Low Testosterone

We offer evidence-based and effective treatment of men with symptoms of low testosterone, with focus on the cause, restoration of natural production, prevention, holistic education, and effective supplementation. We believe that every man with symptoms of low testosterone requires a personalized approach and treatment as indicated.

Men – Lost Your Juice?

By Kambiz Tajkarimi, MD Urology Surgical Consulting, PC Do you wake up every morning dragging your feet out of bed? Feeling fatigued, have low desire for sex, cloudy mental sharpness? Have a large band of fat around your waste? You feel that your muscles left your body a decade ago? Have your lost your juice? You may have low testosterone. What is low testosterone? Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) is a condition in which the testes (testicles, the male reproductive glands) do not produce enough testosterone (a male sex hormone). Low testosterone affects almost 40% of men aged 45 and older. There is difficulty defining normal testosterone levels, because levels vary throughout the day and are affected by your body mass index, alcohol, nutrition, certain medications, age and illness. As a man ages, testosterone gradually drops. This natural decline starts after age 30 and continues (about 1% per year) throughout his life. Low testosterone numbers do not necessarily indicate need for therapy if you don't have symptoms of low T. Many cases show normal numbers with symptoms and therapy can give improvement. What are the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy? Potential benefits of testosterone replacement therapy may include: · Loss of fat · Increased bone density and protection against osteoporosis · Improved mood and sense of well-being · Improved sexual function · Improved mental sharpness · Greater muscle strength and physical performance How is low testosterone diagnosed? Low testosterone is diagnosed by measuring the amount of testosterone in the blood with a blood test. The levels may vary and repeat testing is often performed. The highest levels of testosterone are generally in the morning, near 8 a.m. How is low testosterone treated? Using testosterone replacement therapy, treatment is done in several different ways: · Intramuscular injections (into a muscle), usually every 10 to 14 days · Testosterone patches, which are used every day and are applied to different parts of the body · Testosterone gels that are applied every day to the skin of the upper back and arms · Pellets that are implanted under the skin every 3-4 months Are there side effects? The side effects of testosterone replacement therapy include: (symptoms are uncommon) · Acne or oily skin · Swelling in the ankles caused by mild fluid retention · Stimulation of the prostate (can cause difficulty urinating) · Breast enlargement/tenderness · Worsening of sleep apnea · Smaller testicles · Skin irritation (in patients receiving topical testosterone replacement) Good nutrition, exercise, weight management and avoiding excessive alcohol or drug use helps keep testosterone levels normal. An experienced physician must perform testosterone replacement therapy and monitoring with meticulous follow up to find your sweet spot testosterone level with minimal side effects. Meticulous follow up is necessary for optimal results and prevention of side effects and other related diseases, such as prostate cancer.




Why are Testosterone pellets such a great idea?

Why is this such a great idea?

  • The first and the foremost benefit of such a treatment modality addresses the issue of noncompliance or poor compliance of a patient.
    • It is not a big secret to say that we live in a fast-paced world. Furthermore, Greater Washington DC life style and traffic has everyone doing more for others and less for themselves. This includes taking time for personal healthcare including appropriate timing to take medications that are prescribed by physicians at the prescribed timing. Many patients are reporting to their doctors–more and more– different reasoning behind why they are unable to keep track of their medication regimens. Furthermore, more and more people forget to take their medications steadily on a given day by day basis. The pellets alleviate this problem as it stays in your body for 3 -5 months without you needing to remember anything.
      • Some hormone formats are prescribed on a day by day basis. Some pills are to be taken one or two times per day. The most popular form of hormone application—creams are to be applied 1 to 2 times per day by patient. However, most people have problems with this consistency. And when dealing with hormone application, missing doses could be problematic.
      • Other hormone prescription formats are weekly or semimonthly injections. Although this is less cumbersome than a daily application, it is still harder to remember and more frequently prone to missing doses. A lot of patients on such protocols have a wide array of fluctuating hormones if not totally compliant with the regularity of their frequency.
  • The second but also important benefit of such treatment modality is the decrease of side effects as compared to other modalities of hormone therapy such as injections, pills, cream applications, or patches.
    • Because of the method of release of such medications into the bloodstream, the body does not get exposed to higher than needed strengths. Therefore, is a lot less likely to produce unwanted side effects which that particular hormone is known for.
    • Therefore, the common side effects of a particular hormone can be significantly reduced by the method of administration of that hormone being in a pellet format versus other formats such as injections, skin applications, or pills.
Physiology of pellet release In general, when the cells and tissues and organs of our body require a certain hormone for certain activities or functions, the capillaries open and invite and absorb that certain hormone which the body is calling for at the moment that it needs it. In the usual case– our body pumps enough of this hormone to be absorbed and utilized for that specific function. However, if our gland (testes or ovaries or adrenal) is slow in the production of that hormone (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA) then it is useful to have a depot reserve of such hormone embedded in the fat tissue where our capillaries can easily absorb as much of this hormone as they need. This is exactly the reason why hormone “pellets” are so effective.
Who would be candidate for hormone pellet implantation therapy? As with any other medical treatment, the individual must be evaluated by a physician that is specialized or has extensive experience in the field of hormone rejuvenation or optimization therapies. Your physician must include a detailed conversation with you regarding your symptoms and medical history. Furthermore, a detailed hormone examination ( blood, saliva or urine sample) through a laboratory equipped with appropriate processing and reporting of hormone levels along with metabolites of different hormones. After reviewing a detailed hormone panel, your physician must sit down with you and discuss all your options about different types of therapy and make a personalized plan suited for you and your lifestyle. What is the process associated with getting pellets inserted? Once it is established by you and your physician that you will utilize the pellets as a part of your hormone optimization and rejuvenation therapy:
  • “pellets” will be ordered through a highly-qualified pharmacy with strict standards of producing compounded pellets.
  • Your physician will insert the pellets and placed them immediately underneath your skin within your subcutaneous fat layer.
  • Appropriate skin closure and dressing will be applied for two weeks
  • the pellets will dissolve completely in your body as they do you have no other substance or ingredients other than the hormone itself.
  • There is nothing to remove from your body once the hormones have dissolved.
  • Average time for the next insertion is 3 to 5 months based on your body’s metabolism and usage of the hormone.

Hormone Pellet Implantation Therapy Leesburg Virginia

If you are located in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC and surrounding regions and interested in hormone pellet implantation therapy,  please contact us today to set up an appointment.

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