HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT) FOR MEN

Oral Androgens
The word "androgen" is the medical term for "male hormone".
Androgens may be given on a regular basis in tablet (oral) form. Some common brands are Tbstomet (methyltestosterone) or the relatively new Andriol (testosterone undecanoate). There is a possible link between Testomet and liver cancer and Andriol can produce nausea if taken in large doses.
Proviron (mesterolone) is another brand of oral androgen but many men find it as ineffective, as a placebo.
All in all, oral androgens often prove to be unsatisfactory in their effect and a significant proportion of men with severe testosterone deficiency complain that oral testosterone is not effective. It may not be wise to use oral androgens as an introductory trial in a middle-aged man who has a subtle androgen deficiency, and who is wondering whether male hormone replacement therapy holds the key to wellbeing. If oral androgens are ineffectual, a negative value judgement against all other forms of male HRT may be made, with further attempts being rejected.

Androgen Injections
If a man is considering a short-term trial of male HRT there is probably no more definitive way of proving or disproving its benefit than with a three to four month course of monthly injections of androgen. If a deficiency of testosterone is responsible for the mental, physical and sexual fatigue of middle-age, then the androgen injection should greatly reduce, if not abolish these symptoms within one to two weeks. This brings a great sense of relief and apart from the alleviation of symptoms, the androgen injections can produce a feeling of great energy, vitality and can be a superb anti-depressant.
Suitable androgen injections are Primoteston Depot (testosterone oenan-thate) or Sustanon (testosterone propionate), which can be given as a deep oily intramuscular injection into the buttocks each month for three to four months. A follow-up appointment with the doctor should be made two months after the final injection, by which time their effect would no longer be apparent. During this consultation, a decision to abandon or continue with testosterone replacement therapy in the long term can be made. If a patient decides to continue with testosterone replacement for several years or decades, the most effective way in which to deliver the testosterone to the tissues would be through a hormone implant.
ontribution and, if this is suspected, a short trial of hormone replacement therapy with testosterone can be tried.
Androgen Implants
Each implant contains 200mg of testosterone and if three of these are in serted at once, they will provide good blood levels of testosterone for six months. The implants are buried into the fat of the abdominal wall or buttocks. Most men find these implants very effective and free of side effects. This is understandable as the testosterone is absorbed from the implant directly into the blood, bypassing the liver and carried to the receptive tissues and organs.
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