TRT clinic Center, TX - Renew Medical Clinic

Understanding Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a treatment that helps raise low testosterone levels in men back to normal. As men age, their bodies produce less testosterone which can lead to unpleasant symptoms like low energy, decreased muscle mass, weight gain, irritability, and low libido.

TRT is prescribed to treat low T (low testosterone) levels when lifestyle changes don't help. The goal is to get testosterone levels back within the normal range to alleviate low T symptoms. When used properly and under the care of a knowledgeable physician, testosterone therapy can successfully treat hormonal imbalance and significantly improve men's health and quality of life.

At we specialize in testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to help men optimize their vitality, strength, endurance, body composition, mood, motivation, focus, and libido. Our clinic provides comprehensive low testosterone treatment tailored to your unique health profile. We offer cutting-edge, convenient and effective testosterone therapies including injections, gels, pellets, and more to cater to your lifestyle and needs.

What Causes Low Testosterone (Low T)?

There are several potential causes of low T in men:

• Aging - Testosterone production peaks in early adulthood then gradually declines with age. Low T prevalence increases after age 30.
• Injury or infection - Testicular trauma, surgery, or infection can affect testosterone production.
• Chronic illness - Obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver or kidney disease, cancer treatment, sleep apnea and other conditions are associated with low T.
• Medications - Opioid pain medications and steroids impact natural testosterone synthesis.
• Genetic conditions - e.g. Klinefelter's syndrome
• Unhealthy lifestyle - Lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and stress deplete testosterone.

Low T should not be dismissed as just a natural consequence of aging. With TRT many symptoms are reversible for men to feel youthful and healthy again.

Recognizing the Signs of Low Testosterone

Low T symptoms can be vague and develop gradually over time making diagnosis difficult. Every man experiences declining testosterone differently. Symptoms may include:

Physical

• Decreased muscle mass and strength
• Increased body fat, especially belly fat
• Reduced bone mineral density, higher fracture risk
• Reduced energy and endurance, feeling tired
• Erectile dysfunction
• Decreased sperm production

Mental

• Depression, irritability, lack of motivation
• Difficulty concentrating and "brain fog"
• Reduced self-confidence

Lifestyle

• Decreased libido (sex drive)
• Less enjoyment and poorer performance in the bedroom
• Sleep disturbances - difficulty falling/staying asleep

If multiple symptoms are significantly impacting quality of life, testosterone testing should be considered. Feel free to schedule a consultation at our Center clinic to evaluate hormone levels and treatment options.

Health Risks of Untreated Low Testosterone

Leaving low T untreated comes with significant health risks including:

• Cardiovascular disease - Studies show men with low testosterone have higher rates of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.
• Type 2 diabetes - Low testosterone and insulin resistance influence each other. Men with diabetes tend to have low T levels.
• Obesity - Excess belly fat and low T share a complicated relationship. Visceral fat secretes inflammatory signals to suppress testosterone production.
• Osteoporosis - Testosterone plays a vital role in bone health. Deficiency accelerates bone loss raising fracture risk.
• Depression - Men with depression often have markedly low T levels. Depression negatively impacts testosterone too.
• Mortality - Evidence demonstrates men with low T have higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared to men with normal T levels.

The wide-ranging benefits of testosterone for men's health are clear. TRT can substantially reduce these risks when deficiency is properly diagnosed and treated.

Table 1. Health risks associated with leaving low testosterone (low T) untreated

Disease/Condition	Risk
Heart disease	Higher rates of atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke and death
Type 2 diabetes	Low T predicts and complicates diabetes
Obesity	Excess visceral fat drives low T production lower
Osteoporosis	Accelerated bone loss and fragility fractures
Depression	Bidirectional relationship - low T worsens depression and vice versa
Mortality	Low T predicts higher cardiovascular and all-cause mortality

Who Should Get Their Testosterone Levels Checked?

The Endocrine Society recommends screening men for low T if they have signs and symptoms of testosterone deficiency including:

• Low libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Decreased muscle mass and strength
• Increased body fat and reduced bone mineral density
• Fatigue, "brain fog", depression

They also advise testing men with chronic illness known to adversely affect testosterone such as:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney or liver disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Pain syndrome or opioid use

Likewise, men over age 65 should have their T levels assessed since prevalence of deficiency rises substantially with age.

