Wednesday, February 3, 2010

How Long Does It Take For Testosterone Replacement Therapy To Work

Efficacy


Since each man is different and will inevitably receive different dosages through different modes of administration, like transdermal patches, hormone injections, implants and topical gels, the length of time it takes for testosterone replacement therapy to work will vary from person to person. However, most men, according to the Harvard Medical School, will see the concentration of their testosterone go up within a relatively short period of time, typically after only a few doses. So, the majority of men will see a change in their testosterone level anywhere from two to three weeks. This is obviously a very good sign that the therapy is working, but any symptoms a man is experiencing due to low testosterone may not actually go away for two to three months, even though there has been a positive change in his hormone levels.


Therapy


When a man does decide to talk to his doctor about testosterone replacement therapy, it is important to understand that he should go through this treatment under a certain amount of supervision. As the therapy commences, he'll need to come in to the clinic or medical facility every two weeks or so, especially at the very onset of the treatment, to have his hormone levels measured. This is essentially done for two reasons. The first is simply to monitor the progress of his testosterone level to ensure that he is making some progress toward the "target" range. The second reason is to guarantee that the proper mode of administration is being used. As mentioned before, each man will react differently to different methods of treatment. Some men won't necessarily experience positive results from the transdermal patch. Others may not undergo any change with topical gels. Seeing as the doctor is working with your hormone levels, he'll want to find the best technique to dispense the testosterone replacement therapy to you.


Testosterone Pill


More often than not, your doctor will prescribe you one of the modes of treatment already mentioned, despite the fact that there is currently a testosterone pill on the market. The reason that the pill is rarely used is that there is evidence that taking testosterone in this fashion can have a negative effect on you liver. Actually, it can create a certain level of toxicity in this organ, causing other problems for the patient.


Side Effects








As with any type of medication or treatment plan, testosterone replacement therapy does have its side effects. This would include dizziness, headaches, frequent urination, swelling, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, itching or redness (under the patch), frequent erections, long-lasting erections and nausea. Men shouldn't use testosterone therapy if they are not experiencing low testosterone levels, as it may have an adverse effect on the health.

Tags: testosterone replacement therapy, hormone levels, experiencing testosterone, replacement therapy, replacement therapy