Diagnosing Low T in Men

Diagnosing Low TestosteroneDiagnosing Low T in Men - Diagnosing Low Testosterone Levels in Men

Diagnosing Low T in Men. Deficient Testosterone Levels in Men

Diagnosing Low T in Men. Best way to diagnose Low T. The best way to go about diagnosing low testosterone levels is to get the proper hormone blood test completed at a qualified medical clinic or hormone testing laboratory.

Our Low T Clinics can perform a testosterone blood test for you or you can contact a local Low T Testing Laboratory near you. The most reliable hormone-testing clinics that our Low T Center uses, are Labcorp. and Quest Diagnostics Lab. Find a Low Testosterone Center near you.

Low T Testing entails taking your blood to measure your androgen hormone levels. The blood sample analysis is then sent back to our Hormone Treatment Clinic where your doctors will review the results and see where your testosterone levels fall on the testosterone level reference chart. Read more about Low T Testing.

The testosterone blood test that you take can tell your doctor if you have low T levels or not, but he also needs to get other medical information from you as well. The results of a physical examination and a medical history must be analyzed in order to ensure you qualify for testosterone treatment and that that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is right for you.

If a testosterone deficiency is due to aging and is what is causing your low testosterone levels, TRT using bio-identical hormones can be a safe and effective treatment for raising and balancing androgen hormone levels.

If your testosterone doctor finds that other medical issues or lifestyle are causing other hormone deficiencies such as DHEA or HGH, Human Growth Hormone, then he may prescribe other hormone treatments along with TRT.

Your hormone tests will also measure these other complementary hormones. The goal of  HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy, and in the case of androgen deficiency, TRT, is to balance and optimize all your hormone levels for good health.

Testosterone Blood Testing

Proper Testosterone diagnoses. One of the most important factors in the proper diagnosing of low testosterone is the blood work that all patients are required to obtain. As discussed above, an androgen level blood tests measures your Total and Free Testosterone levels and tells your doctor if you have low testosterone levels or not. Testing is usually be done in the morning time when testosterone levels are at their highest, and your Low T Physician may ask that you fast right before your testosterone serum test.

Testosterone Blood Serum Test for Men

Getting your Low T Blood Test at the Clinic

Here are the steps as to what is involved in a testosterone blood test:

  1. A patient shows up to his or her appointment after fasting the night before.
  2. The nurse places a rubber band around the patient’s upper arm and clean the area with an alcohol swab.
  3. The nurse then draws blood by placing a sterile needle into a vein and draw the blood sample into a sterile test tube.
  4. When finished, the needle will be withdrawn and pressure applied on the area with a clean alcohol swab.
  5. A bandage will then be placed on the injection area.
  6. The blood sample is tested in the laboratory for a range of hormone and other bio-markers.

This blood test is the same kind of test that is done for a routine physical or medical examination, but the panel of tests run are more extensive to include a variety of hormones and lipids. Sometimes it is called an “Anti-Aging Blood Panel” or assay.

There are three types of testosterone in the blood: “Bound Testosterone”, “Bio-Available but Bound”,  and “Free Testosterone”. Together they make up the Total Testosterone. The testosterone hormone test is also known as the testosterone blood serum test, and measures both free testosterone and total testosterone.

  • Total testosterone is all the androgen hormone in the body that also includes testosterone bound to proteins in the blood called Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) which makes bound testosterone not bio-active or available for use by the body.
  • Bound Testosterone makes up about 67% of the total androgen in the blood. “Bound but Bio-Available Testosterone” makes up about 30%. Combined they comprise about 98% of the testosterone hormone in the body.
  • Free testosterone is hormone that is not bound to SHBG or to any other proteins, and is completely available for use by the body, That is why it is call “free” or unbound testosterone. It makes up about 2% to 4% of the total testosterone hormone in the body.

