Category Archives: Testosterone

The UFC doesnt play around when it comes to drug testing. Regardless of whether a fighter is a champion, an up-and-coming fighter, or just a beginner, the same rules apply to everyone.

All UFC fighters get tested for Performance-Enhancing Drugs(PEDs) in and off competition. The UFC has actually been cooperating with USADA, the biggest anti-doping agency, since 2015. They handle everything from testing, analyzing the results, and applying consequences to the fighters who violate the rules. If a fighter tests positive for PEDs, USADA will give the fighter long suspensions. And depending on the type of violation, how long the fighter stays out of the sport can vary.

Narcotics, estrogen blockers, growth hormones and anabolic steroids are some of the banned substances in the UFC.

As soon as a fighter signs with the UFC, the USADA testing protocol starts. UFC fighters get randomly tested for PEDs several times a year on average. USADA performs five tests per fighter annually, which is a minimum of 2,750 tests a year, keeping in mind that some fighters get tested more often than others.

Jointly, the UFC and USADA spend a lot of resources to keep the sport and their fighters clean. When USADA agents travel around the world to test fighters on any day, in any place, fighters have to comply, take a break from whatever it is that theyre doing at that moment, and provide urine or blood samples to USADA officials. The UFC has the right to ask their fighters for extra tests performed by the state athletic commission as well.

If a UFC fighter refuses a test or flees the scene, they receive a long suspension. However, if USADA notifies a fighter that they have been selected for testing, fighters do have the right to delay it under a valid reason.

Many UFC fighters still use steroids to enhance their fighting performance, even though it is illegal in the sport. It is not easy to determine if a fighter is using them, but when caught, they might not receive penalties. UFC fighters, like other professional athletes in various sports, survive based on their athletic performance. For that reason, some are interested in taking steroids that help lessen their body fat, build up strength, and get larger muscles.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy is a steroid that helps with building strength and muscle, but is not the same thing as steroid abuse; TRT is legal.

Fighters who use TRT have to apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) through whatever state athletic commission they are fighting under. The UFC does additional testing throughout the fighters training camp to make sure their testosterone levels dont spike above the legal limits.

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Do UFC fighters have to take drug tests? Can they take testosterone or steroids? - AS USA

You cant understand what you dont measure

Numbers are hard to come by, but Prins is one of about 3,950 Michigan youths between ages 13 and 17 who identified as transgender in 2020, according to the Williams Institute of UCLA.

Nationwide, there are more than 60 gender clinics treating transgender and nonbinary adolescents using gender-affirming care, nine of which are in Michigan.

Overall, nonbinary youths are believed to represent less than 1 percent of the more than 640,000 adolescents in Michigan. Nationally, their numbers are believed to be rising fast, as more come out, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cataloging their population is tough, though, because the federal government has not allowed school districts to report data on nonbinary students, just males and females.

That may soon change as federal officials consider changing policies to allow but not require schools to collect the data.

The proposal comes from the federal Office of Civil Rights, which is considering collecting data on nonbinary students for its 2021-22 report in December, which identifies chronic absenteeism, sexual assault, school safety, harassment and bullying.

Such information could steer help to trans students who report high rates of bullying and harassment, according to Cody Venzke, senior counsel for the Center of Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit based in Washington D.C. that focuses on technology policy.

You cant understand what you dont measure, but with any sensitive data, there are risks to the students and families youre collecting data on, said Venzke, who proposes the policy change..

Someone could collect that data for a legitimate purpose but then later on it is used for a different purpose, such as a state agency identify trans students and reporting it to Child Protective Services, Venzke said, pointing out that some states have passed laws that consider transgender care as child abuse.

That is the No. 1 risk that schools face when they try to be a responsible steward of students data, he said.

Parents Defending Education, a Virginia-based group that opposes LGBTQ education in schools, objected to the proposal, stating it would empower schools to actively question and engage with children on gender and sexual identification issues that fall outside of the purview of public schools and are matters to be dealt with exclusively by parents.

Jennie Knight, vice president of the Grand Rapids LGBTQ Healthcare Consortium, said collecting data on transgender youths is important at a time when people are ringing alarm bells about more people coming out.

Knight said she has a 9-year-old son who just finished third grade and she does not want anyone at school talking to him about sex right now.

But I do think he should learn about all the different kinds of families there are, Knight said.

Being able to talk about gender at an age when children developmentally notice differences between themselves and others is not harmful, said Jennifer Schwartz, behavioral program manager at Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, which offers health services and support for young people.

It helps them learn who they are as people later on, Schwartz said.

In the absence of schools, Michigan counties have begun expanding surveys to include information on LGBTQ people in health reports used to identify community needs.

In the last four years, at least 11 of 83 counties have collected such information, but the number of LGBTQ respondents is still very low, which makes it hard to accurately represent the community.

Accurately representing the community not only makes people feel safer coming out, but it also helps health departments tailor their services to meet those peoples needs, said Maris Brummel, an epidemiologist for the Kent County Health Department.

In 2020, for the first time, Kent County included demographics on its LGBTQ community in a county health report that lays out its residents health status, needs and issues.

Of the people surveyed, 4 percent identified as LGBTQ and about 1 percent of them are transgender. The report found 6 percent of the countys surveyed middle schoolers and 8 percent of its high schoolers identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. The report excluded information on transgender youths.

One barrier is that many LGBTQ males and non-binary people dont feel comfortable responding to the survey, Brummel said.

Eaton County, for instance, is among the counties in Michigan that dont include LGBTQ residents in their community health reports because so few people responded that they identify as LGBTQ, said Milea Burgstahler, the countys quality improvement coordinator.

Less than six people identified as LGBTQ in the survey of Eaton County, which has a population of about 109,000. Burgstahler said, we couldnt analyze the data to represent a sample that is representative of the population.

Estimates vary nationwide, but the percentage of people nationwide identifying as lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender has steady increased since Gallup began polling in 2012. The firm now estimates 7 percent of the public identifies as something other than straight.

In Michigan, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated in 2019 there are about 24,000 same-sex households, about 1.1 percent of Michigan couples. Nationwide, the rate is 1.5 percent.

The national wave of legislation involving trans youths is exacerbating mental health risks plaguing them, said Erin Knott, the executive director of Equality Michigan, the states largest LGBTQ advocacy group.

We have seen in Michigan an uptick in harmful rhetoric aimed at our trans and nonbinary youth, Knott said.

She works with The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ young people. Last year, its hotline received 6,200 calls from Michigan kids, Knott said.

That year, a national survey by The Trevor Project found that 42 percent of the 35,000 LGBTQ youths who were surveyedand over half of them being trans and nonbinary youthsseriously considered suicide within the prior year.

Social media is elevating more transgender roles models, but how safe a person feels depends on where they live, said Leisha Taylor, a bisexual woman in Hillsdale. Taylor said historically, religious and conservative communities like Hillsdale have not welcomed gender diverse people.

The words they have used to describe us are abomination and abhorrent, Taylor said.

Taylor noted recent controversies in Hillsdale targeting the LGBTQ community as a reason why friends and family who identify as transgender have to hide it because they dont feel safe coming out.

In May, one member of the Hillsdale Community Library Board suggested forbidding the library from buying books for people under age 18 that discuss sexual identity and gender identity.

Gender diverse people can become confused about their identity when their communities are not welcoming or lack representation of transgender people, according to Jay Dunn, a 38-year-old man who transitioned in his late 30s.

Dunn grew up in Galesburg, a small city in Kalamazoo County, and came out to his parents as a lesbian at age 17.

