HRT: qualifying 4 lowT.com program. Total and free T numbers?

[Mike Dura]

I believe it's 350 total and 15 free. Can anyone confirm this?

[hawk14dl]

I believe it's 350 total and 15 free. Can anyone confirm this?

I can't confirm or deny, but my understanding is there is no set number. They aim to get you feeling the way you should. One reason I'm probably calling them tomorrow. They aren't wrapped up in numbers

[Low Testosterone]

Symptoms and how the individual feels is the primary concern with any of the physicians you see. However, we do hold to a set of numbers in terms of who qualifies to see a physician. We don't really have a choice in that matter.

If the individual is new to TRT or has not used Testosterone in 3 or more months, the criteria is as follows:

Total Testosterone: Less than 350 ng/dl
OR
Free Testosterone: Less than 15 pg/ml

The above is using the LabCorp scale.

If Free Testosterone is below 15, it does not matter what the Total Testosterone reading is.

PSA must also be below 4. If PSA is above 4, the individual must first be cleared by a urologist before treatment can begin. However, this isn't a very common occurrence. Less than 1% of the men who have come through our program have had a PSA over 4 or anywhere near 4.

[Mike Dura]

I was told different over the phone. It was 350 total and I thought I heard 15 free but I'm not sure. I have the symptoms. On some tests I score low in total and in others I go a bit above but low normal. My total T was 366 and free T was 12.3.

On an earlier test it was 318 total and 11.7 free with a high FSH of 13.3.

[Mike Dura]

Thanks. I am close to low normal ranges but I have the symptoms - the most bothersome of which is low libido. My tests where done with labcorp. As mentioned, my free T was 12.3 on one test and 11.7 on another so assuming my numbers don't measure higher I should qualify.

Will they accept results taken in the afternoon on an empty stomach from labcorp? My appointment is at 2:30. Earlier wasn't available

[Low Testosterone]

Thanks. I am close to low normal ranges but I have the symptoms - the most bothersome of which is low libido. My tests where done with labcorp. As mentioned, my free T was 12.3 on one test and 11.7 on another so assuming my numbers don't measure higher I should qualify.

Will they accept results taken in the afternoon on an empty stomach from labcorp? My appointment is at 2:30. Earlier wasn't available

If your Free Testosterone is below 15 it does not matter what your Total Testosterone reading is. If your Free is below 15 your Total Testosterone could be 1000 and you'd still qualify. Free Testosterone is the most important number.

[mkt_cycle]

Low Testosterone , if I'm currently on TRT, would I need to stop what I'm taking and get retested?

[J DIESEL3]

^^^^^^^^ mtk you must have been reading my mind! I would also like to know what they do in that situation.

[mkt_cycle]

^^^^^^^^ mtk you must have been reading my mind! I would also like to know what they do in that situation.

Great minds think alike!

[Low Testosterone]

If you're currently on treatment, there are two scenarios that are dictated by which doctor you'd be seeing.

1. Some of the physicians will continue your treatment so as long as you provide proof that you are receiving a legal prescription for testosterone . Something with your name, doctors name and that shows a testosterone prescription. The new physician may or may not contact your prior physician to verify.

2. Some of the physicians will require you to provide labs that show low levels. Your current labs will obviously not show low levels, so you will need a copy of your original labs that show low levels. If you do not have these, ask your doctor for them. If your doctor will not release them, we will have one of our physicians get them from your current doctor. They cannot deny this type of transfer. If you do not have labs that show prior low levels that deemed treatment necessary and you're currently taking testosterone, you would have to stop and get labs tested after your levels fell.

Those are the two possibilities. I will not list which doctors require which method on the message board.

[jomamma007]

that's funny because 350 is 2 points above the bottom of the range but 15(9-26) free test is in the middle, not bad either. Ideal, no.
The last study I read had Total T in the 6-700 range for a 20-29 year old, yet with an average free test of 12.3 I believe.

[Low Testosterone]

that's funny because 350 is 2 points above the bottom of the range but 15(9-26) free test is in the middle, not bad either. Ideal, no.
The last study I read had Total T in the 6-700 range for a 20-29 year old, yet with an average free test of 12.3 I believe.

The above is based on the Harvard Protocol developed by Dr. Abraham Morgentaler.
There is no universal range or set of numbers all physicians hold to. And there's not one all labs hold to in terms of normal ranges.

