Doctor-Hello-1 Doctor-1 Handshake Other-Treatment Questions price-tag calendar play pause Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock clock-alt location phone play chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook checkbox checkbox-checked radio radio-selected instagram google plus pinterest twitter youtube send linkedin plus remove play-outline close fax play pause
LH Support in Rogers

09.29.22

Are Alternatives to TRT Treatment in Rogers Effective?

The Edge at Pinnacle Point has worked with men across the United States to provide lasting health results through testosterone replacement therapies. In working with all our incredible patients, something has become clear. There aren’t enough educational resources on TRT treatment in Rogers or elsewhere.

We founded The Edge at Pinnacle Point. Our staff is passionate about educating men on the root causes of their low testosterone. In addition, we always prioritize lasting wellness results with our Hormone Replacement Therapy. From there, we guide our patients through treatments with our proven, doctor-supervised process.

Schedule Your Consultation Today!

Read on to learn more about the treatment options available for testosterone optimization at the Edge. We’ll dig into the difference made by the regulated TRT treatment in Rogers compared to other alternative care solutions. So, are alternatives to TRT treatment in Rogers effective?

Why Would You Need Testosterone Replacement

Before we answer that, it’s important to give a little bit of background. Naturally, a man’s pituitary gland uses luteinizing hormone to signal the testicles to make testosterone. This process is a fundamental part of how our bodies work as men. When it slows down, this can lead to frustration, a loss of confidence, and even depression. The Edge wants to help.

While providers at The Edge can’t stop you or your body from aging, we can mitigate and often reverse its effects. When that naturally slows down with age and other factors, replacing the deficit can optimize your hormonal cascade.

This is where testosterone optimization through testosterone replacement therapy comes in. The Edge uses TRT treatment to provide real, noticeable benefits to our patients. The process begins by meeting with a provider for your one-on-one consultation, during which we’ll discuss your unique needs, goals, and concerns.

The goal of testosterone optimization is to replace your current testosterone deficit. However, the caveat is that each person has a different “optimal” testosterone level. Many clinics or “big chain” low testosterone clinics don’t correctly consider proper, individualized dosing, leading to ineffective results.

At The Edge, we perform a blood draw to determine your baseline testosterone levels. Based on our findings, we prescribe an individualized dosage to help you achieve your desired results. This makes testosterone optimization from The Edge a unique and highly successful treatment option.

Alternatives to TRT Treatment

If you are a candidate for treatment, The Edge takes every measure to ensure patients are safe, comfortable, and equipped for lasting results.

We recognize that traditional TRT injections aren’t for everyone. Some people struggle injecting themselves, and some people just can’t stand needles, period. The schedule isn’t always easy to follow, and slipping up can be stressful. There are other options.

Some sources indicate that certain exercises, diets, and lifestyle choices can help boost natural testosterone production. We recognize there’s probably a degree of truth in that, too! Living healthfully and losing weight can do a lot to boost your testosterone production. There’s no evidence, however, that these strategies provide actual, long-term results outside of improving your quality of life. So, what clinical alternatives are there?

Other Available Treatments

Alternatives to our brand of TRT treatment in Rogers come in a number of forms:

Gels & Creams

Uses: Testosterone gels and creams have the marked benefit of being the simplest Low T treatment option for patients to use at home. The gels and creams are typically applied to the skin of your underarms or upper arms every day at the same time for the best results.

 Drawbacks: The primary drawback of these products is that they can transfer to other people after application, putting them at risk for adverse effects. Children may be particularly vulnerable. Some men also experience skin irritation or redness when applying the gel or cream. 

Recommendation: Caution is advised when using testosterone gels and creams, including allowing the product to completely dry before getting dressed and keeping the area covered with clothing.

Patches

Uses: Testosterone patches are applied to a fleshy part of the body once every 24 hours. Many men enjoy the convenience of this preparation, as one simple daily action delivers a relatively steady dose of testosterone throughout the day

Drawbacks: However, individuals with sensitive skin may not wish to pursue patch therapy due to a possibly mild skin irritation where they place the patch. Some also have trouble keeping the patch on, particularly during heavy exercise, sweat, or water exposure, and some men don’t like having a visible indicator of treatment. 

