Testosterone Pellet Therapy

Are you suffering from low testosterone?

Low testosterone is very common and is often associated with a reduction in sex drive, low energy levels, and unwanted physical changes. Testosterone also plays an important role in cognitive function, bone health, and heart health. While it is natural for men to have a decrease in testosterone as they age, it is extremely important to confront any issues that could be negatively impacting your health and overall well-being.

Sometimes symptoms slowly creep up on you and you might not even be aware of them. Have you been experiencing;

• Lack of energy?
• Decreased overall enjoyment of life?
• Loss of muscle and increased fat?
• Lowered libido (sex drive)?
• Decrease in strength or endurance?
• Depressed mood?

In just a few weeks you can feel more vibrant and energized and see an increase in muscle mass and sex drive. Our treatments use natural, bioidentical hormones to protect your health.

Testosterone Pellet Therapy is an effective, convenient, and safe method to raise low testosterone levels with benefits that enhance multiple areas of health, including:

• Improvement in libido and erectile dysfunction
• More muscle, less fat
• Stronger bones
• Improved mood and energy
• Improved mental function
• May decrease risk of heart disease

How do you know if you have low testosterone?

Testosterone is produced primarily in the testicles for men and the ovaries and adrenal glands for women. Testosterone production increases about 30 times during adolescence and early adulthood in males. However, after early adulthood, it’s natural for levels to drop slightly each year. Your body may see a one percent decline each year after you’re 30 years old. Signs and symptoms may vary from person to person, but symptoms of low testosterone can include:

• erectile dysfunction, or problems developing or maintaining an erection
• other changes in your erections, such as fewer spontaneous erections
• decreased libido or sexual activity
• infertility
• rapid hair loss
• reduced muscle mass
• increased body fat
• enlarged breasts
• sleep disturbances
• persistent fatigue
• brain fog
• depression

A simple blood test can confirm if you have low testosterone levels.

How are pellets administered?

At The Kaplan Center, Dr. Lisa Lilienfield offers Testosterone Pellet Therapy to patients.

Testosterone pellets have benefits that other methods of administration (gels, patches, injections) don’t. Pellets provide an even and consistent dose of testosterone and only need to be administered every 5-6 months. Many men do not like gels or patches and have inconsistent results due to irregularities in absorption or possible skin irritation. Injections ensure the delivery of testosterone but some consider weekly or biweekly injections inconvenient and don’t like the peaks and valleys of testosterone levels that can lead to mood swings.

Testosterone pellet therapy involves an easy, in-office procedure taking less than 5 minutes. Small pellets are placed in the fat layer above the buttocks/hip area and levels are monitored after 1-2 months and before the next placement.

Because it’s natural to have a decrease in testosterone as you age, some symptoms such as decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, or erectile dysfunction may be a sign of other conditions. Therefore, it is important to be evaluated thoroughly by your doctor first before considering testosterone replacement.

According to Dr. Lisa Lilienfield, “You may be interested in boosting your testosterone levels if your doctor says you have low levels, or hypogonadism, or need testosterone replacement therapy for other conditions. In some of my chronic pain patients, boosting testosterone has helped reduce their pain level.”

Possible side effects of testosterone therapy

• Increased acne
• Fluid retention
• Breast enlargement
• Decreased testicular size
• Decreased sperm count
• Increased aggressive behaviors
• Increase in red blood cells leading to “thicker blood”
• Worsening of sleep apnea

Dr. Lilienfield explains, “Working with a physician who monitors lab work and works with you closely is important to minimize possible risks of testosterone replacement.  We have supplements to help with some side effects and I often recommend donating blood to lower the red cell count which is a win-win for everyone.”

Testosterone replacement is not advised for men with prostate or breast cancer. Of course, a healthy diet and regular exercise are necessary for good health and to ensure the maximum effectiveness of testosterone therapy.

References:

Bassil N, Alkaade S, Morley JE. The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2009;5(3):427‐448. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3025

Choi JC, Park YH, Park SK, et al. Testosterone effects on pain and brain activation patterns. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2017;61(6):668‐675. doi:10.1111/aas.12908

Lang TF. The bone-muscle relationship in men and women. J Osteoporos. 2011;2011:702735. doi:10.4061/2011/702735

Rishi Sharma, Olurinde A. Oni, Kamal Gupta, Guoqing Chen, Mukut Sharma, Buddhadeb Dawn, Ram Sharma, Deepak Parashara, Virginia J. Savin, John A. Ambrose, Rajat S. Barua, Normalization of testosterone level is associated with reduced incidence of myocardial infarction and mortality in men, European Heart Journal, Volume 36, Issue 40, 21 October 2015, Pages 2706–2715

Rosano GM, Sheiban I, Massaro R, et al. Low testosterone levels are associated with coronary artery disease in male patients with angina. Int J Impot Res. 2007;19(2):176‐182. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901504

Testosterone May Improve Mental Function

Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age