Testosterone Levels

Although it is does not get as much "press" as estrogen and progesterone, testosterone is a very important hormone and it's not just for men - women need a little bit too. Optimal testosterone levels are required to maintain bone density, lean muscle mass, sex drive, energy and overall sense of well-being. As your stress levels increase, testosterone is usually one of the first hormones affected. As your body diverts hormone production towards cortisol, there are fewer precursors left for testosterone production. This oftentimes leads to fatigue, low libido, difficulty losing weight and more.

Testing Testosterone Levels

There are a number of methods for testing testosterone levels including serum (blood) and saliva. Blood tests measure the total amount of testosterone present in the body. However, about 99% of that testosterone is bound to proteins and can't be used by the body. There are some calculations available to help determine how much of the testosterone in the blood is actually available. However, salivary tests are just more practical.

Salivary testing for testosterone levels tends to be a superior option because it actually measures the amount of free, bio-available testosterone. No further calculations need to be performed on the salivary levels.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

There are many options for testosterone replacement therapy including oral capsules, injections, creams, gels and pellets. Obviously, the dosages for testosterone vary between women and men. The oral capsules contain micronized bioidentical testosterone and can be taken once a day. The testosterone creams can be utilized as well. Testosterone can also be injected into the muscle (IM) or under the skin (SQ). Testosterone pellets which are under placed under the skin can be used by men and women. The specially-made pellets are mostly composed of testosterone that slowly dissolves in the body over the course of 3 to 6 months (depending on metabolism and stress levels). The release of the hormone is slow and closely mimics the natural pattern of hormone release throughout the day.

The follow-up laboratory testing you need is best determined by the type of therapy you are using, however many therapies can be tested by multiple means, making the choice a matter of availability and convenience. You and your BodyLogicMD bioidentical hormone doctor can discuss the most advantageous type of testing testosterone levels and the optimal hormone replacement method for you.

1

To get started, leave us your information and we will contact you to find out exactly how we can help. We order the initial labs you'll need for your first visit and we'll schedule the appointment with your new bioidentical hormone physician. Before your visit you'll spend time on our website completing a thorough questionnaire in the convenience of your home.

2

At your hour-long initial consultation, your physician will meet with you personally to discuss your symptoms, review your results and talk through the appropriate treatment to meet your individualized needs. Our highly experienced physicians undergo hundreds of hours of training in bioidentical hormones and have helped thousands of women and men suffering the symptoms of hormone imbalance.

3

Finally, if necessary, your physician will prescribe the customized compounded bioidentical hormones and other pharmacy-grade supplements for your personalized program. The compounding pharmacy will contact you and send these directly to your home or office as you request.