TESTOSTERONE

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.

Testosterone Shows Promise in Treating Obesity and Diabetes

There are countless men across the country that vouch for the effectiveness of Testosterone Creams, Injections, and Sprays. As the years go by, more and more people are made aware of the potent benefits of the therapy. More men (and even some women) are choosing Testosterone in an attempt to alleviate the changes that are associated with aging.

Although there are many who come forward to praise the benefits of this potentially life-changing hormone treatment, there are certainly some detractors. There are some physicians that are wary of the rapid increase in the Prescription of Therapeutic Testosterone, but that has done nothing to slow down the rate at which new men have chosen to adopt the hormone. In America, there is evidence that Testosterone Prescription numbers have risen in all fifty states as well as all United States Territories.

Global Increase in Testosterone Usage

The use of Testosterone HRT has grown at a remarkable pace in other countries around the globe. Australia has seen a sharp increase in Testosterone prescription in the past decade, for example. In Australia, two forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy have been recently approved: A Testosterone Gel and a Testosterone Injection which only needs to be administered once per week or less.

The range of Testosterone Products is larger in the United States, and these new products in Australia have been available domestically for some time. Recently in the United States, Testosterone Sprays and Dermal Implants have become available, expanding patient choice even further.

Testosterone User Happy With Treatment

One anecdotal proponent for Testosterone Replacement is Chris Running. Chris is fifty seven years old and feels younger than he has in well over fifteen years. He raves about his Testosterone Injections, claiming that the therapy has led him to both increase his muscle mass and drop pounds at the same time. He claims that the changes that have taken place in his body are not only physical, but mental as well. He says that he just wakes up every day feeling great, and when he sees himself in the mirror each morning it makes him feel even better.

Testosterone Can Help Many People

It is important to remember that although Testosterone Shots and Creams aren't for everyone, there are a significant number of aging men that could see tremendous benefit through the use of the vital hormone. Testosterone can be legitimately prescribed to any man that displays active symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency. There are also a number of medical disorders which require Testosterone Replacement in order to improve health and human function, including Klinefelter Syndrome.

How Testosterone Makes a Man

A mixture of clever marketing and potent promises have melded into a perfect storm of consumer interest that has males across the globe engrossed with the concept of Testosterone Deficiency and what it means, hormonally, to truly be a man.

Testosterone is the primary tool in the genetic alchemy which creates a man. Testosterone is primarily responsible for practically all traits which differentiate males from females, including psychological traits such as aggressiveness and assertiveness, as well as physical traits such as enhanced muscle development and a full and thick beard. In patients with significant Testosterone Deficiency, hormonal imbalance is literally robbing men of manhood, decreasing their strength and increasing their body fat while also softening the dominant traits which help men succeed and make the most of their daily life.

Libido and Low-T

Testosterone Deficiency has a negative effect on male sexuality as well. As the level of deficiency rises, a man's sexual ability falls at a rapid pace. First, libido and sexual interest start to decline. As Testosterone Levels decline further, the actual nuts and bolts of sexuality start to go haywire also. Men can actually completely lose the ability to maintain an erection if their deficiency reaches a certain level of severity!

Andropause Treatment with Testosterone HRT

Testosterone can also be used as a valid treatment for a medical disorder known as Andropause. Andropause is a medical condition which is similar to Menopause, but different in some key ways. Like Menopause, Andropause is a natural result of the aging process in which key hormone levels start to decline, changing the life of the individual and increasing the rate and severity of the physical progression of aging. Unlike Menopause, however, Andropause is a gradual decline that slowly and steadily alters the body's ability to produce the Hormone Testosterone.

New Uses for Testosterone: Obesity and Diabetes

In addition to its use as a treatment for Andropause and sexual dysfunction, Testosterone is also being studied in regard to a number of other medical disorders as well. The two most promising Testosterone Medical Treatments are for Diabetes and Obesity. A recent study completed in Australia in 2010 provides evidence that Testosterone Hormone Injections may be a potent tool in the war against obesity.

Benefits of Testosterone for Obesity

In this study, Testosterone use in obese patients had the dual benefit of both increasing lean muscle mass and decreasing the overall adipose fat mass of the body. Testosterone Deficiency causes overweight males to produce too much Estrogen and Cortisol in relation to Testosterone.

In the male body, Testosterone is produced primarily by adipose fat cells, and as these cells grow and become profligate, the body's capacity for estrogen production increases as well. Fat cells have a unique capability to transform the Testosterone Hormone into Estrogen, and high levels of Estrogen are related to a number of negative health conditions throughout the body.

Obesity Boosts Cortisol

Cortisol is the body's primary hormone secreted in response to high-stress situations. Cortisol is great for increasing pain tolerance and handling the stress of high-intensity situations, but it also eats away at the body's ability to produce Testosterone, because both hormones are created using the same precursor hormones. Like Estrogen, high Cortisol Levels also vastly increase the incidence of a number of negative health consequences such as increased arterial plaque and disastrous cholesterol levels.

Testosterone-Diabetes Trial

In another promising Testosterone Study, a large number of diabetic men will be treated with Testosterone in order to quantify the potential benefits of treatment among men with this physiologically devastating disorder. Male patients that participated in this study will be evaluated over the course of a year in regard to cardiovascular risk and body-fat ratio.

Before this large scale study was approved, small-scale pilot research was conducted which proved the feasibility of the hypothesis, granting the researchers the opportunity to further test their hypothesis with a larger pool of participants. The scientists, led by Doctor Carolyn Allan, are optimistic that their study will successfully yield a new and potent means to combat Diabetes.

Study in Process of Expansion

Today, the researchers are in the process of fielding candidates for this study all over the country in Australia, in order to study Testosterone as a potentially valid and useful treatment for Type-Two Diabetes. Dr. Allan is looking for patients that will potentially benefit from Testosterone Replacement for Testosterone Deficiency while also not being at an elevated risk of adverse complications from treatment such as prostate cancer.

Due to the conflicting affects of Insulin and fat upon Testosterone production, obese and diabetic patients have a higher incidence of Testosterone Deficiency than nearly any other population, and it is hypothesized that balancing Testosterone availability will have a very strong affect upon the patient's ability to burn fat, increase energy, and build muscle. The study will combine Testosterone Hormone Administration with a thoughtful diet, nutrition, and exercise plan in order to improve the short-term and long-term health of the patient.

The Future of Testosterone

Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy is not necessarily a panacea to the aging process, but as time passes and the body of knowledge continues to grow regarding this vitally important hormone, it becomes vividly clear that Testosterone Deficiency has an incredibly negative affect upon male health and longevity. Over time, the number of valid treatments using Testosterone will undoubtedly increase, as the importance of hormone balance becomes more well-understood. For now, just talk to your doctor.