Low testosterone (also known as low-T) is more common than you think and it can negatively affect your body in more ways than one. Due to the wide variety of symptoms, low-T can often be confused with other conditions such as anxiety, erectile dysfunction and aging.

Approximately one in four men over the age of 30 experience low testosterone, but less than 5% are diagnosed and treated for the condition. For starters, most men don’t necessarily enjoy taking trips to the doctors and would rather just accept that “this is just how their body is.” Alternatively, these symptoms of low-T can be attributed to other, less complicated, conditions.

So, how do I know if I suffer from low-T?

Great question! Testosterone is a natural hormone responsible for the normal growth and development of certain male organs and for maintenance of critical masculine traits such as bone and muscle mass, facial hair, sperm production, and your labido.

The symptoms of low testosterone could be wide ranging and can impact all aspects of your life, not just your sex life. If you think you may be suffering from low-T, you could be experiencing one or several of the following physical and psychological symptoms:

Physical symptoms of low-T:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Premature ejaculation
• Lack of energy, fatigue
• Decreased endurance
• Muscle weakness, loss of strength
• Aches, joint and muscle pains
• Deterioration in work performance, sports
• Weight gain, increased abdominal fat
• Increased hair loss

Psychological symptoms of low-T:

• Low sex drive
• Decreased motivation
• Decreased enjoyment of life
• Low self-esteem
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Grumpy, irritability
• Mood swings
• Brain fog

Based on the lists above, you can see that some of these symptoms are quite general and can also apply to other health complications. Which is also why low-testosterone is either ruled out or not thought of altogether for most patients. Luckily there are treatment options available so there is no need to avoid the issue, and early diagnosis and treatment can change your life.

What do I do if I think I have low-T?

If you feel as though you may have low-T based on the above list, you have a few options.

• 1. You can contact your doctor to schedule an appointment and get tested for low-T.
• 2. You can book a virtual appointment with one of our doctors here at ON MEN from the comfort of your own home. Our doctors will conduct a thorough testosterone and hormone check for you to see where your testosterone levels are and then work with you to formulate a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Whichever route you take, you will be required to get an intensive blood work panel done to check your base line testosterone levels.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy as a Solution

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a unique type of hormone replacement therapy designed to restore healthy testosterone levels in someone who suffers from low-T.

TRT works by giving your body the testosterone it needs to function at its optimal levels . Testosterone is the primary androgen in males (and females) and has an impact on many biological processes that are necessary for your health and longevity.

For example, low-T is associated with an increased risk of type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and a myriad of other debilitating health conditions. Having low-T also makes it significantly harder to build (and retain) muscle mass, since testosterone is a potent anabolic hormone and directly impacts muscle protein synthesis.

Intuitively, if your body doesn’t produce enough testosterone on its own, your health will start to suffer until you fix the issue. Thus, TRT works by bringing your body back to a healthy range for testosterone, which then slowly begins to reverse the symptoms of low-T. Once a steady baseline dose of testosterone has been established on TRT, most men notice an improvement in their energy levels, vitality, and quality of life.

How does Testosterone Replacement Therapy work through ON MEN?

Health Assessment  Once you complete your online health assessment questionnaire, we will send you a referral for blood work. Your initial virtual visit with the ON MEN physician cannot be scheduled until the blood work is complete.

Personalized Plan  When the results are ready, you’ll have an in-depth video or audio call with a Canadian licensed ON MEN doctor who will spend time getting to know you, explain what your results show, and recommend a personalized treatment plan.

Treatment Options  Your personalized meds will ship directly to your door every 3 months through one of our licensed partner pharmacies, so you can focus on feeling your best while we handle the rest. Available treatment options include custom compounded topical testosterone cream or injections.

Quarterly Follow ups  You will be required to conduct blood work every 3 months during the first year of the treatment, and every 6 months thereafter. Once we receive your blood work results, we will schedule your virtual quarterly follow up appointments with one of our ON MEN providers, to discuss ongoing progress and tweaks to your treatment plan.Through ON MEN, you get unlimited access to our medical and pharmacy team for ongoing care and answer your questions.

Conclusion

Low-T is not uncommon but it’s always worth checking to see how your blood levels are to decide whether or not your need to take action. Luckily, here at ON MEN, our  TRT treatments  may be covered by your insurance. You’ve got nothing to lose by checking your levels today and the positive effects of the treatment can change your life!