Measuring Free Testosterone vs Total Testosterone. The most important measure for men is their Free Testosterone level. Just having the amount of Total Testosterone measured is not enough to determine if a person is dealing with low Testosterone. The reason for this is because the lab reference numbers for Total Testosterone may be normal or near normal, but the  Free Testosterone  levels may be so low as to be causing symptoms of Low T.

Physical Exam

A physical exam is required to qualify for  TRT Testosterone Replacement Therapy. This physical exam appointment can be set up by yourself in your local city with help from our Low T Clinic staff. The medical information obtained will be sent confidentially to our hormone clinic for your doctors analysis and records.

Your medical history form is also important in order to complete the entire testosterone evaluation process and get all the information your doctors needs in order to determine if TRT is the right hormone treatment for you. Read about the best types of male hormone replacement.

Talk openly with your Low T Doctor. It is best to be as open and honest as possible during your physical exam and while filling out your online medical form. The more information your physician has about your current and past health, the better your doctors will be able to formulate a personalized Testosterone Therapy Program for you, determine the best dosage, and write a testosterone prescription and treatment plan for you.

In some cases, a medical exam, blood test or medical history may determine that TRT is not for you and that other hormone deficiencies are causing you symptoms. In the case of extreme lethargy and fatigue, thyroid or HGH deficiency could be the cause. In that case your Hormone Doctor may prescribe another form of hormone treatment that would be suitable.

Diagnosing Low T in Men with Self Diagnosis

Self Diagnosing Hormone Deficiencies

It is not very reliable to “self diagnose” low testosterone or any other hormone deficiency. Self diagnosing would mean that a man or woman decides that they have low T levels on their own. They perhaps would base this only upon on their symptoms. During menopause and Andropause, the male menopause, many hormones can become imbalanced or deficient. An experienced HRT Physician, Age Management Physician or endocrinologist is the best way to get a proper hormone diagnosis.

The best way to know if you have low T or other hormone deficiency is to get a blood test taken by a qualified lab professional. The results should then be read by a licensed medical doctor. If you think you have low T symptoms, don’t hesitate to get your testosterone levels tested.

Diagnosing Low T in Men

Questions That A Doctor Can Ask You

One of the first questions that your doctor may ask you is about the symptoms that you are experiencing. Below is a list of symptoms that a patient could feel that could mean he or she is dealing with low T. Your doctor will want to know which of the below you are experiencing:

Sexual symptoms:

  • No sexual libido
  • Lack of sexual desire
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats

Emotional symptoms:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Agitation
  • Anger outbursts
  • A poor attitude towards to the future

Physical symptoms:

  • Low energy
  • No stamina
  • No endurance
  • Weight gain (means metabolism has slowed)
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Getting sick with the cold or the flu easily (means a weak immune system)
  • Difficulty with healing (wounds or injuries)
  • Poor sleeping patterns or insomnia
  • Bodily, joint and muscle aches and pains

Aesthetic symptoms:

  • More facial wrinkles and crow’s feet (means weak skin elasticity)
  • Sagging skin
  • Balding
  • Thinning hair
  • Nails that do not grow

Mental symptoms:

  • Forgetfulness
  • Loss of memory
  • Lack of ability to focus or to concentrate
  • A foggy feeling

Diagnosing Low T Levels in Men

Your Low T Doctor will want to know how long you have been experiencing your testosterone symptoms. He or she will want to know your goals for therapy; what you wish to gain from therapy. He or she will possibly want to know what kinds of things you have tried to help yourself in the past. There will be questions about diet, nutrition, alcohol and prescription drug use, other known hormone deficiencies such as thyroid or HGH, daily exercise routines and lifestyle habits. These factors help your hormone physician to better diagnose the causes of Low T.

When talking about Low T or ED Erectile Dysfunction you should be prepared to be completely open and honest about your symptoms, concerns and health condition. You should not be embarrassed when it comes to talking to your doctor about sexual health or testosterone hormone health. The more he or she knows about your condition including any sexual dysfunction, the better able a Hormone Treatment program can be formulated to help you.