Testosterone Replacement Therapy
In many instances, testosterone replacement in men with andropause can be highly effective and beneficial. It's not for every man, of course, even those who show symptoms on the previous quiz may have other health problems at the root of it all. Still you should discuss with your doctor if you would be a good candidate for testosterone replacement therapy.
What should I expect from testosterone replacement?
In various clinical studies, very good responses to testosterone have been reported for men with low-testosterone and they include:
- Improvement in mood and sense of well-being
- Increased mental and physical energy
- Decreased anger, irritability, sadness, tiredness, nervousness
- Improved quality of sleep
- Improved libido and sexual performance
- An increase in lean body mass, a decline in fat mass
- An increase in muscle strength (hand grip, upper and lower extremities)
- Potentially, a decrease in the risk of heart disease
With testosterone therapy, one's attitude improves, reinforcing self-esteem and self-confidence at work, as well as an increased energy at home and in social activities. Most men will feel more vigorous, experience improved energy levels, mood, concentration, cognition, libido, sexual performance and an overall sense of well-being. These effects are usually noted within 3 to 6 weeks.
Other potential benefits include maintenance or improvement in bone density, improved body composition, muscle mass and muscle strength, as well as improvement in visual-spatial skills.
Lifestyle
Of course, any ongoing strategy to reduce the symptoms and risks of andropause should incorporate lifestyle approaches such as optimal diet, regular exercise, stress-management and the reduction of tobacco and alcohol intake.
Testosterone Supplementation
Testosterone supplementation is indicated for treatment of testosterone deficiency, including hypogonadism, andropause and related conditions such as delayed puberty in boys.
Andriol (testosterone undecanoate capsules) is prescribed to you by a doctor. It is an orally active testosterone preparation and is used to replace the natural hormone, testosterone, when your body is unable to produce enough on its own.
Each capsule contains 40 mg of testosterone undecanoate in dissolved form. A single Andriol capsule is a soft oval gelatin capsule, orange in color, with a yellow oily fill and marked D3V on the outside. Andriol Testocaps is a novel formulation that allows storage at room temperature for three years. Andriol 40 mg can be prescribed in bottles of 60 or 100 capsules. Andriol Testocaps are available in blister-pack form. With adequate dosing Andriol and Andriol Testocaps restore plasma testosterone levels within the normal range. For optimal absorption, Andriol and Andriol Testocaps must be taken with food.
Andriol has been prescribed for treatment of testosterone deficiency and related conditions for more than 20 years. Andriol capsules are available in more than 80 countries worldwide. Andriol Testocaps is expected to become available in 2002.
Your doctor will check carefully to see if you are a suitable candidate for testosterone replacement therapy, including performing blood tests and a physical examination. If you have an established prostate tumor or have breast cancer you would not be a suitable candidate for testosterone replacement therapy.
However, if you are a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy, the options include oral capsules, injections and skin patches. Expect your physician to monitor your progress and your overall health while on testosterone treatment. If you are like the majority of men, you will experience very few side effects, if any.
Testosterone therapy is shown to be highly effective at relieving andropausal symptoms, usually within 3 to 6 weeks. Most men feel more vigorous; have improved sexual performance and a better sense of well-being.