Medication that increases testosterone and potency

Testosterone Boosting Drugs: An Overview

Testosterone is the main hormone in the body of men and directly affects many body functions. Its insufficient amount can lead to a number of negative consequences and significantly affect the quality of life. Normally, the level of concentration of this hormone in the blood of a healthy man should be at least 11-33 nmol / l. With a decrease in these indicators, a man after a short period of time begins to feel a variety of signs of his insufficiency, and the lack of adequate adjustment and treatment can lead to the development of certain diseases.

To correct the level of testosterone in the blood, drugs may be prescribed that include a synthetic analogue of this male sex hormone or components that stimulate its production. The modern pharmacological industry produces many such drugs that help men (in some cases they can also be prescribed to women) to raise its level to normal readings.

Drugs to increase testosterone levels have found their application in medicine and sports, but when using them, one must not forget one basic rule: only a doctor should prescribe them.

In our article, we will acquaint you with the signs and consequences of a decrease in testosterone levels and some pharmacological drugs to correct such disorders.

Signs and effects of low testosterone levels

Low testosterone affects the health of men at any age. A deficiency of this hormone can cause violations of the laying of the genital organs in the male fetus even in the prenatal period. In boys, low testosterone levels can cause a delay in sexual development and a lack of expression of secondary sexual characteristics. In such adolescents, there is an insufficient set of muscle mass, underdevelopment of the genital organs and signs of gynecomastia. Along with this, the child experiences difficult experiences, becomes isolated and subsequently may suffer from many complexes.

In adult men, testosterone is actively involved in many metabolic processes and muscle building, affects sexual activity, affects the immune system and brain function. It is the presence of this male sex hormone that forms the qualities of character inherent in the male sex: decisiveness, dominance, initiative, endurance to physical exertion, etc.

In case of testosterone deficiency in an adult male, the following are observed:

• decreased libido;
• erectile dysfunction (up to impotence and infertility);
• replacement of muscle tissue with adipose tissue;
• gynecomastia;
• reduced physical activity;
• frequent fatigue;
• apathy;
• depression.

Timely detection of such signs and the appointment of treatment will allow you to avoid the occurrence of more serious diseases and significantly improve the quality of life. To confirm a decrease in the level of this hormone, a man should contact an endocrinologist or andrologist and take a blood test to determine the level of testosterone.

Overview of drugs for hormone replacement therapy with testosterone in men

Nebido

This drug is available as an oily solution for injection, which is used for intramuscular injection. Nebido has a prolonged action and can be used once every 3 months. The drug is used to treat secondary hypogonadism.

Androgel

This drug is available in the form of a gel for external use. Androgel is applied once a day to clean and dry skin of the abdomen or the inner surface of the forearms. The maximum dose is 10 g. After the gel has been absorbed (after 5 minutes), the patient can put on clothes. Androgel is used for hormone replacement therapy for low blood testosterone levels and can be used for a long time.

Sustanon 250

This injection is administered intramuscularly and contains four types of testosterone. Sustanon 250 is well tolerated by patients of various age groups and can be used to treat congenital or acquired primary and secondary hypogonadism. The drug is administered once every 7-10 days.

Andriol

This drug is available in the form of tablets and capsules for oral administration. Andriol is well tolerated by patients, does not suppress the synthesis of its own testosterone, has minimal side effects and can be used to treat patients of various age categories. This hormone replacement therapy drug can be used to treat some forms of infertility, eunuchoidism, endocrine impotence, menopausal changes, masculinization in transsexuals and post-castration syndrome.

Overview of drugs for hormone replacement therapy with testosterone in men and women

Testosterone propionate

This injection is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously 2-3 times a week for 1-2 months. Testosterone propionate stimulates the development of sexual organs, secondary sexual characteristics, libido and sperm production. The drug has an anabolic effect and promotes muscle building and enhances the fixation of calcium in the bones

Omnadren

This long-acting drug is available as a solution for intramuscular injection and can be administered once a month. Omnadren consists of four types of testosterone. In men, the drug improves libido and potency, participates in the formation of genital organs, spermatogenesis and the formation of secondary and tertiary sexual characteristics. Omnadren can be prescribed for post-castration syndrome, eunuchoidism, impotence, oligospermia, male menopause, pituitary dwarfism, Addison's disease, hypopituitarism, adiposogenital syndrome and infertility. In women, the drug has an antiestrogenic effect and can be used to inhibit the growth of tumors in tumors of the uterus, ovaries, mammary glands and endometriosis. Omnadren can be used for severe premenstrual tension syndrome, during menopause and for hermaphroditism.

