So What Is Low Testosterone In Men And How Is It Treated
Testosterone is a hormone that is mainly produced in the testicles of men. It effects a number of things including the sexual development and appearance of men. Normal testosterone levels should be between 300 nanograms and 1000 nanograms per deciliter. Signs of low testosterone include low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, decreased muscle mass, loss of energy, depression and increased body fat .
Testosterone production starts to decline at around age 30. Almost 40% of men aged 45 and older suffer from low testosterone. You can have your testosterone levels checked with a simple blood test at most medical facilities. Testosterone levels vary throughout the day and are usually highest in the morning .
Low testosterone is usually treated with testosterone injections, patches or gels. The doctor usually decides whether or not to treat based on the results of the blood test. I found that different doctors and facilities have different standards on what levels they will treat testosterone at. When I was first seen for erectile dysfunction years ago, my levels came in at around 400. The first doctor I saw said that it fell within the normal range and would not offer testosterone treatment. The second doctor said that my level was much to low for my age and prescribed testosterone gel.
When Does Testosterone Work For Penis Enlargement
A Chonnam Medical Journal study has shown that testosterone treatment may increase penis size for boys or men that suffer from both IHH and micropenis. IHH is an inherited genetic disorder that causes impaired sexual development . Micropenis is an extremely small penis that has a length of less than 2.5 standard deviations below the mean . The participants in this study had average age of 18.95 years.
Following testosterone treatment, the study group showed a significant increase in penis size. The mean penis length of the group went from 5.14 cm to 7.45 cm . This is a significant 45% increase in length.
The study referenced above was conducted with testosterone injections which work similarly to the testosterone gel. Studies have been conducted on boys with similar conditions utilizing testosterone cream or gel.
Body Composition And Bmd
Body composition and BMD at the hip and spine were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry with 2000 or 4500A series at baseline, 6, 18, and 30 months after the start of T replacement therapy. These assessments were done in about 90% of the subjects because the Hologic dual energy x-ray absorptiometry equipment was not available in some centers. BMD of spine was calculated as the sum of measured bone mineral content at L1-L4 and divided by the total area of L1-L4 and that of left hip, calculated by the bone mineral content of the proximal femur divided by the area of the region measured. The scans were centrally analyzed and processed at Synarc . The between-center CV using the spine phantom was 0.15, and 0.37%, and the block phantom was 0.26, and 0.21%, for the Hologic QDR 2000 and 4500 A, respectively.
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What Do I Need To Tell My Doctor Before I Take Testosterone Gel
- If you have an allergy to testosterone or any other part of testosterone gel.
- If you are allergic to testosterone gel any part of testosterone gel or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
- If you are male and have breast or prostate cancer.
- If you have any of these health problems: Heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease.
- If you are a woman. This medicine is not approved for use in women. If you are a woman using testosterone gel, talk with your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
- If the patient is a child. Do not give testosterone gel to a child.
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with testosterone gel.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take testosterone gel with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
Tips For Applying Testosterone Gel
- Dr. keith Roach
Dear Dr. Roach I am an 84-year-old male. I recently switched from testosterone patches to AndroGel. My testosterone levels have gone up considerably, and I have seen some improvement in my erectile dysfunction. I suspect just a little more testosterone might get me a usable erection.
My physician said to rub the gel into my shoulder. She could not explain how it gets through the skin. Am I literally rubbing it in? Would more pressure push it through the skin better?
Is the gel absorbed? Are some areas more absorbent than others? Where is the best place to apply the gel? Is the skin already saturated if I apply the gel to dry skin following a bath? Anon.
Answer The ability to absorb drugs across the skin has made administration of some drugs much easier, especially those like testosterone, which are not absorbed when taken by mouth. However, there are some factors to keep in mind.
Some of my colleagues who prescribe these drugs more than I do have written that some patients just have not been able to get enough testosterone with the gel, and must use injection.
Your pharmacist is a most valuable resource when it comes to medication interactions.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to .
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Should You Apply Testosterone Gel Or Cream On Your Testicles For Best Absorption
Androgen therapy of hypogonadal men with transscrotal testosterone systemsAbstractThere was a greatly disproportionate increase of serum dihydrotestosterone over testosterone, suggesting 5-alpha reduction at the scrotal site.
Pharmacokinetics of transdermal testosterone gel in hypogonadal men: application of gel at one site versus four sites: a General Clinical Research Center Study.AbstractThe mean concentration of serum DHT on the 7th day was significantly higher after application at four sites
This suggests an about eightfold increase in testosterone bioavailability, using the scrotal compared with abdominal skiTestosterone administration to the scrotal skin also produced a marked rise in serum DHT following each testosterone dosePharmacokinetics of testosterone cream applied to scrotal skinDihydrotestosterone: Biochemistry, Physiology, and Clinical Implications of Elevated Blood Levels Ronald S. Swerdloff, Robert E. Dudley, Stephanie T. Page, Christina Wang, and Wael A. SalamehSkinIn men, androgen levels are highest in the scrotal skin followed by pubic skin and then thigh skin,
What Are Some Side Effects That I Need To Call My Doctor About Right Away
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash hives itching red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever wheezing tightness in the chest or throat trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking unusual hoarseness or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
- For males, erections that happen often or that last a long time.
- Trouble passing urine, pain when passing urine, passing urine in a weak stream or drips, or passing urine more often.
- Not able to control passing urine.
- New or worse behavior or mood changes like depression or thoughts of suicide.
- Enlarged breasts.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Irritation where testosterone gel is used.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
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Where To Apply Testosterone Cream
Testosterone creams are hormonal supplements that have a few different applications. They are growing in popularity among weightlifters and athletes for their ability to promote muscle growth by infusing the muscles with high concentrations of testosterone. Testosterone is given to men with deficiencies in the hormone, and some men seek out testosterone creams to help combat the body’s natural decline of testosterone as they age.
