Many men with low testosterone report improved energy levels, sex drive, and mood after testosterone treatment. If testosterone is low, why not replace it?
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a shot, patch, or gel of the hormone testosterone to bring the level back to normal. Testosterone is produced in your testes (testicles), the sex organs in men, and is responsible for masculine traits.
Low Testosterone Causes & Symptoms
Testosterone levels are highest in men around age 17 and drop as they age, starting between ages 30 and 40. The drop is very gradual (about 1% per year) but increases as you get older. By age 70, the average man’s testosterone is 30% below its peak, but it’s usually still within the normal range. That’s why many men in their 70s and beyond can father children.
You might confuse low testosterone (low T) with erectile dysfunction. While erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a symptom of low T, and having low T can lower your libido, some people with low T have no problem getting an erection, while others have ED with normal levels of testosterone.
Injury to the testicles
Struggling to maintain an erection can be linked to hormonal imbalance—discover how testosterone plays a key role in sexual performance.
Getting older
Low testosterone can make building muscle harder and storing fat easier. Explore the connection and ways to regain strength and balance.
Testicular cancer
Hormonal issues can affect sperm count and quality. Understand how testosterone impacts male fertility and what you can do about it.
Weight gain
A drop in sex drive is often one of the first signs of low testosterone. Learn why it happens and how to restore desire naturally.
Hormonal changes
Emotional instability, including sadness or short temper, linked to testosterone's role in brain chemistry.
Who is TRT for?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves testosterone replacement therapy for males who have low testosterone levels due to a known medical condition (hypogonadism).
Hypogonadism can develop from damage to or malfunction of one of the following organs that are part of testosterone production:
- Testicles
- Pituitary gland
- Hypothalamus
For example, chemotherapy or radiation therapy can damage one of these organs. Or you may have a genetic condition that causes issues.
The FDA doesn’t approve the use of TRT for males with low testosterone without an associated medical condition. As of 2025, it’s not yet approved for males who naturally experience a decline in testosterone as they age.
TRT isn’t for everyone. Certain existing health conditions make it unsafe, like prostate cancer and heart failure.
Additional Common Questions
Once you start TRT, can you stop?
Low testosterone can make building muscle harder and storing fat easier. Explore the connection and ways to regain strength and balance.
Who shouldn’t use TRT?
Struggling to maintain an erection can be linked to hormonal imbalance—discover how testosterone plays a key role in sexual performance.
Is TRT safe?
A drop in sex drive is often one of the first signs of low testosterone. Learn why it happens and how to restore desire naturally.
A note from TRT Guide
Emotional instability, including sadness or short temper, linked to testosterone's role in brain chemistry.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy FAQs
Many clinics and doctors offer testosterone replacement therapy, but you may not need it. Before prescribing testosterone, your doctor should check your testosterone levels and make sure your low T is not due to something else, like an illness. If your levels are low because of aging, you don’t need TRT. If you start on TRT, you’ll likely continue for life. Many men who take it find a lot of benefits.
What happens to your body when you start testosterone replacement therapy?
Many clinics and doctors offer testosterone replacement therapy, but you may not need it. Before prescribing testosterone, your doctor should check your testosterone levels and make sure your low T is not due to something else, like an illness. If your levels are low because of aging, you don’t need TRT. If you start on TRT, you’ll likely continue for life. Many men who take it find a lot of benefits.
How long can you stay on testosterone replacement therapy?
Many clinics and doctors offer testosterone replacement therapy, but you may not need it. Before prescribing testosterone, your doctor should check your testosterone levels and make sure your low T is not due to something else, like an illness. If your levels are low because of aging, you don’t need TRT. If you start on TRT, you’ll likely continue for life. Many men who take it find a lot of benefits.
Does TRT raise blood pressure?
Many clinics and doctors offer testosterone replacement therapy, but you may not need it. Before prescribing testosterone, your doctor should check your testosterone levels and make sure your low T is not due to something else, like an illness. If your levels are low because of aging, you don’t need TRT. If you start on TRT, you’ll likely continue for life. Many men who take it find a lot of benefits.
What happens to your body when you start testosterone replacement therapy?
Many clinics and doctors offer testosterone replacement therapy, but you may not need it. Before prescribing testosterone, your doctor should check your testosterone levels and make sure your low T is not due to something else, like an illness. If your levels are low because of aging, you don’t need TRT. If you start on TRT, you’ll likely continue for life. Many men who take it find a lot of benefits.
How long can you stay on testosterone replacement therapy?
Many clinics and doctors offer testosterone replacement therapy, but you may not need it. Before prescribing testosterone, your doctor should check your testosterone levels and make sure your low T is not due to something else, like an illness. If your levels are low because of aging, you don’t need TRT. If you start on TRT, you’ll likely continue for life. Many men who take it find a lot of benefits.
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