TRT in the UK and EU | Contact: +44 (0) 203 9003 209 | Login
TRT in the UK and EU | Contact: +44 (0) 203 9003 209 | Login
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Think you may benefit from Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) but not quite sure how to go about getting it? Not to worry, we’ve put together this article to inform you of the different routes to getting TRT and their pros and cons.
There are two main ways to get TRT in the UK; through the NHS, or through a private clinic like Balance My Hormones. One thing both routes have in common is that you will need to take a blood test to verify that you do in fact have low testosterone levels before any treatment can be prescribed. Read on to find out which route is best suited to you!
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a medical treatment that aims to restore testosterone levels to optimal physiological range. TRT involves providing the body with bioidentical testosterone to help relieve low testosterone symptoms. The most common way for testosterone to be administered is through injection or topical methods such as creams and gels but it can also be administered by patch, pill, or implant.
Some men are born with low testosterone, but you can also develop insufficient testosterone levels through lifestyle choices or ageing processes. If you are concerned you may be testosterone deficient, take our 60s Hormone Imbalance Quiz, and find out whether you’re in need of medical assistance today.
Many people think testosterone is a hormone that only affects your sex organs and mood, but this is far from the truth. Testosterone aids many functions throughout the body from red blood cell production to supporting collagen production in your skin. So, if you want to stay feeling and looking youthful, you should closely assess your testosterone levels to make sure they are in optimal range!
As men age, their testosterone levels naturally begin to decline. They decline at a rate of 1% every year after the age of 30. As testosterone supports many functions in the body, you tend to quickly notice the effects of insufficient testosterone levels. They’re not pleasant and can leave you feeling like a shell of yourself.
Symptoms of low testosterone levels include
The first step to receiving TRT with Balance My Hormones is to complete the patient intake forms so we can find out more about your unique situation and to us decide which treatment is best for you. All you have to do is get in touch with us by phone, email, or you can reach out via our live chat feature on our homepage.
The next step is completing blood work so we can confirm your symptoms are a result of low testosterone levels. You can order blood tests online here or you can speak to one of our medical case managers who can arrange your blood tests for you. Our blood test kits are delivered in discrete packaging and are sent out to you to be administered in the comfort of your home. They are then processed in accredited labs and results analysed by our specialist doctors.
Once we receive your blood test back from the labs, you will have a face-to-face remote video consultation with one of our doctors specialising in advanced hormone therapies for men. On your video consultation, the doctor will discuss your bloodwork results and which treatment they would recommend for your unique circumstances. They will also explain how the treatment works, what you can expect from your TRT journey, and discuss any questions or concerns you may have.
Once approved by your doctor for treatment, you will receive your prescription order from a registered pharmacy supported by our staff. As part of our ongoing support, you will have regular interval blood tests and consultations so we can track your progress throughout the course of your treatment.
No long waits for consultations or bloodwork results.
Specialist doctors who are experienced in hormone therapy.
Specialist equipment to administer treatments.
Wider range of treatments and medications
Bespoke treatment
Monitoring bloodwork and follow up consultations
Home blood tests
More expensive than NHS route
The route to getting TRT through the NHS begins with a GP visit. You’ll discuss your symptoms with your GP, and they’ll decide whether they want to send you off for a blood test to check your testosterone levels. Once you’ve taken your blood test, it will be sent off to be tested by a lab.
Once your GP has received your blood test results, they will get in contact with you to schedule a consultation to discuss them. The NHS criteria for receiving TRT is different to that of a private clinic. Most men who manage to get TRT from the NHS have extremely low levels of testosterone. Generally, the NHS requires you to have levels below 8.6 nmol/L which is considered drastically low to most private clinics.
If you fall below this threshold, your GP will refer you to an endocrinologist who will decide which treatment they think will best suit you.
Treatments on the NHS are limited as they do not have access to off-licence medications and have an affinity toward the less expensive and less effective treatments such as testosterone patches and gels. Furthermore, once you begin treatment, it is unlikely you will receive regular follow up consultations to monitor your progress.
Less expensive
Long wait times
Lack of hormone knowledge among GPs
Low ‘normal’ testosterone ranges
Non-bespoke treatment
Some Online Pharmacies do sell Testosterone Replacement Therapy that you can buy straight off their website if you have a prescription from your GP. Online pharmacies often do not require an initial consultation, nor do they offer follow up consultations/bloodwork, so it is regarded as one of the more unsafe ways to get TRT.
Sometimes, people from countries where medical provisioning of TRT is lacking will attempt to get TRT by illegal means such as through the black market. Black market TRT is often advertised as high quality and accurately dosed but often, it’s false advertisement. There are many risks with sourcing TRT through the black market including unsanitary conditions during production, laced testosterone to bulk out the product, and many more. We strongly urge you not to source TRT through illegal means as it can result in serious health implications. We advise booking a free consultation with us to talk about your symptoms and treatments available. It’s highly likely we can come up with a working solution for you that will be safer and more beneficial to you in the long run.
TRT is known to have plenty of benefits. Countless studies and scholarly articles prove that TRT can drastically improve the quality of life for men who are suffering from symptoms of low testosterone.
Some benefits of TRT include:
If you feel you may have low testosterone and could benefit from TRT, we urge you to take our 60-second Hormone Imbalance Quiz which will give us a better idea of your symptoms so we can assist you further.
There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to picking which route you want to take for your TRT. Both the NHS and private clinics have their good points and bad points, it’s about picking which route best suits your circumstances and expectations from TRT.
TRT is a long-term treatment that requires careful consideration before starting. We hope we have provided some clarity on which route you’d like to go with for your TRT journey and we wish you all the success with your results!
This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts.
References, sources and studies used alongside our own in-house research have been cited below, most of which contain external clickable links to reviewed scientific paper that contain date stamped evidence.
Our team of healthcare experts and GMC registered doctors are licensed to UK GMC standards. We strive to provide you with the latest evidence based, researched articles that are unbiased, honest and provide you with accurate insights, statistics and helpful information on the discussed topic to ensure you gain a better understanding of the subject. You can read more about our Editorial Process by clicking here.
We value your feedback on our articles, if you have a well-researched paper you would like to share with us please contact us.
If you know your total testosterone reading from a previous blood test input the results to the left above to see if your testosterone levels are normal.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
The Total Testosterone Level You Entered Is Incorrect. Figure Must be in nmol/L you can use our converter here.
Your testosterone levels appear to be in the normal range.
You must be over 38, have had your ovaries removed or have suffered with premature menopause to warrant further hormone tests.
Please contact us to discuss your hormones, we need your total testosterone levels to validate your hormone deficiency. You can order a blood test here.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
You appear to have higher than normal testosterone levels, please contact us for further investigation.
You appear to have normal testosterone levels. Contact us if you have any concerns.
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones Ltd which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
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