Testosterone deficiency and bone loss in men
Summary:
- Treating osteoporosis in men is usually through lifestyle improvements such as diet, exercise, and medication.
- It is known that menopausal women require estrogen to maintain bone health, and the same applies to men!
- During male andropause, testosterone levels decline, knocking down estrogen, thereby reducing any protective benefits, reducing bone rejuvenation and bone mineral density (BMD).
- By replacing lost hormones, you can halt the onset of osteoporosis, improve BMD and reduce the risk of fractures.
Start Hormone Replacement Therapy today by completing a free hormone assessment!
“The prevalence of osteoporosis in testosterone deficient males is double that of those with normal testosterone level.”
What causes osteoporosis?
The health of our bones is reliant on a complex process called remodeling. This process relies on three main types of bone cells called bone-reabsorbing osteoblasts, bone reabsorbing osteoclasts, and mediator osteocytes. These cells are sensitive to signals received via hormones, cytokines, minerals, and to what you eat.
If there is any disruption to this remodeling process, the rate of bone formation is slower than resorption, leading to bone mineral density loss. Andropause-associated hormonal changes, age, changes in physical activity, alcohol, smoking, drugs, and diseases can all disrupt this crucial physiological process.
The potential for developing osteoporosis usually begins during the first 30 years of a man’s life, during which time you are growing and strengthening your bones. This means that preventative measures during younger life should be taken and maintained during later life, such as:
- Diet and nutrition: Calcium and vitamin D4 are important for your bones. It is also important to avoid foods with high salt content, caffeine, or lots of protein which potentially reduces calcium absorption.
- Smoking and alcohol abuse: Smoking and, in particular, excessive alcohol consumption can significantly damage bone health.
- Exercise: Weight-bearing exercises increase bone strength. Exercise also improves balance and overall strength, reducing the risk of falls.
- Maintain optimal hormones: Testosterone levels naturally decline from around 35 onwards. Testosterone and estradiol play a central role in maintaining bone health, so testosterone replacement therapy can restore your hormone balance and improve bone health.
Take a free assessment to evaluate your hormone levels
Symptoms of low bone mass and low testosterone
The problem with osteoporosis is that many men don’t even realize they have it until a fall or a break. BMD reduces gradually over many years, and the symptoms are not openly obvious, but there are certain signs to look out for:
- The most obvious sign is broken bones: Fractures involving little force are a sign of weakened bones. Breaks are most common in the wrist, hips, and spine.
- Loss of height: This could imply that the bones in your back are weakening. The vertebrae can become thin and start to collapse, resulting in a gradual loss of height.
- Neck and back pain: Again, this could be due to compression and fractures in the spine.
- Stooping and hunched posture: Due to bones becoming weak, it can be difficult for people with osteoporosis to stand up straight.
Estrogen and bone health
Estrogen is considered the ‘female sex’ hormone, and this is true, but estrogen also plays an integral role in both male and female bone health. Interestingly estrogen levels in aging men are higher than those of postmenopausal women, which may explain why women are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
Estradiol (a form of estrogen) is a by-product of testosterone via a process called aromatization. So, if your testosterone falls below optimal levels, your estradiol will as well, reducing the protective benefits these hormones offer. Studies show that estradiol is a key hormone in the maintenance of bone health. Even young men with estrogen resistance or those with aromatization problems show reduced bone mineral density (BMD), suggesting a crucial role for estradiol in the regulation of skeletal growth in men. Moreover, serum levels of both estradiol and testosterone are directly linked to the risk of fracture in aging men.
Furthermore, this highlights why aromatase inhibitors that block testosterone conversion into estradiol are actually harmful. Studies [6] show the administration of aromatase inhibitors over a period of 12 months resulted in a decrease in BMD. Thus, highlighting the important role of estrogens and androgens in male bone remodeling.
Testosterone replacement therapy improves bone density
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is traditionally only offered to men with significantly low testosterone levels to combat a condition called hypogonadism. TRT is used to treat a wide range of symptoms such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, sexual dysfunction, and bone mineral loss.
The benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy:
- Improved libido and sexual satisfaction
- Reduced osteoporosis risk
- Reduced bad cholesterol (LDL)
- Increased metabolism
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Increased lean muscle mass and strength
- Decreased body fat (dangerous visceral fat)
- Increased confidence, positivity, memory, and brain function
- Reduced feelings of depression
- Increased energy levels
- Improved sleep
- More equipped to deal with stress
- Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and relief from insulin resistance
Through a combination of diet, exercise, supplements, and testosterone replacement therapy it is possible to limit and even reverse the damage caused by osteopetrosis. The best form of defense is to get your hormone levels checked before the damage is done and maintain optimal hormone levels.
Take the first step to restoring your vitality by completing an online hormone assessment.
Other Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Frequently asked questions
HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy. Hormone levels are tested and medications are administered to help hormones such as testosterone and thyroid reach their optimum levels.
TRT stands for testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone is given to combat decreasing levels in men. This is to fight the usual signs and symptoms of aging such as fatigue, weight gain, loss of libido, and muscle loss.
We offer a daily injectable Testosterone Cypionate or a twice-daily Lipoderm cream. Both are bioidentical. We also prescribe Triclozene (Clomiphene Citrate) for men, which can help improve several aspects of male health, including low testosterone levels, hormone ratios and sperm production.
The benefits of HRT are extensive but include the following: healthy heart and blood, less fat, more muscle, stronger bones, improved libido, better sleep, improved memory, spatial ability and mental reasoning, improved mood, and better sex.
On average it takes approximately 7 business days from ordering your test kit to receiving your results. This is obviously dependent on how quickly you complete and return the test via free return postage. Once we have received your results, a dedicated medical provider will review this along with your online assessment to create your personalized treatment plan.
This is a very difficult question because there is no definitive answer. Everybody is biologically different and responds to the treatment differently. For detailed information, click here.
The test indicates whether you will benefit from this treatment and what your current hormone levels are. We can then know the proper medication to get your testosterone and thyroid to their optimum levels.
Our blood spot test measures 5 key hormone levels. It offers distinct advantages over traditional testing methods because it eliminates the need for a blood draw – saving patients time and money. Our blood spot test is a simple to use test that is done in the comfort of your own home. It involves a finger prick and 12 drops of blood dropped onto a card. We include free return postage with your test for your convenience.
Yes. HRT is safe when monitored by a licensed medical provider. This is why we require yearly testing and symptoms questionnaires every 2 months.
The treatment is effective for as long as you take it. Once you stop taking HRT your levels will return to the levels they were previously.
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