With roughly 91 men per year dying from prostate cancer, it’s a devastating disease all of us hope to avoid. It may push lots of men to be more mindful about their health, and play a big role in certain decisions connected with various treatments and procedures.
One, in particular, is to choose whether or not to take testosterone. Because although naturally having good testosterone levels is something every man desires to have, inducing it into the body has been linked to increased chances of developing prostate cancer.
For those who severely struggle with low testosterone, this can seem an almost impossible choice to make.
If it is the case that taking testosterone can increase that likelihood, then one may feel like they’re forced to choose between risking cancer, or a life of having low testosterone and the many implications that come with that.
When Testosterone is Not the Answer
Injections are one way of taking testosterone, but there are many less invasive ways to do so – such as patches and gels. But although less invasive and seemingly uncomplicated, the associated risks are still incredibly complex, and can possibly outweigh potential benefits.
This has become evident in a lot of research. One example is a study that was carried out in 2013, which monitored a thousand men with low testosterone levels.
Before embarking on testosterone therapy, participants underwent a coronary angiography – a test used to identify blocked or narrowed blood vessels. Following this, a portion of them received TRT to treat their low testosterone levels.
After receiving treatment, the study revealed that the rate of strokes and heart attacks were largely increased in the participants who had treatment, in comparison to the men who hadn’t received it.
Bearing in mind such evidence, it’s important to fully consider if taking testosterone is absolutely necessary.
Some of the more typical reasons for men turning to testosterone therapy is that they believe it’s the best way to tackle problems of low energy and sex-drive, with the hopes it will improve their sex life.
However, experiencing such problems can simply be a standard part of the aging process. In which case, anyone considering TRT would need to accept this and be clear that testosterone isn’t an age-defying solution that can be used to remain forever young.
But more importantly, because of the high-leveled risks associated with taking testosterone, it’s imperative to know the circumstances under which it’d be significantly more dangerous to opt for TRT.
Men with prostate cancer
TRT isn’t classed as something that’s an underlying cause of prostate cancer. However, research has shown that it can lead to cancer growth.
Hence, if you already have prostate cancer (or any other form of cancer), it’d be too dangerous to consider testosterone therapy. And if you’ve had it in the past but have since recovered, it’s still wise to discuss this with your doctor.
Men with benign prostate disease
Benign prostate disease (otherwise known as Benign prostate enlargement) is a condition that affects more men the older they get.
It’s typically not too serious, but it does cause the prostate gland to become enlarged, making it painful to urinate and difficult to empty the bladder. This is due to the fact that the flow of urine becomes blocked by the enlarged gland.
If such symptoms are occurring in the urinary tract, or you’ve recently had a rectal exam which has uncovered a lump in your prostate, it’d be wise to have a conversation with your doctor about how safe testosterone treatment is for you.
Though, there may not an absolute need to refrain from TRT, in this case.
Men hoping to become a father
It’s usually advised that younger men do not take testosterone, as there’s a higher likelihood that they may yet want to have children, as opposed to an older man.
TRT makes having children severely harder to achieve, as it lowers sperm count and consequently brings down levels of fertility.
This happens because once you take artificial testosterone, the natural testosterone production in the testicles will come to a complete stop. Subsequently, the testicles start to shrink and sperm will begin to decline after 10 weeks of TRT.
Men who have polycythemia
When the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is too concentrated, the number of red blood cells will increase to an unhealthy degree. This may be a primary disease caused by illness, or a secondary condition brought on by another disease, such as cancer.
Symptoms of polycythemia can be fatigue, blurred vision, experiencing pain in the bones, heavy bleeding from small cuts, excess sweating, insomnia, and more.
Because TYT is intended to increase red blood cells, this can have a worsening effect on polycythemia, causing the red blood cells to increase further and thicken the blood even more.
Men who have sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that involves your breathing stopping and starting whilst you sleep. It can often interrupt your sleep by causing you to wake up suddenly gasping for breath.
You may also make choking noises whilst sleeping, or snore very heavily, and find that you feel lethargic during the day.
