While women typically contend – often to their chagrin -- that men who take care of themselves age gracefully, the harsh reality is that a man’s distinguished-looking outer shell is often nothing more than a façade.
Which is to say what is going on inside a middle-aged man may scream an altogether different story than the one women envy.
The villain is “Low T” (aka low testosterone), a menacing monster that
surreptitiously zaps energy, destroys sexual health and attacks a few other
things that collectively define vitality.
According to Dave Fraleigh, who, along with his wife Carolyne Guss, owns GameDay Men’s Health in Plano, “The male body typically reaches its peak at age 25.”
“After that,” he adds, “you start to steadily decline. Then, in your 30s you really begin to feel a(n appreciable) difference.”
“How depressing!,” I exclaim. Then again, that would explain everything. Biologically, I evidently morphed into a sinking ship once I sailed into my 30s.
“Not exactly,” Fraleigh says. “But your T levels do begin to drop about then.”
Actually, each person is different; but for most men, the drop is relatively miniscule until they reach their 40s. Then the drop is, on average, 1 to 2 percent per year
“Forty percent of men over 40 suffer from Low T,” Guss says. “But many just assume it’s an (irreversible) effect of aging.”
For many, the wake-up call is a workout that no longer yields results like it once did. These men stop developing lean muscle mass and start to pack on a few pounds. Then comes the first glimpse of a spare tire, and Low-T victims begin sporting -- seemingly overnight -- the dreaded “Dad Bod.”
For others, the red flag may simply be depleted energy and / or an ever-annoying brain fog. Irritability is also a symptom, as is low-grade depression.
And all too often, Low T can cause your sexual health to tap out, much to
the vexation of your partner.
The good news is that facilities like GameDay offer state-of-the-art testosterone replacement therapies (TRTs) that typically produce dramatic results in only six weeks.
So why don’t more men nip Low T in the bud?
“Men will often not pull the trigger on getting tested,” Fraleigh says, “because either they don’t know there is a solution or are skeptical as to whether therapy can make much of a difference.”
“Let me put it this way,” Fraleigh clarifies. “I don’t remember how I felt at 25, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that today -- as a TRT patient -- I feel much more capable of tackling whatever life throws at me than I was a year ago.”
The key then is to simply take the first step and get tested. But how much does that cost, and how long does it take? At Gameday Men’s Health, there’s no charge.
And unlike a traditional doctor’s office, there are no long waits. In fact, the lobby is more like a man cave than a waiting room. Flat-screen TVs beam sports while comfy leather chairs pair with complimentary drinks and snacks to make some patients reluctant to go back to work.
Now, not all who get tested qualify for testosterone replacement therapy. Your T levels must first fall within a certain range … one that fluctuates with age.
“Bottom line, our goal is to get everyone at their optimal level so they are ultimately feeling awesome,” Fraleigh says.
But what does TRT (T replacement therapy) actually entail?
For most, it simply involves injections administered once or twice a week. And patients usually opt to visit the facility for injections; others self-inject at home after getting coached up a bit.
Alternatively, those averse to needles may go with low-invasive, surgically implanted pellets that last anywhere from two to five months.
And for those who don’t qualify for TRT, Gameday provides peptide therapies that stimulate the body to produce more growth hormone to help with rebuilding muscle mass. Some peptide therapies also boost cognition while leveling out mood swings.
Two peptides, semaglutide (aka Ozempic), and tirzepatide (aka Mounjaro) specifically target appetite and primarily facilitate weight management. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are both administered via injection.
Of course, no clinic that purports to treat men’s health holistically could go without specializing in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), and Gameday is no exception.
ED affects 60% of men at some point in their lives. And while it may link to mental and / or physical predictors, it most definitely and pathologically progresses with age.
GameDay's natural (nonpharmaceutical) ED interventions utilize acoustic shockwave therapy or a “P-Shot (Priapus Shot) that involves injecting the patient with his own platelet-rich-plasma (PRP). Both procedures can improve a man's sexual health.
“Yes, all of these different issues – from Low T to weight management to erectile dysfunction – can be treated by visiting a variety of doctors,” Guss admits.
“And we of course have a medical doctor that oversees our operation, but Dave and I went into this business because we did not see (many) services out there catering to all the unique needs of men. We wanted to be a kind of one-stop shop for men’s health care.”
In need of leveling up your game? The GameDay number for setting up an appointment to have your testosterone level checked for free is (972) 779-9706.
In the 19th century, German zoo curator Arnold Berthauld observed castrated roosters lose their aggression, crowing, and mating behavior, with their comb regressing. In 1849, his study confirmed that testicular secretions are essential for normal aggression. Berthauld also discovered that re-implantation of testes restored roosters' behavior and comb growth, laying the groundwork for the first testosterone replacement therapy, as per the National Institutes of Health and the Urological Sciences Research Foundation.