Now that you’re a patient at Revive Low T Clinic we want to make sure you see the most benefits from your low testosterone treatment possible and reduce any potential risks.
At your second visit, your Revive Low T Clinic doctor will review your lab results and discuss what may be causing your low testosterone.
If additional lab testing is needed we will discuss what lab testing may be helpful and the cost of those labs. You may choose to have some of the lab testing done with your primary care doctor.
Also, we will give you a copy of your lab results for your records and to take to your primary care doctor or we can fax them a copy.
Based on your lab results we will discuss treatment options, which may include any of the following medications:
- Testosterone injections
- Topical testosterone
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
- Clomiphene citrate
- Anastrozole
We will discuss potential side effects of testosterone therapy as well as potential benefits. Medications, such as anastrozole and clomiphene citrate, are FDA approved but not for low testosterone treatment and are sometimes used off label in men to control the production of estrogen and increase natural production of testosterone, respectively.
While there have been a number of studies on the use of anastrozole and clomiphene citrate in men there have not been any long term studies and, thus, we must use them cautiously and at low doses if needed.
We may discuss diet and lifestyle changes that may be important to help you achieve the results you are looking for at our clinic.
Finally, we may refer you back to your primary care doctor or a specialist to get a second opinion or additional testing. Low testosterone can be cause by a number of health conditions and it is important to try and identify the cause.
You should always tell your primary care doctor if you’ve been diagnosed with low testosterone and if you don’t have a primary care doctor you should get one.
At future visits we will check in on how you’re doing, do a quick physical exam (check your blood pressure and listen to you heart and lungs), and order lab testing as needed.
Every patient is different but our goal in general is to increase your testosterone levels to the point that your symptoms are resolved and we are avoiding causing any potential side effects.
Testosterone therapy can sometimes take some time to improve your symptoms and every patient is different. In general, we tend to see increases in libido and energy levels in the first month or two and problems with erectile function can take several months to see any change.
When we review your labs we are want to make sure your testosterone level is adequate, estrogen levels are balanced, and your blood thickness is in the normal range.
Testosterone in your body stimulates red blood cell production and if we stimulate too much red blood cell production is may make your blood too thick. This is something we want to monitor closely. If your blood is getting too thick we may refer you for regular blood donations.
Testosterone can also convert to estrogen and most guys prefer to avoid “getting in touch with their feminine side” as to much estrogen can increase breast size, etc. This is usually treated by modifying your testosterone dose and/or using a low dose anti-estrogen medication, such as anastrozole.
A 3 month supply of testosterone, hcg, and anastrozole, depending on the pharmacy, is typically only $150 or less (even without insurance).