Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Side Effects in Men and Women
All medications come with some warnings about potential risks and side effects. That is why weighing the benefits against the testosterone therapy side effects is essential before starting on a course of treatment, even if it has been prescribed by a doctor.
The most likely chance of receiving adverse reactions from treatment for Low T come to those who abuse this medication, or take if for all of the wrong reasons, such as sports or physical enhancement when it is not needed.
Hormone levels are delicate things and should never be raised or lowered for any reason other than medical necessity. In order to avoid adverse testosterone replacement therapy side effects, it is recommended that all treatment be prescribed by a doctor who specializes in hormone replacement therapy. The balancing of hormone levels should only be done by experts with advanced knowledge in this field of medicine.
Treatment with supplemental testosterone is safe for both men and women. HRT doctors can help reduce the chance of developing side effects of testosterone replacement therapy through careful calculations of dosages following a review of blood test and physical examination results.
Side Effects List
The list of potential side effects of testosterone therapy can easily be separated into mildly annoying or potentially dangerous. Most of the adverse effects are gender neutral – meaning that both women and men may notice these undesirable symptoms. The ones that are gender specific will be listed separately.
Possible testosterone therapy side effects that can affect anyone include:
- Oily skin
- Acne
- Changes in breast tissue – enlargement
- Fluid retention
- Male pattern balding
- Facial hair growth
- Skin irritation
- Increased aggression
- Mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy side effects in men include:
- Changes in testicular size
- Erectile dysfunction
- Increased or decreased urination
- Stimulation of prostate tissue
- Changes in libido
Testosterone therapy side effects for women include the following:
- Deepening of the voice
- Enlarged clitoris
The potentially dangerous risks associated with the use of testosterone replacement include:
- Blood thickening/polycythemia
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Blood clots
- Sleep apnea
The likelihood of these issues arising when the treatment with testosterone is being overseen by an experienced doctor is exceedingly rare.
How to Avoid Side Effects
In the majority of cases, potentially dangerous side effects will not occur when testosterone treatment is prescribed and managed by an experienced medical professional. Any minor changes can be immediately corrected by the hormone replacement therapy doctor lowering the dosage of the testosterone treatment.
At Kingsberg Medical, we ensure that each person understands the risks and benefits of whatever type of hormone replacement treatment they have been prescribed. This enables each adult to be aware of any changes immediately and report them to our clinic. The doctor will then decide if any action to lower the dosage of medication is warranted to prevent unwanted side effect of testosterone replacement therapy.
In many cases, minor side effects will go away on their own without any action once the body gets used to the increased level of testosterone. If this does not occur within a few weeks, or if the symptoms begin to worsen, the HRT specialist will decrease the dosage to put an end to the unwanted side effects. Testosterone therapy is extremely safe when prescribed by our doctors following proper diagnostic testing.
Useful Information:
To learn more about the hormone replacement options available to you, how to get blood testing at a local lab, or to ask any questions you have about this or other forms of HRT, please contact us by phone or the form below. At Kingsberg Medical, confidential consultations are always provided at no charge to men and women seeking answers about improving their well-being and vitality.
