A man’s youth is the time in life when he’s at his physical prime and doesn’t have any TRT considerations. He’s full of energy and his body is capable of incredible feats. He’s firing on all cylinders, and his veins are flowing with testosterone. He wants to succeed, meet women and generally enjoy life. At least this is how things used to be… In theory we should be healthier and fitter than our predecessors. We live in the internet age where information is available at our fingertips. Despite this young men around the world are weaker and sicker than ever. What went wrong? Today the average male eats a daily assortment of sugar-laden crap. Processed food that is specifically designed to be addictive. We have amazing technology that simplifies our lives. However, our over-reliance on technology has rendered us a sedentary society. We’d rather drive 3 blocks to the mall than take a 10 minute walk. Our bodies are bombarded everyday with toxins from all angles. They range from bPAs in plastics, chemicals in the water supply to car exhaust fumes. We live in a society where young men don’t really know their place. Masculinity is scorned and young men lack rites of passage into adulthood. They’re unable to express their sense of masculinity. So they resort to alchol and drugs. All of these factors combine to wreak havoc on young men’s testosterone production. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. We’re living the perfect storm. A situation where unprecedented levels of young men are becoming victims of low testosterone. This is the epidemic you never heard about and one you never will. Maybe you’re thinking, ‘If it was this big we would have heard about it by now!’ Wake up and smell the coffee. The media lies and has its own agenda. Society tells you to get on with it and stop bitching about your problems. Doctors are busy and when they do see you, they’ll just tell you you’re just depressed. The government doesn’t want a society of young men who can think for themselves.
No one has your back – you must look out for yourself.
If you are a male under 30 the odds are stacked against you. The solution in many cases is to go on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). But should you go on TRT as a young man? The following are some TRT considerations to help you decide.
Baselines
The first consideration for any young man is to establish his baselines. This is concept I learned from my friend and mentor Jay Campbell. To make meaningful changes to your health you must establish a set point. As a young man this means getting blood work done once a year. The reason to get regular blood work done is twofold. First, it’s to anticipate any issues that may arise in the future. So you’re not blindsided, living a life of abject misery brought on by low T. Secondly, this data will present a case to your doctor in the future should you need to go on TRT. Many doctors are dismissive of young men undergoing TRT due to their age. But who can deny a smart man who’s done his homework? Finally, this is simply good practice. It’s fundamental to take ownership of your health and not rely on anyone else. I started TRT at the age of 28. While it was a big decision to make, it was also straightforward. I had blood work going back 2 years showing the dramatic decline in my testosterone. Therefore, I knew I was doing the right thing. The following are recommended blood tests to take:
- Testosterone, Free and Total
- Vitamin D and Vitamin B12
- Estradiol
- Thyroid panel
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- Basic Metabolic Panel
- Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
- Prolactin
- Homocysteine
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
I won’t go into all of these because they’re covered extensively in The Definitive Testosterone Replacement Therapy MANual. 
How Do You Feel?
Testosterone blood tests are an indicator to your state of being. However, the deciding factor for going on TRT should be the way you feel. This metric trumps everything else. YOU are the one that lives in your body every day. Lab tests typically have a testosterone reference range anywhere from 350 ng/dl to 1200 ng/dl. If your result falls within this range you’re considered ‘normal.’ The problem is that the reference range isn’t adjusted for age. That means you may have the testosterone levels of an 80 year old at 25 and feel like garbage. Yet your doctor still considers you normal! Similarly you may have lower testosterone levels than average but feel fine. That’s why the way you feel is critical to a diagnosis of low testosterone. The following are symptoms of low testosterone:
- Mental fog or lack of focus
- Indecisiveness
- Lack of energy
- Decreased work performance
- Lack of libido
- Decrease in strength
- Decreased enjoyment of life
- Noticeable change in behaviour
If you experience any of the above 4 symptoms then you should consider further tests.
