What Are the Options for Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
A deficiency of the naturally occurring steroid hormone testosterone can cause a number of physiological changes in men. In testosterone replacement therapy, doctors administer synthetic versions of the hormone to mitigate or reverse these effects. Pharmaceutical companies manufacture testosterone in a variety of forms, each of which has benefits and side effects. What Is Testosterone? Testosterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone that produces muscle and bone growth, and causes masculine characteristics. Deficiencies can cause lower libido, changes in bodily composition (more fat, less muscle), osteoporosis, fatigue, depression and erectile dysfunction. What Is Replacement Therapy? In men, natural production of testosterone peaks between the ages of 18 to 25, and after 25, declines at a rate of about two percent each year. This can lead to some of the symptoms of testosterone deficiency listed above. To counteract this effect of aging in men and enhance quality of life, doctor
