How Does Testosterone Impact Prostate Health?

Testosterone and Prostate Health

Testosterone is not Linked to Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer

Historically, many scientists have hypothesized that Testosterone contributes directly to the development of Prostate Cancer in correlation with age. There are even a minority of doctors who have utilized castration as a means to prevent Prostate Cancer.

New research suggests that the link between Testosterone and Prostate Cancer is weaker than once believed, and there is a significant chance that Testosterone has absolutely no link to the development of Prostate Cancer.

What we are learning now is that Testosterone is vitally essential for the optimal function of the Prostate.

Testosterone Levels Fade with Age

There is a significant problem, however. The older that we get, the less Testosterone that men produce. Generally, Testosterone Levels remain high beginning at puberty and extending to the late twenties. After this period of optimal hormone production, our bodies produce many vital hormones, including Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone, less efficiently.

Beginning in the thirties, Testosterone Levels start to drop at a slow and steady rate, hindering our health and preventing us from maintaining our health and vitality. Although medical professionals have long recognized that Testosterone Production drops with age, the mechanisms for that decline have been a mystery.

What Causes Testosterone Deficiency?

In recent years, however, scientists are starting to understand the mechanisms which cause Testosterone Secretion to decline more fully. Endocrinologists have discovered that a specific enzyme seems to be primarily responsible for Age-Related Testosterone Deficiency, known as 5-Alpha Reductase. As we age, our bodies produce too much of this hormone, limiting the body's ability to maintain healthy Testosterone Levels.

5-Alpha Reductase is a hormone that can deconstruct Testosterone, converting it into a derivative hormone known as Dihydrotestosterone. Increased levels of Dihydrotestosterone are associated with numerous medical afflictions that were once hypothesized to be the result of Testosterone, including cancer, hair loss, prostate enlargement, and bladder control issues.

In addition to these internal causes of Testosterone Deficiency, it appears that many chemicals also contribute to Testosterone Deficiency. These chemicals can limit Testosterone Production even at an early age when Testosterone Production is supposed to be at its peak. Because of particular chemical contaminations, adolescents are even at the risk of Testosterone Deficiency.

There is new evidence that specific Statin Drugs (used to treat abnormally high cholesterol) suppress the body's ability to produce Testosterone efficiently. Also, we are now learning that certain herbicides affect the body's ability to produce Testosterone. The most common of these is a chemical known as gly-phosphate, which has been linked to numerous other medical issues.

How to Combat Age-Related Testosterone Deficiency

As we discussed earlier, Testosterone levels naturally decline as a result of the aging process. There are numerous ways that you can slow down this Testosterone Decline and safeguard yourself deeper into your lifespan. The following are ways that you can help maintain healthier Testosterone Levels:

The Hormone Replacement Method

Hormone Replacement Therapy, under the advice and guidance of a medical professional, is an excellent way to treat Age-Related Testosterone Deficiency.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you may be dealing with Testosterone Deficiency:

• Reduced Libido and Disinterest in Sex

• Inability to Produce or Maintain a Full Erection

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Cognitive Issues Related to Short Term and Working Memory

• Accumulation of Body Fat

• Loss of Muscle Mass

• Loss of Bone Mineral Density

A qualified physician can provide the blood tests necessary to diagnose Testosterone Deficiency properly. Once it has been determined that you are experiencing Low-T, there are multiple ways that you can treat your medical issue. The most direct way to treat Low-T is by taking supplemental Testosterone.

There are many forms of effective Testosterone Replacement Therapy, including Testosterone Creams, Testosterone Sprays, Testosterone Dermal Implants, and even Testosterone Injections. These forms of Testosterone Treatment supplement the body's production with Bio-Identical Testosterone to help maintain a more optimal level of Hormone Balance, encouraging the body to perform in a higher and more efficient state.

Avoid Oral Testosterone

Although there are multiple effective ways to provide Testosterone Replacement, it is essential to note that taking Testosterone orally will either be minimally effective or completely ineffective. Testosterone is too complex to survive the digestive fluids of the stomach, and the Testosterone that you put in your mouth will not be the same as the amino acids absorbed into your system.

DHEA Hormone Replacement Therapy

There are other potential alternatives to Testosterone Replacement Therapy, especially if you are dealing with relatively minor levels of Testosterone Deficiency. One hormone that provides benefits for many people is known as DHEA.

DHEA is a Bio-Identical Hormone that is a direct precursor to naturally produced Testosterone. DHEA is released by the adrenal glands, which are located just above your kidneys. DHEA is responsible for the proper synthesis of a number of hormones, including Testosterone.

Healthy production of DHEA is heavily correlated with age. Before puberty, the adrenal glands release a minimal amount of this hormone. Still, as puberty occurs, the body begins to produce high levels of DHEA, which directly leads to an influx of Testosterone Production.

Production of DHEA peaks during the late teens and twenties and begins to fall sometime between the late twenties and early thirties.

The decline is gradual but becomes more significant the older you get. The adrenal glands are also responsible for producing other hormones, including Cortisone. Although Cortisone is a natural and necessary hormone, the body begins to produce it in greater and greater amounts throughout life.

