A Day In The Life With HIV – Part 4

A low testosterone level is quite common in men living with HIV. I had been HIV infected for almost three years. While I had my share of nagging illnesses; sinus infections, thrush and the like, I always prided myself on feeling pretty good. Recently, after turning 42 years old, I noticed I felt more fatigued than usual. I had little energy after dinner, wanting to sleep more and more each day. My problems were not just with energy levels. In the bedroom I found that my sexual desire had all but disappeared. When I was in the mood I sometimes had trouble getting an erection. When I did, it was not as strong or as long lasting as it once was. To top it all off, I felt sad, and very deeply depressed, even suicidal at times, and finding joy in any activity was difficult. I had all the classic signs of low testosterone and my wonderful doctor felt testosterone replacement may be exactly what I needed.

So first he did a simple blood test to determine my actual testosterone levels. When the results came back it wasn’t pretty. Let’s just say that the average female had more testosterone then I did. By this time, my mood swings were OUT OF CONTROL. I would go from crying and being in the fetal position unable to drag myself out of bed to the next minute feeling like the HULK wanting to throw the sofa around the room. It was the most insane feelings I have ever experienced. Nothing even close through out my 42 years.

To See “A Day In The Life With HIV – Part 3″ Click Here!

So, What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is the male sex hormone secreted by the testes. The production of testosterone is responsible for the development of the male sex organs, muscle growth, sex drive and energy levels in the male. During puberty, male adolescents have increased production of testosterone resulting in the development of facial hair and a deepening of the voice. For years, experts have been aware of the affect HIV has on testosterone production. Specifically diminished levels of testosterone are common in HIV+ men. The incidence of low testosterone increases in men who have lived long-term with HIV. To compound the problem, it’s normal for the body to slow production of testosterone (hypogonadism) after the age of 40 regardless of HIV status.

Normal testosterone values can vary from person to person. But as the levels fall, symptoms will emerge. The most common symptoms include:

Decreased energy levels (fatigue)
Decreased sex drive
Difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection
Loss of muscle mass (e.g., in AIDS wasting)
Symptoms of depression

Is There a Blood Test to Measure My Testosterone Level?
Low testosterone can be diagnosed with a simple blood test that measures the amount of free testosterone circulating in your blood. If the level is too low, testosterone replacement therapy is needed to return the level back to normal which in turn will relieve your symptoms.

How is Low Testosterone Treated?
Testosterone replacement can be done is a variety of ways.

Testosterone can be administered by injection every 2-4 weeks. The inject-able form provides a rapid increase in testosterone levels but leave the man experiencing a “roller coaster” of energy levels when the level falls again immediately prior to the next dose.

Testosterone patches or gels applied every 24 hours to a major muscle {e.g., thigh, buttock, upper arm). In this case, testosterone absorbs slowly into the muscle through the skin. The patch and gel on the other hand, provide a constant dose of testosterone, eliminating the highs and lows common to the injectable replacement therapy. The downside of gels and patches is that it takes longer to bring the testosterone level back to normal. I actually started out on the gels (Androgel 1% – One 5G packet of gel rubbed onto a major muscle every 24 hours). However, over time my skin built up a resistance to the medication preventing it from seeping through. So injections was the only other option for me.

The Intermuscular injection has proven to be a miracle of modern day medicine for me. I feel great after only 4 weeks of injects and life as well as my emotions are right back to normal.

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