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Oral Testosterone: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects
Curious about oral testosterone but not quite ready to take the leap? In this post, we’re going over the benefits, uses and side effects you need to know.
Keyword(s): oral testosterone
As men age, they start to experience low sex drive and erectile dysfunction due to the gradual decline of their testosterone levels.
However, a low testosterone level doesn’t require treatment itself. The testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is only for those who confirm that those symptoms caused testosterone levels.
According to a study, only 5.6 percent of male population experience low testosterone characterized with clinical symptoms. The percentage considerably rises with age.
If you still have a low level of testosterone but do not have any symptoms, there are natural ways to boost it.
Talk with your doctor to see if the therapy is required. And if it is, there are different ways to treat it.
Oral testosterone treatment is one treatment among skin patches, gels and injections or implants. It comes in the shape of a pill and should be ingested.
The TRT may have side effects so before you jump into any decision, read on to understand the benefits and uses of oral testosterone treatment.
Overview of Oral Testosterone
The liver quickly deactivates oral testosterone. The testosterone molecule should be changed to bear its first pass through the liver. However, it causes liver toxicity.
The only harmless form of oral testosterone is testosterone undecanoate. Lymphatic system absorbs an oily vehicle at first and therefore bypasses the liver.
Though, it’s only accessible outside of the US. The testosterone undecanoate is available under various brand names such as Nibedo, Undestor, and Andriol to name a few.
Outside of the US, it is considered safe and convenient dose. But, unfortunately, it still has the potential for liver toxicity. It also can cause changes in testosterone levels during the day.
The Best Oral Testosterone
Striant is a white colored, tablet-like mouth patch that contains testosterone used for hormone replacement in men.
It sticks to the upper gum above the two front teeth, enters the bloodstream and helps the body to reach normal testosterone levels.
How to Use It
Do not chew or swallow the drug.
Hold the tablet on your incisor for 30 seconds. Leave it for 12 hours and remove afterward.
Change the tablet every 12 hours, twice a day. Switch the sides of your mouth each time you put a new patch.
Often examine your gums. If you notice something odd, consult with your doctor.
To help you remember, place it at the same times each day, in the morning and evening after brushing your teeth for instance.
If it falls off, throw the tablet away and place a new one.
It’s Side Effects
Using oral testosterone can have side effects in your mouth and gums. The most common are irritation, redness, pain, swelling and change in taste.
It usually goes away in several days, but it may also last up to two weeks.
Other side effects like nausea, headache, hair loss, toothache and change in sexual drive might occur as well. If it worsens or becomes persistent, talk to your doctor.
Other Oral Testosterone
Methyltestosterone is another oral testosterone, similar to the natural testosterone produced by the body. It is an androgen drug.
Some experts believe that such pills can directly affect the liver, while other methods bypass it and get testosterone into the blood straightaway.
How to Use It
You should take the pill with or without food. The doctor will prescribe the usage, but usually, it’s 1 to 4 times a day.
The medical condition, levels of testosterone in the blood, and response to the treatment determine the dosage.
While taking the medication, you should not suddenly stop using it without consulting your doctor, who will gradually reduce the dosage.
DO NOT use it if you have allergies to any component of the drug or have breast or prostate cancer.
It’s Side Effects
Taking methyltestosterone may cause vomiting, skin color changes, nausea, headache, decreased/increased sexual desire, hair loss, oily skin and even acne. In case it worsens you must talk to your doctor.
General Benefits of Testoserone Replacement Therapy and Its Side Effects
Testosterone replacement therapy has consistently shown to have positive benefits with minimal side effects.
The benefits of TRT can be both mental and physical.
Restoring testosterone levels to the normal range has shown decrease fat mass, increase lean body mass and bone mineral density and improvement of sexual function and mood.
Note that some benefits do appear within the first month of the therapy, but most effects happen in few months.
Common side effects of TRT include itching, rash or irritation of the place you applied the testosterone. Thus, data shows the risk of heart arrack or stroke.
However, it’s still had to tell. There haven’t been any large clinical trials yet.
Conclusion
Experts believe that there are few health conditions TRT can worsen, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer, sleep apnea or cognitive heart failure.
It still needs years to bring the light on long-term risks or benefits TRT has. As with any medicine, the decision is up to you or your doctor after you weigh the possible advantages and risks.
We encourage you to have a closer look at the side effects before consideration the testosterone replacement therapy.