It was tough growing up there, said Dunn, adding he was one of three openly gay students at his high school and they were frequently bullied.

While Dunn identified as a lesbian because he liked girls, he said his adolescence was a confusing time and something always felt off. It was not until a family friend came out as transgender that Dunn realized his authentic self.

Today, Dunn is receiving hormone therapy and had his breasts removed. He says it is the happiest he has ever been, noting that his wife now says your confidence is through the roof.

The only thing I regret is not being able to start transitioning sooner, Dunn said.

One of the most effective methods of treating gender-associated distress is providing adolescents access to gender-affirming care, according to endocrinologist Daniel Shumer who founded the states first pediatric gender clinic at Motts Childrens Hospital in 2015.

Gender-affirming care was first founded in Germany in 1918, began in the United States in the late 1940s and was made available to adolescents in 2007.

There are three forms of gender-affirming care: puberty blocking medicine, hormone therapy and gender-confirmation surgery, like breast removal or implants.

Puberty blocking medicine is a non-invasive, reversible process that desensitizes the brain gland that releases puberty hormones and allows kids time and space to explore their gender identity, according to Shumer.

Natural puberty would pick up where it left off if a patient chooses to stop taking puberty blockers.

Hormone replacement therapy produces more testosterone or estrogen depending on the sex features a person wants expressed. Both forms of treatment cost thousands of dollars a year without insurance.

Shumer said transgender and nonbinary adolescents experience gender dysphoria, unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.

Children generally feel this discomfort around age 10 when they are about to hit puberty and their bodies change in ways that make them uncomfortable, according to Shumer. At that time, transgender children who are out start asking their parents about getting gender-affirming care.

Shumer said a vast majority of the kids who are distressed about puberty and receive treatment grow into happy, healthy, successful, well-adjusted adults.

They really feel like the treatment theyre getting is making a huge difference and its potentially life-saving for a lot of these young people, Shumer said.

Shumer said he was exposed to a pediatric gender clinic during his medical training and saw how helpful providing high quality care to transgender and gender diverse young people can be.

There was quite clearly a need for these services in Michigan, Shumer said, noting that when the clinic opened, he was getting referrals from all over the state and the clinic became very busy quite quickly.

Over time, Shumer said the number of referrals increased to 100 new patients each year and more adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 were seeking care.

Its clear that in Michigan and across the country, young people are thinking more critically about gender identity and exploring gender identity is a normal process of adolescence, he said.

Before Shumers clinic opened, families like Roz Keiths often traveled out of state seeking such care. Keith is the founder and executive director of Stand With Trans, a nonprofit that supports transgender kids and families with transgender members.

Keith said she was getting transferred all over the place because Michigan did not have resources for transgender youths when her son Hunter Keith came out as a transgender male in 2013.

Hunter Keith said it took a year for him to be seen by a specialist who was based in Boston, Massachusetts and had a very long waiting list.

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Trans teens: We need to be heard, counted. In Michigan, the backlash is harsh - Bridge Michigan

It works by combining the androgen receptors in the body, which assists in lowering body fat and promoting muscular building.

Ostarine is a SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) of the second generation, also known as Enobosarm or MK-2866. You are thus at the correct spot since this article will provide you with information on Ostarine and amazing Ostarine MK-2866 alternatives.

Ostarine is a specific sort of androgen receptor modulator (SARM). It works by combining the androgen receptors in the body, which assists in lowering body fat and promoting muscular building. It is a non-toxic substance with minimal adverse effects.

Therefore, let's go more into Ostarine; at the end of this section, you will be aware of all the essential facts and other facets associated with the use of this substance.

In an effort to prevent the problem, a concerted effort was undertaken to devise a realistic, safer alternative. SARMs represent the next generation of T-Boosting medications.

SARM is an acronym for selective androgen receptor modulators. SARM pharmaceuticals are anabolic chemicals intended to bind to androgen receptors.

SARM compounds are being studied by medical experts as a possible treatment for complicated conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, sexual impairments, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and muscle wasting.

Ostarine MK-2866 and other SARMs are often utilized by athletes for performance enhancement, lean muscle growth, fat loss, a rapid recovery rate, and enhanced strength and endurance.

Ostarine and SARMs were believed to have much fewer negative effects than steroids. However, the reality is exactly the reverse.

Prior to discussing what Ostarine is, it is necessary todefine a SARM. Androgens are a class of sexual habitats. The most prominent are testosterone and estrogen.

These androgens exert their effects via proteins known as androgen receptors.

The multiple functions of your body's androgen receptors include developing muscular growth and strength.

The acronym SARM stands for selective androgen receptor modulator. This family of medicinal drugs modulates the behavior of androgen receptors. In other words, SARMs (Ostarine,Rad 140,Ibutamorenetc..) induce your DNA to alter, resulting in quicker, larger, and stronger muscular growth.

The word selective is a crucial component of the SARM concept. If anabolic steroids are blunt instruments, SARMs are scalpels. Steroids also bind and modify androgen receptors. However, they may bind elsewhere in the body, leading to acne, hair loss, prostate issues, etc. SARMs, on the other hand, target androgen receptors exclusively and do not bind anywhere else in the body.

In the 1990s, SARMs were produced by accident. As a result of exploring therapies for numerous malignancies and muscle-wasting disorders, such as those connected with AIDS, this incident occurred. James T. Dalton, a scientist, and professor researching prostate cancer therapy discovered the first ever.

Through this procedure, he found the first SARM, the chemical andarine. Its benefits on muscle development were amazing, and he focused nearly exclusively on that chemical.

Dalton spent the next many years perfecting it, and Ostarine was the outcome of this work. It would shortly enter clinical trials, where it would again exhibit its potential to increase lean muscle mass, but would not reach the desired outcomes in terms of curing cancer.

Immediately after this study, Ostarine would be accessible on the illegal market. While it is currently an experimental medicine undergoing various clinical studies, bodybuilders utilize it all over the globe. TheWorld Anti-Doping Agencycontinues to classify it as a restricted drug around the globe.

Ostarine has connected itself to the body's androgen receptor. When it combines, the receptors are designated to expand muscles more rapidly. The process of focusing muscle development modifies genes. This technique further enhances muscle development by boosting protein synthesis.

The functioning mechanism is related to the anabolism in which tiny molecules are split to generate a superior, more complex molecule. All of these actions need additional energy, therefore Ostarine functions as an external force.

This enables the body's protein to work harder, resulting in an increase in lean muscle mass during intense exercises.

Additionally, the supplement assists in enhancing endurance and energy for extended training sessions.

This is good for you if a fat-burning diet has left you feeling very exhausted. Consequently, your lost muscles recover rapidly via exercise. Your body's muscular mass activity also increased. Thus, your physique will seem slimmer and more refined.

Several distinct kinds of amino acids are contained in this medicine, according to certain sources. One of the amino acids contained in Ostarine is leucine.

Leucine was used by bodybuilders as a meal replacement supplement. It is excellent foraccelerating muscle recoveryand lowering lactic acid buildup after intense training sessions.

The bodybuilders who use Ostarine MK2866 to grow muscle say that this supplement provides them a tremendous edge over their rivals. It not only increases the intensity of their training but also promotes faster muscle recovery.

Ostarine is a non-toxic dietary supplement with minimal adverse effects. Some potential adverse effects include:

Some may have headaches at first use. If someone has this issue, he must reduce the dose. It is recommended to take aspirin before taking this supplement.

Some individuals reported experiencing nausea after ingestion. This occurs when estrogen levels are adjusted to modify the dosage of a drug inside the body.