Testosterone therapy is advised against in this scenario, as it’s thought that it can worsen the condition. If you believe you’ve had some of these symptoms, it’d be wise to see a doctor about getting a sleep study to diagnose the type of sleep disorder you have.
If you receive the treatment for sleep apnea and you’re no longer having problems of this nature, it may be possible to revisit your testosterone treatment options.
But again, consulting your doctor is always necessary before considering anything.
Men carrying too much weight
Low testosterone is a common factor found in men who are overweight. Having low testosterone levels can actually be both a cause and result of excess weight, as the more overweight you are, the lower your testosterone levels will be.
And similarly, the lower your testosterone levels are, the more likely you are to increase in weight (or at least, in excess fat).
If you’re overweight and experiencing low testosterone, rather than taking testosterone therapy, losing weight could be the best solution in this scenario. It’s considerably less risky, and essential to your overall health – including that of your testosterone production.
Cancer & Testosterone Therapy
If there was no benefit to testosterone therapy, it wouldn’t be a legal procedure that thousands of men undergo. We should remember that the majority of men do respond well to the treatment and gain many benefits from it.
However, the risks and side effects it poses do need to be taken into consideration so the doctor can do everything possible to ensure your safety if having it. Which is why regular blood tests and digital rectal exams would be required over the course of treatment.
But even with these safety precautions, some men may simply not take well to it. Prostate cancer can develop as a result of how the prostate cell grows.
Because natural testosterone usually helps men grow it normally, TRT interferes with this process by prohibiting the natural production of testosterone.
The higher levels of testosterone that it’s replaced with can lead to faster growth of the prostate cell. If it’s already cancerous, then the cancer would consequently grow at an accelerated rate.
There is conflicting research on this area, with various studies showing that higher testosterone levels did not act as an accelerant for prostate cancer. One such study has been printed in BJU International.
The experience had 999 participants, of whom the average age was 59. 75% of them had used TRT, and researchers concluded that there had been no greater risk for those who had taken testosterone, than for those who hadn’t.
Although, it’s worth noting that none of those participants had previously had a history of prostate cancer.
It’s for these reasons that TRT is generally only recommended for men who have been diagnosed with hypogonadism. Otherwise, men are generally encouraged to focus on improving their lifestyle, diet, and opting for more naturally sustainable solutions, such as testosterone boosters.
Natural Alternatives
If you fall into the category of men not advised to opt for TRT, because you have underlying health issues or you’re symptoms aren’t bad enough to warrant such intensive treatment, choosing safer and more natural alternatives could be the best choice.
Here is a couple of them:
Weight Management
Because excess weight is such a regular component found in men with low testosterone, exercise is monumental to living well, and maintaining a healthy weight and level of testosterone. In addition to these benefits, exercising will also build more muscle.
Stress Management
Stress impacts your body in more ways than you may realize, especially when feeling stressed continuously over a long period of time.
This has a significant impact on your body, testosterone production, and libido. Reducing stress levels can go a long way in bringing your testosterone levels back up.
There are many techniques to decrease stress – mindfulness, meditation, exercise, and sleep is just a few. Having a good sleep pattern is particularly helpful. not just for bringing down stress levels and improving your health, but it also has a direct effect on your testosterone levels.
This is largely due to the fact that men predominantly release testosterone when they sleep.
Additionally, as mentioned earlier, diet is an obvious way to ensure you keep at a healthy weight. Plus, eating foods that are known to be high in vitamins and nutrients that facilitate testosterone health.
And if you are already taking steps to be more health-conscious, but you’re looking for something to help boost your testosterone levels in a safe and natural way, you may want to consider UltraCore Power Testosterone Boosters.
Contrary to testosterone replacement therapy, these are designed to help your body better produce it’s own testosterone, naturally.
If you’re considering TRT and feeling worried it causes cancer, you can find some solace in the fact that this is not necessarily the case.
However, because research indicates it can play a part in increasing the likelihood and speed of cancer, it’s certainly worth exploring the safer options at your disposal.
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