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Testosterone is the drug of the future

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Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#141

Post by codingdave »

Maybe I am overly cynical, but...

There are a lot of reasons that people may be tired and not in optimal health as they age, testosterone being just one. So when testosterone comes around, and is being pimped by high-cost cash-only doctors, it looks to me as much of a way for a doctor who hates the current medical industry to escape it, and build a high income private practice, as much as a truly holistic approach to improving their patient's lives.

I just have some inherent distrust of people who get rich quick when I blindly accept whatever they are selling.

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#142

Post by gwys »

hellodevnull wrote: post #87

>I was just at the gym watching the 30-year-olds at the pull-up bar building muscles in three weeks. And I’m at the pull up bar and nothing’s happening While many of you are thinking that he's making excuses (he might be) or that the other guys worked long and hard to build muscle, I can relate: I've been lifting weights three times a week for the last four years. I still look average, and yes I'm eating and exercisi…

The number one thing you need to do is logging. Without measurements it very hard to know what's going on. You might very well go to the doctor and check blood levels, intolerance and the like. But that is mostly a one time thing. You need to be constantly logging all your workouts and diet and then test yourself every 1-6 months (different for different tests). You'll at least want body measurements, bmi (be accurate, but not to often), aerobic performance, strength performance.

Get some screening, then go to someone who knows their thing, get homework, do homework for a couple of months, come back and you'll be in a very good position for improvement or at least arguing your case.

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#143

Post by tormeh »

collyw wrote: post #28
tormeh wrote: post #11

It would be nice to have broader shoulders, but an increased sex drive sounds inconvenient. Life is just more dignified without so much neediness. I don't get why anyone (without a more sex-hungry partner, ie most men) would want that. Is it just a gender stereotype / bro thing?

I would have assumed wanting broad shoulder would be so you look more attractive to the opposite sex (or the same sex, if that's what you prefer). The reason being you are more likely to get more sex...

Well, yes, but the timing is important. I wouldn't want a higher sex drive unless sex comes easily, which it doesn't.

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#144

Post by [deleted] »

gadders wrote: post #140
davak wrote: post #55

MD here. Just remember that women live longer than men. Although it'll never be proven that hormones are part of that provess, I think it's a good assumption. Many males as they get older become more lovable and more pleasent to be around because of natural hormone declines. There are a ton of health issues such as balding, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea that are related to testoste…

>>Many males as they get older become more lovable and more pleasent to be around because of natural hormone declines. I resent that. I don't have low testosterone but I'd still say I was a loving father and husband and a generally good person. Being "manly" doesn't mean being a dick, quite the opposite.

[deleted]

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#145

Post by blfr »

davak wrote: post #55

MD here. Just remember that women live longer than men. Although it'll never be proven that hormones are part of that provess, I think it's a good assumption. Many males as they get older become more lovable and more pleasent to be around because of natural hormone declines. There are a ton of health issues such as balding, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea that are related to testoste…

There are a ton of health issues such as balding, ..., obstructive sleep apnea

I thought balding is primarily genetic (men respond differently to some metabolite of testosterone) and obstructive sleep apnea only a serious issue for overweight people. Could you, or someone else, elaborate, maybe link a longer explanation?

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#146

Post by brational »

paganel wrote: post #29
toolz wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>- I didn't get huge muscles or less body fat with more testosterone (huge myth that I thought would change for me) The many studies done on this subject show that testosterone makes a huge impact on muscle growth. Take this 10 week study for instance, http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199607043350101 . The placebo group working out didn't experience nearly as much muscle gain as those taking testosterone did…

> The many studies done on this subject show that testosterone makes a huge impact on muscle growth Genuine question: Why this emphasis on increasing "muscle growth"? What benefits does it bring us (men)?

There are studies that show an inverse correlation between lean body mass and all cause mortality.

So the tongue-in-cheek 'strong people are harder to kill' has some actual data behind.

