Testosterone is much more than just a male sex hormone; its levels in your body play a fundamental role in regulating a variety of bodily functions from mood and cognitive ability to cardiovascular health, muscle mass and body fat.

Often called `male andropause` because of its far-reaching effects, testosterone deficiency is a common issue that affects millions of men in various age groups across the globe.  Low testosterone is often defined as the decrease in total testosterone level below 300 mg/dL.  Men with low testosterone may suffer from diminished sex drive with fewer and weaker spontaneous erections, lack of motivation, decreased muscle strength and mass, increased body fat, sense of fatigue, feelings of depression and sadness, trouble with concentration and memory, plus a degraded overall sense of well-being.

Symptoms of low testosterone were often considered as a typical part of aging.  Nevertheless, a nearly four-fold increase in androgen scripts was witnessed during the last two decades leading to increased public awareness about this condition and more men are now approaching their physicians about diagnosis and available treatment solutions. This serves a testament to the potentially life-transforming benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy.  Some of those benefits include improved sexual rive, a more positive mood, increased energy and motivation, better sleep, sharper focus, improved ability to handle stress, increased muscle mass and strength, as well as improved brain function and cognitive ability.

While Testosterone Replacement Therapy is gaining popularity and is a proven, effective treatment for men with depleted testosterone levels, it does not come without potential drawbacks.  Two of the common concerns are the possible impact on testicular size and fertility.

In a nutshell, the production of testosterone inside the body is a multifaceted process that balances interactions between the brain and the body.  The brain is continually monitoring the level of testosterone in the body.  When low levels are detected, the brain produces a hormone called Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH).  This hormone leads to the increased production of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH), which in turn triggers sperm production as well as testosterone production in the testes.

When men are receiving external testosterone to treat their testosterone deficiency, that natural process may be suppressed.  That is, the brain doesn`t detect a `low` level of testosterone, thereby not increasing the production of GnRH.  Without GnRH, the body does not signal testicular production of sperms or testosterone. Over time, the testicles may shrink in size and this may be associated with a decrease in natural testosterone production together with a decline in sperm count and fertility.

A lower sperm count does not necessarily cause infertility but it can make it more difficult to conceive.  For men on Testosterone Replacement Therapy, the impact of a decreased sperm count is usually temporary and can return to normal with terminating the treatment. However, studies have shown that supplementation with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) in men receiving Testosterone Replacement Therapy plays a leading role in preserving sperm production and testicular size.

An analog of Luteinizing Hormone, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a natural hormone that has been found to mimic the effects of Luteinizing Hormone in males. Luteinizing Hormone is vital for the production and secretion of testosterone. When Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is utilized during the treatment of testosterone deficiency, it gets to work by imitating the naturally-occurring Luteinizing Hormone. This, in turn, means that it stimulates the natural production of testosterone and sperms inside the testes.

The importance of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) treatment has grown vastly as it presents a safe and efficient adjunct to Testosterone Replacement Therapy in men desiring to preserve testicular function and fertility while treating their low testosterone.

Between the stressors of everyday life, job and family obligations, or lack of exercise and being at the office too long you could be suffering from low Testosterone. You don`t have to suffer in silence anymore. To find out if you have low testosterone levels, asking your trusted male health expert for a simple blood test can ease your worries. As men age, declining levels of testosterone is common, and thanks to the Testosterone Replacement Therapy & HCG therapy, you can enjoy optimum intra-testicular testosterone production, leading to preservation of testicular size and fertility while boosting your overall health!

Dr. Anis Haddad, MD

Urologist, Andrologist & Sexologist

Male Health Expert

The post The Benefits of using HCG with TRT first appeared on Best Urology Doctor in Dubai | Dr. Anis Haddad.

Across the globe, millions of men suffer from the symptoms of low testosterone each year. This represents a nerve-wrecking health problem that many men experience, but few choose to treat. Chances are you stumbled upon this piece of writing because you’re concerned about having low testosterone (Low T) and interested in knowing more about the most effective therapeutic option available for men nowadays; Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT).