Some individuals claim that following extended usage of large dosages, they get despondent. However, this state is only brief. If someone is seeing an increase in emotional problems, he should stop using this SARM.

Some users develop joint aches. Since this supplement is meant to develop muscle, this issue should occur naturally. If this issue causes you pain, you should avoid using it for at least one to three weeks. Until your joint discomfort disappears totally.

Some users report gastrointestinal discomfort. Which results in an abundance of weakness.

At the conclusion of the cycle, several individuals complain about their facial acne and hyperpigmentation.

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [Osta 2866 CrazyBulk]

OSTA 2866 is a 100 percent natural dietary supplement that inundates the body with herbs and essential minerals that mimic the performance-enhancing and muscle-building capabilities of Ostarine MK-2866 without causing severe health effects. The dietary supplement enhances muscle development by increasing testosterone production, promoting muscular blood flow, boosting energy, and accelerating fat loss.

People who want rapid muscle growth in a couple of weeks could begin utilizing OSTA 2866, which replicates the controversial bodybuilding component Ostarine perfectly. As the Food and Drug Administration of the United States has not approved Ostarine, its replacement is the safest option.

CrazyBulk, a health and wellness company with over a decade of expertise in the industry, is the manufacturer of OSTA 2866. The company has sold over two million bottles abroad. It is a strong ergogenic aid that enhances power output at constant perceived effort levels and delays the onset of fatigue after strenuous physical activity.

Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 comprises scientifically effective doses of performance-enhancing chemicals and essential minerals, which together promote lean muscle development.

Reishi Fungus Extract

Reishi mushroomsare powerful adaptogens that boost the production of metabolic energy (ATP), increase physical strength, and speed up muscle recovery. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 200 milligrams of Reishi mushroom extract.

Cinnamon (30:1 Extract)

Cinnamon moderates the insulin response and decreases post-meal glucose spikes. This decreases the body's storage of sugar as fat. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 200 mg of cinnamon.

Fennel (4:1 Extract)

Fennel is a dietary item that supplies the body with the necessary levels of vitamin C. It acts as a supplement to combat weariness and exhaustion during activity. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 400 mg of fennel.

Southern Ginseng

Southern ginseng, a herbaceous climbing vine native to South and East Asia, enhances adrenal gland function during exercise in order to boost endurance and build strength. CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 550 mg of southern ginseng.

Salacia

The medicinal herb Salacia, which is native to India and Sri Lanka, enhances insulin sensitivity, boosts glucose metabolism, and promotes weight loss. The Salacia extract inside OSTA 2866 is responsible for its fat-burning effects. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 600 mg of Salacia.

Zinc (Zinc Citrate)

Zinc enhances muscular growth by boosting aerobic capacity, which measures the quantity of oxygen supplied to the muscles. A shortage of oxygen in the muscles may inhibit the ability to build muscle. The minerals also help in post-exercise tissue repair. OSTA 2866 from CrazyBulk includes 10 mg of the most bioavailable type of zinc, zinc citrate, in each dosage.

Magnesium (As Magnesium Oxide)

Magnesium improves exercise performance and promotes muscle development. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 35 mg of magnesium.

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [Osta 2866 CrazyBulk]

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [OstaBulk Brutal Force]

OstaBulk is a natural substitute for the now-prohibited SARM Ostarine MK28660.

It has the same results without negative side effects. It functions as an anabolic steroid and promotes muscular growth.

OstaBulk is made in the United States by Muscles Club Limited and distributed under the Brutal Force brand.

In the United Kingdom, Health Nutrition Limited owns the brand, Brutal Force.

Multiple products are available to meet the diverse needs of both professional and amateur bodybuilders. OstaBulk is 100% natural and fully safe to use.

It is formulated by combining numerous components. It encourages lean muscle development.

It is made and sold by well-known companies in the sector of dietary supplements.

B6 vitamin:

This product contains a substance that may help in the body's natural testosterone production. Additionally, it may assist in the decrease of recovery time and the enhancement of sleep habits. It may aid in muscle building and endurance.

D3 (calcium iodide):

Vitamin D3 from Ostabulk may help you restore the quality and strength of your muscular fibers. The recuperation period of bodybuilders is a drawback. This component may facilitate quicker recovery and enhanced muscle development.

K1 vitamin:

The quantity of vitamin K1 in the body affects muscular strength and performance. According to research, this element in Ostabulk may help maintain a high level of K1 in plasma and promote the development of enormous muscles.

Magnesium:

This substance comprises both magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide. This might assist in maintaining muscular flexibility and preventing cramping. This product's citrate content may improve magnesium digestion in the body.

Zinc Citrate

This product's zinc citrate may help boost the immune system. It may boost endurance and facilitate severe exercise.

D-Aspartic Acid (DAA):

According to the study, D-AA may stimulate the brain's hormone production. This hormone boosts the synthesis of testosterone throughout the body. This may contribute to the growth of stronger muscles.

Stinging Nettle Leaf:

This contributes to the development of muscles. According to research, it may boost muscle development naturally and is safe to consume.

Korean Red Ginseng Root Extract:

Multiple studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng assists sportsmen and bodybuilders in exercise, bulking, and injury recuperation. It may also increase the body's endurance and energy levels.

Seed Extract of Fenugreek:

It has the ability to develop strength and endurance naturally and safely. It may also help in increasing the body's testosterone level, which may promote muscular building.

Citrate of Boron:

This ingredient in Ostabulk may improve muscular coordination. Additionally, it may assist in the growth of strong bones and the production of testosterone.

Black Pepper Fruit Extract with BioPerine:

The mineral BioPerine is produced from black pepper berries. According to a number of observational studies, it may aid in weight reduction and energy levels, and sportsmen and bodybuilders are fond of it.

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [OstaBulk Brutal Force]

MK 2866's effects are comparable to those of anabolic steroids. However, it must be remembered that the medicine is in no way a steroid.

The comparison between the two is based on their capacity to interact with Androgen Receptors. However, in contrast to anabolic steroids, its propensity to bind to the AR is limited to those in muscles and bones and no other organ.

Due to its limiting nature, MK 2866 functions similarly to steroids but does not have the same adverse effects.

Ostarine is a banned dietary supplement for a variety of reasons. It aids muscle development and quality that may have been impaired by an autoimmune illness or cancer.

Regarding recreational usage, it is advantageous for both men and women with muscle-building or muscle-definition objectives.

It burns fat beautifully to reveal a lean, muscular figure and provides superhuman power to improve your training volume.

It is reasonable to presume that MK 2866 may inhibit your hormones like other medications in its class. However, its effects are not as suppressive as those of several widely used SARMs that alter hormone levels globally.

Despite this, the chemical might obliterate your natural testosterone levels, which you can subsequently address with a PCT.

Although Ostarine is less potent than the original steroids, we cannot say that it is completely devoid of adverse effects.

There are potential risks associated with the usage of MK 2866.

It is also banned in the USA.

Some of them may include:

In general, Ostarine's bulking effects as a performance-enhancing medication are noteworthy.

Due to the fact that it stimulates the process of muscle regeneration, the majority of individuals like to utilize it to experience enormous muscular increases.

See more here:
Ostarine MK-2866 | Review, Alternatives,Side Effects and Results-Health News - Firstpost

Independence, Ohio, United States 07-15-2022 (PR Distribution)

Cleveland Health Group, a world-class hormone replacement and anti-aging center located in Independence, OH, is offering a cutting-edge solution for men looking to overcome Erectile Dysfunction and Peyronies disease. The leading-edge treatment is known as GAINSWave, and the Cleveland Health Group is specifically treating patients with the Storz Medical Duolith Focused Device. The Storz Medical Duolith Focused Device is referred to as the most effective shockwave device in the market.

