Testosterone therapy is a real treatment for a real condition. It's also marketed heavily to people who may not need it.
A proper diagnosis
Clinical guidelines describe diagnosing low testosterone with symptoms plus consistently low levels: blood tests taken in the morning, repeated, and interpreted by a clinician. A single number from a home kit isn't a diagnosis.
The questions to ask
- What else could explain how I feel (sleep, stress, alcohol, weight, medication)?
- What will we monitor, and how often (including blood counts)?
- How will this affect fertility? (Testosterone can reduce sperm production.)
- What happens if I stop?
- Is this an FDA-approved product, prescribed by a licensed clinician who examined me?
The commitment
For many people treatment is long term, with regular monitoring. A good provider will tell you that before you start.