As a consensus, we know that testosterone is the hormone responsible for making males “men.” Produced inside the testicles, testosterone is responsible for the main male characteristics, such as the typical male muscular frame and strength, hair distribution, and the voice pitch. Moreover, many people know that testosterone is important for a man’s sexual drive. Yet, testosterone has other important functions throughout the body, some of which are not so obvious: it plays a fundamental role in mood-boosting, keeping the well being, and helping men mentally perform at their best. When testosterone levels drop, the experience comes with quite a few distressing symptoms that can markedly impair a man’s quality of life such as decreased sexual drive, weak erection, depression, tiredness and lack of strength, problems concentrating, irritability, sleep problems, loss of interest in physical activity and feeling generally `beaten`.

You’re probably reading the above symptoms and thinking “I may have low testosterone because I have some of these symptoms!” Though low testosterone can cause these symptoms, many other conditions could be the cause. You therefore cannot assume a man with some of these symptoms has low testosterone for certain. If you suspect that you might have low testosterone, discuss the matter with your trusted male health expert who can order the appropriate lab tests to measure your testosterone level.

If it turns out that you are low on testosterone, you`re likely keen on treating this problem and getting your body back on track. Low testosterone is a condition that no man would enjoy going through, but it’s important to know that there are options, and you might have heard of Testosterone Replacement Therapy and its globally recognized type; testosterone injections.

Worldwide, testosterone intramuscular injections are virtually the most popular way to treat low testosterone and the symptoms that come along with it. It can help men stay performing at their peak, mentally, physically, and indeed, sexually.  The main reason behind the wide use of testosterone injections and its preference over other forms of testosterone treatment is that it`s most effective. With testosterone being injected directly into your body and bloodstream, you will feel the benefits faster and you will also feel them stronger. Other options, such as bioidentical testosterone gels that gain popularity from being pain-free and simple to apply, usually take time to generate effects which are also not as prominent as with an injection. In addition, injectable testosterone treatments allow for a greater control over your testosterone dosage which can be properly adjusted to help you achieve optimum testosterone levels, one important last point about choosing your TRT, is where we live, and which Testosterone is available in the market.

As most of our patients live in United Arab Emirates, we will detail more about the available options here (TRT in UAE) in general & (TRT in Dubai) in particular, the available Testosterone injections here are either a short-acting testosterone (e.g. Sustanon®) or a long-acting testosterone (e.g. Nebido®).

Sustanon® is an oil-based injectable that contains four different testosterone esters which release testosterone into the body at a differing rate, thus allowing a steady blood level to be sustained. Injections are usually carried out every 7-14 days into the butt muscles where the testosterone is gradually released into the bloodstream. Sustanon® dose is 250 mg while the frequency of injection will depend on the severity of your testosterone deficiency, the need, and the presenting symptoms among other factors. No man is like other, our needs vary, so the interval between the injections is usually determined by your attending male health expert after a clear discussion with you to decide on the appropriate therapeutic regimen taking in consideration the above mentioned elements.

The longer-acting Nebido® needs to be administered every 9-12 weeks ( sometimes shorter than this) allowing the testosterone to be gradually released over a period of time. This means that an evenly distributed effect can be better sustained. With properly-administered Nebido® injections, deeply intra-muscular, you will only have to receive a fewer number of injections throughout the course of treatment. This timeframe makes it a highly desirable treatment and the reason that some men favor Nebido® injections as an ideal solution for their low testosterone, the dosage is 1000mg, while the interval varies according to the patient’s need.

Many men will choose both, means they may start with the short acting testosterone (The Sustanon®) to feel the boost the earliest, then after reaching the peak or the expected desired level, they shift to the long acting one ( The Nebido®) to reduce the injections frequency.

Knowing this, most probably you’ve made your choice of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, and you`re now considering the next move towards getting your “manhood” back. The truth is, Testosterone Replacement Therapy is a big decision in a man’s life, and it isn’t one-size-fits-all!

Ultimately, it’s not so much a question of testosterone injections versus other forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, or short-acting versus longer-acting testosterone injections. The real question is: Which solution is the most suitable for you? The answer depends on your body`s unique health needs, and this will be the core of discussion for you and your trusted male health expert.

Dr. Anis Haddad, MD

Urologist, Andrologist & Sexologist

Male Health Expert

The post A MAN’S GUIDE TO TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (TRT) first appeared on Best Urology Doctor in Dubai | Dr. Anis Haddad.