Cleveland Health Group focuses on providing patients with evidence-based solutions that negate the use of drugs, surgery or injections to treat the root cause of issues and ensure safe and long-lasting results. Unlike traditional medications that may lead to dependency and unwanted side-effects, GAINSWave utilizes extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to naturally focus on treating the cause of ED instead of masking the symptoms. This non-invasive and drug free therapy uses high-frequency, low-intensity sound waves to improve blood flow to the penis, remove micro-plaque, and stimulate the growth of new blood vessels. GAINSWave is supported by over 50 medical studies, which show a greater than 75% success rate in treating ED.

We want to make sure that our patients receive the absolute best benefits from treatment. Thats why we specifically treat our patients with focused wave technology using the powerful Storz Medical Duolith Focused Device the latest and greatest in shockwave therapy for ED, shares Gabe Reider, founder of Cleveland Health Group. Weve successfully treated dozens of patients and are happy that we found a treatment option for ED that aligns with our quality standards, continues Reider.

In addition to using GAINSWave to optimize mens sexual health, the treatment can also be used in combination with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Emsella and testosterone replacement, which provides men with a head-to-toe sexual health overhaul.

For a full list of conditions Cleveland Health Group can assist with, visit ClevelandHealthGroup.com or call 216-927-9900.

To learn more about new patient special offers, GAINSWave treatments or schedule an in-person consultation, visit ClevelandHealthGroup.com.

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At Cleveland Health Group, we provide unique, advanced treatment options that can help improve your health and wellness in the most natural way possible.

Say goodbye to habit-forming or stomach-upsetting pain medications. Do not be railroaded into a surgery you do not want or need especially with all the added risks and costs associated with it. Instead, let us help improve your health and wellness, naturally.

Media Contacts:

Company Name: Cleveland Health GroupFull Name: Gabriel ReiderPhone: 216-927-990Email Address: Send EmailWebsite: https://www.clevelandhealthgroup.com

For the original news story, please visit https://www.prdistribution.com/news/cleveland-health-group-is-focused-on-helping-men-eliminate-habit-forming-ed-medications-with-gainswave/9220358.

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Cleveland Health Group Is Focused on Helping Men Eliminate Habit-Forming ED Medications with GAINSWave - Digital Journal

Retired IFBB Pro Seth Feroce has become extremely vocal about sensitive issues affecting the sport of bodybuilding. In a recent truck rant video, Feroce says athletes from all professional sports are abusing steroids and voiced that theres corruption at every fuc**ng level.

Seth Feroce is by far one of the more outspoken voices present in bodybuilding. He led a successful career in the sport throughout the mid-2000s, battling against an array of top-level talent. While he hasnt competed in over a decade, Feroce is committed to the sport and seeing it improve. Over the past few months, steroids have become a controversial matter, which has prompted the community to speak on the concerning issue.

In 2021, an alarming number of bodybuilding deaths shook the world. In addition to former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden passing away, George Peterson also met his untimely fate face-down in a hotel room before he had the chance to compete at 2021 Mr. Olympia.

The horrific trend continued this year as 29-year-old Bostin Loyd was pronounced dead back in March. Another death that sent shockwaves through the bodybuilding community was Cedric McMillan, who left behind his wife and kids at 44 years of age. For athletes like Feroce, these deaths arent a coincidence, and he continues to warn up-and-comers of the dangers that lie ahead should they pursue a professional career in bodybuilding.

Feroce says steroids will kill you and hes not the only bodybuilder issuing grave warnings about the harm they cause. Kali Muscle also addressed the matter, as he recently stated, if youre a bodybuilder, youre risking your life. According to Feroce, steroids are just as pervasive in other sports and hes astonished that people think other professional athletes arent cutting corners to get any edge they can for games/competitions.

In a recent video published on YouTube, Feroce says hes astonished that people dont recognize that corruption exists at every level in professional sports.

What I am fuc**ng astonished by, is the fact that people cant fuc**ing believe that professional athletes take steroids or theres no fuc**ing corruption. Are you guys fuc**ing with me? You know theres corruption at every fuc**ing level. Its a fuc**ing multi-billion dollar industry.

Im just astonished by the thought process. I dont know if its mainstream. How is this even a fuc**ing topic that people dont understand that steroids are literally in anything. In EVERYTHING that has to do with physicality, to gain a fuc**ing edge. Feroce said. Steroids are in fuc**ing everything and if you dont think so, you are a fuc**ing moron. You know why? Because I used to sell a lot of them. Seth Feroce said on Youtube.

Seth Feroce went on to say that he sold steroids to make ends meet during his career as an active IFBB Pro bodybuilder.

Thats something other bodybuilders say, I dont want to sell steroids. Bitch, I sold a shit load of them. How the fu** do you think I made ends meet as a competitor? You think I can just buy hundreds of pounds of meat? No. You either fuc**ing sold steroids, or you did gay for pay. I aint doing no gay for pay. Been offered many a times. But I rather fuc**ing sell a shit load of Tren and Anadrol and dick pills, like I did. Thats how the fuc**ing industry goes!

The retired Pro explained that its easy to get roped in to using steroids at a young age. He suggested over time that even the athletes who resist the compounds will eventually join the dark side once they start seeing results.

Then youre like fu** okay. Then, you kind of just get roped in, and you like it and then you think, maybe I should try it. Then you think youre going to get fuc**ing yoked from one fuc**ing cycle just like them, and that doesnt really happen. You gain some weight, and you get big, but you realize youre never going to be satisfied by it because you just get hooked in.

It happens and its happening right now because all of these young guys on the internet and young guys watching, Ill never go to the dark side. Bitch everybody is on the dark side. And everybody will go to the dark side.

After issuing several warnings, Feroce shared that nobody cares in professional sports whether someone uses steroids or not. He believes even when athletes die partly due to steroids, everyone in the community acts like they care, but really, they dont give a fu**.

At the end of the day, nobody actually gives a fu**. Nobody cares in professional sports whether you take steroids or not. Nobody fuc**ing cares in bodybuilding whether you take steroids or not.Nobody gives a fu**. Even whenever you take steroids and you fuc**ing die everybody acts like they give a fu** but nobody gives a fu**. Nobody fuc**ing cares. Do what you want to. Thats what Im getting at with this video. Dont be fuc**ing stupid. Stop believing in dumb shit, are you kidding me?

Feroce is convinced that multi-billion-dollar sporting leagues are fraught with corruption.

How do people not understand that in professional sports, like dude, were talking about multi-billion dollar industries. Multi-billion dollar industries. Billion dollar teams, just teams. One team worth fuc**ing three to four billion dollars. You think there is not some fuc*ed up covered up corruption going on? Youre out of your mind. Give me a break.

Back in April, Feroce revealed that hes been cutting out gear entirely, though mentioned that hes on a prescribed testosterone replacement therapy. While he has stepped away from the sport, Feroce always has unique opinions regarding bodybuilding.

The retired Pro believes the Mens Open division has taken a hit following COVID-19 since athletes arent traveling to other countries as often for shows like they used to. Feroce added that he believes the Mens Open division will fade into obscurity in the next five years.

RELATED: Bodybuilder Seth Feroce Reacts to Public Backlash After Killing a Black Bear: I Am Proud of This!

Feroce is confident that other athletes in varying professional sports abuse steroids to gain a competitive edge. After another truck rant, its evident Feroce wants to see a change in bodybuilding given his commitment to discussing these issues at length.