Target areas of your skin with the least amount of hair, as well as areas featuring significant blood flow. Popular spots for general use include the inner arms and thighs and behind the knees. Cover the area as thoroughly as possible, if you are trying to affect specific muscles.
Apply a half-dosage of testosterone cream twice daily to the vaginal area, if you are a women using testosterone cream to treat a deficiency of the hormone. Men should avoid applying testosterone cream to their genitals unless for treatment of a hormone deficiency, or under doctor’s orders.
Tips
If the areas where you are applying the cream are covered in hair, you may want to consider shaving those areas.
Apply the cream one hour prior to physical activity or sexual activity.
Warnings
Do not use more than once a day. Do not use continuously for more than 8 weeks.
Avoid smoking when taking testosterone cream, as it will counteract the medication’s efforts.
How Long To Wait To Use Gel Stain
Once the first section is evenly covered with stain, give it about 30 seconds so the stain can get a good grip on the surface of the wood. Do not wait longer than 30 seconds. Gel stain dries very quickly and will become tacky if left on the surface any longer than that. Wipe off the excess stain with a staining pad or old t-shirt.
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What Is Testosterone Gel
Testosterone gel is a gel that contains a male sex hormone called testosterone. Testosterone plays an important part in growth of body hair and building strong bones and muscles. In boys, testosterone also helps boys going through puberty.
Testosterone comes in a gel, cream, patch, injection or tablet. The testosterone in testosterone gel is absorbed into the skin.
Skin Irritation And Safety Parameters
Safety parameters were reported for all the subjects in the study . Skin irritation assessments were made at every clinic visit using the following scale: 0 = no erythema, 1 = minimal erythema 2 = moderate erythema with sharply defined borders 3 = intense erythema and edema and 4 = intense erythema with edema and blistering/erosion. When subjects developed skin irritation, pretreatment with corticosteroid cream was advised. Prostate Symptom Score was assessed every 6 months using the International Prostate Symptom Score . The maximum score for IPSS is 35. Complete blood counts, serum clinical chemistry, and serum PSA levels were measured at each centers laboratory.
The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of each of the study centers. Written consent was obtained from each subject.
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Hemoglobin Hematocrit Clinical Chemistry
Serum hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations increased with T gel replacement, compared with month 0 and month 6 and then plateaued at 12 months after initiation of treatment . The increases in hematocrit and hemoglobin were statistically significant in both younger and older subjects . At 12 and 18 months after treatment, the increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations was higher in the group applying 10 g T gel per day , compared with those applying less T gel. The increases were not different between the groups at months 30 and 36. Fourteen patients had hemoglobin over 18 g/dl or hematocrit greater than 56% at some time during the study. The T gel dose was reduced or temporarily discontinued in these patients. Serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not change significantly throughout the T gel treatment period. Serum high-density lipoprotein showed a very small but statistically significant increase across time with T gel. The increase was not clinically relevant. Mean serum creatinine was statistically increased across the treatment period. The mean increase varied from 0.08 to 0.20 mg/dl. Serum total bilirubin also showed a small but significant increase with T gel treatment that was not considered to be clinically significant. There were no significant changes in serum liver enzymes or other clinical chemistry parameters.
But What If I Apply Testosterone Gel Directly To The Penis
Applying testosterone gel directly to the penis will not enlarge the penis. First of all, this is not recommended by the manufacturer. With the instructions that come with the testosterone gel, it says to apply to the shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen. It specifically says to not apply to the penis or scrotum.
I do have to admit. I did try applying testosterone gel to my penis for two months. It did not do anything to increase the size of my penis. It did however really sting when applied and cause the skin of my penis to really dry out. These were not major side effects for me but they were definitely not worth it since the testosterone gel had no effect on my penis size. I definitely would not recommend trying this.
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What If I Apply Androgel On My Balls
The testosterone gel is applied twice a day to the scrotum. A huge amount of post-marketing data supports this. As the pharmacist would say, this affects absorption, so apply half of the amount twice daily. People often ask, Can I put AndroGel on my balls? The simple answer to this question is Just Dont. Its not safe to put gel on the scrotum or testicles.
If the Androgel reaches the body more distant from the testicle, more testosterone may be released by the testis, which will be beneficial with the Androgel Therapy. While Androgel may have a profound effect if applied there because the testis and penis react directly to testosterone, even if the total testosterone is dropped.
How Do I Use Androgel Bodybuilding To Get Big
AndroGel is a testosterone gel commonly prescribed to boost testosterone levels in men. Unlike other synthetic drugs often ingested or administered intravenously, AndroGel is applied directly to the skin, soaking into the muscles and bloodstream. Using the product in gel or patch form to gain muscle mass for bodybuilding purposes is possible. However, there are a few steps involved to ensure you use the product correctly.
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How Should I Use This Medication
The usual recommended dose is 5 g of gel applied once daily, preferably in the morning after showering or bathing. If using the pump, make sure you know how many pumps to use per application. Some people may need up to 10 g once daily.
Apply the gel to a clean, dry area of non-broken skin on the shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen. Use a circular motion to rub the gel into the skin. Do not apply the gel to the genitals or to any damaged skin. After applying the gel, let it dry for a few minutes, then cover it with clothing and wash your hands with soap and water to avoid getting the medication on other people’s skin. Wait at least 5 to 6 hours before showering or swimming. After applying the gel, allow it to dry completely before smoking or going near an open flame.
If you expect the area of skin to which you applied this medication to come into direct skin contact with another person, wash the application site with soap and water before that encounter or keep the area covered with clothing.
Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.