Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy a Good Choice for Bodybuilding?

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Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy a Good Choice for Bodybuilding?​

Chris Dickerson won the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition at age 43.
That’s 13 years after men’s testosterone levels begin to drop.
How, then, is the average age of Mr. Olympia winners 34 years old?
To combat the age-related decrease in testosterone, many bodybuilders use Testosterone Replacement Therapy to keep making gains at the gym.

What is Testosterone Replacement Therapy? ​

Testosterone is produced in the testicles and helps maintain bone density, muscle strength, and muscle mass — a bodybuilder’s primary concern.
A man’s testosterone levels peak during early adulthood and decline with age. After age 30, levels drop about 1% per year. However, even men under 30 experience the effects of low testosterone. Low levels result in increased body fat and reduced muscle mass and strength — a bodybuilder’s worst nightmare.
Millions of American men use Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) to restore testosterone to a youthful level. The treatment, applied as a topical gel, injection, or skin patch, can lessen the natural effects of aging.

TRT and Bodybuilding​

TRT can help bodybuilders train harder, longer, and more consistently. Patients who receive TRT experience:

• Increased energy and reduced fatigue
• Improved muscle mass
• Increased strength and bone density
• Decreased body fat
• Elevated moods

The effects of TRT can be compounded naturally in the gym. Exercise promotes muscle building and weight maintenance. High muscle mass and a healthy weight increase testosterone. Schedule bodybuilding and strength-training workouts in the afternoon or evening, when testosterone levels are more likely to rise.
For an even bigger testosterone boost, favor full-body workouts and choose heavier weights instead of many reps with light weights. Add in a high-intensity interval training routine with shortened rest periods between intervals.
Limit chronic endurance exercise. Running or cycling for hours can decrease testosterone. So can overtraining. A rise in cortisol, a stress hormone, can lower testosterone.

Is TRT the Right Choice for All Bodybuilders? ​

Testosterone Replacement Therapy is not a steroid and should not be used as one. The treatment should only begin if you have completed valid testosterone tests and have a testosterone deficiency.
Testosterone is measured by analyzing the level of occurrence in the blood. In men, if testosterone is low, levels of total testosterone fall below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), and levels of free testosterone are less than 9 ng/dL.
Some indicators of low testosterone are:

• Depression or reduced confidence
• Mental and physical fatigue
• Swollen breasts and hot flashes
• Lower sex drive and erectile dysfunction

If you suspect low levels of testosterone, consult a medical professional.
Boosting testosterone with TRT when levels are not low may provide the desired benefits, but it could also have the opposite effect. Too much testosterone can decrease muscle gains and cause lasting damage to your body.
TRT is a legal prescription with proper testing, and low testosterone is considered a medical condition. The benefits of TRT are achieved over time with consistent treatment and repeated injections. A monitored application of TRT achieves the best results.