Men's Hormone Health
Are you tired? Do you have brain fog? Is your libido low? Are you having sexual dysfunction? Are you not able to think as well as you could? Are you not able to build muscle mass? Are you not enjoying the things that you used to?
Membership
Ongoing monthly membership
Lab testing
Through LabCorp or Quest, may be covered by insurance
Follow-up
Monthly monitoring while on therapy
The basics
Supports sex drive, erections, energy, mood, focus, muscle, bone strength and red blood cell production.
A hormone made by the adrenal glands that the body can turn into testosterone and estrogen. It supports energy and overall vitality.
Set the pace of your metabolism. Low thyroid can cause fatigue, weight gain, low mood and low libido, much like low testosterone.
Men need a small amount of estrogen for bones, brain and sexual function. Too much or too little can cause problems.
Why it happens
Testosterone levels gradually fall with age, about 1 to 2 percent a year from around age 40. The “free” testosterone your body can actually use may fall faster.
DHEA peaks in your 20s and declines steadily. By your 70s, levels are often a fraction of what they were in early adulthood.
Thyroid problems become more common with age. Because low thyroid and low testosterone cause similar symptoms, we check both.
Good to know
Some common medicines can lower testosterone or make low testosterone symptoms worse. Your provider will review everything you take.
Do not stop or change any medication on your own. Many of these medicines are important for your health. If you take one of them, bring a list of everything you take to your visit, and we will work with you and your other doctors to find the safest plan.
Self-check
Answer yes or no to each question. Your answers stay on your screen and are not saved or sent.
1. Do you feel tired or low on energy most days?
2. Has your sex drive (libido) dropped?
3. Are erections weaker or less frequent than before?
4. Do you have brain fog or trouble focusing?
5. Is it harder to build or keep muscle, even when you work out?
6. Have you gained weight around your belly?
7. Do you feel down, irritable or less motivated?
8. Are you enjoying things less than you used to?
9. Is your sleep poor or unrefreshing?
10. Are you over 40?
This quiz is for information only. It is not a diagnosis. Only a blood test and a medical evaluation can tell if you have low testosterone.
Step 1
We test your levels through LabCorp or Quest. These labs are often covered by insurance. Coverage depends on your plan.
Total and free testosterone FSH LH Estradiol DHEA Thyroid labs PSA Lipid profile CBC CMP Hemoglobin A1C Insulin resistance (fasting insulin)
Once your results are in, your provider decides with you whether you are a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy, or for clomiphene, which may help your body make more of its own testosterone.
Step 2
There are three possible paths. Which one fits you is decided after your lab tests are done, together with your signs and symptoms.
Path 1
This is for men whose bodies can no longer make enough testosterone. Your labs usually show low testosterone along with high FSH and LH. FSH and LH are the signals your brain sends to the testicles to make testosterone. When they are high, your brain is asking for more, but your body is not able to respond. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) replaces what your body is missing. It may lower sperm production, so it is best for men who are not planning to father children soon.
Path 2
This is for men who still have the capacity to make their own testosterone. Your labs usually show low testosterone with low or normal FSH and LH, which means the signal from the brain is weak. Clomiphene is an oral medication that may stimulate your own body to make more testosterone, and it may help preserve sperm production. Clomiphene is FDA-approved for women; its use in men is off-label.
Path 3
If your levels are normal or only borderline, you may not need medication. We can still help with other means, such as supplements, nutrition, exercise, better sleep, stress management and weight loss, which may support your body’s natural testosterone. Supplements are not FDA-approved to treat low testosterone, and results vary.
Your options
Your provider will help you choose the form that fits your body, schedule and preferences.
Given into a muscle or just under the skin, usually weekly or every two weeks. Common types include testosterone cypionate and enanthate. Our team teaches you to inject at home, or you can come in. A longer-acting injection given in the clinic every few months is also available for some patients.
Rubbed onto clean, dry skin of the shoulders or upper arms once a day. Wash your hands after and cover the area with clothing. Avoid skin contact with women and children until it dries, since the gel can transfer.
A compounded cream applied to the skin daily. It works like the gel and has the same transfer precautions. Compounded creams are not FDA-approved.
FDA-approved oral testosterone capsules, taken by mouth with meals, usually twice a day. Blood pressure needs regular checks on this form.
Benefits vary from person to person and are not guaranteed.
Testosterone is not right for men with prostate or breast cancer, a very high red blood cell count, untreated severe sleep apnea or uncontrolled heart failure, or men trying to have children soon.
Step 3
Natural support
A traditional herb that may support healthy testosterone levels, energy and libido.
May support energy, stamina and sexual function.
May help the body handle stress and support healthy testosterone and sleep.
A mushroom that may support focus and mental clarity.
Helps fill common nutrient gaps, such as zinc, magnesium and vitamin D.
Very important for heart, brain and hormone health, and may help with inflammation.
Supplement disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Supplements can interact with medications and are not right for everyone. Talk with your provider before starting any supplement. Individual results vary.
Mind and body
Hormones are only part of the picture. We talk with you about the everyday things that affect how you feel and perform.
Long-term stress raises cortisol, which may lower testosterone and sex drive. Work, money and relationship stress all count. Being aware of your stressors is the first step.
Most testosterone is made during sleep. Poor sleep or sleep apnea may lower levels and affect mood, energy and erections. Most men need 7 to 9 hours.
Worry about sexual performance can itself cause erection problems, creating a cycle. It is common and treatable. We can help you address it openly and without judgment.
Monthly membership
Ongoing testosterone replacement care.
Pricing is discussed with your provider during your consultation.
6-month program
For men who want focused help with erections, libido and sexual performance. Includes hormone care, two P-Shot® treatments and more.
Lab tests through LabCorp or Quest are often covered by insurance. The Men’s Hormone Health membership and some medications are self-pay. Your provider will go over costs with you before you start.
Symptoms alone are not enough. We confirm it with blood tests, usually drawn in the morning, along with a full evaluation of your health.
It can. Testosterone therapy may lower sperm production. If you want to have children, tell your provider. Clomiphene may be a better option for you.
Some men notice better energy and mood within a few weeks. Changes in muscle, body fat and bone take several months. Everyone responds differently.
Your provider will review your heart health and other risks before you start, and monitor your blood pressure, blood counts and labs while you are on therapy.
No. Testosterone also comes as a gel, cream or oral capsules. Your provider will help you choose.
Yes. If you stop, your levels will usually return to where they were before. Talk with your provider first so we can plan it safely.
About testosterone therapy. Testosterone and clomiphene are prescription medications prescribed only after a medical evaluation and lab testing, when your provider decides they are appropriate for you. They have risks and side effects, and are not right for everyone. Compounded creams are not FDA-approved. Clomiphene use in men is off-label. Individual results vary. Medical disclaimer.
Peptide therapy
Sermorelin may complement testosterone care by supporting sleep, recovery and energy. PT-141 and oxytocin may help with desire and intimacy.
