TESTOSTERONE

Intramuscular Injection Information and Procedures

Both Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy can be delivered through injection. Although Testosterone can be delivered in multiple ways, including patch, spray, cream, and dermal implant, many people prefer to deliver the hormone via injection.

Even though both HGH and Testosterone can be administered using a needle, they are injected in different ways. Whereas HGH is injected beneath the skin using an insulin needle, Testosterone is delivered directly into the muscle using a method known as Intramuscular Injection.

This article will more fully explain Intramuscular Injections, and it will also describe the actual protocol used for injection.

Why Do We Deliver Some Medicines Intramuscularly?

Intramuscular Injections are Safer

There are many reasons why some medications are delivered Intramuscularly, as compared to Intravenously or Subcutaneously. In comparison to Intravenous Injections, Intramuscular Injections are considered safer than Intravenous Injections.

Intramuscular Injections are Easier

In addition to this, Intramuscular Injections are much easier to perform than Intravenous Injections. With an Intravenous Injection, it is necessary to target and hit a vein in order to deliver the medication. This is easier for some patients than others. Some patients have deeper veins which are harder to target, and others have rolling veins, or veins that shift as the needle pierces the skin, making it hard to actually find the vein with a needle.

Intravenous Injections can Cause Damage

Intravenous Injections can also damage the veins, whereas muscle fibers are constructed in a way where the damage caused by an injection is negligible. Both Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Injections are easier and safer to perform than Intravenous Injections. Intravenous Injections are generally preferred for drugs which "drip" into the system, meaning that they supply a slow and constant supply of medication into the blood stream.

Intramuscular Injections are Fast Acting, but Release Can Be Controlled

Intramuscular Injections act faster than Subcutaneous Injections, but still deliver the medication to the body over the course of a number of hours. Many drugs used via Intramuscular Injection, like Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, contain ester compounds in order to slow the release of medication into the bloodstream. Ester compounds have relatively long half-lives, and release Testosterone slowly over time.

Some Testosterone Esters break down completely over a relatively brief period of time-only a few days. Other Testosterone Esters, like Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Enanthate, take one-to-two weeks to release the entire dose into the blood stream. This is one reason why many patients choose Testosterone Injections over less invasive methods. Most popular Testosterone Shots only have to be delivered every week or two, whereas most other forms must be applied on a daily basis. Testosterone Dermal Implants deliver Testosterone for an even longer period of time, but this form of treatment is much newer and less popular than other forms.

Do Intramuscular Injections Hurt?

The pain associated with injection is considered slightly greater than the pain associated with Intravenous Injection, but the majority of users find the pain tolerable and quite bearable.

Where are Intramuscular Injections Delivered?

Intramuscular Injections are delivered into muscle tissue that is just beneath the Subcutaneous layer underneath the skin. This muscle tissue is known as Striated tissue.

What Size of Needle is Used for Intramuscular Injection?

The needles used for Intramuscular injection are slightly larger than those used from Subcutaneous injection. The needles are usually 1-1.5 inches in length and gauge between 19 and 22. There are certain muscles that contain more striated muscle tissue than others, and these are considered the ideal location to perform Intramuscular Injection. These muscles are the muscles of the thigh (vastus lateralis), the upper arm (deltoids), and the buttocks (gluteal).

The gauge and length of the needle depends upon the amount of fat at the injection site. Individuals that have higher levels of body fat need longer needles than those that don't. In the case that the needle is not long enough to pierce into the striated muscle tissue, the medication will be delivered into adipose fat tissue rather than the intended muscle.

This is a more significant issue with women than for men, because women biologically produce higher levels of fat than men. Injections that are delivered into the body-fat are known as Intralipomatous Injections. If injections are accidentally delivered into fatty tissue, this has the potential to severely restrict the ability of medication to release into the body quickly and effectively, because there are very few veins in fat tissue, and this slows down the dispersion of the medication.

