Many aging men face this headlining question but stand unsure in a cross roads as whether to pursue Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) or not. With so much conflicting information we have been exposed to in the media and then again from those who have shared life changing stories of how it has helped them, many men are left paralyzed to decide if it’s right for them or not.

You may be asking yourself a few of the questions below without really knowing the proper answers to them;

• Is TRT dangerous?
• What is the right way to go about TRT? What is the proper dosing?
• Are there side effects or is TRT life changing?
• Where do I go for the most appropriate TRT treatment?

If You’re a man over the age of 30 and have lost your “get up and go mojo” with suspected or confirmed low testosterone and are trying to decide if this is the right path for you to take or not, this article is for you. Especially if the following below apply;

• Are you a man who doesn’t quite feel “manly” like you once used to?
• Does your life sometimes feel like it is being lived endlessly in mediocrity with lack of purpose?
• Are you often a sloth on the couch after you come home from work with no gas left in your tank for extracurricular activities with family or friends anymore?
• Does your spouse (and/or you yourself) question what happened to your sexual vigor or that winning drive for life you once had?

If any of this is resonating with you, read on to get more insight. It may just give you the information to assist you how to be a better, healthier and happier man that you’re meant to be.

DISCLAIMER: The following article is not medical advice. Always seek the advice and assistance of your qualified healthcare provider.

OTC Testosterone Boosters

As we get started, let’s get one thing very straight; If you’re a man over the age of 30, testosterone boosters bought at your local supplement store do not work, at least not to any worthwhile or valuable degree. If over the counter (OTC) testosterone boosters worked, then the very people selling them would not be on TRT. Test boosters are a waste of your money and many have fallen for their false promises. If you’ve been taken here, chalk it up as a learning experience and don’t get fooled again.

TRT is for mature, grown up men not willing to waste time or money on anything else and want REAL results. OTC Test boosters are for young boys hoping for a magic potion of sorts but only get a little bit more benefit out of their already, naturally high testosterone levels.

Comparing OTC test boosters to TRT is like comparing two cats; A house cat versus a lion. It’s like a lighting bug versus lighting or a bottle rocket versus a space rocket. We are really talking about two entirely different things. 

Men with Short Attention Spans; The Short & To the Point On TRT

Most men require a daily supply of at least 15mg of testosterone and sometimes more, to achieve a physiological level in the upper-range of normal & healthy T levels and to reverse the symptoms of low T. The “normal” range of testosterone generally falls between low end 350 and 1200 being the high end.

• If following a TRT injection program, .25-.5ml (50mg – 100mg) done every 3-4 days for a total of 100-200mg total testosterone per week should put you in a good place while keeping you healthy and avoiding any major concerns. Most experts agree that this is the best dosing practice with injections. Some however will opt for one 100-200mg shot per week though. You should never go longer than this.
• If following a transdermal testosterone cream application program, you should have at least a 10% (going up to 20%) compounded T cream to get you in the high/normal range of testosterone. Don’t waste your time with anything less than this. 
• These should also incorporate some form of estrogen control such as arimidex/anastrozole and some HCG to prevent testicular atrophy and to keep associated androgenic pathways open.
• Your hair won’t fall out unless you’re genetically predisposed to hair loss. If so, you’re going to lose your hair regardless of TRT or not.
• In the rare occasion that taking exogenous testosterone (TRT) makes you sterile (it shouldn’t), there’s a very easy solution; Discontinue your TRT, take some HCG and Clomiphene to get your testosterone and fertility levels back to where they were before TRT, and go make some babies.
• Yes, your body will slow or stop its own testosterone production. This is why you shouldn’t use testosterone replacement therapy unless your natural levels are low and need replaced. Any of you younger 18-26-year-old guys reading this, understood?

The BIG Obstacle

Finding a competent doctor who is willing to work with you and your needs is a challenge faced by most men battling low T. Chance are probably high that your primary care doctor knows little to nothing about testosterone and endocrinology. The odds are, his or her information has derived from mainstream media and they fear lawsuits and the unknown territory they are not familiar with and will not be willing to help you.

For those that are willing to try and help, they often do more harm than good. Aside from the doctors who ignore low T altogether and are quick to write a script for Viagra and Zoloft, others recklessly dose their patients incorrectly. These are some common scenarios below:

• Too low of dosed testosterone is prescribed; Just enough to “slightly” elevate blood levels of testosterone, just enough to slow endogenous production down. 2 steps forward only to take 2 steps back leaving the patient in the same miserable condition, or worse. This is seen with both injection and gel/cream TRT programs.
• Injections are spaced too far apart; Incompetent doctors scripting or giving their patients injections every 2-4 weeks is straight up ignorant, harmful and goes against the basic principle of pharmacology – the half-life and peak blood levels. Odds of aromatization (conversion) into estrogen and DHT are higher with the seesaw scenario that goes on here too. It is also thought that this may contribute to a higher risk of polycythemia, depending on dosing practices.
• No attention given to associated blood panel markers; Important blood panels and markers are typically not looked at. Estrogen/E2, PSA, hematocrit and platelet counts, LH and FSH, SHBG and much more are not even checked. Why? Because they don’t understand the relevance of them and their important association with testosterone, especially when in the process of optimizing one’s T levels.