The problem is of course stats 101, correlation =/= causation. It could simply be that genetics or some other factor X increases lean mass and decreases all-cause mortality.

Pragmatically speaking though, quality of life in old age is a big deal that benefits from more lean mass.

[edit: http://www.reddit.com/r/AdvancedFitness/comments/1bo5xm/asso... this has a study link and comments and links to previous HN discussion]

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#147

Post by droopyEyelids »

johnward wrote: post #112
freshfey wrote: post #10

As someone who went from 430 ng/dl to 1024 ng/dl naturally in about two years time (from age 23 to 25) the only thing I can say is don't jump to too many conclusions here. - Your testosterone should be naturally high if you're below 30 (and male) - If not, something is wrong and you need to fix it (start with blood work, check your diet, move) - If you testosterone is in the normal ranges (blood work recommends betwe…

" I didn't get huge muscles or less body fat with more testosterone (huge myth that I thought would change for me)". For me I almost always drop 20lbs on T and am much leaner than I am off or on clomid. On clomid I generally gain weight. "- TRT is a problem if you keep going for too long, because your body just doesn't produce testosterone as it used to, because it expects it from the outside, so below 35 or rather b…

How did you test your fertility

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#148

Post by dreamweapon »

mironathetin wrote: post #68
davak wrote: post #55

MD here. Just remember that women live longer than men. Although it'll never be proven that hormones are part of that provess, I think it's a good assumption. Many males as they get older become more lovable and more pleasent to be around because of natural hormone declines. There are a ton of health issues such as balding, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea that are related to testoste…

I am happy that an expert without a bias reports about this. What you noted down came back into my mind immediately. These were the reported risks for professional athletes (back in the days when I decided to study physics instead of taking more of this junk and go pro). There are also natural ways to keep your own T level high, like healthy food, enough sleep, everything that increases your muscle mass (weightliftin…

There are also natural ways to keep your own T level high, like healthy food

Specifics? Evidence?

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#149

Post by eyeJam »

johnward wrote: post #107

I'm 28 now and I have hypogonadisn and have experience using T and other options like clomid. My total T was I finally went to the doc. Got the blood work and was put ona low dosage of Testosterone. Enough to get me to the 500ng/dl range. My quality of life improved dramatically and I was the happy and productive person I used to be. I felt like I did in my early 20s instead of like I was approaching 50. Now I have t…

If anyone's ever watched the documentary "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" they raise some interesting points questioning why steroids are demonized. Professional musicians take beta-blockers, athletes get laser eye surgery and take cortisone and opiate shots before/during competition, programmers take Adderall and Modafinil, male porn stars shot their penises full of drugs to stay erect for hours on end, etc. etc. Plenty of examples of professionals "cheating" without widespread media outcry and pearl-clutching about the sanctity of the profession.

Furthermore, taking steroids won't improve your muscle-memory, proprioception, agility, sports IQ, etc... In my opinion they should be allowed in sports in some limited cases, such as recovering from an injury, where it would be administered in a controlled environment by a licensed doctor to accelerate recovery. They're a very useful drug if used properly.

Re: Testosterone is the drug of the future

#150

Post by drzaiusapelord »

Loic wrote: post #106
davak wrote: post #55

MD here. Just remember that women live longer than men. Although it'll never be proven that hormones are part of that provess, I think it's a good assumption. Many males as they get older become more lovable and more pleasent to be around because of natural hormone declines. There are a ton of health issues such as balding, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea that are related to testoste…

Studies[0] do support that eunuchs live longer than average men. You have also a study of the eunuchs of China's Emperor were living way longer than the men having the same lifestyle in the Forbidden City. I sadly can't find the study at the moment. [0]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunuch#Eunuchs_in_the_contempor...

I wonder if this could be attributed to STDs, jealous lovers, and other risks a sexual active person might be exposed to compared to a sexually inactive person.
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