While it is true that men beyond 50 are most likely to suffer from testosterone deficiency, it is not restricted to older men.
We’ll talk about some of the causes in a moment, but first, we need to talk about the symptoms and problems associated with loss of testosterone. Let’s have a brief list:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- The poor sexual performance or inability to perform
- Depression
- Loss of interest in sex
- Lack of interest in life
While the above are not the sole symptoms, they are the main ones. ED is the one that is most commonly reported. Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to get an erection or to sustain an erection during sex. This has a direct effect on the man’s feeling of self-worth and can cause relationship rifts. It helps to understand how an erection is formed and how the lower levels of testosterone influence this.
An erection is a rush of blood into two sacs on either side of the penis. It happens when testosterone carries its message to the systems that cause this to happen. The hardness is the extra blood in the penis. However, if the testosterone levels are depleted, the message does not get through, and an erection cannot be attained.
Is ED dangerous? In itself, no, it is not, but it can lead to a man becoming depressed, losing self-confidence, and feeling pretty poor about himself. It is also essential to understand that ED can also be a symptom of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and even cancers. For this reason, any man suffering from ED needs to see a doctor for diagnosis quickly. Before we move on to explain the processes of testosterone therapy, let’s go back to those possible causes of ED. Here’s a list of potential medical causes of ED:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High Blood Pressure
- High cholesterol
- Some over the counter prescription medications]
- Some types of cancer
We can see from the above why diagnosis is essential. Some mental influences can cause ED, such as:
- Depression and anxiety
- Stress from life, the workplace, or relationship
- Relationship problems
These – and there are others – can affect the performance of testosterone in the body. Finally, lifestyle significantly affects testosterone, as in:
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Smoking tobacco
- Drug use
- Poor diet leading to obesity
- Lack of exercise
When a doctor performs a diagnosis, they will assess which of the above are root causes, as there may be more than one. So, we know that ED can be troublesome for a man and influence his quality of life. Now we need to look at the forms of testosterone therapy available to men in and around Houston.
How Testosterone Therapy Works
In brief, testosterone therapy is the replacement of testosterone in men deficient in the hormone for any of the reasons listed above. However, before embarking on testosterone therapy, the patient will be expected to attend to any of the lifestyle influences or be treated for illnesses associated. Let’s assume a man who is otherwise healthy yet is experienced ED; what are the types of testosterone therapy available for our many from Cypress?
There are many options for testosterone hormone replacement therapy that a doctor may prescribe where appropriate, these being:
- Oral medication in the form of pills taken over some time that restore the hormone levels.
- The ‘P-Shot’, a series of injections of replacement testosterone into the penis, is proven to have great success.
- The latest and most interesting is high-frequency acoustic waves to stimulate the blood cells in the penis and increase blood flow, thus encouraging an erection.
Each of the above may or may not be prescribed by a doctor once a diagnosis has occurred. We hope that the article has helped you understand the complexity of ED and testosterone loss and its effects. If you suffer any of the symptoms described, we recommend you see a doctor straight away for the correct diagnosis.