Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone Replacement Therapy is: (TRT)
Question: Can long term TRT result in a PERMANENT “negative feed-back loop?”
Meaning: Will male testicles stop producing testosterone if a man is prescribed, and takes on a regular basis, testosterone hormones?
What is a “Negative Feedback Loop?” The easiest way to understand this is with Thyroid Hormones.
THYROID Negative Feedback Loop Example:
Whenever any patient is prescribed thyroid hormones, the amount of circulating thyroid hormones in his/her body becomes higher than normal for that individual. The math is a cumulative/combination of the natural thyroid hormones his/her thyroid makes naturally, plus the new prescription added to it, for one total sum. This level is interpretated by Hypothalamus of the brain, which controls the Pituitary Gland. The Hypothalamus tells the Pituitary Gland to make less, then less again, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). (FYI: TSH is normally the only thyroid hormone mainstream doctors measure for possible thyroid mis-function, even though there are four (4) thyroid hormones that plays into the total picture.)
Now the pituitary gland makes less, then less again TSH. The thyroid responds by making less, and less, thyroid hormones. This keeps on perpetuating because the patient is being fed daily doses of prescription thyroid hormones.
This cascading event continues over and over again, until in about six months to one year, their thyroid stops functioning entirely. Now that patient HAS TO take thyroid hormones for the remainder of their lives if they want to function at all.
Negative feedback loops pertains to ALL prescription anabolic steroid products.
I have treated several patients who, usually 20 years after receiving daily doses of thyroid meds, decided they want off. It is a very hard and long road to travel. Only one patient to date has stuck with the program and succeeded in stopping her thyroid meds. It took nearly a year to get her thyroid functioning normally again. She is back to normal.
In males who have been on TRT for an extended amount of time, it is several times harder, if not impossible, to reverse.
TRT Negative Feedback WILL Cause Infertility/Spermatogenesis, Small/Tiny Testicles, No Sex Drive.
• Testosterone levels lower than 250 leads to ED (erectile dysfunction).
• Waist and hip measurement changes are pronounced when levels decrease to less then 0.950.
• Natural testosterone levels in the average man decreases 1.6% per year after age 30.
• Low testosterone levels of only 49% of normal are found in men over the age of 80.
• Erectile dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, go hand in hand.
• Trauma, severe, physical and/or emotional as in PTSD: Within ten (10) days, testosterone suppression occurs in ALL men. It can be corrected if treated quickly through proper medical therapy, (and adjunctively/tenderly by his wife). If left untreated greater than a year, it becomes most difficult. Hypogonadism occurs in 16% of these men.
NATURAL THERAPY
• Proper nutrition, based on extensive blood work, hair analysis, heavy metal toxicities, and a thorough history.
• Proper use of the correct herbal remedies that help promote natural hormone production. In conjunction with the proper nutritional recommendations, from the above recommendations.
• Any recommended nutritional and/or herbal therapies, must be “therapeutic” grade. MOST of the common supplements found on the average market place, are worthless. It has to be therapeutic grade, or it will not work.
• Regular exercise. Minimum of three times per week, 30 minutes per work out. This means getting into a sustained sweat. This is NOT the same as working your job. (Unless you are a Navy Seal.)
• Sleep, seven (7) hours minimum, in a regular pattern. Natural testosterone production occurs at night time, when a REGULAR sleep RHYTHM is maintained.
• Stress management. This means especially married life, then job, in that order.
• Hormone balancing naturally, which is a combination of ALL the above.
SUMMATION:
A doctor’s prescription of Testosterone Hormones will temporality boost the levels of the testosterone in the male body, making a middle aged man feel young again. Larger muscles, lean body mass, does not tire easily, easier to pass Navy Seal training, lots of sexual drive and performance, etc.
However, in the long run, the dose of TRT will need to be elevated, again and again because the “charge” of the initial TRT therapy will begin to wear off.
Since the male testicles have not had to make testosterone on their own, his testicles will begin to shrink! Yes, shrink! Causing infertility (no longer able to make babies with his wife). He will begin to put on weight. Muscle mass and especially muscle tone, will begin to disappear.
OK, so his doctor needs to prescribe higher levels of testosterone. Now he feels young again, for a while anyhow. Then his testicles shrink even smaller.
REPEAT:
However, in the long run, the dose of TRT will need to be elevated, again and again because the “charge” of the initial TRT therapy will begin to wear off.
Since the male testicles have not had to make testosterone on their own, his testicles will begin to shrink! Yes, shrink! Causing infertility (no longer able to make babies with his wife). He will begin to put on weight. Muscle mass and especially muscle tone, will begin to disappear.
OK, so his doctor needs to prescribe higher levels of testosterone. Now he feels young again, for a while anyhow. Then his testicles shrink even smaller.