As men reach the age of 40, there is a tough conversation that has to be had. As tough of a pill it is to swallow, you’re not in your twenties anymore. Because of that, you have to pay more attention to your testosterone levels. As we get older, our testosterone levels aren’t as high as when you first entered adulthood. This negatively affects our ability to recover from training, build muscle, and can impact our libido levels.
The good news is that you don’t have to settle for those fates. There are ways to keep your testosterone levels high enough that you can still enjoy life on all fronts. Dr. Joseph Girgis is BPI’s Team Doctor and one of the most respected physicians in the United States. He sat down with Whitney Reid to talk all things testosterone.
Knowing Your Estrogen Levels Matters Too
Yes, estrogen is primarily associated with women, but men need to make sure that they check for these levels as well. Dr. Girgis explained why it was important, especially for men that are on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT).
“It depends on their bodyfat,” he explained. “The higher the bodyfat, the amount of testosterone that breaks down into the female hormone. This is called aromatase enzyme.” Girgis went on to explain that if these levels were too high, the patient would have to take an estrogen blocker such as an aromatase inhibitor to swing the levels back into the patient’s favor. However, Dr. Girgis provided a caveat to this – the patient must be showing symptoms before he would consider a treatment?
“What are the symptoms? If a patient was to tell me they are experiencing soreness or swelling in the nipple or a lump behind the nipple, that is called gynecomastia. Then we would put them, temporarily, on an aromatase inhibitor to slow down the estrogen until after a few months, the body will adapt.”
The Number Doesn’t Tell the Entire Story
One problem is that so many patients and doctors rely on the testosterone score and nothing else. He explained that physicians should look at the symptoms more than the number. He used the example of a patient that may have a score of 700, but he shows every major symptom that is associated with low testosterone. Instead of simply thinking he’s perfect, Dr. Girgis would focus on resolving the symptoms.
“So, this man, you would treat him with testosterone to adjust his level. It could be up to 1,100 or 1,200, which is the top level of normal. Then, he’s back to feeling great, and he’s the happiest man in the world.”
Unfortunately, many other physicians could’ve potentially addressed the patient in the example in other ways such as recommending he go to a psychiatrist, and his issues would’ve lingered for much longer. Why would this be the case? Dr. Girgis explained that the “normal” testosterone levels of 300-1,200 means that what is normal for one person may not be for another.
“A man that is used to being at that top 1,100, when he gets down to the six, seven hundreds, and everybody keeps telling him that he’s great. No, for him, his body is not great,” Dr. Girgis explained to Reid. “He functioning at a different level, and he feels that effect.”
Health and Lifestyle Matters
TRT has been revered for its ability to help many men improve their health, and for good reason. However, the way patients take care of themselves as well. Dr. Girgis explained what may happen if men don’t change their daily habits for the better.
“If you take a group of people that aren’t in the best of health, and you decide to suddenly give them testosterone replacement, these guys are starting to get more active suddenly, more exercise, and more sexual function. Then, all of a sudden, they have more heart attacks. Well, that’s very expected if they continue to smoke or whatever,” he explained. In short, take care of yourself by practicing healthy habits, and you’ll stand a greater chance of seeing success.
Testosterone and Cardiovascular Health
Dr. Girgis also cited an article from the Mayo Clinic Journal of Medicine based on TRT and cardiovascular risk. It concluded that TRT could actually have cardiovascular health benefits as well. He expressed remorse that more cardiologists aren’t aware or willing to show support for it.
“80 percent of cardiologists in the United States are against testosterone replacement therapy,” he shared. “When we replace the testosterone properly, and they start to exercise, the testosterone has benefit with the exercise that will help reduce center obesity."
Key Takeaways
Not everyone can work with Dr. Girgis, but there are ways that you can apply what he’s shared to help you learn and apply more for your own testosterone health.
-Find out more about your estrogen levels as well as what your testosterone is.
-Don’t stop at the score alone. If you feel negative symptoms, find an educated physician that can help you.
-Follow a proper healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition and exercise.
-Don’t be afraid to seek more opinions from knowledgeable doctors.
Conclusion
Whitney’s full interview with Dr. Girgis can be seen in the video link below.