As a person of Science, I’m supposed to cover my enthusiasm about this considerably controversial topic, and as an alternative direct you solely to the peer-reviewed research.
However man, I really feel like I’ve stumbled upon the fountain of youth right here. And the extra I dig into the main points and the hype and controversy surrounding the sector of Hormone Alternative remedy, the extra I have to share the phrase about it to my fellow middle-aged folks (each women and men).
However first a fast backstory:
I’ve been all for optimization and making an attempt to get essentially the most out of my physique and thoughts since I used to be a little bit child. I began vacuuming up all of the coaching and diet books and magazines I might discover whereas I used to be simply a youngster, and that discipline nonetheless stays a favourite of mine over 30 years later. And should you’re a long-time reader right here you’ve been reminded loads of instances of this curiosity, as a result of well being has all the time been the very coronary heart of Mustachianism.
However a humorous factor has been taking place within the final ten years: whilst I stored honing the wholesome dwelling habits and making an attempt my greatest to enhance, there gave the impression to be a drive pulling me again virtually as exhausting. So regardless of working a bit more durable and smarter yearly, I nonetheless felt myself driving a progressively declining tide of vitality, motivation, and bodily stamina.
“Maybe that is simply what it means to develop previous”, I believed to myself,
“However I’m nonetheless gonna preserve preventing it!”
But there was one factor that didn’t fairly match. Why was I having this decline in vitality, when a few of my older buddies weren’t? And why was I nonetheless seeing folks on the market of their 50s, 60s and nicely past doing issues that I felt too drained to do as we speak?
One among these tireless buddies is a man named Kevin, who’s the personification of the extremely energetic profitable middle-aged man. He’s a semi-retired serial entrepreneur (and excessive rock climber) who lives in Boulder. And thru an fascinating coincidence, in April of 2025 he invited me out for a hike proper across the time I used to be doing all this questioning. And through this hike (and climb) he instructed me about his newest enterprise, a boutique males’s well being firm that makes a speciality of serving to males similar to us get their youth again by the method of testosterone substitute remedy.
Lengthy story brief: his concepts planted a seed in my head, which led to a bunch of analysis and a rising curiosity in making an attempt TRT myself. I had in fact heard in regards to the course of, however for some motive by no means thought-about doing it till I heard Kevin’s enthusiasm: he had been on it for a number of years, and in keeping with him it’s a “evening and day distinction” in all of the belongings you need in life: vitality, focus, pondering velocity, and naturally bodily well being.
One other handy coincidence is that I occur to be courting an REI physician – a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist who has two board certifications in precisely the related bodily techniques which might be affected by these hormones. And whereas she was initially skeptical that I wanted extra Testosterone (and in her apply she frequently sees the downsides of males taking the stuff too early in life and thus compromising their very own fertility), she has adopted alongside and helped me study at every step of this course of, ultimately changing into totally in assist of this system.
So I signed up as a check buyer for Kevin’s new firm, which is known as Bolt Health. I labored with their physician to get a baseline blood check and assessment my numbers in comparison with all of the previous exams I’ve collected, and because it turned out, my ranges had been dropping constantly through the years, and the most recent check was by far the bottom ever.
Much more telling, my age-related drop in Testosterone was correlating completely with my decline in vitality and motivation:
The following step was a prescription for a tiny every day dose of supplemental T, which arrived at my home the subsequent week together with directions for learn how to use it. And so started the journey.
Now let’s bounce ahead seven months to the current day as I write this.
And wow, what a fantastic 12 months it has been! I solely want I had recognized and tried this just a few years earlier, as a result of I’m getting much more out of my life.
It’s not a night-and-day distinction for me, however extra like a 50% increase in general youthfulness and vitality. The largest subjective change is that I simply don’t have sucky drained days anymore, which was the principle drawback with my life earlier than: losing an excessive amount of of my treasured freedom as a consequence of not having the vitality to take pleasure in it.
That is why I’ve grow to be considerably of an evangelist for hormone substitute remedy for folks from about age 45 onwards. It gained’t work for everybody – in case your ranges are already fairly excessive, you don’t get the identical increase. Two of my male buddies tried TRT and give up as a result of they didn’t discover any profit. However these similar two guys already had loads of vitality to start with, which is normally an indication that the physique has what it wants.
TRT’s Sketchy Status
It seems I’m very late to this get together. Though Testosterone supplementation began out as a distinct segment apply within the Forties, from the 2010s onward it has been in every single place.
TRT is the rationale you see each actor instantly displaying up buff in a single day for his or her superhero roles and it’s additionally why so lots of as we speak’s CEOs don’t look something like yesterday’s CEOs.
