What TRT Labs Do I Need?

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When starting Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) or maintaining your treatment plan, it’s essential to understand the role of lab work.

TRT labs provide critical insights into how your body responds to therapy, allowing your medical team to personalize your treatment and ensure optimal results.

Whether you’re a current TRT patient or someone exploring this therapy for the first time, understanding which labs are required can empower you and your provider to make informed decisions.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the TRT labs you may need and why they matter.

Why Are Labs Important for TRT?

Testosterone Replacement Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

Each person has a unique hormonal profile, and the goal of TRT is to bring your Testosterone levels to a healthy range while minimizing side effects.

Regular lab testing helps monitor your progress and ensures that the treatment is working effectively.

Lab results provide valuable information about more than just your Testosterone levels. They also give insights into overall health markers, all of which can be influenced by TRT.

Your healthcare provider uses these results to adjust your dose, keep an eye on potential risks, and ensure that you’re benefiting from the therapy.

Initial TRT Labs: What to Expect Before Starting Therapy

Before beginning TRT, your provider will order a comprehensive set of labs to establish a baseline of your current health.

These baseline labs are essential to diagnosing low Testosterone and understanding how the treatment may affect your body.

Some common labs you can expect before starting TRT include:

Total Testosterone

Measures the total amount of Testosterone in your blood, both free and bound to proteins. Low total Testosterone is often the first indicator that you may need TRT.

Free Testosterone

This test measures the amount of Testosterone that’s not bound to proteins and is actively available for your body to use. Low free Testosterone can occur even when total Testosterone appears normal.

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

SHBG is a protein that binds to Testosterone, making it unavailable for use. High levels of SHBG can lower the amount of active Testosterone in your system.

Estradiol Sensitive

Estrogen is considered a female hormone, but estradiol (the most common form of estrogen) is found in lesser quantities in the male body, as well.

However, too much estradiol can lead to negative effects including erectile dysfunction, infertility, and in severe cases gynecomastia (the development of male breast tissue).

Because men have such a low level of estradiol to begin with, we must use an Estradiol Sensitive test because it is more precise and able to closely detect estradiol levels.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

TRT can increase red blood cell production, so a CBC test checks for elevated hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, which could lead to complications such as blood clots.

This test also screens for general health concerns.

Organ Function Tests

These tests check how well organs like the liver and kidneys are functioning. Since these organs are impacted by medication, it’s important to make sure they are healthy and to monitor how they’re processing your TRT treatment.

This includes tests like the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP).

Lipid Panel

This measures cholesterol levels and helps monitor heart health. TRT can affect cholesterol, so it’s important to check your lipid profile before starting treatment.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Checking TSH levels is a screening tool for potential thyroid disease. Because certain types of thyroid diseases can present similar symptoms to hypogonadism, it’s important to assess thyroid function.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

Testing for PSA can help assess prostate conditions like benign prostate enlargement, prostatitis, and prostate cancer development

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

In men, this hormone is responsible for stimulating the production of Testosterone in the testes. LH also plays an important role in sperm production, which in turn plays an important role in fertility.

Because LH is produced relative to the amount of Testosterone in the blood, this measurement is another piece of the overall puzzle of Testosterone levels. Testing LH levels can also identify potential pituitary issues.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1)

An IGF-1 test can help evaluate pituitary function, as well as measure levels of human growth hormone (hGH).

DHEA-S

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is a precursor hormone that converts into Testosterone and other hormones.

Monitoring DHEA-S levels can provide a more comprehensive understanding of your hormonal balance.

Monitoring TRT: Ongoing Lab Work

Ongoing bloodwork provides a clear picture of how your hormone levels are changing over time and helps your provider make necessary adjustments to your treatment.

By regularly measuring testosterone levels, we can confirm that they’re increasing to the desired range, which is key for achieving the benefits you’re looking for, like improved energy, muscle mass, and mood.

In addition to testosterone, it’s important to monitor other aspects of your health that could influence your response to TRT.

Thyroid function tests may be needed if you experience symptoms like fatigue or unexpected weight gain.

Since your thyroid hormones regulate your metabolism and energy levels, any imbalances can impact how well TRT works.

Over time, TRT can cause your body to produce too many red blood cells, leading to thickened blood.

Regular CBC tests help your provider track this and prevent issues such as high blood pressure or blood clots.

Elevated cortisol levels, often linked to chronic stress, can interfere with testosterone production. Keeping both testosterone and cortisol in check helps you get the most out of your therapy while supporting your well-being.

Specialized Labs for Individual Needs

Thyroid Function Tests

Your thyroid hormones play a role in regulating metabolism, mood, and energy levels.

If you’re experiencing fatigue or weight gain on TRT, your provider may order tests for thyroid function to rule out thyroid issues.

Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is a stress hormone that can interfere with Testosterone production.

If you’re dealing with chronic stress, it’s important to monitor Cortisol levels, as elevated Cortisol may reduce the effectiveness of TRT.

DHT

High levels of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can contribute to androgenic alopecia, a common type of hair thinning and baldness.

By identifying elevated DHT, this test can help determine if you may be at higher risk for hair loss and guide proactive treatment options.

How Often Should I Get Labs While on TRT?

The frequency of lab testing depends on your specific needs and how well you’re responding to TRT. Here’s a general guideline:

Initial phase

You’ll order your first set of labs prior to attending your consultation and beginning your TRT protocol.

Your first follow-up labs will typically be ordered three months after starting therapy.

This helps your provider determine if any early adjustments are necessary. It also helps you and your provider address potential side effects more quickly as your body gets used to treatment.

Ongoing monitoring

Once your treatment plan is stable, labs are generally checked every 6 months. However, if your provider needs to fine-tune your therapy, more frequent testing may be necessary.

Defy Medical offers tailored plans to help patients optimize their hormones and feel their best.

Can I Order TRT Labs on My Own?

At Defy Medical, we make it easy for current patients to order lab work for TRT, along with other important health markers.

While our care plans regularly check your levels to measure your progress, you can always order more labs on-demand as you see fit.

Ordering labs directly from your Patient Portal allows you to keep track of your progress on your own terms.

Regular lab testing is essential for ensuring the success and safety of your TRT treatment.

From diagnosing low Testosterone to monitoring your health during therapy, the right labs help your provider customize your treatment and catch any potential issues early.

By staying proactive with your lab work, you’ll be able to enjoy the full benefits of TRT
while minimizing side effects.

If you’re considering TRT or are a current patient looking to better understand your lab work,
contact Defy Medical today.

Our experienced team is here to guide you through every step of the process, helping you achieve
optimal health with a treatment plan designed specifically for you.

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What TRT Labs Do I Need?

When starting Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) or maintaining your treatment plan, it’s essential to understand the role of lab work.

Why Are Labs Important for TRT?

Initial TRT Labs: What to Expect Before Starting Therapy