TREATMENT ADVANCES

Testosterone therapy has come a long way in a very short space of time recently. Until the 1990's treatment options were restricted to injections, pills or implants. However, the advent of the transdermal patch and, in 2000, of transdermal gels, has changed the face of Testosterone therapy. Instead of prescribing a drug which causes overdosing during therapy or leaves a patient underdosed, the doctor now has the ability to ensure Testosterone levels are as close as possible to that which the individual's body expects, without overdosing or creating unwanted side-effects.

Testosterone gels are being researched heavily and have been found to restore libido, mood and energy levels, when considered against other forms of supplement. From all the evidence to date, they have been shown to best mimic the body's own Testosterone supply and absorb into the body with the least problems, when compared to other supplements.
However, as with any new drug, research is ongoing and, as the AACE laments, no studies exist into the effects of long-term supplements. Equally, so far as is known, no deaths or serious illnesses have been reported from long-term bilateral Testicular Cancer survivors, who rely on supplements to maintain their masculinity.

The importance of Bio-available Testosterone appears a significant discovery. The combined total of Albumin bound and Free Testosterone makes up this important number.Andrologists understand its importance in aging men in restoring function and well-being.
In order to provide dosing to establish sufficient Albumin bound and Free Testosterone, it is important to dose sufficiently close to optimum levels. For this to happen, it may be necessary to dose to 0.5mg accuracy per day. The advent of 1mg packs to the existing 2.5 and 5mg packs will allow Androgel to be dosed that accurately if required. Other gel manufacturers have not yet established such a variety.