What Do TRT Clinics Test for: What to Expect

If you or a loved one is considering testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), it’s important to understand the tests involved as well as what happens during your initial visit. 

At a testosterone replacement therapy clinic, your provider will ask about your symptoms, give you an overview of TRT, and explain what it does and how it may help alleviate your symptoms. The next step in diagnosing testosterone deficiency (Low T) is a blood test to assess testosterone levels, red blood cell counts, blood lipids, prostate-specific antigen and other relevant biomarkers. Your provider will want to ensure you are healthy before beginning any TRT treatments. 

It is important to have baseline measurements and be continually monitored throughout TRT treatment to minimize risk. Let’s take a look at these in more detail:

• Testosterone
  Testosterone is the primary sex hormone. It plays an important role in the development of male reproductive tissues (e.g., prostate and testes), muscle mass, bone density and body hair. Assessing your levels will aid in diagnosing Low T.
• Red blood cells
  Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. TRT elevates red blood cell count, which can be a risk factor for thrombosis and stroke.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
  PSA is a protein made by the cells in the prostate gland and is found in the semen and blood. TRT therapy increases PSA levels, which may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

How do I prepare for a blood test?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing for your blood test:

• Your blood draw will most likely occur in the morning. To consistently capture peak testosterone levels for evaluation, morning blood draws are standard practice in TRT clinics, with most occurring between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• You may need to fast before your blood draw. If you are having a morning blood draw, your provider may ask you to stop eating by midnight and then only have small sips of water in the morning. If you need to take medication before your blood draw, please check with the provider at the TRT clinic as some may affect your test results.

For more information about the conditions and symptoms SynergenX can help with, or to schedule an appointment for a $25 Low T test at one of our 14 TRT clinics in Texas or Illinois, call 888-219-7259. We tailor your treatment and dose to your unique needs and continually monitor and adjust to ensure you stay healthy, safe and achieve optimal outcomes.