Testosterone deficiency is a common issue that affects over 40% of men over the age of 40. Low testosterone, or hypogonadism, is often defined as a total testosterone level below 300 mg/dL. Although, it can be difficult to define a standard as levels vary depending on the time of day and can be affected by factors such as Body Mass Index (BMI) or obesity, alcohol consumption, nutrition, medications, age, and illness. Up until the last decade, symptoms of low testosterone were often thought of as a “normal” part of aging. Between 2003 and 2013, a nearly four-fold increase in androgen scripts was witnessed and serves a testament to the potentially life-changing benefits of testosterone replacement therapy. Some of those benefits include improved mood, increased energy and motivation, better sleep, sharper focus, and increased libido or sex drive.
While, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is gaining in popularity and is a proven, effective treatment for men with suboptimal testosterone levels; it does not come without potential drawbacks and side effects. And one of the common concerns from patients is the impact on fertility.