Testosterone replacement therapy is among the most preferred methods for treating low testosterone symptoms. This therapy is also called Androgen Replacement Therapy (ART) since testosterone is the primary male sexual hormone or androgen. ART is more likely to be prescribed for treating low testosterone in men in the middle-age or above age-group. Androgen replacement therapy is commonly not recommended for younger patients like boys undergoing passive puberty due to lack of testosterone. Though signs of low testosterone in women are also present, testosterone replacement is seldom recommended for them, i.e. unless the symptoms are severe. Among women, hormonal supplements are usually used to reduce the amount of estrogen that is the primary female hormone and a common cause for the low testosterone levels.

Understand Administration Method of Testosterone Replacement Aids

Testosterone replacement is essentially a form of testosterone supplementation. Here, a controlled amount of testosterone is delivered through a preferred mode to ensure that the hormone levels are regulated over an extended period. When signs of low testosterone in men become chronic, this form of hormone supplementation is needed for extended periods, sometimes throughout the patient’s life. The most common modes of testosterone supplementation include:

• Injections that are administered every few days/week
• Pills that are orally administered on a daily basis
• Pellets are placed within a skin fold through a micro-surgical procedure
• Patches that are placed over the shoulder, back or upper arm area
• Creams/gels that are applied topically or externally

It should be noted that the primary objective of all these modes of testosterone replacement is a slower rate of delivery of the hormone to ensure slower absorption in the body. This is vital since testosterone has a direct impact on many metabolic functions and a sudden surge in testosterone levels can cause rapid heartbeats or raised blood pressure along with affecting the liver. Among older patients this can precariously raise the chances of a heart attack.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy or TRT in the form of creams and gels is generally recommended for men wherein minimal hormone replacement is needed or as a secondary form of testosterone supplementation, i.e. used along with a regimen in which injections are the primary mode of testosterone delivery.

Among most pharma majors, testosterone meant for human supplementation is procured from cholesterol. Patients using testosterone replacement products need to understand that different brands of pharmaceuticals offer different formulations of the hormone affecting its potency and absorption rate. Thus, the brand recommended by the medical practitioner should not be replaced by a cheaper or more easily-available option without professional medical advice.