Hormone Replacement Therapy Options
Low testosterone can be a real struggle. Long-term it can affect your health, energy levels, and body composition in negative ways. It can lower your sexual drive and lower your sperm count among other side effects. As men age, their testosterone levels naturally lower, but sometimes the drop can be more drastic. Low testosterone can also be caused by a number of disorders. Regardless of the cause of your low T, there are several options for hormone replacement therapy. If you’re unsure of what method might be best for you, let’s talk about some of the most common therapy options.
Injections
Testosterone injections is one of the most common of all hormone replacement therapy options, and for good reason. It’s one of the simplest options. You can self-administer every 1-2 weeks or, for a longer-lasting injection, have them injected at a clinic every 10 or so weeks. However, because the injection regulates your testosterone levels, your symptoms can fluctuate more throughout the course of the injection working in your body.
Patches
Much like nicotine patches, testosterone patches adhere to your skin daily and add testosterone into your system via the patch. The patches are only effective when placed in a few areas, and rotating the patches through the effective areas can help lessen side effects such as rashes or redness. Patches are a fairly simple solution, but as they need to be applied every day they require more diligent attention and care to your treatment.
Gels/Solutions
Similar to patches, these are applied via the skin. Because the testosterone is in the gel or solution itself, this particular hormone replacement therapy method runs the risk of transfering to others via skin contact. If you use a gel or solution to treat your low T, you need to wait to ensure complete absorption before going about your day.
Pellets
A slightly more invasive option, but much longer-lasting, pellet testosterone replacement therapy involves the injection of an implant under the skin ever 3-6 months that released the testosterone into your bloodstream over a longer period of time. This allows you to live your daily life without worrying about gels, patches, or regular injections, and allows you to have longer-term control of your testosterone levels.
There are a myriad of options for anyone suffering from low T, and the decision about what’s best for you will depend on several factors. Your lifestyle, the costs of each method, your preferences, and the cause behind your low testosterone. If you’re curious about these methods or want to talk to someone about what might work best for your hormone replacement therapy needs, give us a call today at 303-484-9756.