Overview of drugs to stimulate the production of your own testosterone

Preparations to stimulate the production of one's own testosterone are used to increase libido and build muscle mass in athletes. They consist of natural ingredients and stimulate the production of luteinizing hormone, which signals the testicles to stimulate the production of testosterone. Also, these drugs help improve vascular tone and normalize blood circulation in the pelvic organs.

The most popular testosterone stimulants include the following drugs:

Despite the fact that the above drugs are not hormonal, you should consult a doctor before using them, as they may also have a number of contraindications.

The success of therapy with drugs for hormone replacement therapy with testosterone and means for stimulating the production of one's own testosterone largely depends on the correctness of their appointment and use. Patients who take them are advised to have regular blood tests to monitor their hormone levels and see a doctor to assess the condition of the heart, kidneys and liver. Self-medication with drugs to increase testosterone levels can lead to negative consequences and pose a significant health hazard. Remember this!

Which doctor to contact

To prescribe testosterone preparations, you need to contact an endocrinologist. Men can visit an andrologist, women - a gynecologist. In addition, to find out the reasons for the decrease in testosterone levels, a consultation with a neurologist is indicated. Additional assistance in diagnosis and treatment will be provided by a sexologist, therapist, family doctor, psychologist.

Testosterone for male potency - how to increase its level?

One of the main male hormones determines the severity of secondary sexual characteristics. Undoubtedly, the relationship that testosterone and potency have. Low androgen levels negatively affect overall well-being and lower erectile function.

Does testosterone affect potency?

It has been proven that without a sex hormone, sperm production is impossible and there is no reproductive function. Fertilization is excluded without a normal level of attraction to a woman and the ability to achieve an erection. Accordingly, testosterone affects potency, providing the ability to carry out an act of intimacy ending in ejaculation.

A decrease in testosterone levels worsens not only erectile function. Libido drops, a man loses interest in sex and women on an emotional level. He can, but does not want to, which is dangerous - it has been proven that regular sex life is necessary to maintain a healthy urinary system and an even psychological background.

What is a hormone and how is it produced?

Male testicles are responsible for the synthesis of testosterone. Also involved in the process are the adrenal glands and the epithelium of the testicles. In the first case, the hormone is produced directly, in the second, DHA is synthesized, which, after a series of chemical reactions, is transformed into testosterone.

The basis of the hormone is cholesterol. After a series of transformations, the final product is obtained. To regulate the normal level of testosterone, it is important that the following actions take place in the body without failure:

• Hypothalamic production of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone;
• Start testosterone production by testicles with the help of LH;
• Control of the full maturation of the spermatogenic epithelium FSH.

The production of testosterone depends on the time of day.The maximum amount is synthesized from 6 to 8 am, the minimum - from 8 to 10 pm.

The main beneficial effects of the sex hormone:

• Androgenic function - ensures the presence of secondary sexual characteristics, promotes male-type hair growth;
• Anabolic function - essential for bone density and muscle fiber growth;
• Reproductive function - starts sperm production, provides libido and the ability to be physically aroused;
• Hematopoietic function - increases the production of necessary substances by the red bone marrow;
• Psychophysiological function - forms stereotypical male behavior, suppresses the feeling of fear, stimulates mental functions.

Reduced testosterone is one of the common causes of erectile dysfunction. Symptoms of hormone deficiency are expressed in:

• Alopecia;
• Deterioration of the structure of hair columns, nail plates, skin;
• Breast enlargement;
• Chronic fatigue syndrome, decreased vitality;
• Changes in the psychological background: aggressiveness, irritability, apathy, anxiety;
• Dramatic weight gain;
• Change in the quality of seminal fluid for the worse;
• Erectile dysfunction and emotional attraction.

The reasons for the decrease in the amount of testosterone in the body include:

• Sedentary lifestyle causing congestion in the prostate;
• Regular exposure to stressors;
• Lack of rest and proper sleep;
• Incorrectly selected "sports nutrition" in professional bodybuilders - steroid supplements negatively affect the production of their own sex hormone;
• Smoking and excessive drinking;
• Excessive addiction to unhealthy foods: salt and sugar, soda, tonics, energy drinks, coffee, fatty foods, soy, yeast, sweets.

Testosterone for potency: how important is it?

It is very important to regularly monitor the level of the hormone in the blood. The higher the amount of testosterone, the more likely it is to conceive a child, to have a strong erection in a situation conducive to intimacy, to experience attraction and desire for the opposite sex.