Please keep in mind that normal ranges are simply an average of a large segment of the population. They consider no other factors. More importantly, Normal does not mean Optimal. Dr. Morgenataler said it best and I'm paraphrasing, as you age your eyesight typically gets worse. Do you say this is normal for your age and just live with it or do you go out and get glasses or contacts? Why is testosterone any different?

The word "Normal" should be banned and outlawed in the TRT world. It's a useless word.

[kelkel]

The above is based on the Harvard Protocol developed by Dr. Abraham Morgentaler.
There is no universal range or set of numbers all physicians hold to. And there's not one all labs hold to in terms of normal ranges.

Please keep in mind that normal ranges are simply an average of a large segment of the population. They consider no other factors. More importantly, Normal does not mean Optimal. Dr. Morgenataler said it best and I'm paraphrasing, as you age your eyesight typically gets worse. Do you say this is normal for your age and just live with it or do you go out and get glasses or contacts? Why is testosterone any different?

The word "Normal" should be banned and outlawed in the TRT world. It's a useless word.

Great post LT.

[Low Testosterone]

Great post LT.

Thank you. I enjoy your post as well. You seem to have a good understanding of TRT and hormones in general. Better than most.

[mkt_cycle]

If you're currently on treatment, there are two scenarios that are dictated by which doctor you'd be seeing.

1. Some of the physicians will continue your treatment so as long as you provide proof that you are receiving a legal prescription for testosterone . Something with your name, doctors name and that shows a testosterone prescription. The new physician may or may not contact your prior physician to verify.

2. Some of the physicians will require you to provide labs that show low levels. Your current labs will obviously not show low levels, so you will need a copy of your original labs that show low levels. If you do not have these, ask your doctor for them. If your doctor will not release them, we will have one of our physicians get them from your current doctor. They cannot deny this type of transfer. If you do not have labs that show prior low levels that deemed treatment necessary and you're currently taking testosterone, you would have to stop and get labs tested after your levels fell.

Those are the two possibilities. I will not list which doctors require which method on the message board.

Cool, thanks for the info.

[shooter7561]

I'm in the same boat as the above (was already on HRT), but stopped HRT a little over 3 months ago because of cost and DHT levels were higher than I wanted. After sitting on the sidelines, I recently decided to go back on and opted for lowt.com. I took my blood draw 2 days ago. In the past, my lowest total T was 360, which is 10 points higher than the low range mentioned above. Far from optimal, but above the low end of what allows treatment. No idea what my blood will show this time. I could have influenced the results by taking the draw at the end of the day, but I opted for the middle of the morning. I have my last prescription bottles, and even some 4- and 5-month old T that I didn't take. It will be interesting to see what happens. It would be a shame that someone with total T of 349 qualifies, but someone with 360 doesn't.

[shooter7561]

lowt.com called me today, and unfortunately I did not qualify with free T at 15.5. No idea why my total T jumped up to the 700s, which is more than double when I started HRT a little less than a year ago at 360.

[Low Testosterone]

lowt.com called me today, and unfortunately I did not qualify with free T at 15.5. No idea why my total T jumped up to the 700s, which is more than double when I started HRT a little less than a year ago at 360.

From looking at your file (I only know who this is because only one person today didn't qualify) it says you haven't been on TRT for 5 months. So there's been no testosterone or anything else that might have affected your numbers? HCG , SERM's, AI's etc?

[shooter7561]

From looking at your file (I only know who this is because only one person today didn't qualify) it says you haven't been on TRT for 5 months. So there's been no testosterone or anything else that might have affected your numbers? HCG, SERM's, AI's etc?

It's more like 4 months since I stopped HCG . No T or HCG during that 4-month period, and I've never taken a SERM or AI. I'll try again in 6 months and press for natural increases during that time. My prior HRT doctor was just too expensive.

[FRDave]

lowt.com called me today, and unfortunately I did not qualify with free T at 15.5. No idea why my total T jumped up to the 700s, which is more than double when I started HRT a little less than a year ago at 360.

That sucks since you were half a point above there cutoff of 15 free-t.

Google a4m dr's in your area. That's how I found my Dr and he super cheap.

Good luck and sorry to hear.