Testosterone level check?

Hi guys,

I’ve been curious about my T levels since I was 20 years old, but never got them checked. I don’t look feminine or anything, but as I get closer to 30 I’ve noticed a decrease in sex drive. I had gynecomastia as a kid and young adult, so that’s what initially made me suspicious. I eat well and work out 4 days a week, so those “natural T sources” are covered.

My question is, has anyone here gotten their testosterone checked? What doctor did you have to see, did you need a referral from a normal physician, and what was the experience like?

Thank you.

TC

My GP ordered my test. It was a simple blood draw and the results in days. I found out with only one viable testicle I was still within the normal range for my age. I’m having the levels tested again soon.

Thanks titleist. I had heard I needed to see an endocrinologist for this. Time to find a general practitioner.

My initial T test was ordered by a nurse practitioner. So, you definitely don’t need an Endocrinologist to order the test.

You should only need to see an endo if you need treatment for problems a regular GP can’t fix.

A GP can order the test. Also have them check your TSH, seratonin, and norep levels as well. I got hit with a BAD case of depression a few years ago and found that it was low test levels and spiked TSH that was causing depression and low sex drive. And, for comparison purposes, I’m 21 years old.

I was fortunate to be referred to a urology clinic ( I could have gone without a referral from a GP) that does their own lab work, saving me the expense of Office visit plus lab analysis. Check into that. It’s a simple blood draw and my results came back in about 36 hours.

It’s so easy. Your GP can order the test. Mine did it sort of as a routine measure. Came out fine; no need for adjustments.

If yours turns out you do need adjustment, write back.

You do not have to have authorization from anyone. Simply go to your local lab like “Health Check” and order: Testosterone total, testosterone free, estradiol and PSA. They will take blood vials as needed.

At 30 years old, it is best to have your free test at about 18-20 dlg and your estradiol at between 30 and 40. Your PSA should not exceed 4 but 2 to 3 would be best.

‘Free’ test is the blood factor that affects libido, not ‘total’.

Thanks a lot everyone. I’ll let you know what happens.

Very much agree. Free test is the better indicator of your physiology.

T.C.:

Notice you refer to your gyno. Strangely it sometimes occurs withan excess of testosterone especially exogenous but sometimes endogenous as well. One of my friends in highschool was huge, peniswise, but also had big buds for breast nipples. Dr. had him on something like Arimidex after determining that he was making too much and the questiion was one of aromatase. Unfortunately, estradiol in men and only inboys, can be made from excess endometrial fat. Were you fat as a child and you have a carryover? Sounds as if you are a regular at the gym, so my thought would be that you should visit your endocrinologist.

I wasn’t a fat child, I’d say average. Played little league, soccer, ran around, etc. Gyno kicked in around age 12 or 13. Sorry, but you used a lot of words I don’t know (exogenous, aromatase, etc) lol. Maybe can you can expand on these?

T.C.: Don’t mind expanding, however since you have had some endocrine disturbance,(probably minor), you still should use “google” a little and get familiar with terms and endocrine facts.

About the time you were born (early eighties?), in serious gyms, you could hardly walk without stepping on syringes…the source of EXOGENOUS testosterone in one derivative form or another. T., when in excess will convert to estrogen, in the body, by AROMATASE pathway. “Arimidex”, “Clomid” and others are drugs used to nullify the resultant ENDOGENOUS estradiol (estrogen). B. builders understood the concept well and conjured up “stacks” that would prevent it.

Sadly, modern young men, born in the late seventies, were beginning to be assaulted with exogenous estrogen in the form of growthfactor additives in the production of beef, chicken, milk and thus other dairy products. The additives persist to this day. It is difficult to find uncontaminated food in this regard. You can but have to “pay up” for it. As a result, probably one third of these young men show various degrees of gyno. This is, of course a different sourse of gyno than in the example of my highschool friend whose gyno was from internal or endogenous display.