What lab tests are required before starting Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)?

Required diagnostic labs include Total & Free Testosterone, SHBG, Estradiol, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Lipid Panel, PSA (for men), and Complete Blood Count (CBC) to check hematocrit levels.

What diagnostic labs are required for Medical Weight Loss (Semaglutide/Tirzepatide)?

Required labs include HbA1c, Fasting Glucose, Thyroid Panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4), Renal Function (BUN/Creatinine), and Liver Function Tests (ALT/AST).

Treatment Guides

Plain-English, source-cited guides to the treatments offered across our directory.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) — Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) treats clinically diagnosed hypogonadism — low testosterone confirmed by blood tests plus symptoms. Clinical practice guidelines from the Endocrine Society and the American Urological Association (AUA) require two separate morning testosterone measurements before starting treatment, and ongoing monitoring of blood counts and prostate markers while on it.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) — "Bioidentical" hormones are molecules chemically identical to the estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone the body makes. Many FDA-approved bioidentical products exist (estradiol patches, micronized progesterone); compounded creams, troches, and pellets are not FDA-approved, and both The Menopause Society and a 2020 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine review recommend FDA-approved products for most patients.
Medical Weight Loss (Semaglutide & Tirzepatide) — GLP-1 receptor agonists are the most effective FDA-approved weight-loss medications available: semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) produced ~15% average body-weight loss over 68 weeks in the STEP 1 trial (New England Journal of Medicine, 2021), and tirzepatide 15 mg (Zepbound) up to ~21% over 72 weeks in the SURMOUNT-1 trial (New England Journal of Medicine, 2022). They are indicated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for adults with a BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight-related condition, alongside diet and exercise.
Peptide Therapy & Growth Hormone — This is the category where marketing most outruns evidence. Prescribing human growth hormone (HGH) for "anti-aging" is prohibited under US federal law (21 U.S.C. § 333(e)) — HGH may only be distributed for specific FDA-approved conditions such as confirmed adult growth hormone deficiency. Popular "peptide" alternatives (sermorelin, ipamorelin, CJC-1295) are compounded products that are not FDA-approved, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has flagged several of them over compounding safety concerns.