Rotating injection Sites with Intramuscular Injections

When patients are required to undergo multiple Intramuscular Injections over a certain period of time, it is vitally important to change injections sites with every subsequent shot. Testosterone Injections are an example of a medical therapy which requires multiple shots ranging generally from four per week to once every two weeks. Repeatedly performing injections into the same site can damage muscle tissue, and cause skin tissue to weaken and pit as well.

Dosage Volumes with Intramuscular Injection

Like Subcutaneous Injections, Intramuscular Injections are intended for relatively small doses of medication, although muscle tissue can effectively absorb and distribute a higher volume of medication without causing and major issues. Subcutaneous Injections max out at a volume of 2 milliliters no matter where the shot is administered. For Intramuscular Injection, the maximum dosage depends on the size and location of the muscle which is chosen for injection.

Some muscles can accept less medication than others. The thighs and deltoids, for example, can only intake around two milliliters of medication, but the glutes can safely tolerate up to five milliliters of medication. Intramuscular injections are generally reserved for strong and potent medications and treatments, such as Sermorelin Acetate Therapy and Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy for this reason.

What Areas Should I Avoid When Injecting Intramuscularly?

When attempting to deliver your Intramuscular Medication, there are certain things you want to avoid. It is important to deliver the injection far away from any blood vessels and major nerves. If a needle clips a nerve, this will be very painful, and it will also do damage to the nerve. Nicking a blood vessel is bad because Intramuscular Injections are not intended for Intravenous application, and many intramuscular medications can actually be dangerous if they are injected into a vein. Testosterone Injections, for example, are delivered via oil solutions so that they soak more readily into muscle tissue, but if oil directly enters the blood stream, this can cause dangerous cardiovascular issues such as embolism or blockage.

Oil bubbles act just like air bubbles or other physical obstructions in the blood stream. It is incredibly easy to avoid this, however, because you will know if you hit a vein because blood will enter the syringe when you pull the plunger back. This process is known as aspiration.

You should also avoid any area of the skin which is irregular or damaged. Delivering an injection through a patch of skin that is infected can greatly increase the chance that you will experience a blood infection. You should also avoid scarred or irritated skin as well.

Side-Effects of Intramuscular Injection

If you experience any of the following issues as a result of Intramuscular Injection, discuss them with your doctor:

• Scar Formation Can be avoided by rotating injection sites properly and performing injections carefully

• Skin Sloughing Can be avoided by rotating injection sites properly

• Hematoma Can be avoided by insuring that injections are not delivered into veins

• Embolism Can be avoided by insuring that injections are not delivered into veins

• Cysts Injecting too close too nerves can lead to cyst formation

• Abcesses Abcesses can occur as a result of infection. Always carefully sterilize all equipment, wash hands thoroughly, and clean the injection site

Why Choose Intramuscular Injections Over Intravenous Injections?

Although Intravenous Injections are the only choice for delivering large amounts of medication very quickly, Intramuscular Injections are ideal for delivering a small to moderate amount of medication over an extended period of time. One reason why this is so is because Intramuscular Injections are released slowly by the muscle tissue into the blood supply.

When an Intramuscular Injection is delivered, it forms a deposit in the muscle tissue known as a Depot. This pocket of medication within the muscle tissue drains slowly into the blood stream over time. Absorption rates depend upon multiple physiological factors, including circulation to the muscle, the depth at which the medication was injected, the type of drug formulation, and the amount of exercise that the muscle receives.

How Formulations Affect Absorption

Intramuscular Injections are very versatile because they can be formulated to release into the body at various different rates. Water/Saline Solutions are metabolized by the body at the fastest rate. Oil solutions take much longer to release into the body.

In addition to this, medications can be designed as colloids or suspensions in either oil or water formulations in order to further increase absorption rate. Drugs can also be chemically combined with various forms of salt in order to decrease solubility. This works exceptionally well within oil solutions, because oil absorbs salt very slowly.

Drugs like Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Proprionate are attached to ester compounds so that they are released slowly over an extended period of time. Esters are very effective at providing a large number of dispersion rates, because Esters Dissolve from their host into the blood stream at a rate which is specifically correlated with the number of carbon molecules attached to the ester.

