A Solution to the Alarming Drop in Testosterone Levels Worldwide: The Promise of TRT | Dr. Gapin

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In this episode of The Empowering Neurologist, we're diving into two topics that are gaining significant attention in the worlds of men's health and weight loss: the importance of testosterone replacement therapy and the emerging role of GLP-1 agonists in weight loss as well as in diabetes treatment. Joining us is an esteemed expert in this field, Dr. Tracy Gapin, a renowned urologist and men's health specialist.
Why is this topic so crucial? Testosterone, often hailed as the cornerstone of male vitality, plays a central role in various aspects of men's health. It's not just about physical strength or libido; testosterone impacts mood, energy levels, bone density, muscle mass, cognitive function, and overall well-being. However, as men age, testosterone levels naturally decline, leading to a condition known as hypogonadism or low testosterone. This decline can have profound effects on a man's health and quality of life.
Dr. Gapin, with his extensive experience and research in the field, sheds light on how testosterone replacement therapy can be a game-changer for men experiencing the effects of low testosterone. He delves into the nuances of identifying candidates for this therapy, the benefits, and the misconceptions surrounding it. His insights are particularly valuable in a time when discussions about men's hormonal health are often overshadowed or misunderstood. Further, as he explains, age-matched testosterone levels in men have plummeted over the past several decades, and we discuss why.
In addition, Dr. Gapin takes us through the exciting world of GLP-1 agonists, a class of drugs initially developed for diabetes management but now having a major impact in the weight loss arena. Obesity is a mounting concern globally, and its impact on men's health is undeniable. With cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a host of other conditions linked to obesity, finding effective weight management solutions is paramount. Dr. Gapin explains how GLP-1 agonists work, their benefits, their potential risks, and their role in revolutionizing weight loss treatments.
This episode is not just for those directly experiencing these issues but also for anyone interested in the broader conversation about men's health. Whether you're a healthcare professional, someone exploring options for personal health improvement, or simply curious about the latest in medical advancements, Dr. Gapin's insights offer valuable knowledge and perspective.
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0:00 Intro
3:04 The Issues of Low Testosterone
7:07 Why Testosterone Levels are Falling
10:00 What Indicates Low Testosterone
15:00 The Holistic Approach to This
17:28 Why Testosterone Replacement Therapy May Be Essential
19:53 Addressing Potential Risks
28:20 How TRT Works & What to Expect
35:49 Looking at Estrogen and Progesterone
37:23 LDL Medication and Low Testosterone
39:55 Addressing Thyroid Functionality
40:56 Honest Thoughts on Ozempic
50:28 Conclusion
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Tracy Gapin, MD, is a board-certified urologist, men’s health and performance expert. and founder of the Gapin Institute, a global leader in high performance medicine. He has over 20 years of experience focused on providing executives, entrepreneurs and athletes a personalized path to optimizing their health so they can have exceptional energy, laser-focused mind and a better body.
He attended Texas A&M University. He went to medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas, and he completed his general surgery and urology training at the University of Florida. He spent almost 20 years in a busy urology practice in Sarasota, Florida, where he specialized in robotic surgery, minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer and men's health before launching the Gapin Institute.
He’s a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging. Gapin is a thought leader, a professional speaker and the author of the best-selling books “Male 2.0” and “Codes of Longevity.”
Text HEALTH to 26786 to receive an electronic copy of the High Performance Health Handbook for Men
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[@okronk]

Highly recommend you tube videos featuring Dr Albert Morgantal, the founder of TRT and THE expert in the field.

[@etienneleboeuf-bi4ed]

I went from 334 to 960 in around 3 months all natural no TRT. This book should be essential reading for all men. Written by a 50s guy with natural T levels of a 20s guy Complete guide to testosterone by james Francis

[@jpmoench21]

This is my new favorite podcast! Thanks for all the great info.

[@raewise6345]

Excellent conversation!! Useful information 🌟 Thank you both!

[@okronk]

Despite what he says about the recent studies that prove that testosterone is not “gas on the fire” when it comes to prostate cancer, it remains the conventional wisdom among primary care physicians and most urologists. I went to a urologist who wanted me to actually lower my testosterone level and used that exact phrase as a reason.

