When your system is functioning at optimal levels, you feel great. You’re motivated, you have energy, you’re sleeping better, and you’re “in the mood” more often—with more satisfying results.
But when your hormones are unbalanced, that throws your system off-kilter. Testosterone is especially important for proper function in both men and women. Understanding what testosterone does for both sexes—and how testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in Lawrence works—can be night-and-day between feeling sluggish and defeated or on top of your game.
Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics is your home in Lawrence for addressing hormone imbalance and internal function issues. Our team has decades of experience helping men and women in the Midwest regain their quality of life. Request a consultation or call 913-291-8555, and let’s get you back on track to living your best life.
What Testosterone Accomplishes
Most of us know testosterone as a male sex hormone produced in the testicles. For men, it accomplishes a number of functional necessities over time, including:
- Puberty development
- Sperm production
- Muscle/bone mass integrity
- Cognitive function
- Libido/sex drive
- Heart health
Testosterone is also important for women’s health and function. Though the amount produced in the ovaries is significantly lower in women than the levels produced in men, it still plays a major role in:
- Heart health
- Libido/sex drive
- Muscle/bone mass integrity
- Blood cell formation
- Cognitive function
- Hormone level maintenance
Both men’s and women’s bodies convert testosterone into estradiol, a hormone that regulates and maintains the reproductive system in women, supports bone health in men, and helps control food intake.
Diminishing Levels Over the Years
For men, testosterone levels fall, on average, 1.6% per year once they reach 40 years of age. That means by the time a guy reaches 50, his testosterone levels may have dropped by up to 16%.
For women, testosterone levels look like more of a rollercoaster ride. By the time they reach menopause, women’s testosterone levels have declined as much as 75%. Then menopause itself causes hormonal imbalances, which can be addressed through our bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
The good news is, after a woman reaches 65 to 70 years of age, their T levels return to amounts comparable to a 20-something woman. But who wants to wait that long?
Our TRT in Lawrence can help even out the gaps for both men and women to keep your vitality going strong and your physiological systems supported.
What You Eat Can Affect T Levels
When you come to Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics for a consultation, we’re not just going to look at a few symptoms, run a lab test, and send you packing with a prescription and a wave for good luck.
Our team sees you as a whole person. Your health isn’t a set of issues to be addressed—it’s the function of your entire system and how it’s related internally and externally to your health and well-being.
During your consultation, we’ll dive deep, asking questions about your lifestyle, your habits, and your health. This is a no-judgment zone, where you’re safe to talk about it all. With this broad scope of information, we help you get your system functioning optimally so that issues are resolved at their core, not at their symptom.
Foods for Thought
Part of that discussion about low testosterone issues will include what you eat. Certain kinds of food products can lower your body’s T levels and cause the ensuing cascade of issues. Common testosterone-lowering foods include:
- Baked Goods. Baked goods high in trans-unsaturated fatty acids can affect T levels.
- Sugary Foods. Sweet treats can increase insulin levels, which decreases testosterone.
- Vegetable Oils. Vegetable oils that contain polyunsaturated fats can lead to lowered testosterone levels.
- Omega-6. Too much omega-6 fatty acid can lead to lower T levels (and smaller testicles).
- Alcohol. Overindulging regularly in alcohol can impede gland function, including the hypothalamus and testes.
Your TRT in Lawrence will help you get your testosterone back to levels where your systems function much better for improved quality of life.
TRT Benefits for Women
Though men seek TRT more frequently than women do, testosterone plays several crucial roles in a woman’s body. These benefits impact various functions and overall health.
Sexual Health
Testosterone maintains libido and sexual arousal. Adequate levels can enhance a woman’s sexual satisfaction and help her address conditions like hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
Mood and Mental Health
When women exhibit low levels of testosterone, they often suffer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability. Bringing testosterone back up to appropriate levels can contribute to better mood regulation and an overall sense of well-being.
Energy Levels
Testosterone helps combat fatigue and can improve energy levels, helping women feel improved vitality with less lethargy.
Bone Health
Testosterone helps the body maintain bone density. Adequate T levels help prevent osteoporosis while reducing the risk of fractures.
Muscle Mass and Strength
Testosterone contributes to muscle mass and strength, which is important for overall physical fitness and metabolic health.
Cognitive Function
Some studies suggest that testosterone may support cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and spatial ability. It may also have a protective effect against cognitive decline with aging.
Fat Distribution
Testosterone influences fat distribution in the body. Adequate levels help in reducing fat mass and increasing lean body mass.
Heart Health
Balanced testosterone levels can have a positive impact on cardiovascular health, improving vascular reactivity and blood flow.
Related topic: Make “the change” for the better with HRT for menopause in Kansas City.
Can testosterone cause unwanted side effects for women?
The answer is yes. The answer is also a resounding no—if your TRT in Lawrence has been vetted and prescribed by an expert in functional medicine and hormone replacement therapies.
The key is in the amount of testosterone a female patient will replace during their therapy. That’s why Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics conducts thorough testing at the beginning of your treatment plan.
We also customize dosages for each patient specifically, rather than following a generic algorithm designed by the manufacturer. Our treatment plans are 100% based on the patient’s needs and goals.