This means that Bio-Identical Testosterone can be released into the blood stream over the course of a day or over the course of two weeks simply as a result of the size of the ester molecule.

What Type of Medications Are Delivered Intramuscularly?

There are various forms of medication that are delivered via the Intramuscular route, including:

• Haldol

• Ativan

• Morphine

• Codeine

There are also many nutrients and hormones that are delivered via Intramuscular Injection:

• Progesterone

• Testosterone

• HCG

• Vitamin B12

• Plasma Injections

Many forms of vaccinations are delivered Intramuscularly. Including:

• Flu Vaccines

• Rabies Shots

• Hepatitis A Vaccinations

• HPV Innoculations

How To Perform an Intramuscular Injection

There are a different set of guidelines for exactly how to deliver an Intramuscular Injection, dependent upon the muscle that you will inject the medication. Some muscles may require you to stretch the skin and bunch the muscle, whereas other locations may require you to stretch both the muscle and the skin. There are some rules that are universal, however:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly before injection.

• If someone else is delivering the injection, they should wear gloves under any circumstances.

• Always disinfect the space in which you will perform the injection.

• Always clean the injection site prior to injection.

• Never use medication which is out of date.

• Always store medications properly.

• Administer the injection into relaxed muscle to maximize effectiveness and minimize pain.

• Always use a needle that is of a length appropriate to the injection site.

• Never let the tip of the needle make unnecessary contact.

• When drawing medication, always release any air trapped within the needle by turning it upwards, tapping the syringe, and pressing the air out with the plunger until all bubbles are released. Injecting even a single bubble of air is very dangerous and can cause numerous complications.

• Aspirate the needle slightly before injection to insure that you have not hit a vein. If you have, you will have to adjust the injection site.

• Always dispose of needles in an approved SHARPS container. Used needles are biohazardous waste and must be treated with extreme caution and care.

Intramuscular Injection into the Deltoid:

Deltoid Injections must be delivered by a second party, because it requires two hands to deliver the injection. This injection-site is generally utilized for vaccinations and medications which cause little irritation. This location is intended for small amounts of medication ranging from 1-2 milliliters in volume. For patients that have very low muscle mass, Deltoid Injections may not be an option.

To choose an appropriate location for Deltoid Injection, start at the bone of the shoulder and move about an inch and a half beneath the process. This muscle is triangular in shape, with its widest portion at the top of the muscle. Inject into an area at or near the thickest part of the muscle, which is in the center of the triangle.

It is important to inject in the central portion of the muscle, because the Radial Nerve and Brachial Artery are located just on the outer edge of the Deltoids.

For this location, stretch out the skin and grip down around the muscle, squeeze your fingers together so that the skin remains tight, but you have squeezed the muscle. Insert the needle into the muscle at a 90 degree angle.

Intramuscular Injection into the top of the Thigh (Vastus Laterus):

This location disperses medication quicker then the buttocks, but slower than the deltoids. The appropriate location to inject into the top of the thigh is between one hand-width beneath the groin and one hand-width above the knee. In this window, choose a location near the thickest part of the muscle.

Thigh injections are often preferred by individuals that self-inject, because it is easy to access the thigh muscle from either a prone or sitting position.

Stretch the skin tightly in order to reduce the distance that the needle must travel. Inset the needle at a right angle to the leg, directly into the muscle. At this location, you can deliver up to two milliliters of medication per injection.

Intramuscular Injection into the Hip (Ventrogluteal):

The Ventrogluteal site is widely considered to be the best location to deliver an intramuscular injection, either via self-administration or via the assistance of a second party. This location represents the thickest portion of the glutes, as this area includes both the Gluteus minimus and the Gluteus medius. This area also has some the thinnest layer of fat tissue among anywhere in the gluteal region. It is also the safest area to deliver injection, because there are no veins or nerves in range of the needle in this area, so you are primarily attempting to avoid bone. Using this injection site, it is safe to deliver up to two milliliters of medication.

