EA Forums

My endocrinologist has ordered a testosterone level and an estradiol level. I've never had either before. So, is it blood work or what?

grapesoda19 (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 12:39 pm My endocrinologist has ordered a testosterone level and an estradiol level. I've never had either before. So, is it blood work or what?

Testosterone is bloodwork. Not sure about the other.

The couple of times I did bloodwork to check on my testosterone levels it was an 8am blood work session. They do it earlier in the morning when your levels are peak. Not sure about estrogen readings, will find that out in February.

grapesoda19 (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 12:39 pm My endocrinologist has ordered a testosterone level and an estradiol level. I've never had either before. So, is it blood work or what?

Both are blood work, with the usual IV needle and tubes. I think there is a separate tube for each test, I'm not sure as they usually get a bunch of tests done any time they jab me, and it isn't clear to me which tests go with each colored tube.

IMHO it doesn't matter that much since once they stick you for the first tube, it doesn't matter that much how many more they grab...

Turn around time on the tests is pretty fast, at least at the hospital I'm seen at - I think on the order of a couple of hours from when they take the sample to when I see the results popping up in our 'Patient Gateway.'

I have found that it seems to make me an 'easier stick' if I have drunk plenty of water before hand unless they tell me not to.

WheelyCurious

It's always been bloodwork for me, at the middle of my testosterone cycle.

So in my case if I take the tesosterone shot on Monday the 1st, I need to be at the lab having blood drawn on Monday the 8th, ahead of my next shot on Monday the 15th. Or put another way, when on testosterone shots once every two weeks on Monday as I am, you would get the bloodwork drawn on the Monday you're not taking your injection.

WheelyCurious wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 3:36 pm Both are blood work, with the usual IV needle and tubes.

IV needle?! Ugh!!

WheelyCurious wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 3:36 pm I have found that it seems to make me an 'easier stick' if I have drunk plenty of water before hand unless they tell me not to.

That's actually what a phlebotomist told me. I get cholesterol blood work every 6 months and they like it if I drink a bottle of water before hand. I'm a VERY hard stick (deep veins, rollers, and scar tissue).

Losethem (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:01 am It's always been bloodwork for me, at the middle of my testosterone cycle.

So in my case if I take the tesosterone shot on Monday the 1st, I need to be at the lab having blood drawn on Monday the 8th, ahead of my next shot on Monday the 15th. Or put another way, when on testosterone shots once every two weeks on Monday as I am, you would get the bloodwork drawn on the Monday you're not taking your injection.

This is just pre-everything. I think they are just wanting to get some standard levels. I can get it done at my regular doctor's office and they'll just fax it all down to UVA. My regular doctor has already said they'll do the Testosterone shots when the time comes (since I'm 110 miles away from Charlottesville) and UVA is cool with it.

Question, they told me it is every week for injections. Are you just on a lower dose (apologizes for asking) or is it like a double dose (ie: weekly dose x2) every two weeks?

I may have mis-stated when I said "IV-needle" but it is about that size, it's the standard one they use for doing blood draws w/ the attached tube and receptacle that they stick the collection tubes into... Its the same drill for hormone tests as it is for any of the other blood draw type tests....

Testosterone comes in many forms, injections, patches, gels & creams, etc... Each has its advantages and disadvantages and what you get is a combination of what you ask for, what the doc wants to give you and what your insurance will pay for....

The topical gels and patches supposedly give a more stable level as you dose more often w/ smaller amounts, and are more convenient since you can do them at home. The downside is some potential risk of cross contamination to others you have close contact with.

A lot of times they will want you to get the shots at the doctors office which can be a pain just because of the extra appointments. You can learn to self-administer injections so that might be an option... Injection intervals can vary depending on the formula and dose, I've seen folks here reporting everything from weekly to every few months. At least some say the downside is that the level in the blood at any given time varies considerably w/ impact on mood, energy level, libido, etc... The longer the interval between shots the worse this seems to be.

I've never done shots so no personal experience. Back before I started on this journey I used a generic version of Androgel on a daily basis which seemed OK, but I can't say I noticed any real changes either when I started or stopped it....

WheelyCurious

WheelyCurious wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 2:06 pm I may have mis-stated when I said "IV-needle" but it is about that size, it's the standard one they use for doing blood draws....

Oh good. *whew* I've had IVs....and I HATE them. Because I have deep veins and rollers, they always miss when I get an IV and have to "find" the vein with the needle in my arm. I can't fault this one nurse, but she blew out one of the veins in my hand, trying to get an IV in. I mean went right through it. She apologized a million times, but I couldn't fault her. It was her first week...and she was a student.

WheelyCurious wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 2:06 pm I've never done shots so no personal experience.

