Testosterone is a male sex hormone that plays a primary role in the development of the reproductive tissues and helps maintain bone density, sex drive, sperm production as well as facial and body hair in men. As one ages, the testosterone levels drop down by 1 percent every year between the age of 30- 40. To combat the dwindling levels of testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy is used as a treatment option. Following are the answers to some questions that will help you understand the same.

What is the standard level of testosterone in men and women?
In men, the normal level of testosterone ranges between 270 to 1,100 nanograms/deciliter of blood.

In women, the normal level of testosterone ranges between 15 and 70 nanograms/deciliter of blood.

What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
The symptoms of a reduced level of testosterone include, but are not restricted to fatigue, hair loss, low sex drive, low semen production, erectile dysfunction, increased breast size, depression, irritability, shrunken testicles, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat and inability to concentrate. Unless the symptoms appear consistently over a considerable period of time, it is best to not assume the cause is decreased testosterone.

Can low testosterone be treated?
Definitely, declining amounts of testosterone in the body can be raised up to the ideal level with testosterone replacement therapy. But it must be done under proper care and observation by an experienced doctor.

Are there natural ways to increase the levels of testosterone in the body?
Yes, some of the ways you can increase testosterone levels naturally are by having a balanced diet that is low on sugar and rich in zinc, getting adequate sleep and moderate exercise and losing excess body weight.

How can the testosterone hormone be replaced medically?
There are many diverse methods of administering testosterone into your body to elevate it to the optimum level. Topical application creams and gels, buccal patches that can be applied to your upper gums, transdermal patches that need to be simply placed on the skin, tablets taken orally, pellets that are implanted under your skin and injections that are given in the gluteal muscles in the buttocks or the thigh muscles are the options you have. All of these have their own advantages and disadvantages, their absorption time by the body, the frequency of their usage and the side effects they trigger, all vary. Testosterone replacement works on a trial and error basis only, so you can adopt alternate methods if one does not work.

What is the appropriate dose of testosterone you should take?
Depending on whether you are a man or woman, your particular need for testosterone, the reason for its reduced production and the symptoms you exhibit, the specific dosage of testosterone you should take will be advised by your medical consultant. Dosage is personalized according to your requirement based on the physical and diagnostic tests that are done. Altering the dosage is an option that your doctor might consider based on how effective the treatment is initiated.

Should you be on testosterone replacement therapy for the rest of your life?
Testosterone replacement therapy restores the level of testosterone temporarily, it does not cure the condition. So, this treatment will continue for the rest of your life.

Are there any risks in doing testosterone replacement therapy?
Yes, testosterone replacement therapy produces some side effects such as the development of acne, increased risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke, fluid retention and inducing sleep apnea.