Locate the outer protrusion of the upper femur, known as the prochanter. Then locate the protrusion of the hip bone, known as the Iliac Crest. Move your hand forward until you reach the point of the crest furthest from the center. This is known as the Anterior Iliac Crest. You will deliver the injection at a point equidistant from both of these protrusions. Laterally, the injection site will be located halfway between the center of the crest and the front of the crest. In your mind, this should form an upside-down triangle.

Aim for a location in the center of the triangle, equally far away from both bones. Tighten the skin around the injection site, then deliver the needle directly into the muscle at a 90 degree angle.

Intramuscular Injection into the Buttock (Gluteus medius):

In this location, injections can only be administered by a second party. This location is ideal for larger injections of up to five milliliters. You must be very careful when delivering an injection to this location, because the superior gluteal artery and the sciatic nerve are located only about three centimeters away from the injection site, making it vitally important that the injection is delivered to the correct location based off of physiological landmarks.

Every time this injection is performed, it is important to physically locate both the Posterior Iliac Crest and the Trochanter. This area also has a large amount of fat, and requires longer needles than many other sites. The amount of fat tissue also slows down absorption, which should be taken into account when choosing this location.

Locate the protrusion of the upper femur, known as the trochanter. Then, locate the Posterior Iliac Crest. Place your hand on the central portion of the protrusion of the hipbone and move your hand back until you reach the portion of the bone furthest from the median. You may notice that many individuals have dimples located directly above this bone.

Imagine that there is a line which stretches directly from the Posterior Iliac Crest to the Trochanter. Move to the center of this line, then follow the line one inch further upward. This is the ideal injection site. Stretch the skin taut and deliver the needle directly into this point at a 90 degree angle.

Increased Awareness of Testosterone Deficiency Beneficial to Aging Men

Many males suffer from the symptoms of Low Testosterone. It is clear that Testosterone Deficiency is a legitimate medical condition which needs to be appropriately treated. The problem is that even though Low-T is a real issue that can be treated and needs to be dealt with, there is still no clear line at which Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy is unequivocally recommended. There are a few reasons for this.

What Are the Roadblocks to a Concrete Diagnosis of Testosterone Deficiency?

One: Unity Within the Medical Community: Different Doctors, Different Opinions

First is an issue of scientific agreement. It is true that Testosterone Replacement Therapy has been available to patients for decades, but our knowledge of Testosterone Deficiency is still not complete. Original studies compared healthy patients to those with severe or total deficiency. We definitely know the issues involved with having a clear lack of healthy Testosterone.

The problem is, our knowledge of the titrated effects of Testosterone Deficiency lag far behind our knowledge of the black and white of severe deficiency and absolute health. Some patients may benefit greatly from a small infusion of Testosterone, while others may need full treatment in order to restore their physiological hormone balance.

Two: Physiological Individuality: Testosterone Deficiency is Different for Everyone

The second issue is a matter of physiology. As we learn more about health and the human body, it is clear that every person's body is fine-tuned in a somewhat unique way. Some patients can have a relatively low level of Testosterone (without fully being declared deficient) and still have to deal with symptoms of Low-T.

Other patients have Clinically Low Testosterone Levels but don't seem to suffer from symptoms of that deficiency in the same way. As our knowledge of Testosterone and its Function continues to grow and become more elaborate, these lines will eventually be drawn accurately, and we will more fully take into account individual physiology in regard to Testosterone Deficiency Diagnosis.

Three: Disorders Symptomatically Similar to Testosterone Deficiency

Another issue related to Testosterone Use and Replacement is that there are a number of other conditions that can mimic the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency, such as Anemia, in addition to other medical disorders and nutritional deficiencies. Reduced Sex Drive, Diminished Erectile Ability, Fatigue, and Reduced Muscle Mass can be the result of a number of different medical problems, and it is important to make an accurate diagnosis for the sake of every patient's health.

Current Trends in Testosterone Deficiency Diagnosis

In recent years, Hormone Physicians came together in order to form a more concrete set of guidelines to streamline an approach to Testosterone Deficiency that is more careful and considerate. They believe that Testosterone Deficiency Diagnosis should be the result of a consistent set of guidelines which take into account chronic symptoms in males that suffer from decidedly low levels of Testosterone.