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Seth Feroce on Bodybuilders Using Gear: 'Steroids Are Literally in Everything That Has to Do with Physicality' Fitness Volt - Fitness Volt

In contrast to menopause which is universal in women and is characterised with absolute gonadal failure with time, andropause (also known as male menopause, male climacteric, androclise, androgen decline in ageing male or ADAM, ageing male syndrome and late onset hypogonadism or LOH) is characterised by low levels of testosterone in older man or those men who have lost testicular function due to diseases or accidents or when subjected to surgical or medical castration due to advanced prostate cancer. Some health experts find the term male menopause misleading because although testosterone levels fall as men age, the decline is steady at less than 2% a year from around the age of 30 to 40 and this is unlikely to cause any problems in itself but a testosterone deficiency or late-onset hypogonadism is not a normal part of ageing.

Causes:

Testosterone is produced in the testes and adrenal glands and is responsible for a variety of important functions in men like it regulates libido, sperm production and muscle mass apart from being important for bone health and blood production. As men grow old, testosterone levels tend to drop along with the ability to produce sperm but apart from aging, some lifestyle factors or psychological problems could also cause drop in testosterone levels. These include:

1. Stress, depression or anxiety could result in erectile dysfunction, loss of libido and mood swings brought on by work or relationship issues, divorce, money problems, worrying about ageing parents, "midlife crisis" when men think they have reached life's halfway stage or anxieties over what they have accomplished so far, either in their job or personal life, can lead to a period of depression

2. Changes in the blood vessels alongside any psychological cause can result in erectile dysfunction

3. Lack of sleep

4. A poor diet

5. Lack of exercise

6. Drinking too much alcohol

7. Smoking

8. Low self-esteem

9. Late-onset hypogonadism

Signs and symptoms:

Health experts point out that fatigue, poor libido, weakness, depression, sexual problems and difficulties concentrating are just a few of the symptoms that might occur as a result of testosterone reduction. Apart from these, following are other signs and symptoms:

Diminished mental acuity (poor concentration, depressed mood)

Loss of strength and energy

Gaining weight, losing muscle, and gaining fat

Depressed moods and/or a lack of zeal and enthusiasm

Irritability

Muscle aches and pains (feeling stiffness)

Sweats or hot flushes

Hands and feet that are cold

Itching

Sexual dysfunction

Loss of height

Diagnosis and treatment:

If you are experiencing these signs and symptoms, your doctor will likely do a blood test to measure your testosterone levels or order tests to rule out medical problems that may be contributing to the condition after performing a physical exam and asking about symptoms. If your testosterone levels are low, lifestyle or other changes in diet, exercise program or medications such as an antidepressant to help with some symptoms of male menopause, may be suggested by the doctor.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or testosterone replacement therapy or androgen replacement therapy may be prescribed to help relieve symptoms like loss of interest in sex (decreased libido), depression and fatigue. However, it is to be noted that it has potential risks and side effects as experts point out that replacing testosterone may worsen prostate cancer and increase the risk of heart disease.

Read the original:
Andropause: Causes, signs and symptoms, treatment of male menopause - Hindustan Times

Curr Opin Urol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 Nov 1.

Published in final edited form as:

PMCID: PMC5649360

NIHMSID: NIHMS910261

aBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

aBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

bScott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

cCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

bScott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

aBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

bScott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

cCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and decreased libido are common complaints in the older male population. Recent studies have elucidated the role testosterone therapy (TTh) can play in men with low testosterone levels. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of these findings and the utility of TTh. We specifically examine the role of TTh on erectile function, co-administration with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, and libido.

Recent publications suggest that TTh improves mild ED, though may be less useful in men with more severe ED. In men unresponsive to PDE5 inhibitors and with mild ED, TTh can further improve erectile function. Testosterone therapy has also shown consistent benefit in improving libido in men with low testosterone levels at baseline, with no additional improvements once testosterone levels are normalized.

The available literature supports a role for TTh in men with low testosterone levels, ED, and low libido, with symptomatic improvement in these men.

MeSH Keywords: Testosterone, Erectile Function, Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors, Hypogonadal men

Multiple longitudinal studies have observed that as men age, they experience a decline in total serum testosterone beginning in the third decade of life [1, 2]. By age 70, 30% of men will have low testosterone levels [2]. The symptoms of low testosterone include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), decreased energy, depressive symptoms, and fatigue [3]. These symptoms can be frustrating to men, and can be at least partially reversed with testosterone therapy (TTh). In this review, we summarize the recent literature examining the relationship between low serum testosterone levels, ED, and decreased libido.

To identify articles for this review, the following search terms were used in Medline: testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy, erectile dysfunction, and libido. Relevant and recent articles were identified and presented in this review. Articles published within the last 18 months were prioritized in this review.

ED affects 1 in 5 men, with this frequency increasing with age and the prevalence of co-morbidities [4, 5]. The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines ED as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection that is satisfactory for sexual performance [6]. Subjective erectile function can be assessed using validated questionnaire metrics including the international index of erectile function (IIEF) with the erectile function domain (IIEF-EF) being the most specific for assessing ED. The IIEF-EF consists of 6 questions that inquire about frequency and hardness of erections, ability to penetrate during intercourse, ability to maintain an erection during intercourse, ability to maintain an erection to completion of intercourse, and confidence in a mans ability to get and maintain an erection [7]. The severity of ED is then classified as mild, mild to moderate, moderate, and severe dysfunction. The IIEF-EF is often used in studies to trend changes in erectile function, with a change of 2 IIEF-EF points being clinically significant for men with mild ED. The minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for moderate and severe ED are a change of 5 and 7 IIEF-EF points, respectively [8].

Erection requires a combination of vascular, neurologic, psychologic, and hormonal factors. Erections are initiated when nitric oxide and other neuroendocrine factors induce relaxation of the smooth muscles of the cavernous arteries and tissues resulting in increased penile blood inflow. As the corpus cavernosum fills with blood, the veins that drain the corpus cavernosum are compressed, resulting in maintained turgidity [9]. This initial release of nitric oxide is mediated in part by testosterone [10]. While evaluating neurologic, vascular, and psychologic factors can be difficult during a clinical visit, a hormonal etiology of ED can easily be assessed by measuring morning serum testosterone levels. The evaluation of testosterone levels in men with ED is recommended by the European Association of Urology guidelines and is indicated in select men with ED per American Urology Association guidelines [11, 12].

Numerous studies have examined the relationship between testosterone levels and erectile function. In cross-sectional studies, men with low testosterone (defined by the US Food and Drug Administration as levels less than 300 ng/dL) have a greater prevalence of ED when compared to men with normal testosterone levels [1315]. Studies have observed that men who have been placed on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer have a dramatic reduction in erectile function with a decrease in testosterone levels [1618]. Finally, numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that erectile function improves when testosterone is given to men with low testosterone levels [1924].

In the past few years, several studies have shown that testosterone levels and erectile function are positively correlated. The recently published Testosterone Trials a set of RCTs of 790 men with late onset hypogonadism randomly assigned to either testosterone gel or placebo demonstrated that after 1 year of treatment that men who used testosterone gel had an IIEF-ED score 2.64 points [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.06 4.02] greater than men who had been assigned to the placebo arm [24]. It is important to note that men enrolled in this study on average had moderate ED, and so this improvement in erectile function was not considered clinically significant.

