by: Eugene Shtalman
Nowadays many people are familiar with the appellation of “low testosterone level”. What does it mean? It mean that male body produce less amounts of this hormone than necessary.
Testosterone is the major androgenic hormone produced by the cells of the testes. This hormon regulates gonadotropic secretion and wolffian duct differentiation and stimulates skeletal muscle.
There are two different effects of testosterone:
Anabolic effects: promoting growth, muscle building.
Androgenic effects: developing the primary (male sex organs) and secondary sex characteristics (deepening of the voice and growth of facial hair for example).
Testosterone level in the body is analysing thrugh the serum total testosterone test.
This test measures the total of two forms of testosterone – free and bound. Normal test levels of combined bound and free testosterone range anywhere from 300-1100 ng/dl (nanograms per deciliter) depending on age and individual factors. Concentration of testosterone much less than 300-1100 ng/dl is to be considered as low testosterone level.
Low testosterone level is one of the reasons of male cryptorchidism, hypogonadism and the symptoms of the male climacteric.
The quick and effective way to increase level of this hormone in the body is to administer synthetic testosterone.
There are few forms of synthetic testosterone:
Injectable forms:
Testosterone Suspension - is an preparation containing free testosterone in a water.
Testosterone Enanthate, Cypionate and Propionate – esters of testosterone.
Such forms of testosterone are injected in buttocks every one-two weeks.
The big disadvantage is that testosterone injections are quite painfull.
Oral forms:
Testosterone undecanoate - it is considered a safer oral form of testosterone.
One disadvantage of orally administered undecanoate is that it is eliminated from the body very quickly. Thus, frequent administration is necessary.
Transdermal forms (also known as patches):
In this case testosterone deliver through the skin, by the use of a hormone containing patch, gel, or cream. Patch is applied daily to a man's shaved scrotum, the newer patch forms can be applied to the upper arms, back, thighs, or abdomen.