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how long does testosterone therapy last?

How Long Does Testosterone Replacement Therapy Typically Last?

September 14, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Testosterone therapy can relieve many of the side effects of age-associated low testosterone levels. Before starting treatment, most men want to know how long it will take to restore their vigor and how long testosterone therapy lasts. Hypogonadism, or low testosterone levels, affects approximately 4-5 million men in the United States (Seftel, 2006). Testosterone levels are at their highest during adolescence and early adulthood. After the age of 30 to...

Can Thyroid Problems Cause Low Testosterone?

September 10, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Thyroid disease in men can cause low sperm count, loss of muscle mass, and erectile dysfunction. Thyroid disease is much more common in women, so men may not attribute symptoms unique to men as secondary to thyroid disease. However, men tend to have increased thyroid problems with age. The endocrine system is complex. A slight change in one hormone can have far-reaching consequences throughout the body. Testosterone levels decline at a rate...

Can Nicotine Cause Impotence?

September 8, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Approximately 15% of adult men smoke cigarettes. Smoking is most common in men between the ages of 25 and 64. According to the 2018 Gallup poll, nine percent of adults surveyed vape for their nicotine exposure, at least occasionally. More than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease. If these statistics are not enough to make you want to kick your smoking habit. The strong link between smoking and erectile dysfunction (ED) may. Smoking is a major...

Diet and Exercise to Help With Erectile Dysfunction

August 30, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Erectile dysfunction affects almost one in every ten men at some point in their lives. So, it is not surprising that many men, and their partners, are asking if diet and exercise can affect erectile dysfunction. Researchers have been evaluating the best foods and diets to support erectile function as well as exercises that may help. Erectile dysfunction (E.D.) is often caused by blood vessel damage or suboptimal hormone levels; however, it can also...

The Connection Between Intimacy and Mental Health

June 16, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Mental health and intimacy are two critical aspects of our lives. Healthy and intimate interpersonal relationships are an important part of one’s mental health. Sex and intimacy release a flood of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which can ease some mental health symptoms. However, some people may find it difficult to engage in physical intimacy due to mental health conditions. The ability to establish and maintain sexual...

What Can Harm Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?

June 13, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. What Is Fertility? Fertility is the natural ability to conceive a child. It involves the endocrine, reproductive, and nervous systems in both men and women, at a minimum. In addition, many lifestyle factors can positively or negatively impact fertility. About 9% of men and 11% of women of reproductive age in the U.S. have experienced fertility problems (NIH, 2017). The following steps are necessary for a pregnancy to occur: The male must produce...

5 Major Reasons Why Younger Generations Aren’t Getting Married

June 12, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Is marriage necessary for a happy life? Approximately 17% of women and 16% of men say that marriage is essential for them to have a fulfilling life. Over half of Americans say that marriage is important but not critical. About 30% say marriage is not important. Younger adults are more likely than older adults to believe that marriage does not equal happiness. Marriage rates have continued to decline from a high in the 1960s to 58% of Americans in 1990...

The Surprising Link Between Sex and Work Productivity

June 11, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Sex and sexual behavior aren’t usually the first things that come to mind when you think about employee management or productivity. Nonetheless, a study published in the Journal of Management investigated this topic, and the findings may surprise you. Workers who engaged in sex at home had a more positive attitude toward work, regardless of whether they were otherwise satisfied with their marriage.Sex at home increased both job satisfaction and daily...

7 Ways to Naturally Regulate Your Hormones

June 10, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. The endocrine system and nervous system regulate nearly every process in the body—with the endocrine system handling longer-term changes and the nervous system controlling the minute-to-minute changes. Because these two systems are so intertwined, every change in one will affect the other. Like your home’s heating and air conditioning system, feedback loops govern the vast majority of bodily activities. When it becomes too chilly in your house, the heat...

Cognitive Symptoms in Menopause

March 31, 2021

Written by Leann Poston, M.D. Women self-report many cognitive symptoms in perimenopause and menopause. Symptoms such as word-finding difficulty, difficulty paying attention, difficulty concentrating, needing to use memory aids, and feeling like they are in a brain fog. In the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study, out of 230 women aged 33 to 55, 60 percent reported they had an unfavorable memory change (Sullivan Mitchell & Fugate Woods, 2001). Perimenopausal women were 1.4 times...