What TRT actually does
Testosterone replacement therapy restores testosterone toward a healthy physiologic range when your body isn't producing enough on its own. The treatment is lab- and symptom-guided: you don't get put on a fixed dose — your clinician titrates based on how you feel and how your levels respond.
Symptoms of low testosterone
- Low energy and stamina that doesn't improve with sleep
- Reduced libido and erectile changes
- Loss of muscle mass and harder time training
- Brain fog and low mood
- Difficulty losing fat despite consistent effort
Bloodwork
A proper TRT workup starts with a baseline panel: total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol (sensitive assay), LH, FSH, PSA, CBC, CMP, lipids, and A1c. Re-check at 8–12 weeks after starting, then every 6 months once stable.
Fertility
Exogenous testosterone suppresses your body's own production of LH and FSH, which can suppress sperm production. If preserving fertility matters, tell your clinician — enclomiphene and HCG-based protocols are designed to maintain it while still addressing symptoms.