How to Start Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

To start testosterone therapy, you must first be diagnosed with low testosterone.

Testosterone therapy is the safest and most effective treatment for men suffering from low testosterone, also known as “hypogonadism,” “andropause,” or simply “low T.”

If you are between the ages of 35 and 65, you may need to start testosterone therapy if you are feeling:

• Worn out
• Sluggish
• Moody, anxious or depressed
• Sleep problems
• Sexual wellness issues
• Weight gain
• Memory loss and other cognitive difficulties

If this list sounds like you, then it is a smart move to want to learn how to start testosterone replacement therapy.

Why Would I Need Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Testosterone replacement therapy is used to treat men suffering from low testosterone. Testosterone is necessary for a boy to grow and mature into a man. Even once you are an adult, testosterone remains critical for strength, stamina, sexual function, and emotional well-being. And yet, despite the continued need for testosterone, testosterone levels drop over time.

Once you are over 20, you can expect to lose about 2% of your available testosterone every year. By the time you are 40, that loss can take a significant toll, and you could be experiencing the symptoms of low testosterone.

Testosterone injections can make up for the loss and help you to feel younger, stronger and improve your overall quality of life.

How Is Testosterone Therapy Diagnosed?

Before you can start testosterone therapy, you will need to have your doctor take a complete medical history and then perform a physical exam, which will then be followed by a specialized blood test to check for your testosterone levels.

If your testosterone blood tests indicate that you indeed have low testosterone, only then will it be time to start on testosterone therapy.

Testosterone therapy is usually initially prescribed for six months to one year. After that time, you will be reevaluated to determine if you need to continue testosterone therapy.

To start testosterone therapy, you must first be diagnosed with low testosterone.

Are There Different Types of Testosterone Therapy?

Yes, testosterone therapy can be given in several different forms. Before you start testosterone therapy, it would be good if you understood the different types of testosterone therapy and why doctors may prefer one over another.

Low testosterone treatment can be given as topical gels and creams, subdermal pellets, skin patches, or testosterone injections. Our doctors have found testosterone injections to be the safest and most effective type of testosterone therapy.

Testosterone injections are prescribed as different “esters.” Each “ester” is simply a different chemical form of testosterone. They differ only in their molecular structure. The most commonly prescribed esters used for the treatment of low testosterone are testosterone enanthate and testosterone cypionate.

Testosterone Enanthate – Testosterone enanthate tends to stay in the blood for about four to five days. Testosterone Enanthate is given as an intramuscular injection, usually every five to seven days.

Testosterone Cypionate – Testosterone cypionate is considered to be a "longer-acting" testosterone than enanthate. It tends to take seven to eight days to be fully metabolized.  Cypionate is often begun with a starting dose similar to enanthate, but since it lasts longer, it is only administered every seven days.

The dosage of testosterone that your doctor prescribes and how long you will have to be on testosterone replacement therapy depends on your symptoms, and therefore, which ester is prescribed to you.  Most of the time, you will be prescribed a dose between 50 mg and 300 mg per injection.

The average injectable dose for men diagnosed with low testosterone is about 200-250 mg given once every two weeks.

Your exact dosage will be determined by the type of testosterone injection that is found to be best for you.

Are There Any Side Effects to Be Aware of Before Starting Testosterone Therapy?

Testosterone therapy is FDA-approved for the treatment of testosterone deficiency. However, like any medical procedure or prescription drug, testosterone therapy can have some side effects and contraindications.

Some of the reported possible side effects of testosterone injections for men or women include:

• Breast swelling
• Headache, anxiety
• Increased facial or body hair growth, male-pattern baldness
• Increased or decreased interest in sex
• Numbness or tingly feeling
• Pain or swelling where the medicine was injected.

See your medication’s insert or the Prescribing Information for a complete list of potential side effects.

According to the prescribing information, testosterone therapy should not be used:

• In patients with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug
• In males with carcinoma of the breast
• In males with known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate gland
• In women who are pregnant or may become pregnant
• In patients with serious cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease

Before accepting a prescription for testosterone replacement therapy, tell your doctor if you have a medical history of:

• Cancer (such as breast cancer in men, prostate cancer)
• Blood clots (such as in the leg, lungs)
• Heart disease (such as heart failure, chest pain, heart attack)
• Stroke
• Liver problems
• Kidney problems
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Enlarged prostate
• Sleep apnea
• Diabetes

Do I Need a Prescription for Testosterone Therapy?

Yes, you absolutely must have a doctor’s prescription to start testosterone therapy. The only legal way to obtain and use testosterone in the US is with a legitimate diagnosis of low testosterone and a prescription for testosterone therapy.

Buying or using testosterone illegally without a doctor’s prescription or proper medical supervision is not only illegal; it can be severely hazardous to your health, even fatal.

How Do I Get a Prescription for Testosterone Therapy?

You can only start testosterone therapy if you have first obtained a doctor’s prescription. If you qualify, you can get a prescription for testosterone treatment by following these five easy steps:

• Step 1 – Fill out an online medical history form – This first step is the only step in the process of getting a prescription for testosterone therapy that can be done online. You cannot legally BUY testosterone online or anywhere in any form without a prescription.
• Step 2 – See a doctor –If your medical history form indicates that you are a good candidate for testosterone treatment, the next step is to see your doctor. He or she will discuss your medical history and conduct a complete physical exam.
• Step 3 – Laboratory testosterone testing – Once you have completed your physical exam, if your doctor suspects you may need to start testosterone therapy, you will be referred to a laboratory to have the hormone levels in your blood tested.
• Step 4 – You will obtain a prescription for testosterone therapy –  If the results of your laboratory tests indicate that your testosterone levels are below normal, your doctor will prescribe a brand and dosage of testosterone injections to suit your needs and lifestyle.
• Step 5 – Your testosterone will be delivered to you – Your prescription for testosterone therapy will be forwarded to one of the pharmacies we work with that specialize in filling prescriptions for testosterone injections. The pharmacy, in turn, will deliver your testosterone treatment supplies right to your home!

A medical history, a complete exam, and a blood test will be needed before you can start testosterone therapy.

How Do I Know I Am Getting the Best Testosterone Therapy?

Any kind of doctor can write you a prescription for testosterone therapy. However, it is highly recommended that you only get your testosterone therapy from a medical professional whose practice is dedicated to hormone replacement therapy.

Only a well-qualified physician who specializes in hormone replacement therapy should start you on testosterone therapy injections. This way, you can be sure your testosterone therapy will be the safest and most effective for your particular needs and lifestyle.

When you start your testosterone therapy with a doctor who specializes in hormone replacement, not only will such a physician be able to provide you with the most effective prescription testosterone treatment for you, he or she will also be able to evaluate your other hormones.

All hormones in your body interact and work together. If you are suffering from low testosterone, there is a good chance that you may be deficient in other critical hormones as well, such as human growth hormone or HGH. Many people who start testosterone therapy are also prescribed growth hormone therapy and benefit greatly from the combined therapies.

Now that you know more about how to start testosterone therapy, why not take a minute to contact us and learn more about how hormone replacement therapy can improve your quality of life?