This could include a decrease in sexual desire, fewer spontaneous erections (such as during sleep), and infertility. A relatively small number of men experience the immediate side effects of testosterone supplements, such as acne, breathing disorders while sleeping (worsening sleep apnea), breast swelling or tenderness, or ankle swelling. Doctors also monitor high red blood cell counts, which may increase the risk of blood clots. Lisa Fields. In addition to heart risks, prescribing testosterone can mean a permanent interruption of men's testosterone production, albeit diminished.
Hypogonadism hinders the ability to produce normal amounts of testosterone because of a problem in the testicles or in the pituitary gland that controls the testicles. If you're wondering if testosterone therapy might be right for you, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits. Sometimes low testosterone levels cause no symptoms, but the decline can result in decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, obesity, or depression. But it seems that the marketing was so successful that many patients who were prescribed testosterone didn't really need it or had no justifiable medical reason for its use. While some men believe they feel younger and more vigorous if they take testosterone medications, there is little evidence to support the use of testosterone in otherwise healthy men.
Guidelines from the American College of Physicians indicate that testosterone therapy may slightly improve sexual function in some men, but there is little evidence that it improves other functions, such as vitality and energy. General fatigue and malaise have many other causes, and when most men have a blood test, the result is a normal level of testosterone. Most research on the risk of heart disease and stroke in transgender men suggests that the risk doesn't increase once you start taking testosterone.
Primary care doctors, urologists and endocrinologists can prescribe testosterone replacement therapy.
However, not all trans men will experience a total deepening of the tone of their voice with testosterone.If you suspect that you may have become pregnant or have a positive result on a pregnancy test while taking testosterone, talk to your provider as soon as possible, as testosterone can endanger the fetus. These hormones can be used in cases where periods continue after testosterone levels have been optimized. Regardless of the type of testosterone you're taking, it's important to know that taking more testosterone won't make your changes go faster, but it could lead to serious side effects or complications. As you age, your testosterone level gradually decreases, usually about 1% a year after age 30 or 40.
