Testosterone
Common Questions about Testosterone Testing and Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)
Answers to these questions below are derived from Canadian, American and European Clinical Practice Guidelines. The answers presented here are based on mainstream and clinically accepted practices. TeleTest physicians offers monitoring in accordance with clinical practice guidelines and we do not deviate from accepted mainstream clinical practice.
I'm looking to make a diagnosis of testosterone deficiency or renew my testosterone. Can TeleTest help?
At present time, TeleTest only offers surveillance monitoring for individuals on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). We do not currently make a diagnosis of testosterone deficiency or provide renewals of testosterone.
- Sexual: low libido, loss of morning erections, decreased orgasm intensity, reduced ejaculate volume
- Cognitive: fatigue, depression, insomnia, poor concentration, irritability
- Physical: loss of facial/arm/groin hair, testicular shrinkage, low bone density, breast development, anemia, increased body fat
Testosterone travels in your bloodstream attached to transport proteins (Albumin and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) but also travels freely, unattached to any proteins. Total testosterone is the sum of attached (protein-bound) testosterone and free testosterone. Only 2-4% of circulating testosterone is free.
Bioavailable testosterone refers to the sum total of free testosterone and testosterone that is weakly attached to transport proteins (i.e. testosterone attached to albumin). Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) binds most testosterone in the bloodstream and holds it very tightly. Testosterone attached to SHBG is not considered bio-available.
The free hormone hypothesis states that the biological activity of testosterone is dependent on the amount of free testosterone in the body, rather than the total or protein-bound testosterone. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend titrating testosterone therapy against total testosterone and do not recommend using free testosterone for this purpose.
Step 1: Symptom Review
- The symptoms of testosterone deficiency are non-specific (i.e. fatigue, low stamina, excess abdominal weight), meaning they apply to many conditions. Your doctor will first ask you if your symptoms might be related to other conditions or lifestyle issues (i.e. lack of exercise, poor dietary choices, sleep apnea, stress etc).
Step 2: Routine Bloodwork and Examination
- Initially, your doctor may order routine bloodwork to screen for other conditions like anemia, and kidney and liver disease. S/he will likely also screen for other conditions like diabetes or sleep apnea.
- Your doctor will complete an examination for things like blood pressure, and cardiovascular and respiratory fitness and look for physical signs of testosterone deficiency (i.e. hair loss, loss of muscle bulk and testicular shrinkage).
Step 3: Normal Examination & Test Results
- If you have normal bloodwork and no other identifiable causes of your symptoms, your doctor will order a fasting morning 7-10AM total testosterone level.
- Some guidelines recommend a repeat morning testosterone level if your initial level is low to confirm a diagnosis.
- The "Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society* Clinical Practice Guideline" lists a straightforward algorithm to diagnose low testosterone function in men (reference page 7).
Physical examination includes an assessment for:
- The presence and distribution of body hair (i.e. loss of pubic or under-arm hair)
- Looking for signs of insulin resistance ('acanthosis nigricans')
- Signs of breast development or gynecomastia
- Testicular size
- Prostate examination in older men (i.e. age > 40) to look for prostate nodules or irregularity
- Weight, height and Body Mass Index
TRT therapy is available in short and long acting injectable formulations, along with topical variations (i.e. gel, patch and nasal spray).
- Short Acting Injection: Testosterone Cypionate (Depo-testosterone)
- Long-Acting Injection: Testosterone Enanthate (Delatestryl)
- Oral capsule: Testosterone Undecanoate (Andriol)
- Topical (gel): Androgel, Testim
- Topical (patch): Androderm
- Nasal (gel): Natesto 4.5%
We typically wait for 5 half-lives to check your testosterone levels. The expected time frame to re-check your levels after a dose change is provided below.
