Hormone replacement therapy has become a growing trend, not only in women, but in men between the ages of 40 and 80. That’s because many are experiencing low levels of testosterone.

As a result physicians have opened men’s health clinics throughout Memphis, which offer shorter wait times, isolated treatment and non-traditional, non-invasive methods.

These clinics are not typically run by urologists, but by physicians who specialize in hypogonadism, a common and increasing issue in men with persistently low testosterone levels. These clinics are smaller than most urology offices and are need-specific. 

For example, “Larry” (not his real name) makes an appointment to a popular men’s health clinic once a month. He wants to remain anonymous because he says there is stigma attached to treatment. Many men disagree. However, he feels this way because he was experiencing low libido and erectile dysfunction – conditions that are not commonly discussed in most groups and are sometimes associated with low self-esteem in men.

He was often fatigued and gained 10 extra pounds in an eight-week period. So he took to the Internet and found a YouTube video featuring the work and testimony of orthopedic surgeon, Johnny Mitias, MD, co-owner of Ageless Men’s Health in Memphis. 

Mitias’ personal testimony on the treatment allows him to assert a great deal of empathy toward men with these issues. “On Friday I took a testosterone injection. By Monday I felt like I did 10 years prior,” he said in his video. Mitias says he started having symptoms at age 39. 

Testosterone therapy typically is practiced in traditional urology offices where some men tend to feel more comfortable because of the high-level monitoring and testing associated with the expertise of a urologist.

In fact, urologist William Van Bingham, MD, has been in practice for more than 15 years.  According to the office nurse, Monica Bates, roughly 80 percent of patients they treat utilize some type of testosterone therapy. “Many of our patients with low testosterone levels receive either injections, creams or implants (testopel pellets),” she said.

“Testosterone levels are monitored monthly, or less, depending on current levels and treatment,” Bates explained. “Four different levels are tested to configure the need of treatment as well as determining factors. These factors include other medications or health issues that may be associated with symptoms.”

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 3.2 percent of men in their 60s and 5.1 percent in their 70s with hypogonadism experienced symptoms such as limited early-morning erections, low sexual desire and erectile dysfunction. But other studies show that the signs can start in some men in their early 30s.

Many patients opt to take testosterone replacement indefinitely.  However there are concerns associated with long-term effects. Studies also show that testosterone replacement can lead to prostate cancer so Bingham recommends close monitoring of the PSA (prostate specific antigen) as well as diet and exercise. 

“Larry” says he plans to continue his therapy under the supervision of Mitias and Ageless Men’s Health.

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