Getting Started
Getting started with TRT
Start here. This page covers symptoms, lab work, questions to ask a clinic, costs, and supplies.
Confirm the diagnosis first
Low testosterone symptoms overlap with poor sleep, high stress, depression, thyroid issues, and obesity. Get labs before treatment. A morning testosterone test plus symptom review gives you a real diagnosis, not a guess.
Get proper lab work
Do not rely on one low test. You want morning labs, symptom review, and enough markers to know whether your clinic is thinking seriously or just selling subscriptions.
- Total testosterone
- Free testosterone
- SHBG
- Estradiol
- LH and FSH
- Hematocrit
- PSA (depending on age)
Questions to ask a clinic
- How often do you monitor labs after starting?
- What markers do you track besides testosterone?
- How do you handle hematocrit if it rises?
- How do you discuss fertility with patients?
- What is the monthly cost including labs?
Understand the routine
TRT is not just the medication. It is supplies, organization, monitoring, travel planning, and lifestyle support around it.
Supplies you need
- Sharps container for safe needle disposal
- Alcohol prep pads for injection site cleaning
- Blood pressure monitor for cardiovascular tracking
- Small organizer for supplies
- Notebook or app for tracking injections and labs