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Suggest An Alternative To HRT To Help Increase Muscle Strength
Question: At age 21 I was paralyzed and have been confined to a wheelchair since. I am now 68. I was castrated 16 years ago. My doctor put me on androgel six months ago to improve my muscle strength. My sex drive is out of control. Is there some way to improve muscle strength without HRT?
Brief Answer:
Alternatives to androgel
Detailed Answer:
Good day.
Noted your concern.
The reasons for hormone replacement is to improve muscle mass, well being and most important of all is to prevent osteoporosis. Since you have excess sex drive, we need to check your testosterone level and try to maintain it in low normal range rather than high range.
Other options are intermittent testosterone therapy together with Calcium and Vitamin D supplementation to protect bones. You need to take at least 1000 mg calcium and 2000 IU vitamin D a day to protect your bones. For improving muscle strength, regular physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises are required.
Since you had no male hormones since 52 years of age, it is better to do a DXA scan to assess bone density. Bone protection strategies can be decided based on DXA scan. It is also important to check your Prostate antigen ( PSA), Serum alkaline phosphatase, Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D levels.
Regards
Binu
Alternatives to androgel
Detailed Answer:
Good day.
Noted your concern.
The reasons for hormone replacement is to improve muscle mass, well being and most important of all is to prevent osteoporosis. Since you have excess sex drive, we need to check your testosterone level and try to maintain it in low normal range rather than high range.
Other options are intermittent testosterone therapy together with Calcium and Vitamin D supplementation to protect bones. You need to take at least 1000 mg calcium and 2000 IU vitamin D a day to protect your bones. For improving muscle strength, regular physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises are required.
Since you had no male hormones since 52 years of age, it is better to do a DXA scan to assess bone density. Bone protection strategies can be decided based on DXA scan. It is also important to check your Prostate antigen ( PSA), Serum alkaline phosphatase, Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D levels.
Regards
Binu
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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