Cardiolgist prescribing testosterone

[DadurrFL]

I am a female, married 25+ years to the same man. I am posting because I think my husband is being bamboozled into spending money on dr appointments 4x a year. (What doctor wouldn't want $400.00 dropped in his lap for a 15 minutes appointment and write a prescription?)

I am sorry but I do not know my husband levels of anything. I do know that he started going to a board certified cardiologist that claims nothing about being a specialist in urology or Low Testosterone. He has been going to this doctor for 2+ years. My husband said that he had lower than normal testosterone levels and that was why he was frequently tired. However, he still had plenty of sexual stamina and no ED. Anyways, this doctor prescribed testosterone cypionate , and hCG injections.

If my husband's only symptom was being tired, in my mind, there are other causes of this. I am worried of the long term effects of of these substances, especially if he doesn't need them.

Should I recommend that he go to a urologist specializing in Low T? (or do all urologist do this?)

HELP!

[Justin]

Thanks for your questions, happy to help in any way I can.

Regarding symptoms, there are numerous symptoms of low testosterone. A man will normally have 2-3 of the several possible symptoms. Symptoms along with checking levels of both free and total testosterone are typically how a diagnosis of low testosterone is made. When it comes to low libido and erectile dysfunction, while those are two common symptoms they are certainly not the only ones or even required for low testosterone to exist. However, if one of those doesn't exist you would normally find other symptoms to be present. The most common symptoms in no particular order include:

*Erectile dysfunction (can include inability to obtain or maintain)
*Loss or lower libido
*Loss of physical strength (despite diet & exercise or no lifestyle changes)
*Decreased muscle mass (despite diet & exercise or no lifestyle changes)
*Increased body fat (despite diet & exercise or no lifestyle changes)
*Decreased energy
*Decreased mental focus and/or clarity
*Depression
*Insomnia
*High cholesterol
*Lethargy

Regarding doctors visits, 1-2 per year is about all anyone should need unless there are complications of some sort. Blood testing should be once every 6 months once the individual has been dialed in. In the beginning he may or may not need more frequent blood testing to get everything just right. I cannot speak on the total cost since I do not know what the total cost of your husbands treatment is, such as blood work and medication cost.

Regarding the type of doctor you go to, urologist can be fine but just about any doctor can be. No physician goes to medical school to become an expert in low testosterone treatment. Most who practice low testosterone treatment do so through continuing education after they have become a doctor. Some of the worst testosterone doctors I have ever seen have been urologist and endocrinologist, which is odd to say when we consider endocrinologist are hormone doctors. Some of the best testosterone doctors I've seen have been family practice doctors - it really just depends on the effort the doctor has put in on his own to learn about testosterone, how it functions and how to treat. However, this is hard for a lot of people to accept since we're all used to holding to a doctors title. I often encourage people not to do this but I know that can be hard.

As for your husbands treatment - if he has low testosterone and is providing himself testosterone, then he is simply providing what his body is lacking. He's not providing something that his body is unaccustomed to but rather something it needs. If he does not have low testosterone, then it's true, there was no need for treatment. However, at this point, two years, when he comes off treatment he will have low levels. His body may bounce back and produce the testosterone it needs but it may not. If he had low levels to begin with it certainly will not.

I hope this helps.

[DadurrFL]

Thank you for your time and educating material. I appreciate it!