Testosterone deficiency and what you need to know!

On a personal level, I struggled with testosterone deficiency for a long time before I finally found treatment. Over the years, I was forced to fiercely advocate for myself. I bounced from provider to provider - with each one telling me, “Oh, I don’t do hormones. I’ll have to refer you to someone else.” The “someone” they referred me to couldn’t/wouldn’t help either. Thankfully, I finally found someone who was willing to help. Testosterone therapy has been life-changing for me. I started sleeping through the night again. My workouts are so much better - and I’m actually motivated to get in the gym! (Testosterone is HUGE for motivation!!) I also love knowing I’m getting the benefits of increased bone mineral density, improved cardiovascular health, and the list goes on! 

I recently listened to an episode of the Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show titled, “The Science of Optimizing Your Testosterone” with Dr. Abraham Morgentaler. Dr. Morgentaler opened a men’s health clinic in 1999, and he has been a pioneer in the world of testosterone therapy since. He’s an advocate for testosterone therapy in both men AND women!! 

I listened to the podcast once. Then, I listened again so I could take notes for you! If you want to listen for yourself, here is the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-gabrielle-lyon-show/id1622316426?i=1000697646130

Obviously, not everyone needs testosterone therapy, but if you need it, please just know it is SAFE!! One of the things Dr. Morgentaler said that really stuck with me was that over the years he has seen men (because he mostly treats men) who seem like they are just not themselves. Not who they want to be/used to be/know they can be. Like they’ve “lost their reserves.” I immediately thought of alllll the people (men and women) who have been told they have “adrenal fatigue.” Adrenal fatigue is not a medical diagnosis. In my opinion, many of those people are likely suffering from testosterone deficiency. It’s possible those who have been diagnosed with “adrenal fatigue” really just need the NATURAL & SAFE hormone testosterone that can be life-changing - for both men and women!! 

Below are the notes I took from the podcast:

Why Testosterone is So Important?: 

Dr. Morgentaler: “Do you know testosterone deficiency either predicts the development of, or is associated with many of the most important medical conditions we deal with in healthcare? Obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, mortality, dementia, osteoporosis. These things are all associated with the deficient amount of testosterone in the body.” 

Dr. Morgentaler: “Testosterone deficiency is a reduced state of the human condition.” 

Dr Morgentaler: “Life is hard…we have challenges every day…Irritability happens when people don’t have emotional reserves. Low testosterone can cause men to lose their sense of humor. They lose their sense of play. They lose their reserves when their gas tank is approaching empty (referring to testosterone). People think testosterone makes people irritable and aggressive. It does NOT. ” 

Dr Morgentaler: “Testosterone increases optimism.”

Dr Morgentaler: “Testosterone has actions on the endothelium, on the lining of the blood vessels, that may make them more pliable.”

So Why is the Medical Community Reluctant?:

Dr. Morgentaler references Max Planck who famously stated, "A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” In other words, scientific progress can be slow, due to resistance to change. “People don’t like new information. They don’t like new concepts that differ from what they’ve been taught.” Dr. Morgentaler went on to say, “Science proceeds one funeral at a time.”  Many providers are still holding on to very old information that is just not true. 

Dr Morgentaler: “Testosterone is still considered by many to be fringe medicine. And the reason for that is that it’s not taught in medical schools - still. We have remarkable amounts of information. Wonderful scientific data about testosterone. The wealth of research into testosterone is phenomenal and yet… We have studies in the top medical journals in the world. The New England Journal has really liked all the RCTs about testosterone. JAMA has published it. We have stuff in Lancet. All the top journals have data on this. The regular physician who wants to keep up with the literature…they trust those journals. But it hasn’t impacted what they do.” 

“The fact that it’s (testosterone) is not yet accepted by mainstream medicine is our number one problem.”

Testosterone for Women: 

In regard to testosterone not being approved for women by the FDA: 

Dr Morgentaler: “With or without an FDA approved indication - The studies show testosterone therapy in women can be highly efficacious and safe for women who have symptoms related to low testosterone." 

Dr Morgentaler: “For a woman who is post-menopausal, her gas tank for a couple of those sexual hormones is at zero - testosterone can help! Some women who are pre or perimenopausal may have low levels of testosterone. They can benefit from it, too! And women’s symptoms are often very similar to men. They have fatigue that isn’t explained by activities - it’s out of proportion fatigue, they don’t feel right, their energy - their zip is gone, libido may be down, and testosterone works for them, just like it works for men.” 

Ladies - Did you know perimenopause can start in your 30’s?!?!

Testosterone is Safe!: 

Dr Morgentaler: “For 80 years people have been told testosterone activates prostate cancer. People started believing that testosterone actually caused prostate cancer. Which it doesn't do either. There’s no evidence for that. None. Zero. Giving testosterone does not increase the rate of cancer compared to placebo.” 

Dr Lyon talking about the benefits of testosterone: “What other naturally occurring hormone could be given that could affect bone, brain, heart, blood vessels, eyes…everything…nearly every organ system - Yet it is not routine?” 

Honestly, one of the best podcasts I’ve listened to in a very long time. Two very well-respected physicians talking about the benefits of testosterone for both women and men. 

If you have questions, please feel free to email me! kami@seaside-med.com.