In lots of instances, it has gone too far with younger males utilizing it simply to achieve muscle for the seaside or the soccer discipline, and questionable on-line suppliers (aka “Prescription Mills”) handing out prescriptions to anybody with a legitimate bank card – with revenue as their sole motive. It grew to become overhyped in sure pockets of Bro Tradition, the place each Bro ultimately receives the recommendation “Bro! It’s essential get on the T!” from one other Bro, and subsequently does it. And a few of this popularity certainly contributed to my very own skepticism.
However there’s a number of legitimate science behind TRT, should you’re the precise candidate and you are taking the precise dosage. And due to that, I really feel it’s most likely under-hyped in my very own demographic, the Nerdy Tech Employee Semi Retired Dad contingent. And that’s why I’m scripting this weblog submit, as a result of there are a number of us on the market.
Many people simply are inclined to work with what we got, and settle for that getting older means slowing down. And for these of us already having fun with an early retirement, now we have the choice of limitless relaxation and recuperation time, so who actually cares if we get drained a bit extra typically? In spite of everything, what higher approach to flex one’s wealth than with a decadent Tuesday Afternoon Nap whereas everybody else is caught within the workplace?
Whereas this seemingly wholesome perspective has a number of constructive facets, it could possibly additionally masks an actual drawback which can be simply fixable. As a result of typically, the one factor that’s even higher than a day nap, is having the vitality and motivation to exit for a day hike, bike journey or journey with buddies. Extra vitality can also be fairly darned helpful should you’re nonetheless elevating children or making an attempt to do nicely in your profession as an individual over 45.
The way it Truly Works (and What Occurred to Me)
Distilling all the fluffy dialogue above into the best potential reply: TRT means utilizing a tiny needle to inject just a few drops of clear liquid just under the floor of your pores and skin. And also you do that by your self at house, ideally as soon as each morning.
Right here’s one of many child needles I take advantage of for my every day dose.
The everyday serving is lower than one tenth of a milliliter, which is just a few drops.
And whereas the time period “needle” sounds scary to some, that is very totally different from the monstrosities they use to attract blood out of your veins. This one is so miniature that you simply don’t want particular coaching to make use of it, and also you normally don’t even really feel it.
So I started doing this to myself on Might 1st of this 12 months, whereas retaining a every day journal of my outcomes alongside the best way. The outcomes gave the impression to be virtually rapid in all of the promised areas, however I understand how highly effective the Placebo Impact may be so I stored my skeptic’s hat on to see what would occur in the long term.
I used to be seeing elevated vitality and motivation in addition to lean weight achieve by the entire spring and summer time, however I bear in mind the primary actually surprising statement occurred throughout a mountain trip in July. I used to be a part of a multi-family journey with energetic adults, chaotic children, early mornings, late nights with just a few drinks, very intense excessive altitude sunshine and nonstop bodily actions. It was simply the kind of state of affairs that will drain my vitality fairly rapidly previously.
However on day three I went out on a solo mountain bike journey to discover the realm, and as I used to be climbing a protracted ascent with the blazing solar cooking me from each angle I simply someway stored having loads of vitality to preserve climbing. Then I got here down and joined the group for just a few video games of full-sun pickleball, biked again up the mountain to our cabin, and the story of limitless vitality went on from there.
“Sizzling Rattling”, I believed to myself, “I don’t know whose youthful and tireless physique I’ve inherited right here however I’d certain wish to preserve it!”
In August, the Bolt Well being program scheduled a follow-up blood check for me and certain sufficient, my Testosterone ranges had been boosted from 415 to 730ng/dL, bringing me from the low facet of regular to the upper facet.
Many labs outline “regular” as anyplace between 300 and 1000, which appears unusual to me given the massive impact this hormone has in your wellbeing. It’s a bit like saying “Most automobiles have between 90 and 300 horsepower, so it doesn’t actually matter what engine you’ve gotten”
I imply yeah, both one will nonetheless get you down the highway, however which one would you fairly be driving?
Since then, it has simply been extra of the identical good outcomes. My enhancements ramped up after which simply stayed there – so I’m working at a brand new, a lot larger and extra fulfilling stage of functioning. Vitality and motivation are now not an issue, and I even discover myself keen to make longer-term plans once more (earlier than this all the pieces past same-day planning felt overwhelming). And my physique appears to simply need to achieve energy and measurement with any excuse. Heavy weights really feel lighter and the exhausting handbook labor I nonetheless wish to spend my time on feels simpler for longer. It’s good to be younger once more!
So Why Doesn’t Everybody Do This?
