Many questions come up when discussing or considering TRT (testosterone replacement therapy). Is TRT healthy long-term? Does TRT shorten your life?
Testosterone replacement therapy is a process that is used to treat low testosterone levels in men. As per stats, around 39 percent of men aged 45 report low testosterone levels. Various factors can govern this, such as the individual’s age, medical conditions, alcohol consumption, or inflammatory conditions.
The numbers depict why TRT is popular.
Though testosterone replacement therapy seems promising, it has some downsides that lead people to carefully weigh the pros and cons of taking TRT.
If you also have the same questions, you are on the right page!
What is low testosterone, and why does it need to be high?
Before we get into how TRT shortens your life debate, let’s first understand what low testosterone is and why it needs to be high.
Testosterone is a hormone produced in men’s testicles (reproductive glands). This hormone is responsible for various physical and sexual characteristics in men.
It helps develop muscles, bones, and red blood cells. Not just this, but testosterone also regulates mood, sex drive, sperm production, and hair growth.
Some of the common symptoms that you may experience indicating low testosterone are:
- Fatigue
- Low sex drive
- Depressed mood
- Low muscle strength
- Erectile dysfunction
- Low concentration and memory
Other than these, men may also experience decreased hemoglobin and body hair. Fertility is also affected by low testosterone.
Does TRT Shorten Your Life?
Testosterone replacement therapy is one of the best ways to deal with low testosterone levels in your body. When you are on testosterone, it will offer you numerous benefits.
Some of the best ones include:
- Men can notice a loss of fat in their bodies.
- TRT can lead to increased mental sharpness and sexual function.
- An increase in bone density.
- Improved muscle strength and physical performance.
- Avoids problems due to delayed puberty.
Though there are many benefits of Testosterone replacement therapy, resources suggest that it leads to increased life expectancy. Some of you may say that it decreases that. But, the key thing to note here is that TRT may shorten the life span but not life expectancy.
Low testosterone life expectancy always increases with the help of TRT. On the other hand, a person’s life span decreases while on testosterone.
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Other than that, The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) features a study proving the same. This study shows older men with testosterone levels in the middle range tend to live the longest.
The study included testing 3,690 men between the ages of 70 to 89. The results were analyzed over four years between 2001 to 2004. The survival rate was recorded in 2010.
The results of the study were as follows,
- Men with the lowest testosterone level had the highest mortality rate.
- Men with varying testosterone levels between 9.8 to 15.8 nmol/L may live the most.
In conclusion of this section, we can say that testosterone replacement therapy may decrease the life span, but it will surely increase life expectancy.
Is there a downside to TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy)?
As injecting testosterone into your body is an artificial treatment process, it is surefire to have some side effects.
Per the various studies, TRT done over time might lead to a higher possibility of cardiovascular issues. Here is a review that proves the same. Other than this, there are other testosterone replacement therapy side effects, such as:
- Bladder irritation
- Aggressive behavior
- Anxiety
- Rashes, acne, and itching
- Worsening of prostate cancer
- Shrinkage of testicles
- Blood clots due to increased red blood cell count
- Liver dysfunction
What are the other ways of increasing testosterone?
Testosterone can be increased in your body in various ways. These include both medicinal and non-medicinal forms.
Medicinal ways
Here are some forms of taking testosterone replacement:
- Gels: Gels are applied to the body and are absorbed by the body itself. Testim, Axiron, and Fortesto are some of the gels that you can use.
- Cheek patches: These patches are applied above the teeth and have 30 mg of testosterone—these need to apply twice a day after 12 hours.
- Implants: Implants are pellets implanted in the body’s soft tissue. The doctor inserts the pellet into the buttocks of the patient, and the body slowly absorbs testosterone over time. Depending on your preference and the doctor’s advice, this absorption time can vary from days to months.
- Intranasal: Intranasal treatments include applying nasal gels into your nose thrice a day to get the required testosterone supply. The dosage can be 11mg per application.
Non-medicinal ways
If you are not into these medicinal methods, you can go for some natural ways like:
- Focus on eating a balanced diet
- Refrain from stressing
- Avoid drugs and alcohol
- Exercise and lose those extra pounds
- Increase the intake of minerals and vitamins in your diet.
- Get enough sleep
- Natural supplements like Weider Prime Testosterone Support
Conclusion
So, yes, taking up TRT may reduce the person’s lifespan. But, based on overall analysis, its pros outweigh its cons. Though the Testosterone replacement therapy cost varies from $150 to $1500 per month, (TRT can be cheaper with insurance) it is surefire to provide you with the benefits it promises!
You can go ahead with TRT if you think this therapy’s pros outweigh its cons and are ready to face the possible side effects.
Be sure to visit a doctor and get their opinion before you start your journey with TRT.
You can also reach out to one of our best picks for online testosterone replacement therapy.
They will be the best person to guide you regarding the same!
A self-proclaimed foodie, Tess loves to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen.
When she's not cooking up a storm, Tess enjoys hiking and skiing in the beautiful Colorado mountains.
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