Are You Man Enough? The Nitty-Gritty on Testosterone

When a movie reviewer touts a new film as being “testosterone-fueled,” chances are he's not talking about a Bambi re-boot. The word has come to be a metaphor for all things “manly,” and often, “excessively manly.” But what is testosterone, actually?

Testosterone is a hormone, and hormones are the bio-chemicals secreted by glands that allow a sort of communication among organs and tissue and physiological regulation and behavioral activities. Our digestion, metabolism, respiration, tissue function, sensory perception, sleep, excretion, lactation, stress, growth, movement, reproduction, and mood all take their cues from the parcel post that is hormone delivery. Testosterone is the hormone that fuels a man's sex drive and muscle mass, as well as regulating his mood and bone strength.

There is a natural, slow diminution in testosterone levels as we age, and doctors may occasionally refer to this as “andropause,” or “male menopause.” Most men will not be able to notice a difference outside of some lab work being done, but others may notice hot flashes, irritable moods, or less interest in sex.

Sometimes, however, a low testosterone level can be a symptom of another disease. These include Type 2 diabetes, COPD, liver diseases, kidney diseases, pituitary gland problems, or testicular injury. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and steroid medicines can also have an adverse effect upon testosterone levels.

Your doctor will likely prescribe a testosterone level test if you complain of erectile dysfunction, lower sex drive, low sperm count, or a loss of body hair and/or muscle size.

If you are diagnosed with low testosterone (to the point where symptoms affect your day-to-day living), the treatment route – “testosterone therapy” – can travel in a number of different forms:

·         Testosterone injections are the least expensive, and the most painful. Patients undergoing this type of treatment will receive shots every 7 to 22 days, and their testosterone levels will fluctuate between injections commensurately.

·         Testosterone gels or patches are placed directly on your skin. The hormone seeps through the skin, and is slowly released into the blood. Because gels and patches are applied every day, they keep a steady level of testosterone. However, they can cause itching, irritation, and blisters.

·         Testosterone tablets are placed on the gums above your incisors every 12 hours. As the gel-like tablet dissolves it slowly releases testosterone. Gum tablets can cause a bitter taste, irritated mouth, tender gums, or headaches, although these side effects may get better with time.

Now, bear in mind that no large study has been completed yet regarding the overall risks and benefits of taking testosterone. What is known is that some men experience the following side effects:

·         Too many red blood cells

·         Sleep apnea

·         An enlarged prostate

·         Acne

More seriously, concerns have been documented about how long-term testosterone therapy might cause prostate cancer in older men. Men taking testosterone should make it a point to have their doctor check for early signs of prostate cancer even more frequently than unusual.