Benefits and risks of depo-testosterone: who is right for it?

What Is Depo-Testosterone?

Hypogonadism is a condition in which the male gonads or testes do not produce enough sex hormones. After men have been diagnosed with hypogonadism, the treatment is often supplemental testosterone. 

Depo-Testosterone is the injectable form of this hormone. Depo-Testosterone can restore vitality for men with hypogonadism and empower gender transitions, but it demands careful medical supervision. Always consult a provider to weigh the risks, like blood clots or mood changes, against the benefits. 

Who Needs Depo-Testosterone?

Men with Low Testosterone

When a man has been diagnosed with hypogonadism and is experiencing symptoms of the condition, he may be a candidate for Depo-Testosterone. The injection is meant to relieve the following symptoms:

• Cognitive decline
• Mood changes
• Reduced muscle mass
• Fatigue

Trans Men and Non-Binary Individuals

Trans men need Depo-Testosterone to provoke the changes that occur during male puberty. During this time, an increase in testosterone production and release leads to the development of secondary sex characteristics. It is what helps a person align their body with their gender identity and is known as “gender-affirming hormone therapy.”

Non-binary individuals do not consider themselves to be male or female. They believe that their gender identities are a combination of the two, and they may call themselves one of several different terms. These include genderfluid, bigender, agender, queergender or other. They may wish to have testosterone supplementation to ease the distress they experience from their gender identities. 

Delayed Puberty in Boys

When puberty is delayed in boys, the medical community treats this condition with Depo-Testosterone. The point is to get the puberty process started and ease the boy’s anxiety of not having entered puberty as early as his peers. 

Key Benefits

Boosts Energy and Mood

Fatigue is a common symptom of hypogonadism. After men receive treatment, their energy levels increase. The mitochondria increase the energy in human cells, so they believe that Depo-Testosterone affects the mitochondria in some way to raise energy levels. With the mitochondria more active, the cells receive more energy. 

According to one study, men diagnosed with moderately severe and severe depression were treated with testosterone therapy for one year. After that time expired, the men’s depressive symptoms decreased from 17% to 2%. 

Enhances Muscle Mass

Men need testosterone for their muscles to develop. Depo-Testosterone helps the body restore its former levels of muscle mass and strength. It is a very positive addition to a man’s overall physical performance. 

Improves Bone Density

Men with a testosterone deficiency often experience low bone density. This is the reason that diagnoses of osteoporosis go up in men as they grow older. Some believe that this only occurs in women, but men experience it as well. After testosterone supplementation, men have a reduced risk of fractured bones and osteoporosis. 

Gender-Affirming Changes

Along with increasing the ability of the body to produce male sex characteristics, Depo-Testosterone also prevents the ovaries from producing estrogen and stops the individual from menstruating. 

How It’s Administered

Prescription

Obtaining a prescription for Depo-Testosterone begins when you call the Medzone Clinic. During your free consultation, the medical personnel will determine whether or not your symptoms are related to a deficiency in testosterone. If so, the technician will give you an online questionnaire about your medical history. Then, you will need to go to a laboratory near you for a blood test. After that, you will see a local doctor for a physical examination. 

We will receive the results of your test and exam at Medzone Clinic, and our physician will decide whether or not testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, is appropriate for you. If so, you will receive TRT at an affordable price.    

Dosage

Hypogonadal males receive between 50 and 400 milligrams of Depo-Testosterone every two to four weeks.  

Monitoring

Patients taking Depo-Testosterone injections must submit to several blood tests. These include a hemoglobin test to check red blood cell levels and a hematocrit test to detect polycythemia. Polycythemia is when there are too many red blood cells in the blood. Your serum cholesterol also needs to be monitored because it can increase when you are on Depo-Testosterone. 

Patients must also report to their doctors if they experience the following while on Depo-Testosterone: 

• Persistent or frequent erections
• Swelling of the ankle
• Changes in skin color
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Avoid Self-Adjusting Doses

Self-adjusting your dose of Depo-Testosterone can cause you to take too much and leads to several symptoms, including the following:

• Headache
• Mood changes
• Lower sperm count
• Long-lasting erections
• Gynecomastia or breast enlargement
• Hair growth
• Acne
• Swelling or pain at the injection site

Contact Medzone Clinic for your free consultation today.