UBCNews - Business - Testosterone Therapy For Muscle Weakness: Which Treatment Options Actually Work?

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

Welcome back to the show! Today we're tackling something a lot of men are dealing with but maybe not talking about enough - muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass tied to low testosterone. And the big question is: which treatments actually work? I'm really glad to have our guest here today. Thanks for joining us. TRT Australia City: Hurstville Address: 7–11 The Avenue Website: https://trtaustralia.com/x

Welcome back to the show. Today we're tackling something a lot of men are dealing with, but maybe not talking about enough. Muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass tied to low testosterone. And the big question is, which treatments actually work? I'm really glad to have our guest here today. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me. Yeah, this is a topic that's gaining a lot of attention and for good reason. Low testosterone can really impact muscle mass, strength, and overall vitality. A lot of guys notice they're losing lean muscle, gaining body fat, and just feeling weaker. Right, and that's where testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, comes in. So let's start with the basics. What exactly does TRT do for muscle weakness?

Well, TRT aims to restore testosterone levels to a healthy range. When testosterone is low, your body struggles with protein synthesis. Basically, building muscle becomes harder and protein breakdown increases. TRT helps reverse that. It stimulates protein synthesis, inhibits breakdown, and contributes to increase lean body mass while decreasing fat mass. Interesting. So it changes how your body uses what you give it. Exactly. Studies have shown that TRT can lead to a 5.7% increase in lean body mass, and somewhere between 10 to 13% increase in total body leg and arm strength. That's significant for guys who've been struggling. Those are solid numbers.

Now, let's talk about the different ways you can actually get TRT. I know there are multiple options, injections, gels, pellets, even oral forms. What should someone know about each? Great question. So, injections are probably the most. common. You've got intramuscular injections which deliver predictable amounts of testosterone and provide stable hormone levels. Then there's subcutaneous injections. These use a smaller needle or easier to self-administer and tend to have better hormone balance with more frequent lower doses.

Mm-hmm. Makes sense. Yeah, exactly. The needle gauge is smaller, 25 to 27 gauge versus 23 to 25 for intramuscular, so it's less uncomfortable. Plus, you don't need to be as precise with the injection site. A lot of patients prefer it for that reason. I actually had a patient tell me once that switching to subcutaneous injections was like trading a harpoon for a thumbtack, much less intimidating. Ha, I bet that made a difference. What about the gels and creams?

Gels and creams are popular because they're non-invasive. You apply them daily and they provide near-physiologic testosterone. patterns without the peaks and valleys you might get with injections. The downside is that absorption can vary a lot between individuals and they may be less effective for muscle gain compared to injections. There's also a risk of transferring testosterone to others through skin contact. Right, so you have to be careful around kids or partners. Definitely. Now pellets are another option. These are inserted subcutaneously every three to six months. They provide a steady release of hormones over time, which is convenient for guys who don't want to deal with daily or weekly administration.

But once they're in, they're in, removal can be tricky if you have any adverse effects. That point about administration frequency sets up our next piece, how personalized treatment planning works. But first, a quick word from our sponsor. If you're looking into TRT options, TRT Australia is a telehealth clinic specializing in testosterone replacement therapy. They offer thorough blood testing, expert medical consultations, and ongoing treatment delivered directly to your door. It's a personalized approach designed to help you reclaim your strength and vitality. Learn more at TRT-Australia.com. Picking up on that administration frequency point, how do you actually decide which option is right for someone? That's really important.

TRT works best when it's personalized, and I mean truly personalized to your lifestyle. You need to work with a health care provider who can assess your symptoms, run the right blood tests, and help you choose the formulation that matches your preferences and medical needs. Think of it as tailoring the treatment to fit you, rather than forcing yourself to fit the treatment. I like that analogy. Now, there are also oral forms of TRT, right? How do those compare? Yeah, newer oral formulations like testosterone undecanote have become available.

They bypass first-pass hepatic metabolism, which means they avoid the liver toxicity issues seen with older oral preparations. They also show a lower incidence of secondary erythorcytosis. That's when your red blood cell count gets too high. So they're safer on the liver and blood? Exactly. They're taken with a meal, and absorption is affected by diet. dietary fat, so you need to be consistent with how you take them.

They're a good option for guys who are needle-averse or worried about skin transfer with gels. Have you ever wondered which treatment would fit your lifestyle best? Because it sounds like there's a lot to consider. There really is. And lifestyle factors play a big role too. Diet, regular exercise, especially strength training, and optimized sleep all complement the therapy. In fact, while TRT can increase muscle muscle muscle

mass even without additional exercise, combining it with regular strength training maximizes muscle growth and overall benefits. Right, exactly. It also improves training recovery so you can work out more frequently and intensely, which further promotes muscle growth. Think of TRT as a tool that helps your body respond better to the effort you're already putting in. That approach supports your body rather than replacing effort, so you still got to do the work.

Absolutely. And speaking of testing, the diagnostic process typically requires two separate morning testosterone measurements, taken between 8 and 10 a.m. to confirm low testosterone. This accounts for circadian variation and reduces diagnostic errors. Your health care provider may have specific instructions about preparation for the test. So it requires continuous management then? Right. TRT represents a long-term commitment. You're managing a chronic condition, so regular follow-ups and blood work are necessary for effective and safe treatment. The good news is, with telehealth options now, a lot of this can be done from home. That's convenient.

Now, we should talk about the recent Traverse trial. That's been really significant, hasn't it? Absolutely. The Traverse trial provided definitive cardiovascular safety data for TRT. It showed that major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 7.0% of testosterone-treated men versus 7.3% in the placebo group. That led to the FDA removing black box warnings in early 2025, which has really transformed

how clinicians approach testosterone therapy. So the fear around heart risks has been put to rest? Largely, yes. The trial gave us high quality evidence that TRT, when used appropriately and monitored, doesn't increase cardiovascular risk. That's huge for patients and providers who were hesitant before.

Definitely. So if you've been hesitant about looking into TRT for muscle weakness, what would you say is the first step someone should take? I'd say talk to your doctor. Get your testosterone levels checked with those two morning tests we mentioned. Make sure you have symptoms that align with low testosterone, like decreased libido, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, fatigue, then work with a specialist to develop a plan that fits your goals and lifestyle. Perfect. And remember, TRT works best when combined with healthy habits,

diet, exercise, and sleep. Well said. And for guys with fertility concerns, there are alternatives like chlomaphene or HCG that can stimulate endogenous testosterone production while preserving reproductive potential. So there are options for different situations. That's really important to note. All right, I think we've covered a lot of ground today. Thanks so much for breaking all this down. My pleasure. This topic impacts so many men, and I'm glad we could talk about the real evidence-based options.

Absolutely. And if you want to learn more, you can visit t-arta Australia.com. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. Until next time.