UVA has told me that the regular old, standard Testosterone is what I will be on. I take a medication for migraines, which is an injection pen. Since I have experience with those, they think the injections will be the easiest way. Plus, it goes into my arm or my backside. So, I'm good with that. If I have control of the needle, it doesn't bother me. It's when OTHER people have control over it, that's what bothers me.

Testosterone can be checked with a saliva sample. You can do this at home, first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up, spit in test tube and send it off to the lab. Otherwise a more precise reading can be done with the regular blood draw. Not usually done, because it's expensive and not routinely covered by insurance in the USA, but maybe covered if ordered by your Dr for a specific reason.

A testosterone levels test measures the amount of testosterone in a sample of your blood.

There are different forms of testosterone in your blood that may be measured to help diagnose certain health problems.

Most of your testosterone is attached to proteins. The proteins prevent your tissues from using the testosterone right away, which helps control the amount of "active" testosterone in your body.

Testosterone that's not attached to proteins is called free testosterone. Free testosterone acts on your tissues.

Three types of blood tests measure these different forms of testosterone:

1) A total testosterone test measures free testosterone and testosterone that's attached to proteins. This is the most common type of test.

2) A free testosterone test measures only the "active" form of testosterone. This test is less common, but it may be useful for diagnosing certain medical conditions.

3) A bioavailable testosterone test measures free testosterone and testosterone that's loosely attached to a blood protein called albumin. This test isn't commonly done. But like a free testosterone test, it may help diagnose certain medical conditions.

For males who have gone through puberty, the test is mostly used for symptoms of low T levels (testosterone levels which are too low).

Testosterone levels tend to decrease with age. But other health issues may also cause low T, such as thyroid problems, long-lasting illness, or problems with the testicles.

A blood sample for a testosterone test should be taken in the morning between 7 and 10. During these hours, your testosterone levels are typically the highest.

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

In certain cases, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Ask your provider how you should prepare for a testosterone levels test.

In males, low T levels may be caused by different conditions, including:

- Chronic (long-lasting) diseases such as liver, or kidney disease

- A pituitary gland disorder

- Benign tumors (not cancer)

- Injury to the testicles

- Alcohol use disorder

- Certain genetic diseases such as Klinefelter syndrome

In females low T levels are normal, but extremely low levels may be a sign of:

- An adrenal gland disorder

- A pituitary gland disorder

- An ovarian disorder

In males, high T levels may be caused by:

- A tumor in the testicles

- Steroid use

- An adrenal gland disorder, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

In females, high T levels may be caused by:

- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

- Ovarian cancer

- An adrenal gland disorder, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

- A disorder of the pituitary gland

If your results are not normal, it doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. It's normal for testosterone levels to decrease with age. And certain medicines can affect your results. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

At-home test kits for checking your testosterone levels are available without a prescription. The kits provide everything you need to collect a blood or saliva (spit) sample to send to a lab for testing.

Talk with your provider if you think you need to be tested. If you do a home test, share the results with your provider.

* * * * * *

https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/testo ... m%2C%20usi ng%20a%20small%20needle.

Cseriess (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 11:24 pm Testosterone can be checked with a saliva sample. You can do this at home, first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up, spit in test tube and send it off to the lab. Otherwise a more precise reading can be done with the regular blood draw. Not usually done, because it's expensive and not routinely covered by insurance in the USA, but maybe covered if ordered by your Dr for a specific reason.

Thankfully, due to my Autism, I get Medicaid. So, they cover just about everything. I say "just about" because they didn't cover a wrist brace after I had carpal tunnel surgery. That was literally the only thing they never covered.

Anyway, I have cholesterol blood work done every 6 months. While I'm not a fan of needles, I can deal with it. I didn't know about the saliva sample though, that's new information to me.

I'm usually a pretty easy stick, but for reasons I'm not sure about, sometimes I get a day when they have problems... What I've learned is that I will give a particular phlebotomist two tries at most, after the second fail, I ask for a different person (usually I don't have to ask, the hospital I get my care at seems to have a policy that they call for the 'expert' after the second try...) If the expert fails I ask them to get the ultrasound machine which is the current best tech available to deal w/ tough sticks'... So far every time they have had to use the machine they have gotten me without any problems...

My GF is a notoriously tough stick to the point where they even have it as a note in her health record to call in the expert team right from the beginning...

One of the downsides of getting care at a teaching hospital is that you often end up w/ students doing things like blood draws, and I try to let them have at least one shot as they have to learn somewhere, but I only put up w/ so much, and seems like at least as I try to be nice about it, they are OK w/ calling in the experts when it's a problem...

WheelyCurious

It's all based on bloodwork. It's good to have the level checked occasionally. My own prescription - compound application - is not very precisely tied to test levels. Just a small change in compound composition seems to result in huge swings in test levels. I've been as low as female athletes and as high as way over the top for avg males. with just small changes in composition. Injections are likely more precise.