A testosterone deficiency arises when a patient’s body cannot produce sufficient quantities of testosterone naturally. Testosterone, sometimes called the sex hormone, is an important androgen and anabolic hormone produced by both men and women. To correct this low T (low testosterone) level, patients require TRT or testosterone replacement therapy.
Since testosterone use is controlled in the USA, the only safe and legal way to receive TRT in the US is through a prescription of testosterone from a certified clinic.
According to a study, testosterone deficiency can affect various physiologic processes in the human body, and low T will manifest in different ways in men and women. Symptoms may include:
Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in Men
- Decreased bone mass
- Low sex drive
- Low semen volume
- Difficulty getting erections
- Hair loss or baldness
- Loss of muscle mass
- Fatigue
- Increased body fat
Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in Women
- Low libido
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Low memory
- Decreasing muscle tissue
- Obesity
- Painful intercourse
- Osteoporosis
- Heart disease
Many men and women in the US without a hormone imbalance may seek testosterone treatments. Since TRT is legally prescribed only to genuine patients by a hormone replacement clinic, persons who cannot get a prescription from an endocrinologist may resort to using natural or synthetic testosterone boosters, called T-Boosters.
T-Boosters aim to duplicate the steroidal qualities of testosterone in the body. Please be warned that boosters may not always perform as expected or advertised.
Difference Between Prescribed Testosterone and T-Boosters
Boosters may lead to side effects such as abdominal pain, elevation in hepatic enzymes, and even some damage to the liver.
T-boosters do not always pass through FDA processing and certification. This questions their safety for your use. Testosterone use is relatively safe as it is FDA approved. The safest way to increase testosterone levels still remains via a proper prescription and TRT.
Testosterone boosters are not medically proven to increase testosterone levels. Low T improvement is achieved through professional TRT
How to Get Testosterone Prescribed
A low testosterone prescription is very basic so long as you are a genuine patient with low T. Getting testosterone treatment in the US is restricted to patients with a prescription from certified endocrinologists. This is because testosterone is a prescription drug as well as a controlled substance.
Proper testosterone deficiency diagnosis requires tests, mainly a blood test and a physical examination. Doctors usually encourage patients with low T symptoms to abstain from every form of medication before the date fixed for the test. When you have the go-ahead from the Endocrinologist, he/she will ask for the following samples from you:
- Blood samples
- Saliva
When you have provided the hospital with the samples demanded, the doctor will usually proceed with a physical check of your body. Some of the physical checks include:
- Loss of body hair check
- Examination for Obesity
- Loss of lean muscles check
- Fatigue check
- Depression check
The purpose of the physical examination is to cross-check this test result with the blood test results. The results will indicate the testosterone level of a patient.
Risks of Buying Testosterone without a Prescription
Possession or sale of testosterone medication without a doctor’s prescription is illegal across the US. That is because, in the USA, testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance. It is also an anabolic steroid which is against the law to own without a prescription.
Most pharmacists will request a written prescription from a doctor before they provide the drug. You can thus be arrested, and even end up in prison if you buy, sell or possess testosterone without a valid prescription.
Medically, you can endanger your life through self-administration of a tough anabolic steroid like testosterone. You may endanger yourself in the following ways when you apply self-medication:
- Overdose
- Getting the wrong treatment
- More health issues may arise
What Testosterone Doctors Usually Prescribe?
There are common TRT medications that most doctors will likely prescribe for you. Some of these medications include:
Testosterone Enanthate
Enanthate is injectable testosterone used to treat low T in men. It is especially used for men with hypogonadism and other deficiency conditions.
It is a natural fat-soluble, long ester of testosterone, and so lasts long in its effects in the body. You will have to carefully follow your doctor’s prescription when being treated with this medication. Testosterone Enanthate is usually administered as an injection. The injection is usually given to the abdomen and not intramuscularly to the buttocks as is common to other injections.
The shot could take up to 4 weeks to complete a full dosage at one injection per week. Your doctor will decide the exact dose.
Misuse of this medication can expose you to liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. Therefore it is important that your treatment is administered by a certified clinic. Side effects could include numbness, vomiting, headaches, and swollen breasts in men. Women could have an enlarged clitoris and male-like baldness.
Testosterone Cypionate
Testosterone Cypionate is another injectable fat-soluble testosterone ester that is used to improve testosterone production in patients with low T.
Both Cypionate and Enanthate share many similar properties and effects. Cypionate is mostly sold as the brand name Depo-Testosterone. It is relatively cheap and thus is popular. Testosterone Cypionate is more anabolic and great for building muscle tissue and bone density. This makes it ideal for patients with osteoporosis and other muscle-loss or bone depleting conditions like cancer or HIV /Aids. Cypionate is also good for reducing fat, caused by low T, improving sexual appetite, and overcoming depression.
Testosterone Cypionate is administered by injection once weekly, as it can take up to 8 or 10 days to be fully used up in the body. Side effects include acne, longer than normal erections, and headaches.
Testosterone Undecanoate
Testosterone Undecanoate is an effective androgen and anabolic fat-soluble testosterone ester that can remedy your low T issues within a couple of weeks. The treatment lasts about 4 weeks. Like most TRT drugs, it is not suitable for pregnant women. Side effects include aggression, acne, and depression.