By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: February 12, 2020 Categories: Testosterone TRT
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
In the UK there are three main ways to get TRT:
- You can get TRT on the NHS
- You can get TRT Privately via TRT clinics like Balance My Hormones
- You can try to source your own TRT which is not recommended
Whether you opt to get TRT in the UK via the NHS or privately you will need at a minimum a blood test and doctors consultation / approval before you can get TRT. Doctors will need to verify your testosterone levels are below what they should be. If you go to your GP via the NHS you may find that they perform a blood test and say that your testosterone levels are normal, however the NHS version of normal is not necessarily giving you a complete picture of your overall testosterone / hormone health. If you are serious about checking your testosterone levels properly we advise booking in for one of our fully comprehensive blood tests and testosterone plus tests. These blood tests give you a complete analysis of your testosterone levels as we check every marker than can affect your testosterone levels. After your blood results are back we are able to connect you with one of our specialist TRT doctors to see if you can get TRT in the UK.
To get TRT in the UK you should follow the below guidelines:
1) Assess your symptoms
Hormonal issues can affect all parts of your health, from mental to physical. Sexual dysfunction, immune system issues and increase anxiety and depression are just a few of the symptoms that hormones issues can cause. Some standardised questionnaires are available such as the ADAMs questionnaire (for testosterone) that can give an indication that you may be a suitable candidate for certain hormone therapies. Balance My Hormones (BMH) will help you organise and carry out this assessment before you see the doctor. it’s important to make a note of your symptoms before looking into how to get TRT in the UK.
2) Get blood work done
If you suspect or would like to know if you have low testosterone and are interested to know if you can get TRT, first you must have blood tests. Balance My Hormones is an all inclusive service that organises blood tests as part of your journey. Blood work must consist of two hormones panels showing Total Testosterone and Free Testosterone but on one of the tests must also contain a comprehensive screening of a number of markers. These markers must include a full blood count, kidney and liver function, inflammatory markers, iron panel, full thyroid panel (not just TSH and T4), PSA, calcium panel, certain vitamin levels, and other hormones (adrenal etc). All these markers are assessed, as causes of hormone deficiencies can be multi-factorial and it is not as simple as just replacing low hormones. For example if there is an underlying medical condition that is causing hormonal disruption, that will need to be addressed. See our testosterone blood test ordering page or contact us via phone or email if you would like to discuss your concerns. Blood tests are an important stage and will ultimately determine if you can get TRT in the UK or if if you need to look at other treatment options.
3) See a doctor who specialises in TRT in the UK
See a BMH doctor that specialises I’m TRT / HRT. Unlike BMH doctors, the majority of doctors are not familiar with how to assess for hormonal issues and treat patients effectively. Even endocrinologists, who are considered to specialise in the endocrine system, if they think you are a TRT / HRT candidate often treat with antiquated protocols and medications such as gels or Nebido for TRT and patches for HRT in women. These patches also contain non-bioidentical progestins and not progesterone. Monitoring through blood testing and assessment and to allow a patient to become optimised is often lacking. It is commonly reported that doctors not familiar with Testosterone Replacement Therapy will believe a persons treatment is optimised when their blood levels of hormones get into the laboratory reference ranges, ranges that are determined by the samples that are tested within that laboratory. Seeing a doctor who specialises in this area will ensure you receive effective treatment. Understand that to get TRT in the UK a doctor will assess a wide range of your symptoms and blood work, only after this assessment and review will they decide what treatment will work best for you and if indeed getting TRT will help your current situation.
When having your consultation you have the opportunity to ask questions so if you do have some it can be a good idea to write them down. The type of therapy and plan for you is a joint decision between yourself and the doctor so feel free to explore ideas, you both have to consent to treatment.
4) Start your TRT treatment
When using Balance My Hormones and our doctors you will have both agreed and you will have scheduled blood testing at 6 week, then at between 5-6 months, at a year and then yearly to keep tracking your progress and testosterone levels. There is always the option for extra blood tests along the way if you would like more frequent checkups. The doctor will be reviewing blood samples and monitoring your care along the way, with consultations at these points also. BMH has an experienced team to help organise and coach you through your journey on TRT. Treatment will be monitored over the long term and fine tuning TRT dosages will be performed. People often look to forums for information whilst on TRT but that can be full of mixed misinformation, Balance My Hormones advises against this and urges patients to speak to our staff who have full experience (often on TRT themselves!) and can manage your expectations accurately. BMH also shares a lot of this information about patient experience on their youtube channel, so be sure to check it out below. It’s vital you fully understand the benefits and commitments needed before you get TRT in the UK. TRT is an effective way to treat low testosterone but does require commitment from you to properly administer it on an on-going basis.
Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel – Subscribe and Watch
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