Low Testosterone: Do You Need To Take A Supplement?

In this episode of Talking with Docs, Dr. Casey, a knowledgeable urologist, sheds light on the topic of low testosterone and its treatment. With his extensive experience in the field, Dr. Casey provides valuable insights on the causes, symptoms, and potential complications related to low testosterone levels in men. He also discusses various treatment options, including lifestyle changes, medications, and hormone replacement therapy. Whether you're someone who is experiencing symptoms of low testosterone or just curious to learn more about the topic, this episode is a must-watch. Tune in now to learn from Dr. Casey's expertise and get a better understanding of how to manage low testosterone.

Medical emergency
Do NOT use the Video for medical emergencies. If you have a medical emergency, call a physician or qualified healthcare provider, or CALL 911 immediately. Under no circumstances should you attempt self-treatment based on anything you have seen or read on the Video.

General information is not medical advice
The general information provided on the Video is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or care, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider properly licensed to practice medicine or general healthcare in your jurisdiction concerning any questions you may have regarding any information obtained from this Video and any medical condition you believe may be relevant to you or to someone else. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Video. Always consult with your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet, or fitness program. Information obtained on the Video is not exhaustive and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions, or their treatment.

[brilliant]

This guy is old school. My test was 540 and free was 5.6. On treatment injections 5 weeks and wow the difference. I can get out of the chair now and look forward to finding a job. Don't let any doctor tell you you are at ok levels. Life changing!
There is no normal level. None of us are normal. Get treated until you feel great ir get a new doctor. BTW 63 years old here. I am not ready to be an old man.

[paulkoza]

I've been on testosterone topical medication for many years. My doctor at work first diagnosed what she thought was the problem and I talked to my PCP. He agreed and put me on topical gel. At that point my T level was way below normal. Since the time when I started the medication, my T levels have increased but at best are just average. I do have more energy and my libido has definitely increased. I came down with a urinary tract infection last fall and my PSA numbers skyrocketed. This is not unusual. My PCP took me off the meds and referred me to a urologist. He explained the situation and performed a blood draw. By that time the infection was over and my PSA was back to normal levels. I went back on the medication at that point in time. Great video. Thanks for showing it.

[moomae]

My T was 150 and I felt like Hell with many symptoms. Got a full workup just like these docs said and I've been on topical stuff for 2 months. Dudes, don't ignore your health.

[dariovictor]

My testosterone levels were in the normal range for my age. But my free testosterone was on the low side. Cypionate every two weeks and I’m golden 💪🏼. Definitely need to stay active for results. Or as active as your particular age allows.
Edit; I’m 60 but everyone says I look 59.5 😂.

[GreggBB]

Lots of really good information. One of the things we can't avoid from old age. Great point about the life style issues affecting the symptoms so much. Eat less, eat better and exercise----the big 3 for making a difference in our lives for any age.

[boomer]

A lot of good information. The “normal” total testosterone in a male ranges from 350ng/dl to 1, 150ng/dl. The 26yr old bodybuilder Dallas McCarver who died in 1991 had a total testosterone level of 5, 500ng/dl at autopsy, and believe high doses may have attributed to his heart issues. I mention this only because most urologists will try and target a man 45 years and older at around 700ng/dl. My total testosterone was at 30ng/dl before starting therapy. Note that most medical insurance companies consider TRT as a non necessary treatment, and the Andeogel gel packs are over $600/box for a one 30day supply w/o insurance, whereas a 10cc/200/mg bottle of injectable testosterone is only $50/bottle for a 30 day supply. It was recommended by my GP that I start TRT when I turned 50, due to being tired and lack of sex drive. I took it for five years and felt great until I turned 55, and started getting severe tendinitis in both knees. When I turned 60, I was working under my car in the driveway, and when I went to get up I blew the quadriceps tendon in both knees. The first thing my o/s ( orthopedic surgeon) asked as i was a 60 yr old male who presented with bilateral QTR (Quadricep Tendon Ruptures) was I on TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy). She said nearly 99% of the Bilateral QTR repairs she does are on men over 45 who have been on long term TRT, and over 80% of unilateral QTR repairs are also performed on men over 45 who are on long term TRT. My o/s explained that long term use of TRT can cause the tendons to weaken. This can occur in other tendons throughout the body, such as elbows, but is more prevalent in the quad tendons pulling away from the patella, as it takes the most stress, and is used throughout the day. I belong to a Facebook Group for patients recovering from QTR surgery. It was started only 3 yrs ago, and already have over 1, 000 members. Over 95% of the group are men over 45 who were on TRT. What is truly odd is that Bilateral QTR’s should be statistically rare in cases outside of an accident, and yet 30% of our group are bilateral. Apparently, if the tendons are weakens and pull away from the patella, performing any daily activity like standing up, walking down stairs, or running can cause the quad tendon to just pull away from the patella without any warning. Recovery and rehabilitation from this injury is supposed to take six months, however it appears most members are taking anywhere from 1-2 years before they feel anywhere close to pre injury. However you are dealing with patients who are generally all over 45, and so it would naturally take longer to recover from. Anyway, I would strongly suggest that anyone considering TRT, do their due diligence and ask questions.

