Which Hormones Are Used in Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is prescribed for men who have low testosterone. Congenital (birth) problems or acquired problems such as testicular cancer can affect the production of testosterone.

Function

• TRT relies on the hormone testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for bringing about secondary male characteristics like muscle tone, facial hair and deepening of the voice.

Types

• Gels, injection, pills and pellets are types of testosterone medication. Gel is rubbed onto the skin of the shoulders, the injectable is injected into the muscle of of the thigh or buttocks, and pellets are implanted below the skin of the stomach or buttock.

Benefits

• Testosterone is shown to increase muscle tone, improve mood and increase libido. All forms of testosterone produce the same results. However, the extent to which these benefits are experienced will vary with the dosage.

Misconceptions

• Because of steroid use, there is a common misconception that using testosterone will make a person extremely muscular. People who use testosterone for bodybuilding purposes often use up to five times the therapeutic dosage. Testosterone therapy will improve muscle tone, but it will not grow bodybuilder muscles if used therapeutically.

Warnings

• Testosterone side effects can be made worse by using too much testosterone. When a man takes more testosterone than his body needs, it converts into estrogen by a process called aromatization. This is why steroid abusers develop breast tissue.