Monitoring Means Success
Once the testosterone replacement therapy starts, we monitor patient progress closely for the first 4 to 8 weeks to ensure the dosage and therapy are working well. Once the patient’s symptoms have resolved or have greatly improved, we know we are at the correct dose.
Following this, the patient can do their weekly injections at home safely and efficiently, with prescriptions filled by visiting our clinic when they’re ready. We will also repeat lab reviews yearly unless otherwise indicated to ensure you continue seeing progress.
Possible TRT Side Effects for Women
If you’re a woman undergoing TRT in Lawrence, make sure to tell your provider if any of these side effects occur:
Weight Gain
Don’t worry—it’s not from fat. Testosterone helps patients build more lean muscle mass. Muscle tissue weighs more than fat, so you’re leaning up but also becoming slightly heavier. Too much testosterone can also increase water retention.
Acne
Too much testosterone can stimulate glands to produce excess sebum. This oily substance can clog pores, creating the just-right environment for bacteria to grow and cause acne outbreaks.
Hair Growth
When testosterone levels are too high, it can cause increased hair growth across the body. This is usually more apparent in women than in men.
Hair Loss
It seems counterintuitive that an overabundance of a hormone that causes hair growth could cause hair loss on the head, but each patient is unique. Some patients’ systems may convert the extra testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which is associated with follicle shrinkage and hair loss/hair thinning on the scalp.
It’s extremely important that you work with professionals who look at your whole health, not just your symptoms. If you’re feeling the effects of low T, schedule a consultation. Let the team of hormone experts at Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics ensure you receive the right testosterone replacement therapy in Lawrence for the best results.
TRT Benefits for Men
As the primary male sex hormone, testosterone plays a critical role in various bodily functions and overall health for men.
Sexual Development and Function
From hitting puberty to maintaining sexual performance as an adult, appropriate T levels provide healthy function.
- Puberty. Testosterone leads in the development of male characteristics during puberty, such as facial and body hair growth, deepening of the voice, and sex organ development.
- Libido/Sexual Performance. Testosterone maintains the male sex drive and contributes to erectile function.
Muscle Mass and Strength
Testosterone supports muscle protein synthesis. This helps increase muscle mass and strength, which is why men typically have more muscle mass compared to women.
Bone Density
Adequate testosterone levels improve bone density, helping to prevent osteoporosis and reduce the risk of fractures.
Mood and Mental Health
Low levels of testosterone have been associated with symptoms of depression, fatigue, and irritability. With TRT in Lawrence, men can reclaim adequate levels for improved mood and increased energy.
Fat Distribution
Testosterone helps regulate fat distribution, typically leading to less body fat and more muscle mass. Low T levels have a tendency to increase belly fat.
Red Blood Cell Production
Appropriate testosterone levels stimulate red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
Cognitive Function
Testosterone can act as a neurosteroid, which the brain creates to promote neuron function. TRT may support cognitive abilities such as memory, spatial ability, and concentration.
Heart Health
Testosterone can help blood vessels widen, providing relief for some of the issues associated with angina and arteriosclerosis, while improving the ability to exercise longer.
TRT vs HRT at Regain
Though testosterone is a hormone, and we only use bioidentical hormones in any replacement therapy, TRT in Lawrence is not the same as HRT.
Our bioidentical hormone replacement therapy helps patients balance estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all at once. With testosterone replacement therapy, we only address testosterone levels.
Whether or not you need HRT or TRT depends on your specific needs, which are learned during your consultation. To see if TRT is the best choice for you, request a consultation with us today.
Expect Results at Regain
Your consultation starts with a discussion about your current issues, and a review of your medical history, family health history, and your current medications If deemed necessary, we’ll also draw blood for a comprehensive laboratory panel. This can bring together a clear and accurate picture of your function’s history and influences. Lab results usually take about a week to return.
With this information, we will develop a treatment strategy and ensure that you understand it. When you give the green light, we create a custom-formulated starting dose of hormones that is injected once per week.
We’ll see you weekly for at least the first 4 weeks so we can adjust the dose as needed. When your symptoms have lessened or resolved—and you’re feeling great—we’ll train you on how to do your injections at home, then see you every 1 to 3 months for a check-in.
Many of our patients report feeling the effects of TRT in Lawrence within just a few weeks. As always, we’re here to answer any questions and ensure you’re getting the best care possible.
Put TRT to Work for You
Men and women come to Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics for testosterone replacement therapy in Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City, and everywhere in between because it works! They feel better, have more energy, enjoy a more positive mood—and often rediscover a love life they thought might be “in the past.”
Call us at 913-291-8555 or request a consultation to see if TRT is right for you. We may discover a more appropriate and effective solution for you, because there’s one goal at Regain: help you function better to live better.
About Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics
You may have heard that we do things differently at Regain. It’s true. Unlike corporate medicine that treats the symptoms, we address the root cause of illness.
Our team of care experts listen to you, make sure that you are heard, and address your function from a systemic perspective. You’re more than a chart and a prescription here. You’re a complete person who deserves to enjoy the best quality of life possible.
When you’re ready to:
- Feel better.
- Function better.
- Move better.
- Look better.
We’re here for you, at Regain.