Cortisol Prevents DHEA Production

The problem here is that DHEA and Cortisol are created from the same parts, and the more Cortisol that the Adrenal Glands produce, the less DHEA, and thus, the less Testosterone that is created. Cortisol and DHEA are synthesized using the substrate pregnenolone, and Cortisol production slowly hordes this hormone vital to Testosterone production.

Although the natural aging process increases Cortisol production, factors such as emotional stress, obesity, chronic pain, and even the over-consumption of gluten products can increase Cortisol levels unnecessarily.

Use DHEA Only with a Doctor's Permission

Although it is possible to purchase DHEA Over the Counter, it is essential that you only utilize DHEA under the recommendation of a physician. To maximize the benefits, you must have a responsible physician who monitors your hormone levels and recommends optimal hormone intake.

Although it is possible to take DHEA by mouth, ingestion still limits the effectiveness of the hormone.

How is DHEA Most Effectively Delivered?

DHEA is most effectively administered via the mucous membranes of the rectum or the vagina. It can help both sexes maintain healthy hormone production by providing the building blocks of Testosterone and Estrogen.

It can also be delivered via the skin, but applying a consistent dose is harder. Patients with significant Testosterone Deficiency will likely still benefit from direct Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, but DHEA is also a valuable option for a specific subset of patients.

The Prostate Cancer-Testosterone Myth and Saw Palmetto

As men grow older, they become increasingly at risk of developing a disorder known as Prostate Hyperplasia. This means that the prostate begins to grow abnormally large. This disorder most notably affects men over sixty, and the risk continues to increase with age.

Although, in the past, it was hypothesized that Testosterone, Prostate Cancer, and Prostate Enlargement were linked, it appears in retrospect that this is not the case.

Rather than Testosterone, it seems that enhanced levels of Estrogen and DHT are responsible for these risks. Estrogen and DHT are created when Testosterone is maintained inappropriately by the body, causing it to break down into these alternative hormones.

There are two types of drugs that primarily treat Prostate Enlargement, and both of these treatments involve unhealthy and potentially dangerous side effects:

5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors for Prostate Enlargement

The most commonly prescribed forms of this medication are Proscar and Avodart. These drugs work by limiting the conversion of Testosterone into DHT. Although this can lead to an increase in Testosterone Levels, it does nothing to prevent Testosterone from converting into Estradiol and other Estrogen compounds.

For this reason, these medications increase prostate cancer risk even though they effectively treat prostate enlargement.

Alpha-Blockers for Prostate Enlargement

Alpha Blockers treat the symptoms of prostate enlargement but do not solve the root causes. Alpha Blockers include Rapaflow, Cardura, Hytrin, and Flomax. These drugs work by helping the smooth muscles of the bladder and prostate relax, making urination easier.

Although they are very effective, they only hide the underlying issues related to Prostate Enlargement without treating the disorder itself.

Saw Palmetto for Prostate Enlargement and Healthy Testosterone Production

Rather than turn to these synthetic medications, an option for many patients is entirely natural: Saw Palmetto. More than one hundred studies have been conducted regarding the efficacy of Saw Palmetto, and there is evidence that Saw Palmetto can relieve the symptoms of Prostate Enlargement without leading to adverse symptoms.

In addition, there is some evidence that Saw Palmetto Capsules can also reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer. Although, in the past, studies have provided mixed results regarding Saw Palmetto Capsules, there is substantial new evidence that the effectiveness of treatment depends upon the form of Saw Palmetto used as well as the way that it is administered.

Choose the Right Form of Saw Palmetto

Many supplements are manufactured using an ineffective plant formulation. When used effectively, Saw Palmetto can provide significant benefits. One physician tells us that for him, the most trusted form of Saw Palmetto is a form of Saw Palmetto Oil extracted using the Super-Critical Carbon Dioxide Extraction technique.

This form of Saw Palmetto will be an oil-colored deep green. It is also important to note that Saw Palmetto is soluble in fat rather than water, so it is absorbed most effectively when eaten with a food that contains fat, such as eggs.

Saw Palmetto and Astaxanthin

New research also shows that combining the Anti-Oxidant Astaxanthin with Saw Palmetto Oil can increase the benefits of both supplements. A study in 2009 showed that combining these two supplements had a cumulative effect, limiting the production of Estrogen and DHT while also boosting natural Testosterone Levels.

Natural sources of Astaxanthin include Krill Oil, Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and Shellfish. It is also present in many vegetables, including Red Peppers and Carrots.

In addition to combining these two supplements, you can also choose foods and supplements which are high in aromatase-inhibitors that help prevent Testosterone from converting into Estrogen. These foods include Grape Seed Extract, Nettles, and White Button Mushrooms.

A Healthy Prostate is Important to a Long and Healthy Life

If you are growing older and are concerned with your prostate health, use the information in this article to inform yourself and ask for the opinion of a qualified medical professional. Be proactive and do your part in avoiding prostate problems later in life!

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