[@althe]

Since T is declining precipitously, why would prostate cancer not also decline? It would, if T-caused, but prostate cancer is slowly increasing or is steady, and not declining, possibly due to better diagnostics. The cause of almost every cancer is metabolic mitochondrial dysfunction providing an excess of the cancer fuels glucose and glutamine. The cause of 15% of melanomas is likely too much sun combined with industrial seed oils. Other cancers can be virus-driven, but by far most are due to excess sugar and carbs. Not to mention the massive number of nefarious endotoxins produced by all plants. Brussel sprouts have 136 toxins that would make Fort Detrick proud.

[@mv2873]

It’s called “saturation theory” and I think micro plastics are more harmful but nobody seems to care

[@GameDayMensHealthSouthBay]

Great video! I love hearing experts discuss these topics so essential to men

[@MrWoodward42]

Summary: Testosterone levels have declined significantly (around 45%) over the past 20-30 years due to environmental toxins, stress, poor lifestyle factors, and transgenerational epigenetic effects. This has major health implications. Low testosterone can cause fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, poor sleep, low libido, and difficulty building muscle. It's worth checking levels, especially for men over 40. Replacement therapy involves measuring free testosterone levels and adjusting the dose via injections, topical gels/creams, or pellets to optimize levels around 20 ng/dL. Frequent monitoring is important. Testosterone therapy does not increase heart disease or prostate cancer risk when done properly. Some potential side effects include acne and higher blood pressure if levels are too high. Other hormones like thyroid, vitamin D, estrogen often need optimization as well to fully address low testosterone issues. GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic can be effective for short-term weight loss but require lifestyle changes to maintain results after stopping. Protein intake is important to reduce side effects like nausea. A holistic approach addressing multiple lifestyle factors is key for long-term success with hormone optimization and weight management strategies.

[@mv2873]

Micro plastsics

[@orion9k]

My free t is very low but doctors wont help because i am still within "normal range", very frustrating 🤦‍♂️

[@karenf9137]

I’m not sure about this, but there is a doc named David Brownstein in Michigan who may be able to help you. It might be worth a gander.

[@etienneleboeuf-bi4ed]

Try this it might help you. I had the same response. Levels within normal ranges. I went from 334 to 960 all natural no TRT. Complete guide to testosterone by james Francis

[@peterbunnett]

I believe low t is also associated with alsheimers

[@HSLSFirst]

It seems that the first line of action is to get healthy, fit and lean. Jumping straight to TRT when you are obese, unhealthy and unfit is just another shortcut that also increases risks to your health. Just like GLP-1’s

[@orion9k]

It wont help, i have low free t and I eat lots of proteins, fat, I am lean and I workout 4-5 hours in the gym. Supplements gave me 10% more total t but free t still low. Doctors do nothing because even tho i am at bottom average, i am still within average.

[@dannymoulton4829]

Everybody is entitled to an opinion and 95% of docs may agree with you. I might agree about GLP-1's but how about the opinion of a preeminent Harvard expert with 40 years experience? Listen to this brilliant compassionate man at 57:00. kzbin.info/www/bejne/noTJe5iDa9GWZs0

[@davidpryce5079]

@@orion9k Some of it depends on how you work out.

[@generalbystander1631]

Low T trends may be explained simply by the increase in our gluttonous lifestyle over the past 40 years and the hyper-insulinemia which results. I don’t recall them talking about the supposed hypogonadism trt supppsedly causes. Did I miss that or did they skip it?

[@user-Rocket-Fest]

I'll bet a decrease in iodine levels is a factor in this outcome.

[@gif24gt60]

What about elevated rt3? It mimics hypothyroidism.😮

[@rjmclean1979]

You shoud clean up your diet and incorporate a healthy exercise routine and you may find that this resolves many problems. Too many people are looking for quick fixes to problems caused by a combination of over consumption of processed foods and lack of exercise and stress management

[@donturner4271]

I just had a free Testosterone test and the lab gave me results in ng/dL; are those units that Dr Gabin implied when he stated the target level is 20???

[@ziperc]

Is it inadvisable to take both finasteride and Flomax at the same time?

[@dannymoulton4829]

Do you know about Aquablation?

[@koumudiketkar6963]

I think that Statins which have been overprescribed may also have a role to play in the great drop in Testosterone levels. I understand that LDL (the "bad" cholesterol, is reduced by Statin treatment, but unfortunately, LDL is also is a great starting molecule for Testasterone. So too much statins being prescribed may be the cause of Free T level drop. Did the trials find this connection?

