Why is testosterone prescribed

Testosterone injections can be helpful, but only if you actually have low T. They can test you for low T. If they diagnose you, you can discuss whether these injections would be a good choice for you. Take a close look at how testosterone plays a crucial role in keeping your body healthy, as well as how you can increase your testosterone level…. Effects of Testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone found in men, less so in women.

Learn how abnormally low or high levels can impact a man's physical and mental health. Learn what causes blue balls and when testicular pain may be a sign of something more serious. A ruptured testicle is a painful injury, usually resulting from blunt trauma to the scrotum.

Learn more about the treatment and recovery for a…. Testosterone therapy may be used for a variety of medical conditions. It may also affect cholesterol levels. Learn more. Learn what options are available for gynecomastia treatment without surgery, including lifestyle and dietary changes. Gynecomastia is a condition…. A testicular ultrasound is the primary imaging method used to observe and diagnose abnormalities.

This includes benign and malignant conditions. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. A Look at Testosterone Injections. Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm.

Symptoms Diagnosis Benefits Fat and muscle Sperm count Cost Risks Bottom line Testosterone Testosterone is a male steroid hormone that does a lot more for men than just promote a healthy sex drive. Low T symptoms. Diagnosing low T. Potential benefits. Fat and muscle changes. Sperm count changes. Testosterone can raise your blood pressure, which could increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, or death. Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

Testosterone can affect bone growth in boys who are treated for delayed puberty. Bone development may need to be checked with x-rays every 6 months during treatment. This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using testosterone. Misuse of testosterone can cause dangerous or irreversible effects, such as enlarged breasts, small testicles, infertility, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, liver disease, bone growth problems, addiction, and mental effects such as aggression and violence.

Stealing, selling, or giving away this medicine is against the law. If you have used too much testosterone, stopping the medicine may caused unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as depression, tiredness, irritability, loss of appetite, sleep problems, or decreased libido. Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers right away if you have a tight feeling in your throat, a sudden urge to cough, or if you feel light-headed or short of breath during or shortly after receiving the injection. You will be watched closely for at least 30 minutes to make sure you do not have a reaction to the injection. Women receiving testosterone may develop male characteristics, which could be irreversible if treatment is continued. Call your doctor at once if you notice any of these signs of excess testosterone:.

Your testosterone injections may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect testosterone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Testosterone helps red blood cell production through the bone marrow.

Low testosterone levels are linked to a variety of cardiovascular risks. But can testosterone replacement therapy help with heart disease? Study results are mixed. Small studies in the early s found that men with heart disease who underwent testosterone therapy saw only slight improvements. Some were able to increase their walking distance by 33 percent. Another study found that hormone therapy only widened healthy arteries but had no effect on angina pain. A more recent, larger study of 83, men found that men whose testosterone levels returned to normal were 24 percent less likely to have a heart attack and 36 percent less likely to experience a stroke.

Read more: Signs of low testosterone in men under 30 ». Testosterone is responsible for increased muscle mass. Leaner body mass helps control weight and increases energy. For men with low testosterone, studies show that treatment can decrease fat mass and increase muscle size and strength.

Some men reported a change in lean body mass but no increase in strength. Testosterone plays a huge role in bone mineral density. Bone density decreases as men age and testosterone levels drop. This raises the risk of weak bones and osteoporosis.

Strong bones help support your muscles and internal organs, which can boost athletic performance. Research shows that bone density increases with testosterone treatment as long as the dose is high enough. Clinical trials on the effect of testosterone on bone density found increases in spinal and hip bone density. Another study of females transitioning into males found that testosterone increased bone mineral density.

Testosterone treatment for men 34 to 70 years old has shown an improvement in spatial memory. Testosterone levels naturally rise in response to sexual arousal and activity. Men with higher levels of testosterone usually have greater sexual activity. Older men need more testosterone for libido and erectile function. Studies show that testosterone therapy can benefit your sexual health and performance. Read more: Can testosterone supplements increase your sex drive? Lower testosterone levels are associated with poorer quality of life.

Some of the symptoms of low testosterone levels include depression, fatigue, and irritability.