For advertising information visit www.samplerpublications.com or call 859.225.4466 | September 2015
ADVICE FROM YOUR
&
23
LOCAL DOC
Testosterone Therapy for Men
SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN TO DETERMINE WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON
By Dr. Keith
Applegate, Family
Practice Associates
of Lexington,
P.S.C.
When the commercials come on
TV, you might find yourself wondering if they’re aimed at you. You have
some of those symptoms … You’ve
had some of those warning signs …
Maybe you do have low testosterone
(or low T) and maybe you should get
some of that medicine they’re selling.
Not so fast.
First, understand what testosterone is. In men, this sex hormone is
secreted primarily by the testicles;
the adrenal glands secrete smaller
amounts. Testosterone is essential for
the development of male reproductive tissues, including the prostate;
the production of sperm; and secondary sexual characteristics such as
increased muscle, bone mass, muscle
strength and body hair. Testosterone
levels peak during adolescence and
early adulthood, then gradually
decline with age. As men experience
fatigue, erectile dysfunction and other
unsettling symptoms, they begin to
think about testosterone replacement
therapy.
The most important thing to realize about testosterone replacement
therapy is that it is not a fountain of
youth. According to the Mayo Clinic,
the health benefits of testosterone
therapy for age-related decline in testosterone aren’t as clear as they seem.
Those commercials show men with
renewed vim and vigor and potency,
but if your low testosterone level is
due to normal aging, testosterone
replacement therapy probably won’t
do you much good.
However, in some men, a disease
called hypogonadism could be the
cause of low testosterone. With
hypogonadism, the body cannot
produce normal amounts of testosterone because of a problem with
the testicles or the pituitary gland.
Testosterone replacement therapy can
help men with hypogonadism.
Some signs of normal aging may
be the result of lower testosterone
levels. These include changes in
sexual function (reduced desire, fewer
spontaneous erections) and sleep patterns, increased body fat, decreased
bone density and low energy. Low
testosterone may increase a man’s
risk for osteoporosis. Some men
experience swollen or tender breasts
(gynecomastia). Other signs include
depression, trouble concentrating
and memory i