[kubotajordan]

Good evening docs .The last videos and this one were exceptional . Very good information you all are knocking it out of the park thank you .

[daveanderson]

I changed my lifestyle at 61 and now Im 64 and hav way more energy and and my blood pressure is normal now and have been able to delete some meds out because of it ❤
Thank docs !😊

[superroboted]

I nearly died from having diabetes. During the time I was dealing with diabetes I suffered from hypogonadism while other symptoms occurred. After I was released I changed my diet. However I was low-T and working out did nothing. I'm familiar with TRT so I went the supplement route and I feel a world of difference everyday since. I take Weider Test booster along with L-Arginine and L-Citrulline in the morning. I take Creatine HCL. I also take magnesium glycate which was the missing piece because the calcium from the test booster was not getting carried throughout my body and I had stiffness and magnesium fixed that. I'm shopping for a new doctor but this route changed my life. Literally doing a 180. I cut my portions in half, fasted, and tried to do all the work around the house I can. I saw someone I hadn't seen in years and they were like you really lost weight from the last time I saw you. I don't snack. I reduced how much sugar I eat. Now my sugar stays around the 90s.I think once I return to the gym I will see an even greater improvement.

[jamesec]

Hi Docs, Great subject and Dr. Casey was right on. I’m a perfect example. Four years ago I was diagnosed with dangerously low testosterone. My symptoms were not pleasant. Fatigue…no energy…absolutely lethargic…wanted to sleep and took long naps…my libido was missing in action…I was losing muscle mass but putting weight on…and worst of all, I was losing hair. You guys no about that. My curly locks were going down the drain little by little. Full disclosure, I’m 73, 5’10”, 172lbs but I wasn’t getting enough exercise. So my MD gave a choice to me. Gel or injections. I chose the needle. Every two weeks my wife says bend over so she can practice her darts. I do try to make sure she’s happy and for good reasons. Happy wife, happy life and my derrière is thankful for that. Getting the right dosage took a couple/three months to maintain a healthy level. The good news is that the shot is an easy one. Unless you’ve angered your better half. The needle is 1 1/2” 22 gauge and there’s not much feeling in the rear as long as the shot is in the right spot. And the best news is my libido wasn’t dead after all, it was just taking a long nap. 😉🙋‍♂️

[billybarty]

Good luck finding a dr willing to treat you. No matter how low it is.

[mike]

Thanks again Docs for all you do. On the subject of testosterone it would have been helpful to give information on the numbers that would be consider normal, low are high. I think most men start to think about their levels around 50-ish. Most guys don't even know their numbers because a lot of our primary Docs don't order that blood test unless you ask them.

[timdernachn]

Wow verbatim what I've been though! Doctor prescribed testosterone depot injections 5 years ago age 41. I had several symptoms including depression and zero libido. The injections are fine, never had depression since, libido is sky high as is my blood count lol and I actually had a venesection over the weekend. TRT has been a magic bullet for me I gotta say. Lot of of symptoms have been resolved👍

[sinnecoach]

wow awesome you thre docs and this video is so informative. I am glad you also mention the side effects bc some men just think they can take it like that but you need to watch it carefully.
Once again you incredible team, you did good work and I am happy I found you!

[myrachurchman]

So appreciate that you guys always recommend lifestyle changes first--diet and exercise.