In spite of these recommendations for care by Endocrine Doctors, drug manufacturers continue to work hard to increase public awareness of Testosterone Deficiency, showcasing the numerous benefits of treatment in order to spur conversations about Hormone Replacement Therapy between patients and their physicians.

Testosterone Awareness at It's Highest Levels

Research has shown that in recent years, national awareness of both the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency and the Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy have become an engrained aspect of the communal American Psyche, as Testosterone Prescriptions have risen at a rapid pace. When discussing the increase in popularity of Testosterone Hormone Treatments, it is important to not only look at the issue from a medical perspective, but from the perspective of advertising as well.

Testosterone Commentaries

In a recent study regarding the nature of Advertising and Testosterone, the authors presented two commentaries regarding the marketing and marketability of Testosterone Sprays, Creams, and Gels.

Testosterone Advertising Perspective One

One perspective comes from a writer that has been intricately involved in the process of advertising Testosterone and other health treatments. This writer, named Stephen Braun, intimately understands the process, because he has written pamphlets and other advertisements for Testosterone, both to medical audiences and to the audience of the potential patient.

He has often written under his own name, and admits to ghostwriting for a number of clients as well. He claims that the rapid increase in Testosterone Prescriptions is largely the result of an ingenious marketing campaign in order to globally define Low-T as a set of individual symptoms related to the aging process, which can be treated effectively through the use of Testosterone Treatment, rather than simply a hormonal disorder.

Testosterone Advertising Perspective Two

Another point of view comes from two physicians that work in Veterans Affairs for Dartmouth. Their names are Dr. Steven Woloshin and Doctor Lisa Schwartz. A major aspect of their research is to figure out ways to encourage older patients to go visit their doctor, especially older patients that are experiencing negative medical symptoms.

They say that there is an immense value in regard to the overall campaign to increase awareness for Testosterone Deficiency and Low-T, because these campaigns provide working examples regarding how to get older men engaged and interested in preserving their health and talking to their physician about other medical issues which may be adversely affecting their health.

These ad campaigns may exaggerate slightly, but in the end, it benefits the consumer even if they do not choose Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy. These advertisements increase the awareness of Testosterone Treatment to patients while also reducing any underlying stigma and increasing the odds that the patient will go see a medical professional for treatment.

The Doctors' perspective continues as follows: There are a lot of aging men in the United States that don't regularly visit their doctor, but are concerned with many of the symptoms of the aging process that are often a direct result of Testosterone Deficiency, including irritation, fatigue, and low-libido. This audience is also one of the primary audiences which make up a large number of aging veterans in the United States that share the same concerns.

Increased Medical Awareness Good for Everyone!

The mythos behind Testosterone Replacement has the capability of both treating patients with the legitimate issue of Testosterone Deficiency while also increasing the odds that patients will just go visit a doctor! Medical professionals around the United States can learn a lot from Testosterone Advertisements, because this market has really figured out how to target their audience perfectly.

Testosterone HRT Promising

As we learn more about the complex interactions of different hormones within the endocrine system, we will undoubtedly uncover a number of new, potent, and amazing methods to preserve ourselves and our bodies throughout the lifespan. Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy shows a large amount of promise in spite of the hype, and as we learn more about other treatments such as HGH Hormone Injections and Estrogen Replacement Therapy, we will no doubt uncover more and more secrets to enhancing our lives well into old age.

Testosterone and Aging

Aging is a natural and inevitable process, but it is becoming more and more clear that there are countless things that we can do to improve our ability to live a long and healthy life. It is also becoming evident that, although some aspects of aging may be unpreventable in the long term, a large number of the symptoms of aging are related to Hormone Balance, and only tangentially related to aging. Although our knowledge of the field as a whole is relatively young, the study and practice of Hormone Optimization will have a vastly net-positive effect on national and global health in the coming decades.

Testosterone Replacement is another piece of the puzzle in regard to health maintenance, and, even though it may not be needed in every instance, even increased interest in the therapy will help patients turn to physicians and health professionals that can help them take control of their health and make knowledgeable and empowered life choices.

