Do NOT Have to Have Low Testosterone to Qualify for HRT Clinic

[pbhardbody]

I've been getting quite a few PMs from people asking me how low their testosterone levels have to be to qualify for therapy through an HRT Clinic. So I contacted my Patient Care Coordinator at the HRT Clinic I use and asked him.

Here is what he said:

"A person who wants hormone replacement therapy does not have to be below the bottom end of the range to qualify for therapy.

As an example, lets look at a 42 year old male: The testosterone range is 280 - 800. This does not mean that you have to be below 280 to qualify for therapy.

Overall physical health is taken into account, but if the person is suffering from symptoms of Adult Hormone Deficiency, and his bloodwork confirms that he is somewhere below the top end of the range, he is generally an eligible candidate for therapy.

Our Clinic Medical Staff would determine the protocol, including dosing and frequency of injections, based on where the initial testosterone level falls in the range."

I hope this is helpful to those who had that question.

If you want to be put in contact with my Patient Care Coordinator, PM me and let me know. I'll be glad to help out.

 

[thelocal]

howd you find a good hrt clinic

 

[pbhardbody]

Well it's been a bit of a trial and error process for me. In the past 4 - 5 years or so I've used 3 different clinics.

The most important thing I've found is that it's more about the person you work with at the clinic than the clinic itself.
Since I get a lot of people asking me this exact same question, I started a pretty detailed thread on that topic here:

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/l...lding/how-choose-right-hrt-clinic-710857.html

 

[Zyglamail]

Clinics have to abide by laws so be prepared for standard bloodwork tests and physicals.

Understand that "cost" for HRT varies on dose required BUT be leery of clinics that wont share with you the cost of regularly needed bloodwork tests and treatment components.

 

[pbhardbody]

Clinics have to abide by laws so be prepared for standard bloodwork tests and physicals.

Understand that "cost" for HRT varies on dose required BUT be leery of clinics that wont share with you the cost of regularly needed bloodwork tests and treatment components.

I agree with you 100%.

 

[Nelson Montana]

Those clinics are in business to essentially "bend the rules" for those looking for legal testosterone. If you're legitimately suppressed, go to a legitimate doctor, or even a clinic and get a script.

 

[Zyglamail]

Those clinics are in business to essentially "bend the rules" for those looking for legal testosterone. If you're legitimately suppressed, go to a legitimate doctor, or even a clinic and get a script.

Thats open to debate. There are many clinics that treat for low test and do it buy the book and will not give/prescribe you more than a given amount. Some of them, because they think they can get away with it, charge outlandish prices. Others charge fair prices that you may see from a "legitimate doctor". The benefit is you are dealing with someone who specializes in that type of treatment.

The alternative of seeing a "legitimate doctor" is that there are many endo's who done like the idea of prescribing test for any reason. They dont buy into the fact andropause is every bit as real an menopause. Then you have the general practitioners sho want to dabble with topicals and other BS of simply are clueless about the endocrine system.

The end result of just going to a "legitimate doctor" as you put could mean a multitude of redundant blood tests as you bounce around from doc to doc until you find one who has the same opinion as you do about your feeling of well being and natural test levels.

 

[pbhardbody]

Thats open to debate. There are many clinics that treat for low test and do it buy the book and will not give/prescribe you more than a given amount. Some of them, because they think they can get away with it, charge outlandish prices. Others charge fair prices that you may see from a "legitimate doctor". The benefit is you are dealing with someone who specializes in that type of treatment.

The alternative of seeing a "legitimate doctor" is that there are many endo's who done like the idea of prescribing test for any reason. They dont buy into the fact andropause is every bit as real an menopause. Then you have the general practitioners sho want to dabble with topicals and other BS of simply are clueless about the endocrine system.

The end result of just going to a "legitimate doctor" as you put could mean a multitude of redundant blood tests as you bounce around from doc to doc until you find one who has the same opinion as you do about your feeling of well being and natural test levels.

+ 1 - I agree 100%.

 

[ALIN]

I've been getting quite a few PMs from people asking me how low their testosterone levels have to be to qualify for therapy through an HRT Clinic. So I contacted my Patient Care Coordinator at the HRT Clinic I use and asked him.

Here is what he said:

"A person who wants hormone replacement therapy does not have to be below the bottom end of the range to qualify for therapy.

As an example, lets look at a 42 year old male: The testosterone range is 280 - 800. This does not mean that you have to be below 280 to qualify for therapy.

Overall physical health is taken into account, but if the person is suffering from symptoms of Adult Hormone Deficiency, and his bloodwork confirms that he is somewhere below the top end of the range, he is generally an eligible candidate for therapy.

Our Clinic Medical Staff would determine the protocol, including dosing and frequency of injections, based on where the initial testosterone level falls in the range."

I hope this is helpful to those who had that question.

If you want to be put in contact with my Patient Care Coordinator, PM me and let me know. I'll be glad to help out.

The bigggest battle in getting legally prescribed HRT is finding an open minded doctor.

 

[Nelson Montana]

Thats open to debate. There are many clinics that treat for low test and do it buy the book and will not give/prescribe you more than a given amount. Some of them, because they think they can get away with it, charge outlandish prices. Others charge fair prices that you may see from a "legitimate doctor". The benefit is you are dealing with someone who specializes in that type of treatment.

The alternative of seeing a "legitimate doctor" is that there are many endo's who done like the idea of prescribing test for any reason. They dont buy into the fact andropause is every bit as real an menopause. Then you have the general practitioners sho want to dabble with topicals and other BS of simply are clueless about the endocrine system.

The end result of just going to a "legitimate doctor" as you put could mean a multitude of redundant blood tests as you bounce around from doc to doc until you find one who has the same opinion as you do about your feeling of well being and natural test levels.

The thing to do is get the docs views on HRT right up front. If he's fine with prescribing it if you're below the baseline, then you're GTG.