How Low T May Be Quietly Weakening Your Immune Defenses

Hormone replacement therapy has generated quite a bit of buzz recently. A lot of folks have focused on the way it helps women navigate menopause. While that’s certainly an effective use of this kind of treatment, women aren’t the only ones who experience changing hormone levels with age. 

As men get older, their levels of testosterone decline. This has some notable effects, like decreasing muscle mass. It can also take a toll in less visible ways. Low testosterone levels — or low T — can negatively impact your libido, your mood, and more.

Today, we want to look more closely at one area where the levels of this hormone can affect you — your body’s immune response. 

Because Robert Grafton, MD, and our team offer both testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and immune optimization, we’re knowledgeable about how these two areas intersect. 

And here at PSI Medical Group in Wixom, Michigan, we want to help you feel your best through the years, which means avoiding low T and illness. So let’s explore the relationship between testosterone and your immune defense. 

A complicated relationship: Testosterone and immune response

When you think about your immune system, you probably think about your body’s defense against health issues. Low T can interfere with those defenses, making you more likely to encounter certain conditions like chronic kidney disease, for example.

In that instance, testosterone isn’t necessarily directly affecting your immune response, but there are other cases where it might be.

Specifically, testosterone plays a role in erythropoiesis. That’s the process your body uses to make red blood cells, which helps to explain why low T can be linked to anemia. 

The erythropoiesis process also has an impact on your immune function. As a result, some researchers believe that low T could be behind a weakened immune defense.

You should know, though, that the reverse is also true. Overly high testosterone levels can hinder your immune response to bacteria and viruses. 

That’s why you should work with a team of specialists if you want to supplement your testosterone. An experienced doctor like Dr. Grafton can evaluate your current T levels to help you get what your body needs without overdoing it. 

The right amount of TRT for you

Your TRT treatment starts with a blood test. This allows Dr. Grafton to first confirm that low T is affecting you and, if so, to determine how much testosterone you need. 

Here at PSI Medical Group, we offer TRT through tiny pellets we implant under your skin. This delivers a steady stream of testosterone to support your immune response, mood, muscle retention, healthy sex life, and more. 

If you think you might benefit from testosterone replacement therapy, call our team at PSI Medical Group in Wixom, Michigan, or book your visit through our convenient online scheduler today.