Male Hormone Replacement Therapy
What Is Male Hormone Replacement Therapy?
What Symptoms Does Male Hormone Therapy Treat?
Testosterone is the male sex hormone that regulates the normal sexual drive and functions of a man. This male hormone is at center stage as the most impacted hormone whether you’re undergoing:
- Male hormone replacement therapy
- Transgender hormone therapy
- Feminizing hormone therapy
- Masculinizing hormone therapy
When your testosterone hormone level is low, you can face a number of problems related to your sexual drive and activity. While it’s common for men to experience a decrease in testosterone hormone levels as they age, the problem can arise during the teen years or in the twenties as well. This often creates problems in the growth and development of the genital organs, resulting in a reduction in sexual desires.
- A reduced sex drive
- Difficulty in getting and keeping erection
- A low sperm count
- Decreased lean muscle mass
- Increased body fat that might propel weight loss for men diets
- Unexplained hair loss that may require a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for hair loss treatment
- Fatigue that may get a boost from a Myers Cocktail intravenous infusion
- Concentration problems
- Lack of motivation
- Depression
- Hot flash-like symptoms
- Low bone density
- Breast discomfort or swelling
- Infertility
Most men are prescribed topical creams and pills as part of the male hormone replacement therapy. These remedies help decrease some of the symptoms men face due to low levels of testosterone. The treatment is especially necessary for older men who experience one to three percent decrease in the male hormone once they reach 40 years of age.
Why Do I Need Male Hormone Therapy?
The testosterone hormone plays a very important role for men. It aids the development of the penis and testes, while leads to the deepening of the voice. It also, of course, enables sperm production and fosters the sex drive.
When the levels of this hormone are low, it often leads to the inability to conceive children. Most men seek help when they are facing problems associated with their sex drive and activity. Male hormone replacement therapy doctors have identified two conditions that can occur when testosterone levels are low:
- You may think of this condition as the male version of menopause, but there are subtle differences between the two. While the female menopause usually comes on suddenly, the male andropause is a gradual decline of testosterone over time. Weight gain and hair loss often go unchecked. Since there are often no outward symptoms, only a blood test can confirm low levels of testosterone, but blood isn’t drawn as part of a normal annual physical exam.
- When the body doesn’t produce enough testosterone, it’s called hypogonadism. This condition affects the masculine development process. While in the womb, a male fetus can develop female genitals, ambiguous genitals or underdeveloped male genitals. At puberty, a boy may have no facial or body hair, no voice deepening and no growth to the penis and testicles.
If you suspect you have andropause or hypogonadism, don’t wait. Contact Svetlana Pyatigorskaya at Vitality NP NYC in Downtown NYC for an appointment. She can check your blood for testosterone and if needed, provide male hormone replacement therapy to set you right again.
