Before jumping into What happens when you stop TRT Therapy, all you need to know is what testosterone replacement therapy aims to achieve.
This treatment plan helps to balance the body’s testosterone levels, which naturally reduce with age or due to some health issues. It boosts your body’s energy, strength, and vitality. This is a long-term commitment and stopping TRT is usually not intended.
However, if stopping TRT therapy becomes necessary, you need to consider certain factors. It is also important to understand that discontinuing the treatment involves several crucial considerations and should be carefully evaluated.
Today, here in this blog post, we are going to delve deep into Testosterone Replacement Therapy and what will happen when you stop this medication.
Why Should You Go for TRT Therapy?
Testosterone Replacement Therapy or TRT is prescribed for men who are experiencing low T symptoms. This condition, termed Hypogonadism, happens especially when your body fails to produce adequate free T, leading to fatigue, reduced muscle mass, decreased sex drive, memory issues and more.
Testosterone levels naturally decline with age. After the age of 35, free T level in men is decreasing by about 1% per year. Apart from this, there are several external lifestyle factors that can contribute to low T levels. These factors are excessive stress, poor diet habits, lack of exercise and inadequate sleep hygiene.
While it can be quite challenging to address these issues, they are not biologically fixed. Positive lifestyle changes can help to reverse the adverse effects of low T and potentially increase the level in natural ways.
If improvements in diet, sleep and exercise do not raise your testosterone levels, your doctor may recommend TRT as the best course of treatment for low T issue.
You can also check out our previous blog on How to Boost Your Testosterone Level: A Guide to Follow
Can You Stop Testosterone Replacement Therapy Once You Start?
Yes. You can stop testosterone replacement therapy, but it is crucial to consult your doctor on the best way to do so. Always remember one thing: Never stop TRT abruptly on your own.
When you are on this treatment for an extended period, your body reduces its own testosterone production. If you suddenly stop taking medication, the abrupt lack of testosterone can lead to a drop in energy levels and sex drive. You may also experience depression, anxiety and irritability.
These symptoms can be concerning but usually resolve within a few weeks after stopping TRT. Generally, the longer you have been on this treatment, the longer it will take your body to readjust to its normal testosterone levels after quitting.
It is important to note that after quitting Testosterone Replacement Therapy, your body’s natural levels of testosterone will revert back to what they were before treatment. For example, if your free T levels were 200 ng/dL before starting TRT Therapy, they will return to this range once you stop. Individuals who are on TRT for a shorter duration tend to experience fewer symptoms when discontinuing the treatment. But in exceptional cases, it can take a few months or longer for symptoms to fully resolve.
You can also check our previous blog on Does Testosterone Replacement Therapy Cause High Blood Pressure?.
What to Expect When to Stop TRT Therapy?
Hormone Level Changes: Once you stop Testosterone Replacement Therapy, your body’s natural testosterone production will take some time to resume. This process is gradual and does not happen overnight.
Emotional and Physical Adjustments: After quitting testosterone treatment, you may experience various physical changes such as decreased energy levels or alterations in muscle mass. Even you might feel emotionally different since testosterone significantly impacts mood and mental health.
Monitoring Health: It is quite essential to monitor your overall healthy well-being during the transition. Regular check-ups are important to ensure that everything is progressing smoothly.
You can also check our previous blog on Can TRT for Men Cause Infertility?
Things You Need to Do While Thinking About Discontinuing TRT Therapy
Stopping TRT is not just a simple decision. The journey needs proper guidance and support in every step of your way.
- Consult with Your Physician:
While you are planning to stop TRT treatment, the first crucial step is to consult with licensed healthcare providers. They will properly guide you throughout the TRT discontinuing process.
Quitting your TRT procedure can cause various physiological reactions. Only a certified medical practitioner can provide expert care, advice and prescribe medication (if necessary) to ease the transition.
- Address the HPTA Axis:
The HPTA axis is responsible for natural testosterone production. Sometimes, restarting this axis on your own after discontinuing TRT can be quite difficult.
Certified medical providers typically use a combination of treatments to support different areas of the HPTA axis affected by negative feedback. This may include hormones that stimulate Luteinizing hormones (LH) and testicular cells to produce testosterone.
Sometimes, physicians first prescribe HCG to increase testicle size and testosterone levels, followed by Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators(SERMs) to stimulate the body’s LH production.
- Make Lifestyle Changes:
Factors like stress, poor diet, drug use, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and inadequate sleep can contribute to low testosterone levels.
Adopting lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and sufficient sleep can help naturally improve testosterone levels.
While these changes alone may not resolve your lowT issues, they can help address barriers to testosterone production.
- Gradual Tapering:
When discontinuing TRT treatment, it is better to gradually taper over several weeks or longer. This approach minimizes shock to your system and helps manage symptoms.
If you are planning to stop TRT, consult your provider to ensure you have enough medication to taper effectively.
- Regular Exercise:
Regular exercise has been shown to maintain higher testosterone levels over time.
Incorporating cardiovascular exercises and weight training into your routine can positively impact testosterone production.
Exercise is an important lifestyle change to support hormone production, but it won’t alleviate low testosterone symptoms on its own.
Final Thoughts
So, always remember, your TRT journey is unique and it is essential to make concrete decisions about starting and stopping the treatment with your overall health and well-being in mind.
Here at Precision Telemed, we provide personalized TRT treatment plans according to your medical conditions and needs. We are dedicated to supporting you at every step of this journey.
Whether you are considering stopping the treatment and want to learn more about the consequences, we are here for you. We provide virtual consultations and door-step medication delivery service at affordable prices. Follow us to learn more about our Testosterone Replacement Therapy plan and regain your vitality!