In early 2017, Corona et al. performed meta-analysis of 14 RCTs that studied the effect of TTh on erectile function in men with late onset hypogonadism, and compared pre- and post-IIEF scores [25]. Overall, when compared to placebo, TTh provided only a modest improvement in IIEF-EF, as the mean difference between groups was 2.31 points. The mean change in IIEF-EF, however, was greater when data were stratified by baseline testosterone level. In primary studies using a testosterone threshold <8 nM (231 ng/dL), IIEF-EF increased by 2.95 points, whereas in primary studies with testosterone threshold of <12 nM (346 ng/dL), only a 1.47 point increase in IIEF-EF was observed [25]. Given that a greater improvement in erectile function was observed in studies using a lower testosterone threshold, this supports the theory that once a threshold of normal testosterone level is achieved, higher testosterone levels do not further improve erectile function [26]. This definitive study by Corona et al. also suggests that TTh may be a useful monotherapy in men with mild ED.

Numerous studies have found that phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) is upregulated in the penis by androgens [27, 28], and when animals are castrated, a decline in both penile nitric oxide and PDE5 levels are seen [2830]. These early studies support the possibility that men with low testosterone may have a relative deficiency of PDE5, resulting in lower efficacy of PDE5 inhibitors [31]. In a randomized controlled trial by Shabsigh et al., dual treatment with sildenafil and testosterone was more effective than monotherapy with sildenafil for men with testosterone levels <400 ng/dL who had previously failed a trial of PDE5 inhibitors. Men receiving both testosterone and PDE5 inhibitors had an improvement of 4.4 IIEF points from baseline to 4 weeks while those receiving monotherapy only saw an increase of 2.1 IIEF-EF points (p=0.029) [32].

While Buvat et al. observed a positive effect in hypogonadal PDE5 inhibitor non-responders, other RCTs have not observed such a positive effect. In a 2012 RCT, Spitzer et al. studied 140 men on sildenafil and then randomly assigned them to either receive testosterone or placebo gel. All men had a testosterone level <330 ng/dL or a free testosterone level <50 pg/mL. At 14 weeks, those on dual therapy had an IIEF-EF score 1.01 points higher than those receiving sildenafil plus placebo gel (p=0.36). This study demonstrates that the giving testosterone to men who respond to PDE5 inhibitors may not further improve erectile function after normalization of testosterone levels. However, there is growing evidence supporting the use of testosterone in men with low testosterone and mild ED, especially in those who were previously non-responsive to PDE5 inhibitors [33, 34].

These recent studies suggest that TTh may be most effective as monotherapy in improving erectile function in men with mild ED, but not in men with more severe ED. Early studies have shown that TTh can improve the response to PDE5 inhibitors in non-responders.

Libido, or sexual drive, is affected by a multitude of factors, including physiologic ones, such as a defect in the hypothalamic-pituitary access or depression, or environmental ones, such as marital discourse or anxiety [3, 35, 36]. Changes in libido can variably affect individuals, with a wide range of clinical presentations. Longitudinal studies have found that libido declines with increasing male age [35]. When assessing libido, many studies use the sexual desire (SD) domain of the IIEF (IIEF-SD), which asks men to two libido-related questions: Over the past 4 weeks, how often have you felt sexual desire? and Over the past 4 weeks, how would you rate your level of sexual desire? Like the IIEF-EF domain, the IIEF-SD questions can be used to diagnose mild, mild to moderate, moderate, and severe dysfunction [7]. Other studies have used their own scale, such as the Sexual Arousal, Interest and Drive scale (SAID) a validated patient reported outcomes measuring 5 scored items, including sexual thought, arousal, as well as interest and drive [37].

Several early studies have demonstrated that TTh improves libido [38, 39]. Recently, the Sexual Function sub-trial of the Testosterone Trials examined sexual desire. This placebo-controlled trial included 470 men aged 65 years or older with testosterone levels less than <275 ng/dL [24]. When assessing the impact of TTh on sexual symptoms, the authors used the Derogatis Interview for Sexual Function-Sexual Desire Domain, comprised of 25 scored items, and found that libido improved proportionately with increase in testosterone levels, with an effect size of 0.44 [95% Confidence Interval: 0.32 0.56] [40]. Interestingly however, these trials found no threshold below which libido was universally affected for all men in the study.

The results of the largest placebo-controlled multicenter trial assessing the effect of testosterone on sexual function in hypogonadal men (715 men, 18 years of age and older) were published in 2016. Brock et al. found that 60 mg of topical testosterone 2% gel applied daily resulted in a significant increase in testosterone levels as well as libido, as measured using the SAID scale after three months of treatment. The study examined a cohort of hypogonadal men with a mean age of 55. Though not placebo-controlled beyond the third month, the open label continuation of the trial for both placebo and active treatment groups showed continued improvement in sexual function at 9 months when on continuous TTh, with no new adverse events [23]. In the group initially treated with placebo, 60% of men achieved normal testosterone levels at the end of the open label study, compared to 66% of the participants on TTh for the duration of the trial. Interestingly, the group that had received placebo before the 3-month time point and later placed on the open-label TTh achieved the same libido improvements as the group that had been on TTh for the entire 9 months. This finding suggests that benefits of TTh on libido plateau after 3 months of therapy. However, the study lacked a true control arm during the open-label portion of the trial, limiting the ability to make this conclusion. Furthermore, a post hoc analysis of the trials outcomes after 3 months further revealed that a lower testosterone level at the start of treatment and higher plasma concentration achieved at the end of treatment were associated with a greater patient reported improvement in libido [41].

The Corona et al. meta-analysis also assessed the impact of TTh on libido in hypogonadal men, finding that for 1,269 men across 14 randomized, placebo-controlled trials, the IIEF-SD significantly improved (p=0.001) [25]. These findings suggest that TTh may be more effective in improving sexual desire than in improving erectile function in men with moderate or severe ED. Citing previous studies that had failed to show improvements in libido on therapy, Corona et al. highlighted that many of these studies did not specifically examine a population with low testosterone at baseline and that in eugonadal men, TTh may be less beneficial in improving libido.

While TTh can improve libido, it is not without its risks [42]. Due to the wide-spread use of testosterone-related products for seemingly age-related symptoms and the potential cardiovascular risk, the FDA has commissioned a large clinical trial to assess the safety of testosterone products [43]. A joint patient-physician decision should be made whether the potential improvement in erectile function, libido, and energy with TTh outweighs the potential side-effects in each individual patient.

Many studies have demonstrated that TTh significantly improves libido in men. Moving forward, large RCTs specifically studying older men for more than a year of treatment are needed to better determine at what testosterone thresholds men demonstrate improvements or decrements in sexual function and desire. Finally, current measures of evaluating libido are either very narrow in their scope or not validated. As such, future work should focus on more clearly defining the impact of TTh on libido.

In men with low testosterone, normalizing testosterone levels has multiple benefits, most notably improved libido and improved erectile function when used as monotherapy in men with mild ED. For the latter, TTh is especially promising in hypogonadal men with mild ED who are unresponsive to phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Testosterone therapy may be ineffective in men with moderate and severe ED, as the etiology for these more severe pathologies often include advanced diabetes, radical pelvic surgery, or severe neurologic damage. In these cases, a hormonal factor is often not the primary cause of dysfunction, and thus while TTh should be considered, other treatments are likely to be more effective.

Key Points

Testosterone replacement monotherapy can improve erectile function in men with mild ED, but not moderate and severe ED.

In men with low testosterone who are unresponsive to PDE5 inhibitors, normalization of testosterone levels can improve the response to PDE5 inhibitors.

Testosterone therapy improves libido in men with low testosterone.