When low testosterone is diagnosed, the increase in potency is provided by drugs from a pharmacy, Dietary supplements or products. It is necessary to return the hormone level to normal levels for the following reasons:

• Sexual function stabilizes;
• The ability to achieve an erection will be restored and strengthened;
• Metabolism normalizes;
• The work of the sebaceous glands will improve;
• The ability to experience sexual desire will return;
• The chance of conception will increase.

The hormonal system is a fragile and capricious mechanism, so you can take testosterone preparations only after passing tests and appropriate medical prescriptions. Currently, the pharmaceutical market has several dozen products available in the form of oral tablets, injection solutions and topical ointments.

The following drugs have proven themselves well:

• Androgel. Compensates for the lack of testosterone due to external application to the peritoneum and forearms. Allowed for long-term use;
• Nebido. Oil-based solution for injection into the muscle. Used once every 3 months;
• Testosterone enanthate. Ether, in demand in professional sports for the rapid increase in muscle mass;
• Testosterone Propionate. Produced in the form of ampoules for muscle injections. Potency is restored after 2-3 injections. The drug not only increases the level of the hormone, but also promotes protein production, improves overall well-being;
• Andriol. Tablets or capsules. Compensate for the lack of a hormone with an artificial analogue, suppressing the natural synthesis by the body;
• Sustanon 250. 4 types of androgens are included in the injection solution. It is mainly used as a mild steroid for gaining lean muscle mass.

Natural Supplements

An alternative and safer way to increase testosterone for male potency is to use natural supplements. Dietary supplements are made from natural ingredients and have no side effects. Most often, they are prohibited only for minors and for hypersensitivity to active ingredients.

When choosing a herbal remedy, it is important to pay attention to the composition. It is necessary that among the active substances there is zinc, creeping tribulus, ginseng, nettle and other components useful for men's health.

The following organic preparations are recommended to normalize testosterone levels in the blood:

• Capsules Libido Drive, the multi-component composition of which increases testosterone and provides a stable potency;
• Secret of the Emperor, a drug whose formula includes ginseng and a complex of amino acids that positively affect the production of the desired hormone;
• Biomanix containing trailing tributaries;
• EroForce, which not only increases erectile function, but also successfully copes with urological diseases;
• Erofertil, which contains zinc;
• Eroxin tablets formulated with ginseng and zinc lactate.

Nutrition: what foods improve male hormone synthesis?

With a slight decrease in androgen in the blood, the situation is normalized by adjusting the diet.

Must include:

• Oysters, which contain valuable amino acids and zinc. The most useful period for feeding on molluscs is spring, when marine life actively breeds;
• Turnip, which also has a positive effect on well-being and nourishes the body with the necessary substances. It is recommended to drink an infusion of seeds or a milky decoction of a root crop with the addition of honey;
• Beans are legumes with a significant amount of zinc in their composition. A canned product is also suitable for therapeutic purposes, but it is better to boil or stew a fresh vegetable;
• Eggs are a clean source of cholesterol, a substance important for the production of testosterone. To increase the level of hormones, you need to eat 3-4 eggs a day, to enhance the result, you can add onion and garlic to the dishes;
• Lean beef varieties containing zinc and high levels of protein. As a regulation of testosterone levels, you should eat boiled, stewed or baked meat several times a week;
• Nuts are a natural source of zinc. Brazil nuts are especially useful, it is also recommended to use mixtures of various fruits flavored with honey;
• Spices - weaken the effects of external estrogen. The greatest benefits are cardamom, curry, capsicum red pepper.

More tips and tricks

Given the significant effect of testosterone on potency, it is necessary to follow a number of rules to increase its natural production, as well as to prevent a decline.

• Sleep 7-8 hours at night, take small breaks during the day while working;
• Minimize stressors or learn to deal constructively with traumatic situations;
• Do morning exercises and go to the gym a couple of times a week. The latter can be replaced by swimming, yoga. Walking is important to saturate the body with oxygen;
• Avoid cold and heat;
• Periodically walk in the sun to activate the production of testosterone, improve the psychological state, strengthen the immune system.

It is important to know that the sex hormone is not the only regulator of sexual function. Sometimes, there is a low potency with normal testosterone. This indicates that other factors were the cause of the violations, among which may be:

• Psychological trauma;
• Pathologies of the genitourinary system;
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• Diabetes mellitus;
• Mechanical damage to the genitals after operations or falls;
• Long-term drug therapy that does not affect hormone production.

Given the variety of prerequisites leading to erectile dysfunction, before restoring testosterone levels, it is necessary to undergo an examination and check whether the problem lies precisely in the hormonal background. Based on the results of the tests, the attending physician draws up a treatment regimen and selects the optimal drugs.