Where Is the Best Place to Get Quality TRT Treatment?

Seek out a doctor who knows what they are doing and willing to help you. This eliminates about 90% of them, sadly.

Assuming you want to go the best, safe and legal way for a doctor supervised & scripted TRT program; Seek out a medical group that specialized in HRT and TRT (aka anti-aging clinics). Try to find a competent medical group that has been around for a while and has stood the test of time. Many in the field are “here today, gone tomorrow” as they are careless, fraudulent or have poor business practices and don’t last. Obviously, this is not something to get involved with – your health, body and long term care should be of upmost importance to you.

In most cases, doctors working within HRT medical groups actually know what they are doing. The downside is that many of these clinics don’t work with insurance and charge an annual fee that is often ranging from $500-$1000. Another downside with some is they may ask you to pay for weekly visits to drive to them and get your weekly shot or pills – a bit of an inconvenience for some.

Fortunately, Youth-Rx does none of this and you pay as you go for your doctor visit, lab work, physical and after, your programs.

Simply put, you pay for your proper blood work and physical to be done, fill out a health history to communicate your concerns, current health status, goals and then get proper treatment with a suitable program based on your needs (paid for additionally).

If you have the money, most men find it easiest to avoid the hassle and just find a reputable and suitable, HRT specializing medical group to work with and properly get set up on a good program. In the end, you’ll save a lot of headaches, frustrations and time.

If you’re short on cash, go nag your doctor and hope that you can utilize your health insurance to some degree on the matter. Good luck, you’ll need it.

Is TRT Dangerous?

Is it dangerous for someone with nut allergies to eat a jar of peanut butter? Is it dangerous for someone with a major heart condition to slam 4 high stimulant energy drinks in one sitting? But what about an individual with no allergies to nuts who wants to eat peanut butter? Or, the healthy individual who wants to sip on a coffee?

As more studies pile up about the benefits of having optimized testosterone levels, we are finding quite the opposite when TRT is engaged in responsibly and appropriately. Like someone who is very anemic and uses a quality iron supplement each day to not be anemic live a healthier and more functional life, the same can be said for a man who simply supplements and optimizes his testosterone levels with TRT – many health and wellness benefits to be had.

Of course, there are areas that should always be given proper attention to when on a TRT program: Hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelet counts, AST/ALT, Lipids and PSA numbers should all be respected and watched by both you and your doctor, especially in the early stages as you are getting dialed in to your most appropriate program.

When done correctly, you shouldn’t have any concerns about danger to your health but rather excitement about looking and feeling your best in a great state of health.

How Much Does It Cost?

Most TRT programs at Youth-Rx average about $300 a month. This is also an average cost in the industry as a whole. Lab work and a physical are required at a minimum of once every 12 months and are an additional cost.

Feel Like TRT is “Cheating”?

If so, how do you feel about diabetics who use insulin (a hormone as well) to function properly and stay well and alive? How do you feel about grossly overweight individuals taking a handful of medications such as statins and blood pressure pills so they don’t have a heart attack and die? Or Tiger Woods getting eye surgery to give him 20/20 + vision without glasses, giving him a razor sharp view of the golf course in competition. Think they are cheaters?

If you’re worried here, you might want to go grab some cold beers, a pack of smokes and a happy meal from McDonalds and join the bulk of people in society and live a life of mediocrity and sickness.

Once You Start TRT, Is It for Life?

In short, yes. If you like feeling energetic, confident, having nice body composition and a sharp driven focus in life, then it’s highly doubtful you will want to give that up after life on TRT.

But, if for some reason you wanted to stop, you can. You can simply do a proper reboot and come off safely while getting your endogenous levels of testosterone back to the same crappy levels they were before you started TRT, no problem. You will just be back to where you were pre-TRT.

Is TRT Life Changing?

In short, yes. Just like if Stevie Wonder could be given eyesight and could see the beautiful colors and creations on earth, your life will be thought of as, before TRT and after TRT. It's kind of like having horrible eyesight and then getting it corrected with lasik; You just see the world and your life in a much better way!

I’m Ready to Explore TRT, Where Do I Start?

If you’re new, visiting us for the first time or have been on the fence for a while and ready to explore if TRT is right for you now, then simply fill out our health history form below and one of our consultants will schedule a time for a complimentary call to discuss programs, processes, options and more.

Please submit on-line form here: www.youth-rx.com/form

Best wishes in your healthcare success,

YOUTH-RX Team