Funding

A.W.P. is a National Institutes of Health K12 Scholar supported by a Male Reproductive Health Research Career Development Physician-Scientist Award (HD073917-01) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Program (to Dolores J. Lamb).

Link:
Testosterone Therapy Improves Erectile Function and Libido in ...

The Red Factor: How Donating Blood Can Supercharge Your Health

American author Mark Twain once remarked that life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18." This speaks to the sad irony that as you accumulate wisdom and experience you also lose your physical vitality to the ravages of aging.

And, as a result, mans Great Mission from the beginning of time has been to find a way to reverse this reality. Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world before he died around 323 B.C., may have been looking for a river that healed the ravages of age. During the 12th century A.D., a king known to Europeans as Prester John supposedly ruled a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth. 16th century Spanish Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon is reported to have wandered the American continent in search of the age-reversing Fountain of Youth to overcome aging.

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In modern times, from biohacking to stem cell research, man has never lost sight of the goal to reverse aging and optimize physical strength. Science may succeed one day, but until then, there is one way to slow down the effects of aging and it may be the best free method of all donating blood.

The thought of getting hooked up to tubes and watching part of your circulatory system ooze into a plastic bag can be daunting. However, donating blood may be one of the best free health hacks. In fact, donating blood can help you optimize your immune system and energy production while also saving lives.

For you, the first benefit is that donating a pint of blood every 60 days gives you an opportunity to get a free blood analysis to catch any problems up front prior to donating blood.

So, essentially, it is like getting a free health checkup every two months.

Once you have been cleared to donate, it is like a blood refresh.

The blood you donate forces your body to regenerate new blood cells to replace the ones you donated. Like trading in an old car for a new more updated version, the blood you donate is upgraded with newer, better performing blood cells.

During the donation process, you empty out cholesterol, triglycerides, and excess iron in your blood supply. This helps you optimize your bodys circulatory system as free radicals and lipids are removed. Like changing oil in your car, you empty out the old used oil that has been corroded and replace it with fresh oil.

As you donate, this blood regeneration process allows your body to become more optimized over time as the blood cells are replaced.

After you donate, the blood clinic then filters out the excess lipids and free radicals to retain the donated plasma with the platelets intact. Platelets are a key factor in your blood that helps your body form clots and stop bleeding. For those fighting cancer, chronic disease, or trying to recover from traumatic injuries it is critical to have a steady supply of platelets in the form of blood donation.

To stress their importance, every 15 seconds someone needs platelets. To make matters more difficult, platelets must also be used within five days of donation to be effective. According to the Red Cross, a single donation of platelets can yield several transfusable units, whereas it takes about five whole blood donations to make up a single transfusable unit of platelets.

For this reason, blood donors are sorely needed and in high demand.

Donating blood also helps those who experience blood thickening. A small percentage of the population has a condition called polycythemia vera that produces excess blood cells. This causes the circulatory system to get clogged by excess red blood cells which can create cardiovascular risk in the form of strokes, heart failure, and other related circulatory issues.

This is also common for men who are undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). One of the most common side effects is excess red blood cell production, but through blood donation that risk is minimized.

When we donate blood, our bodies produce new red blood cells to replace the ones we have lost. Red blood cells help people exhale carbon dioxide from the lungs, which is extremely important for our health, says Dr. Miles Beckett, the Co-Founder and CEO of Flossy.

Excess iron has also been thought to increase free-radical damage in the body and has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and aging. Research indicates that consistent blood donation has been linked to lower risks of cancers including liver, lung, colon, and throat cancers due to the reduction in oxidative stress when iron is removed from the bloodstream.

In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers followed 1,200 people split into two groups over four and a half years. One group reduced their iron stores via blood donations twice a year, while the second group did not make any changes. The study showed that the group of blood donors had lower iron levels and a lower risk of cancer and mortality.

Blood donation is particularly helpful for diabetics and reduces blood glucose levels. For a host of reasons, including avoiding heart complications, bodily amputation, neuropathy, blindness among other disease-related ailments, donating blood can reduce excess glucose which reduces the risk of diabetic-related ailments.

The elimination of red blood cells that are clumped together by excess glucose in a process called glycosylation lowers health risks. This bonding between blood cells is what increases the odds of stroke among diabetics, which is then reduced by donating blood and new non-bonded blood cells being produced as a replacement.

After donating blood, it is important that you drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. In the days that follow, you will need to focus on staying hydrated, with light activity and a diet focused on vegetables and protein.

To help, if you are working out heavily and want to incorporate donating blood as a health hack then cycle your workouts from low intensity to high intensity over time. This helps work with your bodys natural healing rhythm as you grow stronger, while also putting an emphasis on giving yourself time to recuperate.

If your energy is low and you feel like youre in a fog, donating blood is a good first step to reversing that.

New blood cells can optimize your energy production and help your body perform at a higher level. This will help improve your memory, problem-solving ability, workouts, and make a difference in someone elses life at the same time.

Donating blood can start to cleanse your body from the inside out. It is important to adopt better health habits to get the most out of it to make a maximum impact on your life. And to the life of others.

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Original post:
The Benefits of Donating Blood - AskMen

Trans kids seek safety and freedom on Transgender Day of Visibility

States are passing anti-LGBTQ laws across the country, but that can't erase the past, present or future of the transgender community.

Scott L. Hall and Cody Godwin, USA TODAY

After starting hormone replacement therapy, Elliot Wade noticed a difference in his body.

It wasn't that he hated his body before he started to transition. But there was something comforting about being in a body that looked like he felt a man.

"Immediately, when I started to see the effects of testosterone, then I was much more happy with myself," he said. "I can say that my overall mental health just improved significantly."

When Wade sought hormone replacement therapy about four years ago, he was seen quickly and could start with informed consent, meaning he wouldn't have to go through months of therapy and other counseling before receiving treatment.

But others in Lafayette and Acadiana aren't always as lucky, often being told an office isn't taking new patients or being placed on a waitlist for about six months before being seen by a medical provider for hormone replacement therapy, said Louisiana Trans Advocates Board Secretary Peyton Rose Michelle.

Outside of finding providers who offer hormone replacement therapy, Michelle said it can be difficult and frustrating to find physicians and medical providers in the area who offer gender-affirming care, which treats individuals in a way that aligns their outward traits with their gender identity.

Wade socially transitioned, coming out to loved ones and telling them about his preferred pronouns and new name when he was 17. It wasn't until he was 20 that he sought hormone replacement therapy.

At first he thought he would have to move outside Louisiana to seek the care he wanted without having to jump through hoops like being diagnosed with gender dysphoria. But he found treatment at a clinic in Lafayette.

"I didn't hate myself. It didn't hurt to look at myself," the 24-year-old Black man said. "I've heard of experiences where it's horrific for (people) to look in the mirror or get out of bed in the morning.

"While I was able to go two years, that two years for somebody else? It could be torturous."

Pride in Acadiana: From Drag Queen Storytime to a celebration with a parade

But even finding basic medical care can be challenging.

"I still haven't found a general practitioner that I feel is receptive or understands or takes me seriously," Wade said. "It's also really frustrating to have to go in and educate somebody about your body or to feel like they aren't believing you."

"There aren't enough doctors that are trained to help trans people," he added. There are a lot of doctors, nurses, medical professionals that are sympathetic and want to help, but they don't really know where to start."

A 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, the most recent survey, found about 23% of more than 27,000 respondents reported they didn't seek needed health care for fear of being mistreated as a transgender person.

Even after a trans person finds a health care provider who isn't outright transphobic, they can still be misgendered or have a provider who doesn't know the best treatment.