How to increase testosterone levels in men: naturally, foods and drugs

The classic look of a real man implies a powerful torso, a beautiful muscular relief, stable potency, high fertility and a violent temperament. All these gender characteristics are largely determined by the level of the main male sex hormone, which is called testosterone.

What is testosterone

Normally, the basic level of testosterone is present at all periods of human development, including intrauterine. Testosterone itself is a steroid derived from cholesterol. It is not very active in its original form and binds insignificantly to androgen receptors, as it is bound by a protein with which it travels in the blood. In order for the hormone to acquire a working form (turn into dihydrotestosterone), the enzyme 5-alpha reductase is needed.

Testosterone plays a leading role in the development of the male gonads (testicles and prostate), the formation of secondary sexual characteristics, sexual desire, spermatogenesis.It is also important for metabolism (primarily muscle building, weight regulation), regulates mood and determines higher brain functions (memory, thinking, learning ability). Testosterone protects the body against osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

In men, testosterone is produced in the testicles and adrenal cortex under the influence of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones of the pituitary gland. In women, testosterone is also produced by the adrenal glands and ovaries, but it is significantly less than in the male body. A certain amount of the hormone is also secreted during pregnancy due to the placenta. In women, it is responsible for the reverse development of follicles in the ovary and regulates the level of pituitary hormones. Norms of laboratory parameters of testosterone:

• for men - 11-33 nanomoles per liter
• for women - 0.24-2.75 nanomoles per liter.

Testosterone in the body of a man

Fetal testosterone

After 4 weeks of gestation, under the influence of testosterone, the seminal vesicles and prostate develop in the fetus, and masculinization of the embryo occurs, i.e. the sex of the child is laid.

At puberty

• At adolescence, there is a spurt in the growth of the bone skeleton with an expansion of the chest and an increase in the shoulders, growth of the jaw, chin and forehead.
• Increases muscle mass with a simultaneous increase in strength.
• The subcutaneous fat on the face decreases, but expands and the sebaceous glands begin to work harder, which can lead to the conditions for acne.
• Pubic and armpit hair appears, hair on the upper lip.
• As you get older, your hair will spread to your lower face, belly, chest, and legs.
• The vulva enlarges and the sex drive increases.
• At the same time, spermatogenesis increases and the ability to conceive increases.

With high testosterone levels, hair loss on the head can be observed. Testosterone levels the action of stress hormones (cortisol) and causes a feeling of contentment with life and joy. The higher the hormone level, the more aggressive, passionate and cheerful a man is.

Testosterone in mature men

• As we approach old age, the level of testosterone in the blood and the sensitivity of receptors to it gradually decrease (by about 1.5% per year after 35 years), causing a physiological or pathological (climax) extinction of sexual function.
• At the same time, problems in the health of the heart and blood vessels appear, osteoporosis may occur, the autonomic nervous system suffers, mood instability and irritability increase.
• It also increases the chance of Alzheimer's disease.

Reasons for low testosterone levels

A significant decrease in testosterone levels (below 11 nmol / l) is called hypogonadism. It can be:

• primary - with damage to the testicles
• secondary - with damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary system.

The main causes of pathological decrease in testosterone in men:

• hypogonadism
• hyperprolactinemia
• adrenal insufficiency
• obesity
• chronic prostatitis
• taking glucocorticoids, which reduce the sensitivity of tissues to testosterone
• Treatment with Danazol, Cimetidine, Carbamazepine, Cytostatics, Magnesium Sulphate, Spironrolactone (Veroshpiron), Tetracycline, Thioridazine
• alcoholism
• chronic fasting
• vegetarianism.

How low testosterone levels manifest in men:

• decreased vitality
• decrease in sexual desire and potency (see drugs to increase potency: who can take it and when)
• decrease in concentration, memory, mental abilities
• muscle loss
• decrease in metabolic rate, as a result - excess weight
• Increased irritability
• depression

Increasing testosterone in men naturally

When the drop in testosterone is not associated with serious illnesses, but is due to an irrational lifestyle, a change in habits and diet is quite capable of correcting the situation. For this, it is enough:

• Do not starve or overeat
• Avoid soy products as soy protein contains estrogens
• Do not get carried away with alcohol, beer (under the influence of alcohol, testosterone molecules are converted into estrogen). For your information, beer is a vegetable estrogen, that is, it contains analogues of female sex hormones, so it is not advisable for men to use it. Only natural wine, no more than 2 glasses a week will not harm your health and hormonal levels.
• Avoid carbonated, fizzy drinks (unhealthy, contain a lot of sugar).
• Eat vegetable and animal fats.
• Include foods rich in zinc and increase testosterone - leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, nuts (peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, almonds), cheese, broccoli and cauliflower, seafood (anchovies, squid), fish ( saury, trout, salmon).
• Inclusion in the diet of foods rich in the essential amino acid arginine is a simple folk way to increase testosterone. To do this, you need to eat beef, pork, chicken, eggs, almonds, sesame seeds, peas, cottage cheese, tuna, snails, peanuts, cauliflower, walnuts and drink milk.
• Oriental medicine recommends the use of plants such as polyflorous knotweed, forget-me-not flower smilax.
• Drink plain water at least 2 liters per day (pure water, juices, sugary drinks, carbonated drinks do not belong to it), see which water is better to drink.

Restriction of contact with bisphenol

Bisfnol is a weak estrogen found in plastic utensils, deodorants, laundry and cleaning products, soaps, body lotions, reducing the use of these products in the home can also help increase testosterone.

Sleep normalization

Most of the sex hormones are produced during deep sleep, so chronic lack of sleep reduces testosterone levels and measures taken to increase it are reduced to zero. Sleep should be in complete darkness and silence for at least 8 hours (see how to deal with insomnia and normalize sleep).

For bodybuilding lovers

The problem of increasing testosterone is often very concerned about bodybuilding enthusiasts and other bodybuilders who dream of a rapid increase in muscle mass due to this hormone. Also, testosterone is a doping that increases strength and endurance. Here I want to remind you of common sense. Ways to increase testosterone through exercise and a sports diet are very simple.

• For example, high intensity training increases testosterone for sure. At the same time, it is important that physical activity is maximum, but short (5-30 minutes) with little rest between sets.
• Using easily digestible proteins (protein gainers) also helps. In this case, it is desirable to use milk proteins immediately after training, in the so-called -protein window-.

But the introduction of testosterone in the form of preparations (plasters, injections or tablets) is not recommended for athletes because of the increased risk of secondary hypogonadism (the more hormone from the outside, the less its own production). Also, the introduction of drugs can be complicated by accelerated aging and the development of prostate adenoma or prostate cancer.

Other facts

• Another interesting observation is the increase in testosterone against the background of exposure to the sun. Natural tanning increases vitamin D levels, which also increases testosterone.
• Watching explicit films can increase the level of the male sex hormone after an hour.
• Adultery and easy romance also stimulate testosterone production, unlike long-term strong marriages. Therefore, men with high testosterone levels are prone to extramarital affairs and divorce.

Medicines that increase testosterone

Testosterone drug therapy is started when the testosterone level drops below 10 nanomoles per liter.

• Andriol is a tablet to be taken with a fatty meal to increase bioavailability. 80-160 mg of the drug after 4 hours give a testosterone concentration of 40 nmol per liter.
• Omnadren (Sustanon) - injections that increase the hormone as much as 70 nmol per liter, which puts it in the category of rather delicate and potentially harmful drugs.
• Nebido is a milder and better tolerated injectable, producing a testosterone level of 17 after a week and 45 nmol per liter after 2 weeks.
• Androgel - skin version without supraphysiological peaks. 5 mg give an increase in testosterone to a physiological level. After discontinuation of the drug, testosterone begins to decline a day after the last use, returning to its original level on day 3-4.

General risks with long-term treatment with high doses of testosterone:

• this is the inhibition of the production of one's own hormone
• development of breast swelling (gynecomastia)
• an increase in the likelihood of occurrence and progression of cardiovascular diseases, prostate cancer, hepatocellular insufficiency
• To reduce the risk of gynecomastia, testosterone is combined with tamoxifen.

In general, I would like to note that the time of uncontrolled use of testosterone without direct medical indications has passed. It is completely unjustified to use preparations of this hormone in athletes and bodybuilders.

As indicative consequences of muscle building using anabolic steroids, I would like to mention the death from steroids of bodybuilder Andreas Münzer (in 1996, died of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, using steroids, diuretics and psychostimulants at the same time) and Arnold Schwarzenegger's liver transplant.

In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration required drug manufacturers to include a warning about the risks of strokes and heart attacks when using these drugs in the instructions for testosterone preparations. It is also strongly recommended to limit the use of testosterone preparations to clinical situations where hormone replacement therapy cannot be dispensed with, by sharply reducing the use of gels and hormone patches in men 40-65 years old, for whom testosterone reduction is a natural physiological moment.

Thus, the question of how to increase testosterone in men, and how expedient this increase, should be decided first of all by an endocrinologist with the participation of an andrologist, and not by any means a sports nutrition seller or fitness trainer.