highs and lows

LINK: highs and lows

Currently listening to: Hey Daddy – Usher

I ain’t gotta do a lot of flexin’ (uh-uh)
Shawty, you already know what it is
And, girl, tonight we gonna do a lot of sexin’, yeah
Can’t nobody do your body like this, oh

The U.S. military will be testing service members’ testosterone levels for deficiency for those who are 30 and older. Testosterone replacement therapy will be voluntary, according to Pete Hegseth. What are your thoughts?

Prompt created by yours truly. 
Feel free to use any prompts for August that I post and/or tag me.
I’d love to read your responses

How is it August already? I mean this year feels like it’s been the longest year already but I’m still surprised that it’s August…

I actually have mixed thoughts about this.

There are a lot of men out there running around with low T (hypogonadism) especially as they age. Some symptoms can include (but this could also be due to lifestyle factors, born with conditions that cause testosterone deficiency, autoimmune diseases, infection, pituitary gland disease, HIV, undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, injured testicles by accident, as well)

• low libido
• erectile dysfunction
• fatigue
• muscle mass reduction
• moodiness (depression, anxiety, easily irritable, lack of motivation)
• trouble focusing
• loss of body hair
• lower bone density
• depression
• infertility
• weight gain

Women also can have low T levels as well (androgen deficiency) but they typically do not undergo TRT (testosterone replacement therapy). It was not specified if female members would be screened and provided TRT.

Having blood tests like (total and free testosterone and luteinizing + follicle-stimulating hormone, blood prolactin level, blood hemoglobin) can aid in further diagnosis and treatment for TRT.

There are side effects to TRT: increased blood clots that could possibly cause a pulmonary embolism, acne, irritability, prostate cancer/enlarged prostate concerns, decreased sperm production or testicles shrinking, sleep apnea issues, possible increased cardiovascular risk (more research is needed for this).

Men who are using TRT as an enhancement, there is a risk that it can cause the body to stop its own production, making the person dependent on it for life. Therefore, discussions for the risks, benefits, and alternatives should be thoroughly conducted with a physician.

While I support VOLUNTARY screening and treatment, I have concerns about inappropriate use of TRT and promoting a supposed high T war department. I also question if a male serviceman had low T, if TRT will truly be offered as voluntary and not mandatory. And just food for thought, isn’t this considered gender-affirming care? The fact that it encourages and supports the person’s gender identity… just sayin’.

FYI: The US Health and Human Services Department is proposing to change the warning labels for TRT.