"There's so many barriers to access," Michelle said. "Some doctors are less educated on working with trans people. It's very common for trans people to have to educate their own providers about how to even treat them."

"Even doctor's offices that provide affirming care sometimes slip in their affirming care," she added.

Gender-affirming care involves a range of social, psychological, behavioral and medical interventions that affirm a persons gender identity when it conflicts with the gender they were assigned at birth, according to the World Health Organization.

It can include everything from hormone replacement therapy, counseling, voice coaching to physically altering surgery or any combination of care. There are no one-size-fits-all treatments for trans men, trans women, non-binary and gender-fluid people.

LGBTQ discrimination: Most LGBTQ Americans face discrimination amid wave of anti-LGBTQ bills, study says

For subscribers: Gender-affirming care helps save lives, cuts depression risk in transgender and nonbinary youth, study finds

And while Wade has found providers who offer gender-affirming care, it isnt always seamless. Wade wanted an intrauterine device, which is used as a long-term contraceptive. His gynecologist, who Wade said is receptive, wasnt sure whether the IUD would work for Wade because of his hormone treatment.

The treatment was successful but his doctor never informed him that muscle spasms that mimic contractions could be a side effect. It was something theyd never seen before.

Everything was fine except that I was suffering, Wade said. Just having that nuance in that background makes a lot of difference.

Gender-affirming health care improves mental health and the overall well-being of gender-diverse people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"It can make it or break it for a lot of my clients," said Monet David, a licensed professional counselor in Lafayette.

It's important to David as someone who treats mental health that clients felt like they weren't being judged or like she was going to make assumptions about them.

"People don't want to have to justify who they are in a session," David said. "I don't want you to have to explain what it means to be trans. As a mental health professional, I should know about that.

"There's too many texts, too many podcasts, too many books, all this content out there that people are willingly writing. You shouldn't have to perform additional emotional labor to catch me up to speed."

Health and wellness: How doctors' assumptions about LGBTQ patients can be harmful to their health

When she first started practicing, she didn't have as much autonomy to offer affirming care. Now she does that through her paperwork, asking for pronouns and allowing people to not indicate their gender.

She advertises herself as a practitioner who offers gender-affirming care and as someone who's trained in serving the LGBTQ+ community, she said.

"In Lafayette, there's still a pretty big make up of people who are uncomfortable by that," she said. "So by choosing to be affirming, I think I'm excluding myself from a big population that is turned off by that, but it's worth it.

"That's what matters the most."

Wade has sought out health care providers who offer gender-affirming care and said it makes a difference.

"For me, it's made accessing medical care not as scary," he said.

Until that care is widespread, Wade, who also sits on the Louisiana Tras Advocates board,said people will need to advocate for themselves and do the best they can with the resources they have.

Michelle has a wishlist of things she would change about health care for gender-diverse people.

It includes intake forms that separately ask about gender and sex assigned at birth. It asks about a preferred name, pronouns and honorifics. She wants people to be able to go to their longtime primary care physicians and receive treatment and be referred to other specialties without hesitation.

"In a perfect world, you just tell your doctor what you want. and they say, 'OK, here's what you can do about it' instead of being like, 'I have no clue what that is,'" she said.

"I could go on a very long list about other things that I wish doctor's offices did to make trans people more comfortable and provide services. But they first have to provide services."

For resources about finding gender-affirming care in Louisiana, visit http://www.latransadvocates.org.

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi.

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Trans health care options in Louisiana exist, but are hard to come by - Daily Advertiser

Looking for the best online hormone replacement therapy? If so, you have to make sure that you look carefully and patiently, as TRT can help you improve your life. Those who are experiencing issues with their manhood most of the time hide themselves because they fear judgements and conversations about it.

Just so you know, low testosterone levels affect not only the older generation but even the younger ones. There are certainties in life that may lower the testosterone level of even the younger generations.

There is no reason to feel ashamed if you experience this because it is a condition to be treated and not to neglect.

There are many clinics offering TRT, but just to set your expectations, not all of them are as good as the others. Spotting the best clinic to seek help from may not be easy, especially that you want to maintain your privacy and at the same time get the best result so you can go back to your old life, and make things better for you.

Low testosterone not only impacts your sex drive or erectile dysfunction, it also affects your mental, emotional and physical capabilities and abilities. If you have low testosterone, you are affecting not just yourself but everyone else around you.

Why would you make everyone suffer if there is a way you regulate your testosterone level?

Moving on, all the benefits of TRT cannot be achieved if in the first place, the clinic where you are at right now is not as reliable in terms of providing high quality treatment.

To help you spot on the best clinic to get this treatment from, here are some of the things you can do:

Ask around

Asking around may not be the easiest for you to do especially if you want to keep things just within yourself. But needless to say, if you have the courage to do so, might as well ask people around you, especially your family and friends.

Your family and friends are your most trusted source of information, and besides, if they know that you are struggling, for sure, they wont judge you.

This may not be the easiest to do, but if you want to get an assurance that the physician you will seek consultation from wont disappoint you, this is the best route you can take.

Read reviews online

Reading reviews online is another thing you can do if you want to spot the best TRT clinic out there. But since not all reviews online are legitimate, you have to be careful when choosing reviews to read and trust.

The reviews you must trust should be coming from either a trusted website or personality. Do not be deceived by reviews made only to market a specific clinic and not to help those who are in need of valid information about a good TRT to visit.

You may also want to join forums about TRT. Through this, you can get not only information about a specific clinic but also real life experiences of people who tried this.

Check the clinics history

Checking on the clinics history is also a good idea. Who are the doctors behind their clinics success and operations? How long have they been in the industry providing TRT service? The longer they are in the industry, the better. No clinic can last in this kind of industry unless they are providing or even exceeding what is expected from them.

Try their service

Lastly, try out their service. There is nothing more reliable than your own experience. Are you getting the result you are hoping for? Of course, you must not expect improvements after one injection, but needless to say, you must somehow feel positive changes as the treatment progresses.

Trying their service can be a bit costly especially if you made the wrong choice, so make sure that before you go through this option, you already completed your assignment and went through the ways provided above.

While with them, here are the signals that you actually made the right decision:

You can see improvements on yourself

Are you seeing and feeling improvements? Again, the result may not be abrupt, but small steps or improvements will surely go a long way. If after being with them for a long time you do not feel any positive changes, only side effects, then it is obviously time that you move out.

Sometimes, it pays to ask the clinic what you will get in case things didnt go well as planned. Some are not as comfortable asking this question, especially if they are being treated by popular, highly reputable professionals. But if you will think of it, things may happen unexpectedly, and to be on the safe side, it would be best if you know their action plans in case things didnt go as you agreed.

You can contact anyone, when necessary

If you can contact anyone from their clinic when needed or if you have questions, then you are in good hands. The availability of their office for questions and inquiries is a good indication that they are really after a satisfactory experience for their clients.

You do not feel betrayed when paying money

Do you feel happy every time you settle your payment with them? If yes, then obviously, you are in a good clinic. TRT is not as cheap, hence, paying without the feeling of regret is a clear sign that you are happy with whatever improvements you are seeing for yourself. If the other way is what you are feeling, then, it is time to move out and look for a different clinic to provide this service.

People, particularly your partner, is happy with the results

Is your partner happy with the result of your TRT? If so, then you are in good hands. Apart from yourself, it is your partner that can assess whether the treatment is doing well with you or not. If your partner is happy, then there is no reason to change clinics.

DISCLAIMER:

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How To Spot The Best Clinic For Your Hormone Replacement Therapy - My MMA News.com