Testosterone is an important hormone that plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of male characteristics. Though testosterone therapy is often used to treat low testosterone levels, there are debates around the best methods of administration.
Oral testosterone is testosterone that is taken by mouth. There are a few key considerations when evaluating if oral testosterone can be used:
- Bioavailability - Oral testosterone has very low bioavailability, meaning not much of the hormone is actually absorbed into the bloodstream when taken orally. The liver metabolizes testosterone when taken orally, breaking down the majority of it before it can enter the circulation. Thus, very high oral doses would be needed to achieve physiological testosterone levels.
- Side effects - Because oral preparations need to be taken at very high doses due to the low bioavailability, there is a higher risk of side effects like liver toxicity.
- Other options like injectable or transdermal testosterone therapy tend to be preferred because they avoid the "first pass" metabolism by the liver and have higher bioavailability.
So in summary:
- Yes, techncially you can take testosterone orally due to oral preparations being available.
- However, it is widely regarded as an unfavorable option compared to injectable or transdermal routes due to:
- Low bioavailability, requiring impractically high doses
- Increased risk of side effects like liver toxicity
Now, there are a few exceptions where oral treatment may still be appropriate:
- Some patients cannot tolerate injections or transdermal treatments
- Oral testosterone undecanoate, while still having very low bioavailability (~7%), has a much longer half-life that allows for less frequent dosing
- Careful monitoring of liver enzymes and blood levels by a physician when attempting oral therapy
So
oral testosterone, while possible, is not generally recommended due to more favorable alternatives being available. Discuss all treatment options with your healthcare provider.
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