In the event that testosterone levels are lower than they should be, a doctor may recommend oral testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Especially if those levels are impacting fertility, body functions, or quality of life,
Testosterone is typically produced in adequate amounts in males.
Females also produced very small amounts of the hormone.
Careful balances of hormones are important for not only physical but mental and emotional health and wellness.
Discuss this type of therapy with your doctor, as usage of any form of these dangerous drugs should be carefully considered.
Testosterone replacement therapy is available in a variety of forms including injection, topical, and oral testosterone options. Buy TestoGen online here.
Oral Testosterone Bodybuilding
The testosterone produced by the body is usually adequate for optimal physical health, fertility, sexual libido, and in normal muscle building and strengthening efforts.
Note – Steroids such as injections, topical ointments, or combinations of different anabolic steroids are not recommended for bodybuilding, weight lifting, or athletic improvement.
Testosterone is available with a prescription only and that goes for injectable, topical, and oral products.
It is not as common as injectable or topical application methods but may be adequate for some men, depending on their current levels.
It is generally available by prescription in two dispersal methods:
- Buccal cartridge applications involve the use of a small cassette that is attached to the upper gum line or on the side of the cheek.
- Testosterone troche (lozenge) use can be used in the buccal method (inserted between the gum and the cheek) or sublingually (under the tongue).
Esters attached to synthetic testosterone are designed to regulate the absorption from its application site.
The most common method of application of exogenous or synthetic testosterone is through intramuscular injections, followed by transdermal treatment.
Transbuccal versions, which are many associated with oral testosterone replacement, are one of the newer methods of TRT models.
The transbuccal application of oral steroids is delivered through a cartridge or tablet that is positioned on the gum line tissues above the incisors.
The hormones in this delivery system are slowly absorbed into the mucosal lining of the mouth and then are immediately transported into the bloodstream.
This system typically is available in tablets containing 30 mg of the hormone, applied two times daily.
Levels of testosterone peak within half an hour and then maintain a relatively steady rate for approximately 24 hours and then drop further roughly two to four hours after the tablet is removed.
Transbuccal application is similar to the peak attained through applications of the gels like Androgel.
Two of the most well-known forms of oral testosterone for sale include 17-methyltestosterone and fluoxymesterone.
They are not commonly prescribed by physicians due to their potential risk of liver toxicity, lipid profile disturbances, and development of cholestasis, or blockage of bile that typically flows from the liver to the duodenum, part of liver filtering processes.
Warnings or Cautions Regarding Oral Testosterone Steroids
One of the concerns associated with the transbuccal system used in TRT delivery systems is irritation or tenderness to the gum.
The bitter taste is also an issue for some.
Although rare, there are also concerns of accidentally swallowing the tablet or cartridge, which can release the hormone into the mouth and can therefore accidentally transfer it to a partner through saliva.
Any form of steroid can contribute to a number of side effects depending on age, the condition for which it has been prescribed, milligram strength, dosage, and ability to follow dosage recommendations.
A number of bodybuilders and athletes who get involved with taking nonprescription products often take much more in regard to dosage than recommended for the treatment of a specific medical condition.
Taking excessive amounts can contribute to a number of side effects, some of which are temporary and revert back to normal once the injections stop, while others can be permanent.
Some of the most common side effects of excessive or long-term use of the steroid include but are not limited to:
- Testicular atrophy – Shrinking testicles are relatively common because when the body senses that levels of the hormone in the body are adequate, the testicles cease manufacturing the hormone. As a result of non-use, shrinkage will occur, just as muscles can atrophy from nonuse.
- Development of breast tissue in men – Known as gynecomastia, this may also be a common side effect of increased levels of the hormone coupled with higher levels of estrogen in males.
- Hair loss or pronounced male pattern baldness is relatively common.
- Infertility may result due to the shrinkage of testicles, which are also responsible for sperm and semen production.
Oral testosterone may be one of the least common forms of TRT, but it is still prescribed, as well as procured through underground labs and black-market resources. Use with caution.
References
- Shabsigh R. Oral Testosterone therapy in erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism. J Sex Med. 2005 Nov;2(6):785-92. Review.
- Shea JL et al . Free testosterone: clinical utility and important analytical aspects of measurement. Adv Clin Chem. 2014;63:59-84. Review.
- Bassil N et al . Late-life onset hypogonadism: a review. Clin Geriatr Med. 2010 May;26(2):197-222. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2010.02.003. Review.
- Alukal JP et al . Testosterone Deficiency and the Prostate. Urol Clin North Am. 2016 May;43(2):203-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2016.01.013. Review.
- Dean JD et al. The International Society for Sexual Medicine’s Process of Care for the Assessment and Management of Testosterone Deficiency in Adult Men. J Sex Med. 2015 Aug;12(8):1660-86. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12952. Review.
- Saad F et al . Oral Testosterone as a potentially effective therapy in the treatment of obesity in men with testosterone deficiency: a review. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2012 Mar;8(2):131-43. Review.
- Baas W et al . Testosterone Replacement Therapy and BPH/LUTS. What is the Evidence? Curr Urol Rep. 2016 Jun;17(6):46. doi: 10.1007/s11934-016-0600-8. Review.
- Naderi S. Oral Testosterone Replacement Therapy and the Cardiovascular System. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016 Apr;18(4):19. DOI: 10.1007/s11883-016-0569-2. Review.
- Morales A. Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome: an overview with emphasis on the diagnostic conundrum. Clin Biochem. 2014 Jul;47(10-11):960-6. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2013.11.024. Epub 2013 Dec 16. Review.
- Aversa A et al. The practical management of testosterone deficiency in men. Nat Rev Urol. 2015 Nov;12(11):641-50. doi: 10.1038/nrurol.2015.238. Epub 2015 Oct 13. Review.
