Low Testosterone Diagnosing

Low Testosterone Diagnosing

The only accurate way to go about diagnosing low testosterone levels is to get the proper blood test completed at a qualified clinic. The reliable clinics that we use are Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp. Here you will see a professional who will take your blood. The sample will then be sent back to our clinic where our doctors will analyze the results and see where your testosterone levels fall on our reference chart.

The blood test that you get done can tell us if you have low T levels or not, but we also need to get other information from you as well. The results of a physical examination and a medical history must be analyzed in order to have all the data we need to make sure that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) will be right for you.

If we believe that aging is what is causing your low testosterone levels, TRT can be a fabulous choice for safe and effective raising and balancing of this hormone. If our doctors find other medical issues and perhaps your low T is not due to aging, there may be other forms of treatment that will help your ailments better than TRT. This will all be discussed between you and our professional staff once low testosterone diagnosing is completed.

Blood Testing

The most important part of diagnosing low testosterone is the blood work that all patients are required to get taken. A blood sample will tell the doctor if a patient is dealing with low testosterone levels or not. Testing will usually be done in the morning time when testosterone levels are at their highest.

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

1. A patient will show up to his or her appointment that was set up by our clinical advisor.
2. The patient will sit comfortably in a chair exposing the upper part of the arm which will rest on a table or flat surface.
3. The professional will place a rubber band around the patient’s upper arm. This is done to stop the blood flow to the veins in the inner elbow area to engorge those veins. 
4. The practitioner will wipe the area on the arm that will take the needle with an alcohol gauze pad. This will remove any bacteria from the area to avoid infection.
5. The practitioner will then place a sterile needle into a vein. Blood will be withdrawn from the body into a sterile test tube.
6. When the right amount of blood is taken, the needle will be removed and pressure will be applied to the area.
7. A bandage will be placed on the injection area.

This blood test is the same kind of test that is done for a routine physical. It is not painful. The patient will only feel a small prick as the needle goes into the vein to draw the blood. The test is not time consuming either. It is quick and you will be on your way in no time.

There are two types of testosterone in the blood: Total testosterone and free testosterone. The same blood test will test for both.

• Total testosterone is hormone that is bound to proteins in the blood called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). It makes up about 2/3 of the testosterone hormone in the body.  
• Free testosterone is hormone that is not attached to SHBG or to any other proteins and that is why it is call “free.” It makes up about one to four percent of the testosterone hormone in the body.  

In most cases that we see here, just having the amount of total testosterone read is enough to determine if a person is dealing with low T or not. The reason for this is because the numbers for free testosterone are so low that just testing for total testosterone is fine for an accurate reading for low testosterone diagnosing . 

Physical Exam

A physical exam is required to determine qualification for testosterone replacement therapy. This physical exam appointment will be set up for you in your local city by our clinical advisors. The information obtained will be sent confidentially to our clinic.

The medical history form is also important in order to complete the entire “testing” process and get all the information our doctors will need in order to determine if TRT is right for you. This form can be found right on our website.

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 we have about your current and past health, the better our doctors will be able to write the perfect prescription and treatment plan for you.

In some cases, a physical exam and/or medical history may conclude that TRT is not what is necessary to create change for you and that perhaps another form of treatment would be better. TRT is remarkable for so many, but it is not for everyone. As an example, for more extreme medical conditions, traditional medicine may be necessary. TRT is for those who have low T levels due to the aging process, but who are in otherwise good health.

Self Diagnosing: Are The Results Reliable

It is never reliable to self diagnose low testosterone . Self diagnosing would mean that a man or woman decides that they have low T on their own. They perhaps would base this on their symptoms. If they take medications that are not prescribed by a licensed doctor, it could be dangerous. There is no testing involved, no prescription written and no medical supervision. This is never advised.

The only way to truly know if you have low T is to get a blood test taken by a qualified professional. The results should then be read by a licensed doctor of endocrinology (or a professional in a very closely related medical field).

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

The doctor will want to know how long you have been experiencing your 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 daily routines and lifestyle habits.

All in all, one should be prepared to be completely open and honest about their health condition. There is no room for embarrassment or inhibitions when it comes to talking to your doctor. The more he or she knows about your condition(s), the better he or she will be able to help you.