Recommendation: Make sure you are applying the patches to dry, flat surfaces on your body in easy-to-remove areas. If you have sensitive skin, consult your provider about alternative treatment methods.

Pellets

Uses: With testosterone pellets, small capsules—each about the size of a grain of rice—are implanted under the skin of the upper hip, buttocks, or arm every few months during a quick and easy outpatient procedure. The pellets release a steady dose of hormones throughout treatment and require no daily upkeep.

Drawbacks: However, the major drawback to pellets is that hormone regulation can be difficult to predict and lead to huge peaks and valleys in testosterone. And with the only way to regulate that metabolism being an in-office procedure, it makes it very difficult to adapt the treatment to your needs.

Additionally (though we recognize this may be less important to some men), many patients have told us they find the large bumps where there are pellets under the skin—especially if they need multiple pellets implanted—can be frustrating to look at. 

Recommendation: If you are going to pursue pellet treatments, we encourage you to work with your provider to develop a thorough care strategy. Additionally,  communicate with them immediately if you notice any issues, inconsistency in mood, or other side effects.

Alternative Treatment Side Effects

If our tone wasn’t clear, The Edge doesn’t prescribe to these other treatment methods. Experience, and science, has shown us not to.

There are numerous cases of people receiving substandard care in the form of the amount of testosterone prescribed and the frequency of their dosage. Worse yet, there are instances where less experienced providers offer alternative care treatments that simply aren’t right for a patient—sometimes even dangerous.

Topical testosterone treatments, be it cream or implants, can be helpful to men suffering from Low-T. However, these alternative TRT treatments can cause side effects that are easier to identify and resolve with regular, clinical testosterone treatment. These include:

 

1. Skin problems

The most common side effects of testosterone creams and implants are skin reactions. Though both can cause skin issues, topical creams can react at the application site. Symptoms can include:

  • Acne
  • Burning
  • Blistering
  • Dry Skin
  • Itching
  • Soreness
  • Redness

Make sure you always apply the medication on clean, unbroken skin. Follow the application directions on the package carefully and report any skin reactions to your doctor.

2. Urinary changes

Topical testosterone can also affect your urinary tract. Some men need to urinate more than usual, including during the night. You may feel an urgent need to urinate, even when your bladder isn’t full. Other symptoms include trouble urinating and blood in the urine.

3. Breast changes

It’s rare, but topical testosterone can cause gynecomastia and result in unwanted changes to the breasts. This is because your body changes amounts of excess testosterone into estrogen, which can result in your body forming more breast tissue. Changes to the breasts can include:

  • Tenderness
  • Soreness
  • Pain
  • Swelling

4. Emotional effects

Most men tolerate testosterone treatment quite well, but a small number develop emotional side effects from hormonal changes. These can include:

  • Rapid mood swings
  • Exaggerated emotional responses
  • Nervousness
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Depression

Although emotional side effects are rare, any mental health issue can be serious if not treated. Be sure to discuss any symptoms with your provider.

5. Sexual dysfunction

Testosterone plays a big role in a man’s sex drive. But in rare cases, topical testosterone can negatively affect sexuality. It may cause problems such as:

  • Decrease in sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Erections that happen too often and last too long

6. Transfer through touch

Perhaps most concerning, exposure to topical testosterone can cause side effects in women and children through contact with it on their skin or clothing.

To prevent this from becoming an issue, don’t allow skin-to-skin contact of the treated area with other people. Also, don’t allow others to touch any bedding and clothing that may have absorbed testosterone from your skin. Keep the treated area covered or wash it well before letting others touch you.

It’s worth mentioning that some of these side effects are possible when receiving our TRT Treatment in Rogers, but there is also an important difference. 