[@MrWoodward42]

You're very close. It's not the LDL, but the cholesterol, itself. Cholesterol is the precursor for all steroid hormones (eg. testosterone, estrogen, vitamin D even!) Statins lower the production of cholesterol. (Also, LDL is not a form of cholesterol. It is a lipoprotein particle that carries fat, cholesterol, and fat soluble vitamins, like Vit A, D, E, and K1/K2)

[@eggbenedict-gt7mw]

​@@MrWoodward42no study that statin lowers test

[@MrWoodward42]

@@eggbenedict-gt7mw Uh, wut?

[@SHalto142]

Post menopausal women, too?

[@raewise6345]

YES. I am on a mission. It's in about 10 forms available to men. It's a MAJOR journey for a woman to get testosterone!! WHY?!?

[@masudahmed6029]

Eat eggs, zinc supplement, vit d, healthy fats reg exercise cardio and resistance training to increase muscle mass and reduce body fat. Can also try natural test boosters like shilajit, tribulis. Make sure estrogen and DHT doesnt get too high.

[@DavidDabbs-mz7ht]

are the units 6-9 pg/ml free t or what

[@MrWoodward42]

Seriously. What units are we talking about here? EDIT: it looks like they're talking ng/dL -- It's interesting that Dr. Gapin is suggesting a target of 20 ng/dL for Free Testosterone -- That seems to be on the very high end of "normal" for men, but IANAD... Wish he had spent more time talking about why that was the target.

[@donturner4271]

@@MrWoodward42 I had a free testosterone blood test and the lab quoted results in pg/ml; is Dr Gapin reporting in ng/ml as indicated above; if so, how does one conver one unit to the other??

[@frankmazzie4855]

Heres what my urologist told me ..t levels change throughout the day..could ba high at 9 am.low at 6pm.i varies throughout the day ,stay healthy stay wise ,drugs arent the solution there the problem....

[@biodivers5294]

Solve it naturally, no drugs 💪

[@eggbenedict-gt7mw]

Not possible

[@althe]

@@eggbenedict-gt7mw you may be right, but i'd need to see the research. there is always a way and there are undoubtedly things one can do to help.

[@eggbenedict-gt7mw]

@@althe no u cannot

[@gif24gt60]

It would be nice but we live in a toxic soup.😮

[@SHalto142]

Prostate cancer treatment includes meds to lower/block testosterone

[@jamesbarksdale978]

Very interesting. I'm 70 and most certainly low. This is the first time I've heard that testosterone treatments do not increase the chances of cancer. Facinating. I wish you had covered the cost, and if one can administer shots at home. Three trips a week to the doctor seems almost prohibitive.

[@aaron___6014]

You're 70 of course you have low T, geez

[@orion9k]

You can do it at home and then go get blood work every other month or so

[@jimdandy8996]

What about the new testosterone nasal spray?

[@abusumayah9540]

Yeah because many men today are obese. Did the study account for that? I bet if they compared men with normal weight it would be a lot less.

[@orion9k]

Not in my case. I am lean and low free t.

[@RedArrow73]

What chance is there that the planet's Weakening Magnetic Field bears on this problem?

[@vietnameseamericansocialpoliti]

🥰💘🤝🙏✍

[@annedodgson8677]

Contaminated food

[@dick_richards]

Yes, all the soy additives.

[@EnlightenedPatriot1]

and water?

[@campbellpaul]

Processed food and fast foods are the worst

[@ailfawka6278]

The whole diet is mostly anti-androgenic. Most of the "healthy" supplements being pushed are anti-androgenic, even the testosterone boosters. On top of the anti-androgenic diets being pushed , all the chemicals being used from pesticides to plastics are also anti-androgenic, even the very act of attacking productive masculine behaviours by marxist ideologies like feminism is anti-androgenic. Take a look at the big picture , it looks like a form of warfare.

[@karenf9137]

Actually, while I agree with you, there’s more, ie PLASTICS! They are not the only thing either. Blue light via screens, artificial lighting, etc and lack of sun and sunlight, chemicals, etc, etc, etc🤢

[@markmarston]

Eat lots of red meat.

[@RedArrow73]

I sure try!

[@troymodel6677]

typical dr.. lets take drugs because your body can't do it alone. how about bionic limbs .. faster stronger... what about the majority of the population that can't afford taking drugs the rest of their life? dr perlmutter you just lost a fan.

[@GaryBeal-doingmorewithless]

They're not simply "drugs." They're strings of amino acids with various arrangements, sources and effects. Many of which are profoundly fruitful and benign.