READ Laboratory assessment of low testosterone or “Low T” Understanding laboratory assessment of low testosterone (Low T) One of the first things that is done when a clinician suspects “low t”, more formally in medicine termed “hypogonadism”, is check a testosterone level.  (Side note for the word hypogonadism; “hypo” means under-active. And “gonads”, in this case, means testicles. Women have gonads too but they are termed “ovaries”) Total testosterone testing in the morning Moving forward.  The first test that is often ordered in this case is a “total testosterone”. Unfortunately, in many cases, this may be the only test that…

“Normal” DOES NOT EQUAL “Optimal” When it comes to hormone replacement striving for optimal should be the goal. Take for instance testosterone. Like many hormones the body makes, testosterone production declines as we age. Getting older never means a rise in free testosterone levels. Unless there is some sort of pathology present (i.e. a disease state like certain types of androgen secreting tumors) this rule always holds true. Conventional practice has been to replace hormones back into the middle range of normal for that person’s age group, and only replaced if the hormone was “low” to begin with. Why, you…

Watch To Treat or not to treat: things to consider prior to starting TRT/risks vs benefits of testosterone therapy