Low Testosterone and a Healthy Lifestyle
Making healthy lifestyle choices is crucial to maintaining your overall well-being. These tips may help you lead a healthier lifestyle, which has been shown to be associated with higher testosterone levels in men.
If you are prescribed Testim, be sure to use it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Testim is best used at the same time every day. Consider incorporating your Testim treatment into your daily morning routine.
In addition to treatment, here are some suggestions for ways you can help improve your overall health.
This information is being provided for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always follow your doctor’s instructions and speak to your doctor if you have any questions about the suggestions provided or the use of Testim.
Educate yourself
Your greatest advocate is yourself. It's important to learn more about your condition, how it can affect you, and what you can do to improve your well-being. Your doctor is a vital resource, and can make sure that you’re on your way to better health. Be sure to talk to your doctor about your treatment.
Eat a healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy diet can make a big difference in how you feel day to day, and studies have shown that certain dietary choices can have an association with your testosterone level. For example, it has been shown that not adding salt to food had a positive association with testosterone levels. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption may help as well. Another factor associated with higher testosterone levels was maintaining a body mass index (BMI) less than 25 kg/m2. A number of dietary factors have been associated with higher testosterone levels, such as eating fish more than 3 times per week and eating meat less than 6 times per week. A well-balanced diet also includes foods low in fat, salt, and sugar, as well as many fruits and vegetables. By making healthier choices about what you put into your body, you’ll be more in tune with how you’re feeling, which can lead to better health management.
Exercise!
The key to staying active is finding physical activities that you enjoy and that work for you. Studies have shown that exercising for 3 hours or more per week is strongly associated with lowering your BMI, which may be linked to testosterone levels. You don’t have to go to a gym to exercise. There are plenty of activities that you can incorporate into your daily routine. For example, playing sports, walking with a friend, or riding a bike can be fun, leisurely ways to get exercise. It will be easier to keep exercising if you genuinely enjoy your routine. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen.
Master your stress
Stress can have a negative effect on your well-being. Effective stress management can go a long way towards improving how you feel day to day. Remember to get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, find time to relax, prioritize your goals, and plan your day ahead of time. Avoid relying on unhealthy ways to relieve stress, like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Both have been shown to have a negative effect on overall health and are discouraged. Following these tips may help relieve physical and mental stress. You’ll feel the difference!
Indication
Testim 1% (testosterone gel) is a prescription medicine that contains testosterone. Testim is used to treat adult males who have low or no testosterone.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about Testim? Signs of puberty that are not expected (for example, pubic hair) have happened in young children who were accidentally exposed to testosterone through contact with men using Testim.
Testim can transfer from your body to others. This can happen if other people come into contact with the area where the Testim was applied to your skin.
- Women and children should avoid contact with the unwashed or unclothed area where Testim has been applied
- To lower the risk of transfer of Testim from your body to others, you should: wash your hands right away with soap and water after applying Testim and cover the application area with clothing after the gel has dried. If you expect to have skin-to-skin contact with another person, first wash the application area well with soap and water
Stop using Testim and call your doctor right away if you see any signs and symptoms of puberty in a child, or changes in body hair or increased acne in a woman, that may have occurred through accidental exposure to Testim.
Do not use Testim if you: have breast cancer; have or might have prostate cancer; are allergic to testosterone or any of the ingredients in Testim, including soy.
Testim is not meant for use in women. If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast-feeding, Testim may harm your unborn or breast-feeding baby. Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should avoid contact with the area where Testim has been applied.
Other serious side effects include the following:
- If you already have enlargement of your prostate gland, your signs and symptoms can get worse while using Testim
- Possible increased risk of prostate cancer
- In large doses, Testim may lower your sperm count
- Swelling of your ankles, feet, or body, with or without heart failure. This may cause serious problems for people who have heart, kidney, or liver disease
- Enlarged or painful breasts
- Having problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
- Blood clots in the legs. This can include pain, swelling, or redness of your legs
The most common side effects of Testim include: skin irritation where Testim is applied, increased red blood cell count, headache, and increased blood pressure.
Please see Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.