Testosterone plays an important role in the male body, as it’s involved in various processes and functions, such as red blood cell and sperm production, muscle-building and fat distribution, strengthening and bone mass, sex drive and more.
When testosterone levels dip, you must find a way to increase supply, or else your body and health may suffer. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a popular and effective treatment for balancing hormones and boosting testosterone in the body.
TRT offers many benefits, including improved bone density and muscle mass, elevated mood, less body fat and enhanced libido.
How Long Does It Take For TRT to Start Working
In short, about three weeks.
We’re about to get very granular about what to expect and when, but first, an important preface: improvements develop over time, so be patient and don’t freak out if you don’t see results right away.
Lester Lee, M.D., suggests waiting 60 days before deciding if your treatment plan’s working or not. More substantial changes typically happen about 60 days in, and not within the first month. It’s important to be realistic with your goals and expectations at each stage of the journey in order to give TRT a real shot. While exact time frames vary by person, estimating can be useful for reference and can help guide you through the process.
About the Expert
Lester Lee, M.D., is a regenerative medicine physician specializing in hormone replacement therapy.
TRT relieves each symptom of low testosterone gradually over the course of several months. Here’s what to expect on TRT from Lee as well as our Hone patients on TRT.
Week 2-4: Mental clarity
You should notice minor improvements within the first month, such as improvements in mood and energy levels, sleep quality, and mental health, says Lee. You might find yourself feeling well-rested when waking up, less groggy and irritable during the day, and more energized and motivated to take the stairs or hit the gym.
Your brain may feel less foggy and more alert, which in turn may increase productivity, too.
Together, these little improvements add up and can make for some pretty large rewards down the road—especially with age, when the risk of disease is heightened and there’s a great need for good health and high happiness levels, Lee notes.
Greg Brickey, 62, Hone Patient
The majority of changes from TRT came during the first month. An emotional change happened first within the first two weeks of treatment.
I was more level-headed and emotionally stable; I wasn’t crying at work or at commercials anymore. I started liking myself again.
Jon Dubovsky, 36, Hone Patient
“I experimented with different types of anabolic steroids for years before, but I’ve been on TRT for three years now. Before, I was really unmotivated. I would work out but didn’t have much energy.
After two or three weeks on TRT, I started to feel changes. Words started coming faster. I regained my mental clarity. I even had morning wood again.
I remember the confidence of when I was 18 and felt bulletproof, and I started to feel that same fire, sexually and energy-wise.”
“At the end of the first month, sexual urges and desires started to come back. I was getting morning wood and great erections again.
I stopped needing to take naps, and the quality of my sleep improved, too. I wake feeling more rested and feeling energized.”
Weeks 12-24: Muscle mass increases & weight loss
According to Lee, you should notice the same results after 4 to 8 weeks, but of a greater size and with a few other perks.
“There’s enhanced muscularity and tone,” Lee says, which means you’ll start to “bulk up,” by building more mass and strength in your bones and muscles.
Look at yourself in the mirror—visually, you should see the difference. At this point, there will be more substantial improvements to track and get excited over, in comparison to when you first began treatment.
Greg Brickey, 62, Hone Patient
“I started wearing clothes I hadn’t worn in a long time. I was never heavy but some things were tight. As I put on more muscle, I was getting lean so they fit again.”
Kevin Gallagher, 43, Hone Patient
“Before TRT, I had been working out and watching my diet, but wasn’t seeing progress. Now, two months in, I started putting on more muscle. I lost about 10 pounds, too. I could push harder at the gym again. My body composition totally started to change.”
Months 7-12: A healthier, happier life
After several months, these substantial changes become more pronounced. TRT is well in effect, and the whole process speeds up to produce some incredible results.
Jon Dubovsky, 36, Hone Patient
“After seven months on TRT, I achieved a sustainable weight loss. I was able to fit into a blazer I hadn’t worn since high school, which was a huge ‘wow!’ moment.”
Greg Brickey, 62, Hone Patient
“I fall asleep faster than I ever did, and I sleep better, too.
My son has a disability and I used to get mad at him for things I knew weren’t his fault. But I couldn’t stop myself and we wouldn’t talk for a few days sometimes. Now I can catch myself when I get mad. I still get frustrated but I can catch myself and stop it. My kids say that I’m more patient.”
Kevin Gallagher, 43, Hone Patient
“I knew I was never going to have increased T on my own. The OTC stuff is never going to work. TRT makes you want to eat better, work out, and have a better body.
Before TRT, I felt like a bad father. I didn’t really want to play with my kids, but now I have the energy to play with them all the time. I started to have more meaningful conversations with my wife.
The brain fog was affecting my family and going on TRT made me more self aware. Now I’m an active member in the family, and my kids and wife treat me differently; it’s far better.”
Managing TRT Side Effects
Lee notes that there are a few side effects of TRT to be wary of, and the best way to prevent adverse reactions is to maintain proper care with dosing and your treatment plan. If you notice any unpleasant or concerning side effects, address it with your doctor.
You may experience acne or hair loss, as well as gynecomastia, Lee says, which is “female breast tissue due to high levels of estrogen that’s converted from testosterone.”
Another potential drawback is stunted growth. “If testosterone is taken during adolescence, stunted growth can occur due to growth plate stimulation and premature fusion,” he says.
TRT can also increase the risk of heart disease. “Excessive amounts of testosterone above physiologic levels increase LDL (bad fats) and lower HDL (good fats),” Lee says.
It may also affect your liver and kidneys, leading to high toxicity levels, he adds. And, you might notice swelling and water retention, as well as enlargement of the prostate gland, too, Lee notes.
Lastly, decreased sperm production can be an issue on TRT—“therefore, fertility in men with pre-existing low sperm production,” Lee says. “TRT will further suppress spermatogenesis, and the longer the period of time on TRT, the more suppression of sperm production,” he says.
Order a T Assessment
Checking your T levels is easy with Hone’s at-home assessment. You can knock it out before your AM coffee.
u003ch2 id=u0022the-bottom-lineu0022u003eThe Bottom Lineu003c/h2u003ernTestosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can improve low testosterone over the course of several months. Within two to four weeks, you should have enhanced mental clarity. By week eight, you will notice an increase in libido. Weeks 12 to 24 frequently come with a noticeable increase in muscle mass and weight loss. In month seven and beyond, you’ll enjoy a healthier, happier life
About the author
Isadora Baum is a freelance writer, certified health coach, and published author of three books.
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