Tweet
Legal and OTC Alternatives to TRT/HRT ; A thorough analysis / Procedure Overview
"Deciding upon the continuance or initiation of testosterone replacement therapy can be a hard task, especially given all of the intricate contributors that may have prompted one to start in the first place"
"Certainly, money can be an issue, and not everyone has a fair insurance plan - what other options are there?"
The more time goes on, the more controversy emerges on testosterone treatments, yet, the largest bodies of medical evidence justify it's use in hypogonadal men - and yet medical professionals and scientists alike - often but heads as to which should be the accepted regimen.
....OR whether safety is well documented "across the board" - certainly, duration of treatment and age will determine the outcome of treatment and quality of life measures. What remains to be determined, is if every patient should be an equal reminder of how side-effects may differ. One's genetic output and family history of heart disease may prompt new Insight into qualified contendents.
.....OR the lists thereof!
Much of the issue surrounding TRT also is the reported lack of consistency in the ordering of routine bloodwork - by medical professionals even. It has been documented that estrogen related side-effects often come with age, and determine at least partially, responsivity to hormone replacement.
Indeed, there may be other options. These options are also expensive, but likely hold value in terms of their more balanced effect.
Several examples of which are mentioned in the following article.
Does this mean one should stop their treatment cold-turkey and immediately order these products?
NO. - it is just a an extensive analysis of products that are more acceptable to be determined "alternatives" , than the majority of herbal pills or other chemicals with questionable safety records and efficacy. Moreover, the questionable production methods and lack of LAB verification asserts the need to reevaluate the legitimacy of "propietary blends" used to for testosterone enhancement or promoted as hCG replacements.
Finally, if half of the consumers responsible for anecdotal reports of said propietary blends would submit blood work and hormone test results, written by a qualified lab, and not just for shock value - then we may have more leverage in determining the efficacy and legitimacy of these said supplements.
Until now, not a single article has been written that specifically addresses all of these issues and provides alternatives that would be in proportion with, and of equal efficiency in testosterone replacement. Given that the following are not propietary blends in the original sense, but each ingredient is leveled out in accordance with scientific study, and not just "unrivaled appeal". These ingredients are given in a dose and optimal delivery method that would be practical for the treatment of hypogonadism; or in addition to TRT - or in augmentation of testosterone therapy.
These may not be the only options - but are certainly proven their merit on a level that exceeds the quality testing of some other companies proposing the same deal.
Besides these options, what's next for the scientific community in terms of alternatives - or just the well-known subject of hypogonadism and the subjective treatments?
Of relevant premise , naltrexone and opiate antagonists have been found to raise testosterone levels and to an extent, rejuvenate the pituitary gland hormone secretion.
Finally,. it's worthwhile to note that augmentation strategies exist but are generally not recognized in new'er medical students and undergraduates - those physicians and endocrinologists who have been in the practice long enough understand the relevance of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as not only a fertility compound but also , in some instances - a highly beneficial addition to testosterone replacement therapy.
J Urol. 2013 Feb;189(2):647-50. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.09.043. Epub 2012 Dec 20.Concomitant intramuscular human chorionic gonadotropin preserves spermatogenesis in men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy.
Hsieh TC1, Pastuszak AW, Hwang K, Lipshultz LI.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Testosterone replacement therapy results in decreased serum gonadotropins and intratesticular testosterone, and impairs spermatogenesis, leading to azoospermia in 40% of patients. However, intratesticular testosterone can be maintained during testosterone replacement therapy with co-administration of low dose human chorionic gonadotropin, which may support continued spermatogenesis in patients on testosterone replacement therapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
We retrospectively reviewed the records of hypogonadal men treated with testosterone replacement therapy and concomitant low dose human chorionic gonadotropin. Testosterone replacement consisted of daily topical gel or weekly intramuscular injection with intramuscular human chorionic gonadotropin (500 IU) every other day. Serum and free testosterone, estradiol, semen parameters and pregnancy rates were evaluated before and during therapy.
RESULTS:
A total of 26 men with a mean age of 35.9 years were included in the study. Mean followup was 6.2 months. Of the men 19 were treated with injectable testosterone and 7 were treated with transdermal gel. Mean serum hormone levels before vs during treatment were testosterone 207.2 vs 1,055.5 ng/dl (p <0.0001), free testosterone 8.1 vs 20.4 pg/ml (p = 0.02) and estradiol 2.2 vs 3.7 pg/ml (p = 0.11). Pretreatment semen parameters were volume 2.9 ml, density 35.2 million per ml, motility 49.0% and forward progression 2.3. No differences in semen parameters were observed during greater than 1 year of followup. No impact on semen parameters was observed as a function of testosterone formulation. No patient became azoospermic during concomitant testosterone replacement and human chorionic gonadotropin therapy. Nine of 26 men contributed to pregnancy with the partner during followup.
CONCLUSIONS:
Low dose human chorionic gonadotropin appears to maintain semen parameters in hypogonadal men on testosterone replacement therapy. Concurrent testosterone replacement and human chorionic gonadotropin use may preserve fertility in hypogonadal males who desire fertility preservation while on testosterone replacement therapy.
Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PMID:23260550[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Hsieh TC1, Pastuszak AW, Hwang K, Lipshultz LI.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Testosterone replacement therapy results in decreased serum gonadotropins and intratesticular testosterone, and impairs spermatogenesis, leading to azoospermia in 40% of patients. However, intratesticular testosterone can be maintained during testosterone replacement therapy with co-administration of low dose human chorionic gonadotropin, which may support continued spermatogenesis in patients on testosterone replacement therapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
We retrospectively reviewed the records of hypogonadal men treated with testosterone replacement therapy and concomitant low dose human chorionic gonadotropin. Testosterone replacement consisted of daily topical gel or weekly intramuscular injection with intramuscular human chorionic gonadotropin (500 IU) every other day. Serum and free testosterone, estradiol, semen parameters and pregnancy rates were evaluated before and during therapy.
RESULTS:
A total of 26 men with a mean age of 35.9 years were included in the study. Mean followup was 6.2 months. Of the men 19 were treated with injectable testosterone and 7 were treated with transdermal gel. Mean serum hormone levels before vs during treatment were testosterone 207.2 vs 1,055.5 ng/dl (p <0.0001), free testosterone 8.1 vs 20.4 pg/ml (p = 0.02) and estradiol 2.2 vs 3.7 pg/ml (p = 0.11). Pretreatment semen parameters were volume 2.9 ml, density 35.2 million per ml, motility 49.0% and forward progression 2.3. No differences in semen parameters were observed during greater than 1 year of followup. No impact on semen parameters was observed as a function of testosterone formulation. No patient became azoospermic during concomitant testosterone replacement and human chorionic gonadotropin therapy. Nine of 26 men contributed to pregnancy with the partner during followup.
CONCLUSIONS:
Low dose human chorionic gonadotropin appears to maintain semen parameters in hypogonadal men on testosterone replacement therapy. Concurrent testosterone replacement and human chorionic gonadotropin use may preserve fertility in hypogonadal males who desire fertility preservation while on testosterone replacement therapy.
Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PMID:23260550[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
~JASON De'Russo~ :::::::::UB-SA BioChemist Graduate & NeuroEndocrine Researcher::::...::.....:::
Comment