There is a definite link between testosterone levels and your level of visceral fat. This is especially true for women.

Visceral fat is commonly referred to as “belly fat.” However, the true definition of visceral fat literally goes a lot deeper than that. Visceral fat technically is fat that wraps around your abdominal organs deep inside your body. While people who are noticeably overweight with a typical “big belly” will undoubtedly also have a lot of visceral fat, you can’t always feel it or see it. In fact, you can have a fairly flat tummy and still have visceral fat. That’s sometimes called TOFI, or “thin outside fat inside.”

The link between visceral fat and low testosterone is an interesting one. Studies have found that both men and women who are overweight and possess an excessive volume of visceral fat tend to suffer from low testosterone. The reverse has also been found to be true that people with low testosterone tend to be overweight and have a lot of visceral fat.

Injectable testosterone that is used for testosterone replacement therapy is available in several forms and sold under a variety of brand names. All are what are known as testosterone esters. Esterification is a chemical process that makes testosterone more soluble and, therefore, injectable.

The different esters mainly vary in their half-lives which impacts how quickly they take effect and how long they last, and in the oil base used for esterification.

There are many myths and misconceptions about testosterone and testosterone therapy.

Probably the most common misconception about testosterone is that it is exclusively a “male hormone.”  It is true that testosterone falls under the technical definition of an “androgen” or “male hormone,” however, women’s bodies make and need testosterone as well.

That testosterone is only for men is just one of the many myths and misunderstandings involving this vital hormone. On this page, our medical experts will dig into the top myths and the top facts you should know about testosterone if you are considering testosterone therapy.

There is a right way and a wrong way to stop testosterone therapy.

For men with low testosterone, testosterone therapy has many benefits. Still, there may come a time when you may need to stop testosterone therapy. On this page, we will discuss the reasons why you may need to stop testosterone therapy and the ways to safely do so.

The “before and after” results of testosterone replacement therapy for men and women can be completely transformative and life-changing.

Testosterone replacement therapy is prescribed for patients who have been diagnosed with low testosterone or a testosterone deficiency. Testosterone therapy is usually prescribed for a period of six months, after which both men and women receiving testosterone replacement should experience noticeable before and after results.

The many positive benefits of testosterone therapy are designed to be cumulative. Each month that you are on testosterone therapy, you can expect to see more and more before and after results.

Low testosterone (hypogonadism) commonly affects HIV-positive men and is associated with a variety of clinical symptoms adversely affecting their quality of life.

There definitely appears to be a link between low testosterone and HIV infection. Low testosterone is common in all men over 50. This is because testosterone levels decline in all men as they age. So, as the HIV-positive community is living longer thanks to successful antiviral therapies, this can account for some of the increased incidences of low testosterone (hypogonadism) among individuals with HIV.

However, studies have found that low testosterone is more likely in younger men with HIV/AIDS than in non-infected men of similar ages. This seems to suggest some other connection between HIV and low testosterone than the normal age-related testosterone decline.

Studies have found that testosterone replacement therapy can be helpful in counteracting the “wasting” of muscle and bone typical of HIV/AIDS patients. This is particularly true in HIV-positive patients who have also been diagnosed with low testosterone.

There is evidence that varicoceles -enlarged varicose veins of the testicles can impact the production of testosterone, leading to testosterone deficiency.

As many as 15 percent of men have varicoceles, masses of enlarged and dilated veins in the testicles. Among other issues associated with varicoceles, including their known impact on fertility, new research suggests that having the condition could interfere with testosterone production leading to low testosterone.