TRT can help improve your mood, sex life, and your workouts in less time than you might think.
Low Testosterone levels (Low-T) are the primary reason for men to begin Testosterone Replacement Therapy. This is a proven and widely-accepted treatment for male.
Low-T can significantly impact a man’s quality of life in many ways. Some people focus on Testosterone as a sex hormone and only think about the impact it can have on a man’s sex life, whether it is the loss of libido, impotence, or erectile dysfunction (ED). But is also important to consider that Low-T can negatively impact your metabolism, blood flow, brain function, muscle density, fat reduction, and bone density, to name a few.
As mentioned above, TRT is one of the primary treatments for Low-T. It can be administered in a variety of ways, each with its own benefits and potential side-effects. But one of the important things men want to know is how long it will take to start seeing some results for their specific symptoms.
It is important to remember that there are several factors that can indicate the effectiveness of Testosterone Replacement Therapy – age, weight, genetics, pre-existing conditions – can all impact how well it works for you. But here are some guidelines for how long TRT will take to “work” for some of the common symptoms.
How Long Does Testosterone Replacement Therapy Take to Work?
In a general sense, effects on quality of life tend to start showing up in the first few weeks. Improvement in mood and energy can begin to manifest within 3–4 weeks, but maximum benefits can take longer.
Two studies using the widely accepted “Hamilton Depression Rating Scale” found an improvement in patients on TRT. The first, (Testosterone therapy in late-life major depression in males), showed an improvement in symptoms of depression in men in six weeks. The second, (Testosterone gel supplementation for men with refractory depression: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial), showed similar improvement occurred after eight weeks.
Increases in sociability, decrease in anxiety, increase in concentration, and self-confidence) began to appear in about three weeks. Men reported a decrease in fatigue and “listlessness” in approximately 4-6 weeks.
How Long Does it Take Testosterone Replacement to Improve Sex Life
Improving their sex life is probably the most common reason men use TRT. From correcting a low libido to helping improve the quality and frequency of erections, Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be a relationship saver for many men.
TRT for Improved Libido
A prominent 2011 study published in the Journal of Endocrinology (“Onset of effects of testosterone treatment and time span until maximum effects are achieved”) indicated that an increase in sexual desire and arousal in men usually occurred within the first three weeks after starting treatment. It reached its peak at about six weeks and maintained that level as long as the therapy continued.
Improved Erections with TRT
Improvements in erections also appeared quickly (no pun intended.) After three weeks of treatment, men were reporting an increase in morning erections (remember “morning wood?”). Overall, men reported an increase in their ability to get and maintain erections and improve their “performance and satisfaction” after about 30 days.
Again, like any medication, this isn’t a magic bullet and doesn’t work for everyone in the same way. In some cases, this did take longer, and the study indicated that for some men, “Changes in erections/ejaculations may require up to 6 months.”
How Long Does it Take TRT to improve my Workouts?
Another primary symptom that men treat with TRT is the loss of muscle density and increase in body fat. These two go hand-in-hand in the effort for a man to improve his physical wellness. Testosterone is the primary hormone that drives these two functions in the body, and seeing “gains” is one of the positive results that men often see when they work out after starting TRT.
Losing Body Fat with TRT
The inability to control or lose body fat is one of the most frustrating symptoms of Low-T for health and body-conscious men. Testosterone plays a significant role in helping to regulate obesity, glucose homeostasis, and your metabolism. This is why Low-T makes losing body fat more challenging. Treating these symptoms with TRT has shown to decrease fat mass and (sometimes) help reduce weight.
Men can expect to see changes in body fat and lean body mass at about 12–16 weeks. While these changes tend to stabilize from 6-12 months, the great thing is that they can continue to improve for years with proper treatment and exercise.
Building Muscle with TRT
Loss of muscle density and strength is another common complaint among men with Low-T who are just not getting what they used to from their workout. The anabolic effects of TRT are well documented, and men who start a TRT program can usually begin to see improvement in their muscle density in about 10-12 weeks. From there, improvement can continue for a couple of months or so, with most men reaching their maximum benefits after about one year.
A 2018 study (Muscular Response to Testosterone Replacement Therapy…) of men who used TRT injections showed an average increase of 10.4 % in their upper body strength and 12.9% in their lower body strength. This is one instance where a specific delivery method (injections vs. gels or other methods) is significantly more effective.
Improving Bone Density with TRT
Another often-overlooked benefit of TRT is an improvement in bone density. Osteoporosis and bone fractures can be hard on anyone, but as men get older, they can be devastating. In fact, the Endocrine Society guidelines on osteoporosis in men recommend testosterone therapy for men with Low-T ( <200 ng/dL) with a modest or borderline risk of fracture. TRT’s effects on bone are detectable after about six months and continue at least for three years
Finding Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Massachusetts
There is no shame in wanting to feel your best. For men with Low-T, Boston Vitality is here to help. We make it our mission to see that men get the help they need to increase their energy, improve their sex life and change their body composition in a way that is safe, discreet, and convenient.
To learn more about how Testosterone Replacement Therapy or HGH Peptide Treatments may help improve your physical, mental, and sexual health, call our office at 781-399-LowT (5698) today. Boston Vitality wants to see you looking and feeling like your old self and ready to take on spring and summer.