Keep in mind normal testosterone levels vary quite a bit between men. Experts stress the importance of evaluating symptoms and wellness rather than just lab numbers. An optimal testosterone level for one man could be low and cause problematic symptoms for another.

We take a comprehensive, integrative approach to TRT tailored to your unique health situation guided not just by labwork, but more importantly how you look and feel. Contact us to find out if you're a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy.

Diagnosing Low Testosterone

Accurately diagnosing testosterone deficiency requires a trained hormone specialist to take a detailed history, assess symptoms, perform a physical exam and order appropriate lab testing.

At Renew Medical Clinic our expert physicians methodically evaluate new patients for low T. We guide you through next steps to determine if TRT is right for you.

Medical History

We'll ask about:

• Ongoing symptoms of low T
• Medical conditions
• Medications
• Injuries and surgeries
• Lifestyle factors

Physical Exam

The physician performs a physical examining:

• Vital signs
• Heart, lungs, abdomen, genitalia
• Body composition - height, weight, muscle/fat distribution
• Signs of testosterone deficiency - reduced body hair, soft testes

Lab Testing

We order fasting bloodwork to accurately diagnose low T including:

• Total testosterone - measures both free and bound testosterone circulating in blood
• Free testosterone - only about 2% floats freely to enter cells easily impacting function
• Bioavailable testosterone - the portion biologically available to tissues
• LH and FSH - signals from the pituitary gland regulating testosterone
• Estradiol - the main estrogen hormone that can rise too high with TRT
• PSA - helps screen for prostate cancer risk before starting treatment
• Complete metabolic panel - evaluates blood sugar, kidney/liver function, electrolytes
• CBC - complete blood count assessing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
• Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium - key hormones and nutrients influencing testosterone

Two morning testosterone blood draws help confirm a low value wasn't just a random fluctuation.

Renew Medical Clinic TRT Protocols

Once low testosterone is definitively diagnosed, we thoughtfully design a customized treatment plan to optimally restore healthy T levels based on your needs and preferences.

We provide an array of TRT options including:

🔷 Testosterone injections - The most cost-effective form absorbed immediately into the bloodstream. Injections are given weekly or every 2 weeks.

🔷 Testosterone gels - Topicals rubbed daily onto the arms or abdomen for steady testosterone delivery.

🔷 Testosterone pellets - Tiny implants inserted under the skin every 3-6 months for slow steady testosterone release.

🔷 Oral testosterone capsules - Taken daily preferably with food that has some absorption variability.

🔷 HCG injections - Used short-term to boost natural testosterone production sometimes when fertility is a concern.

🔷 Clomid - An oral pill that may help some men raise T levels by blocking estrogen activity on the hypothalamus to increase LH/FSH and stimulate testicular testosterone secretion.

We thoughtfully consider your lifestyle, preferences, fertility wishes, cost, and other factors when designing an optimal TRT regimen tailored for your needs.

The goal is achieving consistent testosterone levels in the healthy range - not too high, not too low - where you feel your best with reversed low T symptoms so you can thrive. We teach you to properly administer your testosterone therapy at home between follow up visits.

Starting TRT Therapy

When initiating TRT treatment we generally recommend starting low and titrating up which helps minimize potential side effects. We closely monitor you for the first 3 months seeing you monthly to track symptom improvement and repeat lab testing to make dosage adjustments aiming for ideal, stable testosterone levels.

Once optimized on treatment with reversal of symptoms and healthy testosterone levels in mid-range, follow up visits become less frequent (e.g. every 6 months) to monitor your progress, evaluate need for medication adjustments, and repeat bloodwork.

Goals and Benefits of TRT

The major goals of testosterone replacement therapy are to:

1. Safely achieve steady testosterone levels within physiological normal range - Not too low causing deficiency and not too high risking side effects
2. Improve symptoms - Increase energy, libido, mood, cognition, bone density while reversing fatigue, weakness, "brain fog"
3. Optimize hormones - Raise total and free testosterone into mid-normal range
4. Reduce health risks - Improve body composition and biomarker derangement (cholesterol, blood sugar, inflammation) that underlie chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease worsened by low T

TRT aims to help you look better, feel stronger, think clearer, lift your mood, increase virility, prevent disease, ultimately regain vitality and zest for life!

