Testosterone

Testosterone replacement is important for both men and women.

A woman has 10% of Testosterone of a male. When a woman goes through menopause, her testosterone level declines. Low testosterone in women manifest as low sex drive, low energy levels, loss of lean muscle and loss of bone. Testosterone is anabolic to muscle. Frequently women and men complain that they work out with weights, but still can't gain muscle. Testosterone is the anabolic signal to muscle to build. Testosterone in women is anabolic to bone, improves energy and sex drive. It is beneficial for anxiety and worry. Too much testosterone can decrease HDL cholesterol, and cause acne and oily skin.

In men there is a natural decline in testosterone with aging. As men age there is an increase in the enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol. These changes are responsible for a number of symptoms seen in the aging male. Men begin to loose their assertiveness. Often they become concerned that their work performance is declining. Fatigue and depression are common findings. The mental functions associated with male menopause or andropause are poor sleep quality or insomnia, nervousness, anxiety and irritability. Low testosterone has a direct effect on declining memory, specifically verbal memory. Dihydrotestosterone impacts spatial memory. There is an inverse ratio between low free testosterone and Alzheimer's disease.

Physical changes include an increase in body fat, particularly abdominal fat. There is loss of lean muscle tissue, bone deterioration, loss of hair, wrinkling and drying of the skin. Men complain of decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), reduced potency and/or penile size, decreased ejaculatory force and volume, hot flashes, blushing and sweating.

Testosterone has a direct effect on reducing inflammation. When testosterone levels fall, men experience an increase in aches and pains. The increase in inflammation correlates with an increase risk of coronary artery disease diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative disease.

Testosterone replacement improves symptoms and reduces the incidence of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer.

Replacing testosterone necessitates following blood tests such as estradiol, hemoglobin and hematocrit, and Dihydrotestosterone. There is no evidence that testosterone treatment causes prostrate cancer.