Most men wonder “how long will it take before I start feeling better?” Unfortunately, there is no black and white answer. Everyone is different and will have slightly different timelines. Personally, I started feeling the effects within the first week and really noticed a significant change by week six. Often times, most men start feeling effects by the third week. 

The effectiveness of most medical therapies is determined by multiple factors. These include:

• Underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc…

• Your main presenting symptoms

• How low your testosterone is at the onset of treatment

• How compliant you are with treatment

If a man forgets his dose or continues to abuse alcohol, not exercise, and eat junk, it will take much longer for him to feel the positive effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

When it comes to TRT, symptom improvement occurs in a step wise approach with some symptoms improving faster than others. Lets review the most common symptoms of low testosterone again:

• Low libido or decreased sex drive

• Erectile dysfunction

• Decreased morning erections

• Decreased muscle mass

• Inability to make gains in the gym

• Increase body fat

• Fatigue

• Depression, anxiety and mental fog

Usually mental and psychological symptoms improve first during the 3rd week of treatment. Men begin to experience an increase in libido, improved mood, being more alert and focused, and have more energy. These symptoms continue to improve and eventually level off around week 6.

By the 2nd month of treatment, men will start to notice improved workouts, loss of body fat and increased muscle mass. This effect continues for 6-12 months and begins to plateau. But with continued exercise, weight lifting, and proper diet, improvements in body composition and performance can continue for years.

Erectile strength and dysfunction can take up to 6 months to improve, depending on how long of an issue it has been. The first effect most men experience is an increase in morning erections by week 4 to 6. If during treatment the erectile dysfunction is not improving as quickly as hoped, daily treatment with a low dose of tadalafil (Cialis) can significantly improve symptoms and has actually been shown to increase testosterone modestly.

Men need to remember that TRT is a gradual process. Symptoms typically improve one at a time in a step wise fashion as described above. First you will notice a more positive outlook on life, then a week later your libido will improve. A couple weeks after that you will start to notice your pants fit looser and you begin to have morning erections. 

Patients who begin TRT need to be compliant and consistent with their outlined treatment regimens, including taking medications as prescribed and obtaining follow up lab work. This will ensure that treatment is effective and most importantly, safe. If you are interested in exploring testosterone optimization therapy, contact True North Health & Wellness today.