Androgel Low-T Campaign

One of the most vivid campaigns regarding Testosterone Deficiency is that of Androgel by the pharmaceutical company AbbVie. These advertisements are heavily broadcast both on the radio and on television, while also being printed in newspapers and magazines across the United States. Their advertisements popularized the use of the term Low-T as the layman's term for Testosterone Deficiency. These Low-T Ads aggressively target middle-aged men in order to increase the odds that they will visit a doctor in order to assess their hormone status.

A representative of AbbVie and Androgel explains that such targeted efforts are not discouraged, but actively encouraged by the Food and Drug Administration because of the way that they rapidly increase disease awareness in a target population. These type of advertisements are allowed by the FDA because they lean on patients to become more proactive about their own lives, even if Testosterone Deficiency doesn't turn out to be their biggest problem.

In addition to this, it gets middle-aged males to go visit a physician, which is important, because this subset of the population is rewarded heavily for preventative care while simultaneously being the group of patients among the least likely to take advantage of preventative care. The FDA sees Testosterone Replacement as only one tool in the arsenal of Public Health, and advertisements for Low-Testosterone are beneficial because they encourage the patient to learn about various forms of therapy which they may not have been previously aware of.

All advertisements for Androgel are written in total compliance with Food and Drug Administration Regulations, and were designed to increase knowledge among the general population of aging men regarding the potential benefits of Testosterone Replacement and the Drawbacks of Testosterone Deficiency, so that they can be more appropriately armed to talk to a qualified medical professional regarding their personal campaign to safeguard their health. In the end, it is the doctor that chooses which therapy is right for the patient.

Self-Awareness is the Key to Good Health!

This is why it is important to learn as much as you can about your own body and your personal health risks as you grow older. Testosterone Replacement Therapy is just one of many tools that can help you live a longer, happier, life. If you feel that you may be experiencing the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency, don't be afraid to talk to a doctor!

Prescriptions Written for Bio-Identical Testosterone Triple in Last Ten Years

Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy is quickly becoming one of the hottest topics in endocrinology. As a result of new research and new methods of Testosterone Treatment, more and more people are turning to the hormone Testosterone in order to improve their health and their love life.

Testosterone Prescribed More Often Than Ever!

A new research study presents evidence that Testosterone is being prescribed at a rate three times faster than it ever has in the United States for male patients over the age of forty. Twelve years ago, in the year 2001, only 0.81 percent of males in the United States utilized Testosterone in any form. Today, that percentage has increased to over three percent of males!

Researchers find that there are many reasons why there has been such a rapid increase in interest in this potent hormone. In the past fifteen years, Testosterone has become increasingly advertised in a manner which reaches directly out to potential patients. Most of these advertisements have been directed to males in their forties and fifties, during the period in which the symptoms of Testosterone and the aging process are producing more and more of an effect on a man's life.

In addition to this, more clinics are starting to specialize in the areas of Hormone Replacement, Aging, Longevity, and General Health and Wellness, increasing the number of doctors and physicians that work heavily with Testosterone and Other Hormones by virtue of their specialization.

A third reason for this expansion is that Testosterone HRT is becoming simpler and easier by the year as new treatment methods become available in the United States.

Testosterone Debate Rages On

Although the use of Recombinant Testosterone for Hormone Replacement has risen dramatically in recent years, the debate over the benefits and risks of the treatment are hotly contested around the country. Testosterone Replacement has been shown to produce some beneficial and potent changes in the human body.

Bio-Identical Testosterone is proven to significantly increase muscle mass while reducing the fatigue associated with low decreased strength. In addition to this, Testosterone vastly increases libido and sex drive in patients that are Deficient in Testosterone. Other studies, however, have shown that under certain circumstances, Testosterone Replacement can actually have a negative effect upon fertility and sperm counts in male patients.

Also, there is a mild correlation between Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy and Prostate Cancer that is being explored further in order to uncover potential hard links. At this point, evidence seems to suggest that Testosterone Treatments have a negative effect upon Prostate Tumors, but does not seem to increase the risk of the development of new tumors. In any case, Male patients that utilize Testosterone should meet on a regular basis with their general practitioner in order to maintain proper health and uncover any negative issues before they become overly problematic.

