There was a time, roughly half a century ago, that testosterone benefits for depression were a common treatment. Unfortunately, with the advent of antidepressant drugs, many men no longer received crucial testosterone replacement that their bodies needed.

Men are not the only ones who suffer from Low T induced depression. Women sometimes also tend to undergo extreme mood changes when they enter menopause, and their hormone levels drop significantly.

Testosterone treatment for depression for women consists of applying a small dab of testosterone cream to the upper arm each day. For men, the following testosterone options are available for use:

• Testosterone injections
• Testosterone skin patches
• Transdermal testosterone gel
• Implantable testosterone pellets
• Adhesive transbuccal tablets

A study published in 2014 looked at 50 Japanese men with a median age of 57.7 years who had late-onset hypogonadism (Low T). Of these 50 men 30 were diagnosed with depression at baseline. Six months of testosterone replacement treatment were provided, and at the end, the Self-Rating Depression Scale scores decreased significantly. Only 11 of the men still suffered from depression after TRT. [1]

In other studies that have looked at testosterone injections and depression in men with Low T, the results have been promising. Many males report improved quality of life and a reversal of their depressed feelings.

While not every man or woman who is depressed and receives testosterone treatment will have a complete reversal of his or her depression, many will. If some symptoms of Low T are interfering with life, it is especially important to reverse low testosterone. Depression treatment with antidepressants will not help increase testosterone levels, but testosterone therapy may reduce the symptoms of depression.

How Low T Can Lead to Depression

Hormones control the body – they stimulate or play a role in nearly every process, action, and function. Many hormones, testosterone included, have receptor cells in the brain. When these receptors do not receive an adequate supply of their corresponding hormone, some form of breakdown in the associated function will occur. That is how we arrive at a diagnosis of low testosterone and depression for some people. If the testosterone receptors in the brain do not receive adequate signals, a change in mood is possible.

Not only is testosterone and depression connected in that way, but the other physiological and mental changes that occur with Low T can also affect emotional well-being in the following ways:

• Weight gain
• Loss of lean muscle mass
• Joint pains and stiffness
• Height shrinkage
• Low libido
• Hair loss or thinning
• Memory loss
• Impaired cognitive functions
• Lack of drive and productivity
• Insomnia
• Low energy

Each of these issues can also alter how one perceives him or herself. When a positive self-image is shattered, depression is a possibility.

When people first report changes in emotions and depression, testosterone deficiency and other hormonal imbalances should first be ruled out before the prescribing of antidepressants.

How Testosterone Therapy can Reverse the Feelings of Depression

When depression stems from low levels of testosterone, the best thing to do is to put that hormone’s level back in proper balance. The use of testosterone replacement for depression is responsible for the reversal of this emotional turmoil in many adults. When hormone levels such as testosterone are restored to their naturally ideal state, the body and brain respond in kind by promoting proper functions and actions.

For individuals who have already tried many different brands of antidepressants with no luck at all, the answer may lie in testosterone treatment. Resistant depression that does not respond to “conventional” forms of therapy may benefit from TRT.

Rather than spending money and time visiting a psychiatrist, a conversation with a hormone replacement therapy specialist may provide better insight and improved testosterone benefits for depression. Diagnostic blood tests will measure hormone levels to yield an accurate diagnosis to help the doctor determine the proper treatment and medication dosage.

By contacting Kingsberg HRT Clinic for a confidential consultation at no charge, you too may be able to say testosterone therapy cured my depression.