Testosterone Optimization Therapy — A Foundation of Good Health in Men

You might have noticed that hormone therapies, including testosterone therapy, are all the rage these days. Yet, reproductive hormone optimization isn’t new science; we’ve known its value for decades. What is new is our increasing understanding of testosterone’s wide-reaching influence in men’s wellness. 

Unfortunately, the number of men who have low testosterone has also been rising. It now stands between 10% and 40% of men, which includes a jump in young men.

Since June is National Men's Health Month, our team, including board-certified urologist Robert J. Cornell, would like to take the opportunity to discuss the importance of testosterone optimization. Let’s take a look.

Testosterone: your first wellness stop

Many of us understand testosterone as a reproductive hormone, but its reach is much greater. Yes, testosterone directly oversees your reproductive and sexual functions, and it’s also responsible for your masculine characteristics (like facial hair).

Beyond that, testosterone is a steroid hormone that influences many areas of your health, such as:

• Muscle mass
• Bone density
• Blood vessel health
• Mood and mental health
• Cognitive function
• Immunity
• Metabolic regulation

The last one is important. Testosterone is part of a larger metabolic landscape, and it influences — and is influenced by — other hormones, such as adrenal, pituitary, and thyroid hormones. So, a testosterone deficiency can lead to a cascade of metabolic issues by disrupting your body’s overall hormone balance.

Balancing your testosterone for better vitality

When patients come to see us with a laundry list of seemingly unrelated health issues, we can often connect the dots back to testosterone.

This is why, before we embark on other optimization strategies like peptide therapy, we make sure your testosterone levels are adequate. Under normal circumstances, men should have testosterone levels between 300 mg/dL and 1,070 mg/dL. 

If there’s a deficit, we may recommend:

• Testosterone supplementation
• Aromatase inhibitor treatments that reduce estrogen levels 
• Medications that block the action of estrogen
• Treatments to increase the testicular output of testosterone

When it comes to testosterone supplementation, there are many different formats, from pellets and pills to injections and topical creams. 

Whichever option we choose, we’ll monitor your testosterone levels throughout, as well as your symptoms, to make sure your health is improving. Often, we make tweaks as we go along to find the right supplementation level or treatment.

Your path to better health

If you want to get on the road to better health, wellness, and vitality, start by coming to see us for clinical testosterone testing. Contact our Houston office today to schedule an appointment.