[jeffjefferson]

Thanks guys. Really enjoy videos like this. There are way too many ''doctors'' OR ''MDs'' on Youtube who it turns out are chiropractors, but who give advice on diet and other fields they have no knowledge of!

[PapasDino]

Another good set of info, especially to advocate against self-medication with all the OTC supplements that are continuously hawked on the TV! Thanks again to the guys and Dr. Casey!

[dwaynestomp]

Oral T is NOT desroyed in the stomach. It's absorbed into the blood, but something like 80% of it is metabolized by the liver on the furst pass, so you have to keep redosing all day to maintain a level which overworks the liver and leads to temptation to use too much which just exacerbates the danger.

Injections or cutaneous are a more controlled and steady release. I think cutaneous can give more of a natural cycle when applied in the morning.

The problem with supplemental T is that adding T screws up the feedback loop of the H-P-A axis. Your "thermostat" is telling your body yoyre making pkenty, because that's what it sees, so it makes less.

If you adjust it up again, it just lowers your natural output. This leads to a downward spiral of how much of your own T you make vs. how much you supplement.

Often, as in my own case, there's a rise in PSA levels and the docs want to start doing prostate biopsies before they look at the history of your levels and when they rose and how fast but a good urologist will consider this before insisting on a biopsy.

Stopping the supplemental T should tesult in PSA returing in-range within 2 years, according to the science...as it did with me, saving an unnecesary biopsy.

My uroligist works for NASA now.

Barring some reason like your testes not working or you having an issue with the endocrine system that can't be fixed or illness that requires meds that lower T production, etc, you can raise your natural T by eating right, abd that does NOT mean a low fat diet.

All sex hormones come from cholesterol, going through several other intermediate hormones first, like DHA and androstenedione.

Both strenth training and aerobic training are beneficial. A balanced diet is critical to complement the training to work toward a healthy body composition as is lowering sugars and alcohol, and other empty calories.

Evem manipulating ones own mood, making an efgirt to feel piwerful and confident gives you more T, which in turn makes you more powerful, confident, ambitious, clear-headed and focused, alliwing you to ficus and accoplish whatever your goals are, which in turn makes you more confident, more in control of your environment and gives you more T production.

Beat your chest like a gorilla, stomp around like a drill seargeant some. Back down a mean dog, complete that project at work, help someone with a problem, do something you've been putting off...accomplish anything, esoecialky if it was sonething you thought you couldnt do.. then tear your shirt off and scream like the Hulk.

Gorilla stomps are your friend. Cruciferous vegetables eaten raw or lightly steam help too.

Its like a smile being contagious...the more you tell yourself you can, even if you feel at first you can't the closer you get to where you will... and you'll have all the T you need.

It all feeds on itself and builds momentum whichever way you have it going, up or down.

Or continue on the downhill slope with your metabolic snowball until you approach metabolic syndrome, extreme obesity, lack of drive and focus.

Body fat is a metabolic organ that converts T to estrogens via an enzyme called aromatase. Estrogen makes you fatter, that's why big girls have big boobs, and why bodybuiders that overdo the T get tits....gynomastia


With the mood component, you really can "fake it 'till you make it". The more success you see the more you'll feel and so on.

I took the same bloodwork every 3 mos recovering my natural T production as I had when I was using the Androgel because when my GP took me off the supplement I told him I'd been doing some reading about restoring your production naturally and if course ge said no hsrm in tracking progress ...my test results had me back in-range the upper end of natural levels within a year and my PSA normal in 2 years, just as the science shows.

Mood DOES affect T because stress increases cortisol and cortisol makes belly fat, converting some T you have to estradiols, making more fat. Making an effort to boost your mood lowers stress and ...well if you've read this far, you get it.

Knowledge is power! You're in the biggest library ever in existence, use it.

[MakTony]

I have been complaining to my doctor about brain fog, weight gain, depression/anxiety, and energy level for over a year. They did all types of tests, and finally, after one of my annual checkups, I guess they decided to do a low T-test. It came back below 200, and now I need to go see the endocrinologist. I guess they figured since I was young, it wasn't necessary to test it.

[Mamaohhh]

My husband just got diagnosed after blood work… he is not at all over weight and doesn’t drink and has a physical job. He feels like crap….hope we can find something to work without any serious side effects he’s only 50