Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Tired? Are your endurance and strength declining? Have you noticed a decline in your sexual function and less interest in your sex life?
Every man could answer “yes” to at least one of these questions after age 40. Common symptoms of low testosterone can also result from a myriad of lifestyle, social, emotional, and behavioral issues.
It is a provider’s goal to “treat the whole patient,” so we strive to identify and address the underlying cause of symptoms and provide treatment options using a multidimensional approach. For decades, it was believed low testosterone was responsible for the above … but not much else. Physicians were taught a decline testosterone was “normal” as men aged.
These beliefs have substantially changed in the last five years.
We now know a condition known as “metabolic syndrome” is intimately linked to low testosterone. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of diabetes (or insulin resistance), hypertension, elevated triglycerides (fat levels in the blood), abdominal obesity and low testosterone. It’s estimated as many as 25 percent to 45 percent of American men over 40 may have metabolic syndrome and therefore a significantly elevated risk of stroke and heart attack.
How testosterone interacts with obesity, diabetes and cholesterol is not fully understood. It is also unclear whether low testosterone is the cause of the increased risk or it is involved in some other way. Clearly, low testosterone is more than simply a factor in declining strength and sexual performance.
Testosterone is essential for male development, libido and erectile function. Because of the success of medications such as Viagra in treating erectile dysfunction, low testosterone is often overlooked. However, low testosterone is a common cause of poor or declining response from ED medications and should always be considered when evaluating ED. Testosterone replacement may be all that’s required to restore sexual function.
The good news is that managing low testosterone is easier and simpler than ever before. There is a multitude of choices for medical management of testosterone replacement therapy and includes treatment with patient instructed self-injections, pellets, creams, gels, and patches. Testosterone replacement therapy is a maintenance therapy that requires every individual, along with the help of their provider, to consider which treatment options would be best suited to ensure treatment success.
Long-acting testosterone pellets are a great option for those patients that do not want the hassle of daily or weekly applications. The pellets are about the size of a grain of rice and placed under the skin in the hip area, about where the corner of your pants back pocket is located, during a simple office procedure every three months.
Managing testosterone levels requires a thorough knowledge of treatment risks and benefits. Men with an enlarged prostate may be at greater risk for obstruction of the urine flow. Baseline levels should be checked in the early morning as levels normally decline in late afternoon or evening.
Dr. Sean A. Castellucci
Dr. Sean Castellucci earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his clinical internship at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in General Surgery followed by a general surgery and urologic surgical residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was chief resident. Dr. Castellucci has also completed a clinical externship at Memorial Sloane Kettering Oncology Center during his residency. His most recent position was at the Urology Center of Columbus in Columbus, Georgia where he served as Medical Director.
Dr. Castellucci is interested in all aspects of Urology services and research. His specialties are in: Erectile Dysfunction, Bladder Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Kidney Stones, Female Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair, Kidney Cancer, Low Testosterone, Urinary Incontinence, and minimally invasive therapies including laparoscopic surgery and the utilization of DaVinci Robotics.
Dr. Castellucci is very involved in research which has earned him both national and international recognition, including many publications in peer reviewed journals. His investigations focused on new innovations in urologic, oncologic surgery including the first single port access laparoscopic adrenalectomy performed; as well as research in other fields of urology including prostate cancer.
He has presented at numerous, internationally recognized meetings including the American Urologic Association, the European Association of Urology, and the World Congress of Endourology. His research has also earned him various distinguished awards including the Robert C. Erwin literary award, as well as the Leonard Finkelstein award in Urology.
Dr. Castellucci’s diverse professional interests and responsibilities have enhanced and complimented his role as both husband and father. He is happily married to his wife Dania and has two children; Madison and Hailey.
If you are suffering from urinary incontinence or overactive bladder, please call Urology Partners at 941-792-0340 today. Don’t spend another day on the sidelines, letting life pass you by. You can successfully manage and treat your condition and get back in the game of life!
Urology Partners
941-792-0340
www.urology-partners.com