When you receive carefully mapped and monitored testosterone treatment with the Edge, we can make adjustments the minute any issues arise. You are never alone in your care, and it’s never up to you to juggle providing treatment, monitoring results, and watching out for side effects. We’re with you every step of the way.

What The Edge Offers Patients

The Edge offers in-person and virtual consultations to men interested in treating their low testosterone levels. To begin an individualized treatment plan, we’ll need proper lab results, in-person doctor consultation, and signed consent.

Then, after going through your labs and charts in detail, Dr. Haney will recommend an individualized treatment plan that’s right for you. These treatments will include one or a combination of the following:

  • Testosterone injections
    • Our staff has found this to be the most effective TRT treatment in Rogers. We make these intramuscular injections to the gluteal area, shoulder, or thigh. 
  • HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) injections
    • A common side effect of testosterone therapy is a decrease in testicle size. Reasonably, a side effect of this intensity alarms a lot of guys. Fortunately, this separate injection acts as an LH (luteinizing hormone), which helps to create a leveled-out experience. This will minimize the specific issue of testicle shrinkage while still maintaining fertility and other hormone production.
  • Peptides
    • Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides work to compound the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy by releasing your body’s natural growth hormones. Patients need injections five nights per week, cycling off two nights per week. Consider this if you’re looking to make gains at the gym while still being safe and smart about your testosterone replacement therapy.

Personalized Care

We consider each aspect of your treatment, from the amount of testosterone we prescribe to the dosage and frequency with which we prescribe it. Many of our patients find that they have more energy, enjoy better workouts, sleep better, and even have an increased sex drive and performance! The end result is real, noticeable improvements in numerous aspects of your life. 

The Best Method for Clinical Testosterone Optimization: Injections

One of the main issues that we see with previous low testosterone treatment patients is that they had their care sub-optimally managed. Frequently, this is because patients in NW Arkansas use alternative treatment options. Other clinics don’t provide the same degree of structure and trackable process that we provide here with TRT treatment in Rogers at The Edge.

While alternative treatments exist, such as pellets and creams, our patients’ experiences have shown regular, monitored testosterone injections provide the most sustainable and effective results. After proper lab results and a consultation, you’ll begin an individualized treatment plan based on your bloodwork to get you feeling like yourself again.

Why Injections?

A major reason, beyond their safety and efficacy, is that Injections are just convenient—more so than you may initially think. Testosterone injections occur weekly or bi-weekly. Depending on your preference, we can administer them in our Rogers office, or you can do it yourself in the comfort of your home. Remote patients will need to come into the office for one initial visit but are free to administer the injections themselves in their homes after their preliminary consultation and meetings.

For patients remote from Northwest Arkansas, we can coordinate with a lab in your area to receive your results. Just ask Dr. Haney for more information.

After six weeks, we will order a follow-up lab to monitor and maintain your testosterone levels. On rare occasions, however, we may require additional follow-up visits for further monitoring if patients cannot coordinate needed services near their homes. This allows us to monitor your progress, and adjust dosages and injection frequency to match your needs.

The Edge is With You Every Step

We don’t just limit our care to office visits, though. We understand that consistent communication is key in ensuring that our patients have a top-notch experience. And we’ll be here to help if questions pop up during your treatment process. 

You can reach us via FaceTime, texting line, and through our patient portal app MyTouchMD with any questions. Whichever communication platform you prefer, we’ll follow up with you as quickly as we can.

The Best TRT Treatment in Rogers with The Edge

Our mission at The Edge at Pinnacle Point is to help men across Northwest Arkansas and beyond improve their overall health and wellness. Every guy has unique needs, and that’s why we take an individualized approach with each of our treatments. We take every one of your needs, goals, and challenges into consideration in order to find the right plan for you. 

Schedule an in-person or a virtual consultation today and get back to feeling like your old self again. Check out our special events for deals on your initial lab work and more!

For those looking for care beyond low testosterone treatment, The Edge also offers other services and supplements designed to help you feel or look like your old self. 

Getting old isn’t a choice, but feeling old is. Get back your Edge today.

< Previous Post View All Posts Next Post >