Physical Changes

With TRT many men experience dramatic positive physical changes like:

• Increased strength, endurance and performance
• Decreased body fat, increased lean muscle mass - making you look and feel better naked!
• Resumption of normal erections - improved rigidity and frequency
• Boosted libido - more sexual desire and activity
• Improved sleep quality

Mentation and Mood

Many TRT patients report major mental/emotional differences like:

• Sharper focus, improved concentration, less "brain fog"
• Better verbal fluency - finding words easier during conversation
• Elevated motivation and productivity
• More positive outlook - decreased irritability and depressed mood
• Greater confidence and wellbeing
• Improved stress resilience

Restoring testosterone balance provides transformative benefits across many aspects of health and performance helping you actualize your masculine vital potential!

"After starting TRT the mental fog cleared. I had more energy to be active and lost 25 lbs. My mood improved where I'm more engaged and making love again with my wife." - Steve P., Age 43

Renew Medical Clinic TRT Clinic

Renew Medical Clinic provides comprehensive testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) helping men successfully treat low testosterone levels restoring health, wellness and peak performance.

Why Choose Renew Medical Clinic?

• All American Board certified hormone specialists with decades experience optimizing men's health
• Individualized treatment plans - not "one-size-fits-all"
• The latest medical science integrated with complementary therapies promoting vital longevity
• Convenient community-based clinic in Center, TX
• Competitive pricing without compromising quality
• Seamless insurance billing assistance

We also offer advanced hormone optimization services including:

• Growth hormone peptides
• Erectile dysfunction treatments
• Fertility therapy
• Integrative health consulting

Schedule a consultation to meet our staff and evaluate if TRT is right for you.

Who Are Good Candidates for TRT?

The best candidates for testosterone replacement therapy are men that:

• Have measurably low blood levels of total and/or free testosterone plus signs and symptoms of hormonal deficiency
• Did not achieve satisfactory improvements in wellbeing from lifestyle measures (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, stress reduction)
• Are under excellent care of a physician highly experienced in TRT monitoring

Testosterone therapy is not advisable for men with:

• Normal total and free testosterone lab values
• Prostate or breast cancer
• Severe urinary blockage from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
• Uncontrolled heart failure
• Severe sleep apnea unmanged

Have you been feeling "off" and not quite yourself recently struggling with frustrating low T related issues? Take our Low-T Quiz to help assess if you may be suffering from treatable hormonal imbalance.

We help men optimize declining testosterone levels to restore vim, vigor and vitality so you can thrive and actualize your full masculine birthright!

What Lifestyle Measures Optimize Testosterone?

Research shows simple healthy lifestyle measures significantly influence testosterone levels and should be prioritized in addition to TRT including:

🌱 Optimize Diet

• Get adequate calories with sufficient protein intake (~0.5 grams per pound of body weight daily)
• Consume healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, fatty fish)
• Reduce sugar, refined carbs and ultraprocessed foods
• Ensure adequate micronutrient intake - vitamins (A, E, C, D, K) and minerals (zinc, magnesium, selenium, iodine)

💪🏋️‍♂️ Exercise

• Perform multi-joint strength training workouts 2-4x weekly targeting large muscle groups to stress/stimulate natural testosterone synthesis

😴 Improve Sleep Quality

• Prioritize 7-9 hours nightly aiming for consistent bed and wake times
• Adopt relaxing pre-bedtime routines leaving screens 1 hour before bed
• Optimize bedroom - completely dark, cool (65°F), comfortable bedding

🧘 Reduce Stress

• Schedule relaxing measured breathing focused mindfulness or meditation practice 10-20 minutes daily
• Other stress reduction activities - leisure reading, taking baths, enjoyable hobbies, spending time in nature

🙅♂️ Avoid

• Excess alcohol - increases estrogen and impairs T production
• Smoking - shown to reduce serum T levels
• Opioid pain pills - disrupt GnRH signaling lowering T

Following these evidence-based lifestyle strategies combined with proper TRT maximizes benefits helping you regain optimal health, hormones and peak performance!

Table 2. Common Questions About TRT

Question	Answer
Which testosterone form is best?	All delivery methods can be effective when properly used for your needs
How much does TRT cost?	Pricing varies based on treatment type, dosage and insurance coverage
Is TRT safe?	TRT is safe when properly monitored by an experienced physician
How soon until feeling better?	Most men notice improvements in 3-6 weeks, full results in 2-3 months
Is TRT permanent?	Many men require lifelong therapy, some cycles off to regain natural production or fertility
Physical/sexual benefits?	Yes, most men report body recomposition benefits and enhanced sexual function

References and Research

Arau