What is Testosterone? It is a hormone that plays an important role in the development and maintenance of a man’s health. The brain’s hypothalamus and the pituitary gland works with the testes to regulate the testosterone hormones to ensure it remains in a normal range of between 300 ng/dL and 1000 ng/dL. When levels of testosterone are below the normal range, the brain signals the testes to make more. When there is enough testosterone, the brain signals the testes to make less.
However, if you have low level of testosterone, the condition is called hypogonadism. There could be a signalling problem between your brain and testes that is causing the production of testosterone to drop too low. Meaning the brain might hint that there the testosterone levels are too high. The brain then sends a signal to the testes to slow down production. This is known as secondary hypogonadism. Hypogonadism can also happen if there is a defect in your testes and they can’t make levels of testosterone in the normal range. This is known as primary hypogonadism.
Possible causes of primary hypogonadism:
- Undescended or absent testes
- Injury resulting in loss of testes
- Inflammation of the testes
- Surgical removal of testes
- Genetic abnormalities, such as Klinefelter Syndrome, in which males have an extra X chromosome
- Chemotherapy that causes loss of normal testicular function
- Damage to testes from alcohol or heavy metals.
Possible causes of secondary hypogonadism:
- Genetic abnormalities that result in abnormal function of the hormones from the brain and pituitary that control the testes
- Tumor, trauma, or radiation that involve the pituitary gland’s control of the testes.
A visit to your doctor can confirm a diagnosis by taking a medical history, including an evaluation of conditions that may be causing low testosterone levels, performing important medical exams, and measuring testosterone levels with blood tests. It is important to follow up, as a low testosterone level can lead to certain medical conditions.
Your doctor will suggest a treatment plan. AndroGel 1.62%, which is a daily topical testosterone replacement therapy, is one treatment solution that, through daily morning use, may raise the testosterone levels of suitable patients. It should not be used in adult men who have low testosterone as a result of aging alone or anyone under the age of 18.
The testosterone in AndroGel 1.62% is the same as the testosterone that your body makes naturally. This gel is used to treat adult males who have low or no testosterone due to certain medical conditions. It is a clear, odorless, and quick-drying gel that can raise your testosterone levels with daily morning use.
Although beneficial it comes with some risks.
AndroGel 1.62% is not suitable for men with breast or prostate cancer. Plus, this tropical testosterone gel is not meant for females, particularly not for women that are pregnant or which are breast feeding. That is since this gel might harm the unborn baby or the baby that is been breastfed. Therefore special care should be taken by women and children to avoid contact with areas where the gel has been applied. The problem is that this gel is clear, odourless, and concentrated quick-drying gel, can transfer from your body to another either via skin to skin contact.
Other side effects of the testosterone gel AndroGel 1.62% include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- dizziness
- hair loss
- increased hair growth
- trouble sleeping,
- changes in sexual desire
- redness, swelling, itching, burning, or hardening of the skin where the patch is worn,
- change in skin color
- breast swelling or tenderness,
- depression
- acne.
However the more serious side effects of AndroGel 1.62% can include:
- breast pain
- swelling of the feet or ankles
- weight gain
- very slow, shallow, difficult breathing
- weakness.
Also AndroGel 1.62% may interact with beta-blockers, blood thinners, corticosteroids, oral diabetes medication, insulin, or oxyphenbutazone. You should inform your doctor of all medications and supplements you use.
Plus, if you are diabetic, especially taking insulin, testosterone may decrease your blood sugar. Be prepared to treat low blood sugar while you are using this medication. Symptoms of low blood sugar include shakiness, nervousness, rapid pulse, and sweating. If you are experiencing these symptoms, consult your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medications.
Although unlikely event that once you have an erection and it lasts longer than 4 hours, then you should stop using this drug and seek immediate medical attention, or permanent problems could occur.