- Topical (gel): Androgel, Testim - 24 hours
- Topical (patch): Androderm - 24 hours
- Nasal (gel): Natesto 4.5% - 24 hours
- Oral capsule: Testosterone Undecanoate (Andriol) - 24 hours
- Short-Acting Injection: Testosterone Cypionate (Depo-testosterone) - 4 weeks
- Long-Acting Injection: Testosterone Enanthate (Delatestryl) - 10 weeks
Yes. There are other categories of medications that regulate testosterone levels without compromising fertility. These include
- SERMS: clomiphene, tamoxifen
- Aromatase inhibitors: anastrozole, letrozole, testolactone
In aging men, testosterone therapy decreases fat mass and increases lean body mass. It has been demonstrated to improve grip strength and muscle strength in upper and lower extremities. There isn't enough evidence to suggest routine use in older men who are frail.
There are some studies which support improvement in mood, energy and QOL with TRT therapy, and others which show no change. Each study has limitations and is applicable only to a specific population (i.e. men above 65, HIV + men, etc). Currently, the American Urological Association reports there is inconclusive evidence of whether TRT improves cognitive function, energy and quality of life.
However,
- In some studies, in men who have low testosterone (low levels and symptoms), replacement has been associated with an improvement in mood and well-being.
- In some studies, in men who have normal testosterone (normal levels but symptoms), replacement has not been associated with an improvement in mood and well-being.
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate. It can cause urinary symptoms including a feeling of incomplete emptying, frequent nighttime urination and reduced urinary flow.
TRT does not increase the risk of BPH and does not increase prostate volume. In fact, in several studies, TRT has been found to improve urinary symptoms in men resulting in stronger urinary flow and improved bladder emptying. Testosterone seems to improve bladder muscle function in men.
Yes, men with low testosterone levels and a current or previous diagnosis of prostate cancer can be managed with TRT. These include men who have had a radical prostatectomy, or radiation therapy or those are who actively monitored by a urologist (this means having quarterly PSA testing). Testosterone therapy does not significantly increase the risk of PSA increases or lead to local or metastatic progression of cancer.
There is a lack of evidence to suggest that testosterone therapy increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular disease in men. Why then did the FDA and Canadian regulators add a black-box warning to testosterone in 2014? This was based on a review of 5 observational studies and 2 meta-analyses of RTCs.
Two studies and one meta-analysis suggested an increased risk, two demonstrated no increased risk and one was 'neutral'. The second meta-analysis showed no increased risk. The Committee reviewing the available study data reported there was not enough evidence to conclude TRT increased major cardiovascular events, but the warning was added nonetheless.
The Canadian Urological Association officially states "To date, there are no large, long-term, placebo-controlled trials to help make definitive statements on testosterone therapy and cardiovascular risk."
TRT can increase your hemoglobin levels above the normal range because TRT therapy stimulates the formation of new red blood cells. High hemoglobin levels are called polycythemia. The greatest risk of polycythemia is when your testosterone levels are well above the normal lab-defined range. Current guidelines recommend monitoring your hemoglobin levels while on therapy.
Elevated hemoglobin levels may increase the thickness (i.e viscosity) of your blood. In individuals with heart disease, or plaque buildup in arteries in their brain (cerebrovascular disease) or arms and legs (peripheral vascular disease), high hemoglobin levels can lead to blood clots which can be life-threatening and fatal in some instances.
Your hematocrit is the percentage of hemoglobin that makes up your blood volume. If your hematocrit is greater than 55%, it warrants any of the following:
- A dose reduction of your testosterone
- Temporarily stopping your testosterone
- Changing the type of testosterone (i.e. changing from injection to gel)
- Donating blood
The Canadian Urological Association recommends an annual digital rectal exam while on TRT. Other guidelines state annual examination is not necessary. TeleTest currently recommends annual DREs while on TRT based on Canadian Guideline recommendations, even though different practitioners may advise differently.
If men develop breast discomfort, or enlargement (i.e. gynecomastia) while on TRT therapy, it is reasonable to measure their estrogen level. Your provider may reduce your TRT dose to lower your estrogen levels if your testosterone levels are in the upper/normal range.
