Do Testosterone Shots Cause Infertility?

Do testosterone shots cause infertility? That’s what we want to talk about in this video. We’re going to discuss some of the signaling involved with testosterone injections, how that relates to fertility. Three different sort of categories of people or kind of broke it up into three scenarios. That may be pertinent to your situation as it relates to testosterone shots and infertility. my name is dr. Tara nella and have a lot of experience treating males with testosterone injections some of which are having fertility issues as well. I wanted to post this video to give you a little bit more information and context. If you're thinking about doing testosterone shots worried about fertility and things like that, if you have questions about anything posted in this video, you can ask them in the comment section. If you like this type of information, please click on the like button and subscribe to the channel. Do testosterone injections testosterone shots cause infertility? The answer is yes. It can and no it doesn't necessarily have to. we want to talk about me of the signaling that's involved with production of spermatozoa and how that relates to fertility, and also discuss different sort of segments of the population that may be more susceptible or less susceptible to getting infertility from taking testosterone shots. First, let's talk about the signaling the cells in your testes are where the spermatozoa and testosterone are produced. These are called the sertoli cells for the spermatozoa and the Ladak cells for the testosterone production. These are the cells that produced these corresponding hormones and the spermatozoa. Those cells are triggered to produce these products from signals that come from the brain. the sertoli cells are stimulated to produce spermatozoa through follicle stimulating hormone and the lady cells through luteinizing hormone. When the brain perceives higher amounts of testosterone around, it will then decrease the production of these two signaling hormones as a result. You get less output of testosterone and spermatozoa from the testes in that sense. When you're taking testosterone injections in your overall, serum levels are much higher. You will have a decreased production of spermatozoa. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's completely shut off. This isn't a light switch type of mechanism; it's a dimmer switch. It can down regulate and up regulate even within a given week. It’s not like once you go on testosterone injections you're never gonna produce any sperm at all ever again. Then, you get into these sort of 3 categories or arbitrarily main three categories of people to think about different mechanisms that may be helpful to help you understand whether or not this is going to be something that's going on a few or not. Firstly, if you're currently taking testosterone or not, once you stop the testosterone, you're gonna have a re-initiation of testosterone production and spermatozoa. How much it's hard to say. But if you're on testosterone injections for a year or say you will have a rebound in your levels, when you're on the testosterone, your brain is going to decrease the production of these two hormones follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. When you stop, the test stops for an injection, it will come back. You will have a production of the spermatozoa. Again, pretty much gonna come back to where it left off at now. There’s no hard data on how exactly how much it's gonna come back. If it's a 100%, 90%, 50% but it's not zero. I can tell you that for sure because I've tested many patients and had successful pregnancies people coming off testosterone. In some cases, they don't even go off of it. to begin with, that's one thing to think about and then in the case that you really are concerned about fertility, but you still feel like you need to take the testosterone injections, that's a case where you're probably gonna want to take some HCG or clomid depending on where you're at on that spectrum. If you already know you have fertility issues low sperm count etc., you might want to go with the clomid. If you're unsure and you just want to have some reassurance to keep the cells stimulated, then may want to do some HCG neither one of these are something you should be doing a regular basis. you should take pauses from it because even the cells can get sort of desensitized to these hormones as well, and then the other is, if you really are having concerns about this, you probably before-- if you have the opportunity, you may want to look at where you're starting at with your sperm count and some of the other parameters before you go on testosterone. That way you'll know that it's not necessarily from this or it is from this, and you can deploy some of these other mechanisms to keep the spermatozoa at the same level or at least at a sufficient level to allow for a pregnancy to occur.

[@leopetaccia1012]

Thank you for this video, Dr. What do you mean by “take pauses”?

[@swintegrative]

It means stop the testosterone therapy temporarily

[@ChrisRodriguez-hc5nh]

Been on TRT for over 11 years. SA in October of 2023 was azoospermia. My question is, I will continue same trt dose with no other suppliments to enhance fsh or lh (same continuous dose as it was when SA was done. Does this mean my results will continue to be azoospermia or will it fluctuate? I was told by urologist it will remain azoospermia as long as I continued trt. Just wanted your thoughts. Thank you

[@swintegrative]

In a situation like this described, I would not expect a different result.

[@ChrisRodriguez-hc5nh]

Thank you for your response!

[@mdiaz9098]

First person to comment... and 19th viewer congratulate me.. :-)

[@swintegrative]

Well done Sir!

[@pseprem]

Doc how can I book an appointment with you

[@swintegrative]

Through the website, phone [phone], [e-mail]

[@workingclasshero2891]

Uh yes. Yes they do. It takes three months for your fertility to come back after stopping trt.

[@teamsafetysales5673]

dear doctor, i inject 1 time Nebido after semen analysis, SPERM found out problem. and sudden i stop. May i know how long for this can be cure ? do i need to take any med to recovery faster ?

[@swintegrative]

I think 2-3 months is a fair guestimation for your body to start making spermatazoa again... could be 6 mo. clomid HCG may help speed this up.

[@juggapongt2343]

@@swintegrative thank u sir

[@marandabailey8994]

We’ve been trying to conceive for over a year, I have had lab results and HCG done. Everything looks normal with me, but he is scheduled to have a semen analysis. He is on testosterone replacement therapy in the shots. I believe his dosage is .5-.6 injected per week. He’s been on it for about a year. Can you tell me or point me in direction of what he could take or if anything is available OTC for this? Also, he has had 6 kids so it wasn’t always an issue .

[@swintegrative]

Hi Maranda, He should have a semen analysis to determine where he is at and that would determine what to do. If the count is low it is from the testosterone (possibly) and he can take rx medications like clomid or hcg.

[@youngmystery8417]

@@swintegrativeI been on trt for 2 years my LH and FSH are both

[@Emanuelethio]

Can eating junk food make a man permanently infertile?

[@swintegrative]

Hi Ishmell1, As the name implies, junk food is not good for any of us. While it likely does have a negative affect on fertility, it is highly unlikely that it would cause permanent infertility (for men).

[@Emanuelethio]

@@swintegrative thanks for that reply

[@swintegrative]

Your welcome

[@v05555]

this question is so dumb

[@gsalazar8176]

@@v05555 it sure is, hopefully the man slows it down on the Junk Food, sense it likely has an affect.