Testosterone Replacement Therapy TRT

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is used to treated male hypogonadism (otherwise known as low T or low testosterone), a condition in which the body doesn’t make enough testosterone. There are treatments available in the form of testosterone products, which can be applied or ingested, to help with the symptoms.

Hypogonadism is a condition in which the body fails to make sufficient hormones because of a problem with either the testicles, the pituitary gland, or the brain. When testosterone levels are abnormal, they can affect a man’s physical and mental health through erectile dysfunction, fatigue, or loss of sex drive.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is available in the form of the androgen testosterone. TRT products are available in different formulations, including gels and patches that deliver the drug transdermally (through the skin), pellets that are inserted under the skin and deliver the drug subcutaneously, mucoadhesives designed to be placed on the gum or inner cheek, and intramuscular injections. Therapy is usually lifelong, requiring regular testing of hormone levels every 6 to 12 months.

TRT poses a number of serious side effects. The FDA instructed manufacturers to include warnings on their medication of the increased risk of heart attack and strokes in patients taking TRT. A black box warning was issued for secondary exposure risks when a person using the drug could risk transferring it to another person through skin-to-skin contact.

Both AndroGel and Axiron can cause the same side effects. Some side effects are mild and will go away on their own after your body gets used to the medicine. One common side effect is skin irritation at the application site. It is very important that those applying the gel are aware of the risk of transferring it to others, as this can cause complications in someone who comes in contact with the product. It is advised that when using the gel, patients wash their hands right away after applying the gel and cover the area with clothing until they are able to take a shower.

The testosterone implant carries the common risk of gynecomastia (enlarged breasts) in men, as well risk of other, more serious side effects listed below. Also, because the formulation is implanted, it is more difficult to alter the dose than with gels and tablets. If the dose is wrong, the implant may need to be removed.

Anyone taking the medication risks experiencing one or more side effects . However, the risks vary depending upon other conditions and age group.

TRT use has increased significantly and some doctors are concerned that the prolonged effects of taking this medication have not been properly evaluated. In some cases, doctors do not believe that patients have hypogonadism, and that the symptoms of low testosterone they display are in fact just a sign of aging.

The FDA black box warning for skin-to-skin transference says that the drug poses a risk to children. If exposed to testosterone gel, children risk virilization (the development of secondary sexual characteristics), hence the need to ensure hand washing directly after application and covering the area on which it is applied.

Drug Reactions with TRT

TRT is contraindicated in males with breast cancer and/or an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. It is known to interact with the following drugs: steroid medications (corticosteroids), insulin, and anticoagulants (for example, Warfarin).