The Canadian Urological Association does not recommend routine monitoring of prolactin or TSH while on TRT. Prolactin may be ordered before the initiation of TRT to ensure no secondary causes of low testosterone exist (i.e. a prolactinoma or pituitary tumour).
There is no universally agreed on time in between injections to monitor your total testosterone levels. Some doctors assess peak levels (18-36 hours after an injection), while others assess trough levels (the morning prior to the injection day) when your levels are lowest in their cycle.
Adverse events (i.e. high hematocrit, elevated estrogen levels) may be related to high peak levels and monitoring for peak levels might advise the physician to lower your overall dose if you have very high testosterone levels. If you have a history of high hematocrit or have breast discomfort, a doctor might order a peak level and then recommend reducing your testosterone dose if it is in the 'high-normal' range.
Measuring trough levels would be useful if are experiencing symptoms of a 'testosterone crash' related to low testosterone levels close to the end of your cycle. Having low levels might prompt your doctor to raise your TRT dose if your testosterone levels are in the 'normal range'.
The Canadian Urological Association in their Testosterone Replacement Guidelines does not reference the need to monitor liver function on TRT.
- Oral 17-alkylated testosterone (methyltestosterone) has been associated with liver toxicity but is no longer sold in Canada. If you are on oral 17-alkylated testosterone, please let your provider know. We understand many patients obtain their testosterone through non-traditional means and liver testing is warranted on methyltestosterone.
- Oral Andriol (testosterone undecanoate) is not associated with any liver toxicity.
- Testosterone Enanthate (Delatestryl) at high doses for prolonged duration has been associated with hepatic adenomas. However, hepatic adenomas do not cause abnormal liver function testing, unless the adenomas are very large.
- Oral and injectable anabolic steroids carry significant liver risk and warrant regular liver function testing.
Why is PSA testing not free on TRT, when the Canadian Urological Association recommends monitoring with PSA testing?
OHIP rules only allow for insured (free) PSA testing if a man has an abnormal prostate examination, has prostate cancer and/or is receiving treatment. It is also insured (free) if a man has lower urinary tract symptoms (weak stream, getting up at nighttime to urinate, a feeling of incomplete urinary emptying).
Doctors are permitted to order lab testing under OHIP insurance which is accepted as medically indicated. Most tests required for drug monitoring or based on symptoms are covered by OHIP insurance. Some tests are not covered, even if medically necessary for monitoring.
Examples
- Total Testosterone is covered (OHIP insured) as guidelines recommend monitoring total testosterone levels to target TRT.
- Free Testosterone is not covered (OHIP insured) as guidelines do not recommend monitoring free testosterone levels to target TRT.
- Estradiol monitoring is not covered (OHIP insured) unless a man develops breast symptoms on TRT, as testosterone dosing is adjusted in response to breast symptoms on the basis of elevated estrogen levels in some men.
- PSA Testing, although required for screening purposes, is not covered (OHIP insured) unless a man has urinary symptoms (i.e. weak urinary stream, a feeling of incomplete emptying, etc) on TRT.
Some of the tests that are marked as OHIP uninsured have been marked as insured by other doctors in the past. Why is that the case?
In the past, you may have had a doctor order what should have been an uninsured test (private-pay) as an insured test (paid by OHIP). Doctors are subject to auditing requirements under OHIP to ensure they are using OHIP resources judiciously.
Doctors who work with TeleTest cannot be compelled to order tests the same way as your previous physicians, as we would fail strict auditing requirements from the Ministry of Health and would no longer be able to provide care or screening testing.
We operate within a framework defined by OHIP, and these are not our rules. We hope you understand.
These are approximate costs for some uninsured tests, but are subject to change and vary between the independent laboratories. TeleTest does not control or influence fees charged by Life Labs, Dynacare or Alpha Labs.
Estradiol - $25
Free Testosterone - $25
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin - $30
Prostate Specific Antigen - $40
Last modified 1mo ago