Once you dig into the main points, hormone substitute is mired in a soup of each actual and incorrect details about each its advantages and its dangers. After which our well-meaning medical institution locks this complete container of soup deep within the cupboard with a label that claims, “Wants Additional Examine”. However should you summarize the findings on either side of the difficulty, you’ll see this:
Stuff it’s best to do BEFORE making an attempt TRT:
The trendy American Life-style is a Testosterone and Well being Crusher. It’s a miracle that anyone feels good ever with the crap that folks do to their our bodies. So should you’re not already doing all the easy, pure, out of doors issues that naturally increase your well being, vitality, and hormone ranges, you’ll wish to begin with these first. You will discover a reasonably full listing on my oft-cited Badassity Tracker web page.
Since I used to be already doing all of this stuff fairly constantly, I felt able to take the subsequent step and not less than contemplate hormone supplementation. However wait, there’s extra!
Dangers of TRT:
- Decreased fertility for males hoping to conceive
- Elevated manufacturing of purple blood cells, which can enhance the chance of blood clots for folks with sure danger elements (a great supplier ought to display you for these dangers earlier than prescribing)
- Potential worsening of sure prostate circumstances if you have already got them
- Temper fluctuations and zits, particularly if the dosing is manner off.
The Significance of Dosing:
Lots of the issues above usually tend to seem when the physique is flooded with an excessive amount of testosterone. Within the unhealthy previous days, TRT was administered by sticking a pellet beneath your pores and skin or injecting a big quantity into the butt which then will get used up over the subsequent a number of weeks. One good friend recounted a narrative of maximum moodiness when the pellet was first implanted, ramping right down to tiredness by the point the hormone was all gone.
Extra trendy suppliers like Bolt have fastened this drawback by breaking the dose into a lot smaller servings which you administer every day. The thought is that your ranges stay steady, and you want quite a bit much less general which reduces uncomfortable side effects.
Individually, I’ve not had any of the damaging uncomfortable side effects as a result of I used to be a reasonably excellent candidate within the first place: 50 years previous with depressed Testosterone ranges however an in any other case wholesome way of life and no danger elements.
The Web TRT Police
My hope in sharing this text is to be clear and hopefully take among the stigma out of this topic of different individuals who would possibly profit. As a result of in our trendy over-connected world, all people has an opinion in your life, even while you didn’t ask them.
And it’s not simply males – many ladies on this similar age group profit from Estrogen substitute (and there are even fascinating tales about feminine testosterone supplementation in sure conditions as this author shares). The purpose is that getting older is regular, however in some instances there’s a reasonably simple approach to make it slower
How A lot Does this Value?
The good information is that Testosterone itself is an inexpensive and extensively out there substance, usually below $50 per 30 days even for folks like me with out standard insurance coverage or drug protection. The costly half (right here within the US) is simply the physician stuff – consultations, blood exams, ongoing evaluation and prescription renewals and so forth.
The corporate that I used is positioned as a premium supplier, bundling these companies together with a bunch of different males’s well being perks and deliveries for just a few hundred {dollars}, which is pricey relative to most different components of my price range, however nonetheless low cost if I contemplate the life and monetary advantages of being 20-50% extra energetic and productive.
If you wish to be on this program, your last choice will hinge in your revenue, insurance coverage protection if relevant, whether or not your present physician can already assist you to, and the way a lot service and recommendation you’re keen to pay for.
Word: I made a decision not to grow to be a Bolt well being affiliate as a result of I needed to put in writing this text with out battle of curiosity. And I can actually say, Bolt’s product and repair appear nice to me as a result of I do know and belief the individuals who run it. However it’s additionally the one one I’ve tried. So I don’t know a lot in regards to the competitors and there could also be different good choices on the market. On the very minimal, you may all the time attempt one service and swap to a different should you don’t like the primary one.
The Backside Line
I’ve obtained tons extra to say on cash and early retirement, and plenty of fascinating initiatives within the works now too. So I’m grateful to have stumbled upon this booster for all facets of life, so I can do extra of all the pieces else, for much more a long time than I had anticipated.
I want this similar sort of fine fortune for you, nevertheless you create it.
—
Within the Feedback: Do you’ve gotten questions on hormone substitute or the rest on this article? I’ll attempt to invite Kevin, Dr. Sean Bender and different educated folks to contribute and reply questions as nicely.
Additional Studying:
Is testosterone therapy safe- Take a breath before you take the plunge – Harvard Well being (2024)
Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone Therapy (aka the TRAVERSE Examine) (2023)
TRT – Association with Mortality in High Risk Subgroups (2023)
Bolt Health website – should you do determine to go along with this firm, you should definitely ask for his or her greatest low cost regardless that it’s not associated to me.