Testosterone and the Lifespan

It is a proven fact that Testosterone Production slowly and steadily declines throughout the lifespan, but there is some controversy regarding exactly what level of deficiency should be officially declared Low-T. The scientific term for Low-T as well as Testosterone Deficiency is Hypogonadism, referring to an inability of the body to efficiently produce sex hormones. This deficiency is primarily defined in two ways: Primary Hypogonadism and Secondary Hypogonadism.

Primary and Secondary Hypogonadism

Most male patients experience the former, Primary Hypogonadism. Usually in this form of deficiency, the Testes slowly lose their ability to effectively produce and secrete Testosterone, at a rate which averages around one to two percentage points every year starting in the later twenties or early thirties. Some patients may experience this form of Hypogonadism for other reasons such as Testicular Trauma, however.

The second, less common form of Testosterone Deficiency is Secondary Hypogonadism. This type of deficiency originates in the brain, usually from the Pituitary Gland or the Hypothalamus, preventing the Testes from getting the appropriate stimuli to produce Hormonal Testosterone.

What is the Threshold for Low-T?

The most commonly agreed upon standard for Testosterone Deficiency is a Free Testosterone level that is beneath 300 ng/dl, although the number may very dependently upon the physician. If Testosterone Levels are beneath this threshold, then the patient will likely qualify for Hormone Replacement with Testosterone.

Testosterone Research Analysis

In the research that we mentioned at the beginning of the article, around fifty percent of patients that received Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy were treated after Hypogonadism Diagnosis. A surprising piece of data is that nearly one quarter of patients received no diagnostic testing in order to evaluate their hormone levels before they received treatment.

Also, among the males that did undergo Testosterone Testing, it is not completely clear exactly how many of the patients actually suffered from Low Testosterone. Researchers explain that Free Testosterone Production can be sensitive to many factors, including the time at which the test is administered.

AMA Opinion on Testosterone

In a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers of this study wrote that additional examination is necessary in order to figure out exactly how many patients that seem to have Testosterone Deficiency are prescribed Testosterone Treatments even though they truly have clinically normal levels of the hormone. By evaluating this data, scientists hope that Testosterone Replacement can be prescribed more appropriately to patients that are truly in need.

On the other hand, as our knowledge of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy expands, we may find that the Threshold in which benefits outweigh risks is higher than we first suspected, in which case, more patients will qualify for treatment.

Make Sure Low-T Symptoms are Really the Result of Low Testosterone

If you believe that you may be suffering from the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency, it is important to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms before turning fully to Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Dr. Lizza, a New York City Urologist, explains that many symptoms that seem to be the result of Testosterone Deficiency may actually be due to other disorders that cause similar symptoms in the same stage of life.

Although Testosterone Replacement can be an effective tool to treat the symptoms of the disorder, if Testosterone Deficiency is not your primary medical issue, you may simply be covering up other underlying health conditions. Dr. Lizza also claims that for many patients, other common treatments for erectile issues are likely better for patients that do not suffer from a legitimate Deficiency of Testosterone.

Testosterone Research Data Source and Qualifications

The data for this study was obtained from the files of a large health insurance provider, and the data-set included over ten million males over the age of forty in order to determine the exact number of patients utilizing Testosterone Replacement Products.

Of course, the data-set obtained for this research cannot be used to provide a complete view regarding what percentage of males use Testosterone, because access to Testosterone through Private Health Insurance is not fully predictive in revealing the number of patients without healthcare, or the number of patients with public insurance through Medicare, that choose to turn to Testosterone.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: The Future of Medicine?

In the end, the researchers feel that more testing is needed in order to examine Testosterone HRT, in order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment while limiting the number of patients that receive the therapy when other treatments may be more effective at safely improving their health care situation.

There is no doubt that in the coming years, our knowledge about the pros and cons of Testosterone Hormone Treatments will increase tremendously.