With the increase in hormone replacement therapy becoming increasingly common as of 2011, you must understand the risks associated with the use of any hormone. Your endocrine system regulates your testosterone levels, and maintains a delicate balance of hormones in your body. A physician may attempt to introduce extra testosterone into your system to help maintain this balance. If you feel your testosterone levels are low, consult your physician or endocrinologist.
Testosterone
Testosterone is a hormone responsible for many areas of your health and well-being, including the maintenance of lean muscle tissue and skeletal strength. Testosterone belongs to a class of drugs known as anabolic-androgen steroids, or AAS. The anabolic effect of testosterone refers to growth, primarily of muscle tissue. The androgenic effect of testosterone refers to the potential of virilization, or the development of male secondary sexual characteristics. Testosterone, like all other drugs, will not produce side effects in every user, and the specific effects differ between users.
Virilization
Some of the effects of virilization in women are permanent. They include the growth of body or facial hair, clitoral hypertrophy, deepening of the voice and development of male pattern baldness. Short-term effects secondary to virilization can include increased muscular strength, acne and the disruption of your normal menstrual cycle. Short-term effects terminate shortly after your usage ends. The disruption of your menstrual cycle can interfere with an attempt to become pregnant. This effect is not consistent enough to allow testosterone usage as a form of birth control.
Systemic Effects
Systemic effects include those that disrupt one or more systems active in your body, such as your central nervous system. These effects include increased or decreased sex drive, headache, anxiety, depression and an itching or tingling that may affect any or practically all portions of your body. Like all drugs, an allergic reaction can occur, but this occurs in less than one in 1,000 subjects. Testosterone usage can also limit your ability to produce blood clotting factors, making this drug particularly risky for those suffering from hemophilia.
Other Effects
Like all compounds, side effects may be specific to administration. As injection is the most common form of testosterone application, you may experience itching or localized injection pain and swelling. Nausea may result as a side-effect of administration, as well as alteration in liver function tests. Liver function issues generally arise only with oral administration. Other short-term effects may include water retention and bloating, electrolyte imbalance, sodium retention and specific imbalances in potassium and calcium. If you experience negative side effects, consult your physician. Never assume they are typical or will go away.
References
- "BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders"; Menstrual Irregularity and Bone Mass in Premenopausal Women: Cross-sectional Associations with Testosterone and SHBG; S. Wei, et al.; December 2010
- "PDR: Physicians Desk Reference 2010"; PDF Staff; 2010
- "Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations"; Thomas M. Devlin; 2010
- "Manual of Endocrinology and Metabolism"; Norman Lavin; April 2009