Restore Testosterone Naturally vs TRT
Now you’ve established your testosterone levels. Your results indicate that you’re in the low or low-normal range (whatever that is). You’re now faced a uncomfortable decision. Do you attempt to boost your testosterone naturally? Or do you choose to go on TRT for the rest of your life? Let’s examine both points. Clearly, the natural route is the ideal solution. It’s preferable to rely on you body’s own production of testosterone vs an external source. In order to improve your natural testosterone production you have to lead a testosterone-friendly lifestyle. You may think you have a great diet and exercise. But your blood results may tell you otherwise. This is why getting blood tests are a must. You may need to start leading a healthier lifestyle to reduce body fat. Adipose tissue (body fat) has a negative effect on your testosterone levels through the aromatase enzyme. This enzyme converts excess testosterone into estrogen. And it is more abundant in fat tissue. Therefore, the higher your body fat, the more likely you are to have excess estrogen. Think beer belly and man boobs.If you have high body fat and a poor diet, you may benefit from losing weight and see your testosterone levels recover. You may have a great diet, train regularly and do everything right. Yet your testosterone levels are still in the gutter. This is what happened to me. Going on TRT should be the last resort for any young man after exhausting all avenues. It is not a decision to be taken lightly. Once you start TRT, you’re on it for life. No trial period included. Nonetheless, don’t allow yourself to be fooled – TRT is for life but so is low testosterone. Humans beings are masters of self-deception and we can rationalize almost anything. If you have test results and symptoms confirming a diagnosis then you have low T. Period. Putting your head in the sand will not make it go away. A life of anxiety, depression, no sex drive and lack of energy is no life at all. The incredible benefits of TRT are not overstated. And they’re available for men with the courage to see through
What Do You Believe?
At some point in his life every young man dreams of realizing his full potential as a human being. However, the prevalence of low testosterone is costing men health and money. The good news is, TRT is an incredible tool to help you realize you full potential as a young man. However, you may reject it outright despite the fact you’re in dire need! The chief reason for this is limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs that are literally holding you back from becoming the man you’ve dreamt of. The following are some beliefs that may prevent you from going on TRT.
TRT is the same as taking anabolic steroids
Undergoing TRT and taking anabolic steroids are worlds apart. TRT is a legal prescription medicine administered under the guidance of a qualified physician. Anabolic steroids are illegally obtained drugs taken in supra physiologic doses. What’s more, testosterone is a hormone NOT a drug!! Don’t be shamed into thinking that using TRT is cheating and the same as anabolic steroids.
You must always listen to the doctor
The days where we listen to doctors with unquestioning obedience are long gone. Previous generations did not have access to the kind of knowledge we have. So they had to put their faith in the doctor no matter what. You must not do the same. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to criticise doctors here. Far from it. I recognise and appreciate the incredible jobs doctors everyday. Often under immense pressure. However, despite their best intentions most doctors are simply not qualified to advise you on TRT. It’s critical you educate yourself and find an experienced and knowledgeable doctor. You won’t be able to have kids TRT does reduce your sperm count. But there are a number of solutions for young men concerned about fertility on TRT. Firstly you can get your sperm frozen before treatment. This is a surefire way to avoid problems later. There are also a number of fertility medications available. They include clomid, hmG and hCG. When administered by an experienced TRT physician they can prove effective. My own fears of infertility on were non-existent. This was because I knew Jay had successfully fathered 2 children while on TRT. 
Final Thoughts
There is no clear cut answer whether you should go on TRT as a young man under 30. It all depends on your individual situation. And you must always consult with a qualified physician to make a diagnosis. I regularly receive questions about TRT from young men, and I always urge them to read Jay’s book. This is not purely for promotional purposes because I write for this site. The book does a brilliant job at addressing young men’s concerns. It is vital to establish a solid foundation of knowledge to make informed decisions. We mistakenly believe a simple Google search will answer all our questions. Author Anthony Napoleon labelled this phenomenon the ‘Google IQ’: “Knowing how you arrived at the correct answer is at least, if not more important, than the answer itself.” It’s precisely because so few understand TRT is the reason you need to know it.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
The symptoms of low testosterone can slowly creep up on you. Until one day they hit you like a ton of bricks. You must not let that happen. Would you go into a military operation without prior preparation? Of course not! Navy seals prepare relentlessly for whatever is thrown at them. You must treat your health the same way. Get your blood work done and always be one step ahead. You may be asking yourself: Why me? Why now? No amount of self-pity, soul-searching or denial will make it go away. Just because you’re young and it shouldn’t be happening to you doesn’t mean it isn’t. It no longer matters if you’re 19 or 29. The game has now changed and young men of all ages are effected from low T. You may not have any TRT considerations now, but you will have to deal with it at some point. The phenomenon of low testosterone is happening here and now. Just go to the mall or sit down in a restaurant and look at all the men afflicted. It’s as if their life force has been sucked out of them. History is full of great men who succeeded against the odds. What separated them from the rest was their willingness to be different. TRT is at the forefront of science and has not yet gained widespread acceptance. In years to come hormone replacement will be as routine as going to the dentist. Do you want to wait until society says it’s ok? Or are you going to grab the bull by the horns and carve out your own future?
