Should You Be Tested for Low Testosterone?

A low testosterone test can determine who has the need for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to raise testosterone levels, but it is not always clear-cut who is a candidate for this treatment. Specialists in the medical field of HRT are the best choice to make this decision based on their high level of experience and knowledge in hormonal homeostasis – the balancing of crucial chemical messengers in the body. 

How do you know if you should engage in low testosterone testing at this time? There will be some changes that take place in the body that point in the direction of a decline in testosterone production. Answer these questions to determine if Low T may be a concern:

• Do you find yourself feeling tired or running out of energy on a regular basis?
• Have you noticed a decline in lean muscle mass or muscular strength?
• Has you sexual interest, arousal, desire, performance, or pleasure changed in a negative way?
• Are you experiencing any joint pains, bodily stiffness, or loss of height?
• Is the hair on your head becoming thinner, or have you noticed increased hair growth on your face or body?
• Are you having difficulty remembering things?
• Is your focus waning?
• Have your cognitive skills started to suffer?
• Are you having mood changes or feelings of depression?
• Have you been diagnosed with any of the following:
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Osteoporosis
• Are you experiencing symptoms associated with menopause or andropause such as hot flashes or night sweats?
• Have you gained weight for no apparent reason?

If you answered yes to at least three of these questions, you might be a candidate for testing for low testosterone. Continue reading to learn what you need to know about this subject.

How Doctors Test for Low Testosterone

By understanding how do doctors test for low testosterone, a person can get the information needed to make an educated decision about the course of his or her future. Testosterone production will only continue to decline with age, and reversing that process by increasing the amount of this vital hormone in the body can significantly affect performance in all areas of one’s life.

How do you test for low testosterone if you believe that this might be a problem in your life based on the answers to the previous questions?

A doctor specializing in hormone replacement therapy will look at the answers provided, along with the severity of any symptoms present to determine how to proceed with the blood test for low testosterone. In most cases, other crucial hormone levels will also be checked, as the symptoms of hormone deficiency can overlap one another.

Blood testing for Low T is done first thing in the morning before a person has had anything to eat or drink. This will provide the most accurate hormone level results.

What Do the Results of the Low Testosterone Blood Test Mean?

Once a person has visited a local lab for the low testosterone blood test, the results will be sent directly to our clinic for the doctor to review. There is no general consensus in the medical field as to what is considered to be an ideal normal level, but there is a spectrum that doctors use to determine low testosterone test results in men and women.

These general guidelines are as follows:

• Women: normal testosterone range is between 15 and 70 ng/dL
• Men: normal testosterone range is between 270 and 1070 ng/dL, with 679 ng/dL being considered the average.
• Some research has shown that men with levels under 550 mg/dL may start to experience symptoms of Low T, and raising blood testosterone to that point is often a goal of testosterone treatment.

Where to Get Tested for Low Testosterone

One important thing to understand is where to get tested for low testosterone levels. This is a crucial step, and will result in getting the answers needed to receive the proper type of treatment for hormonal imbalance.

We are often asked how to test for low testosterone at home since so many companies offer to mail out a saliva test. This is not an accurate method of diagnosis, and a doctor will still require actual blood testing at the lab before prescribing any type of testosterone or other hormone replacement therapy. In other words, this is money washed down the drain since it will not be utilized for diagnostic purposes.

Instead of buying a home test for low testosterone, contact a hormone replacement specialist at Kingsberg Medical for a free consultation to determine if testing is necessary. In some instances, the symptoms may not match up with hormone deficiency and other suggestions may be provided.

Do not attempt to do any type of low testosterone test online through unregulated sources, as a medical lab is going to be the best option for this testing. Kingsberg Medical offers affordable testing at convenient local laboratories throughout the US.

How to Know if You Need Testosterone Treatment for Low T

There can be no definitive way to know for certain if you need testosterone treatment for Low T. The most important thing is to pay attention to your body. Have you noticed any of the following changes taking place:

• Feelings of fatigue, lethargy, or lack of energy
• Low libido or changes in erections
• Loss of lean muscle
• Increased weight and/or belly fat
• Bone or joint pains, stiffening, or weakness
• Hair loss
• Mood changes
• Decreased drive and motivation
• Memory concerns, poor focus, declining cognitive skills

These are warning signs that you might need to test for low testosterone levels in your blood.

At Kingsberg Medical, we offer confidential consultations with experienced hormone replacement specialist at no charge. Call today to learn how to test low testosterone levels and receive the treatment you need to improve your overall healthfulness, vitality, and well-being.

Brian Leeber