Testosterone replacement therapy is for men who have both objectively low testosterone on a blood test and symptoms consistent with it. A number on its own is not enough, and symptoms on their own are not enough. At Prime Men’s Health we generally treat men aged 30 or older who meet both conditions and who have a primary care doctor overseeing their general health.
The two things that have to be true
Eligibility rests on a combination, not a single test result.
- Objectively low lab values — confirmed by blood work, not estimated from how you feel
- Symptoms consistent with low testosterone — fatigue, low libido, weight gain, loss of muscle, poor concentration, low mood
A man with low numbers and no symptoms may not need treatment. A man with clear symptoms and healthy levels usually has something else going on, and treating him with testosterone would not address it.
What age do you need to be?
We generally treat men aged 30 or older. Testosterone typically begins a gradual decline from around that age, but age alone is not a qualification — plenty of men in their fifties have perfectly healthy levels, and some men in their thirties do not.
Why we ask about your primary care doctor
We require our patients to have a primary care doctor who assesses their overall health, and we ask you to tell that doctor about any therapy you begin with us.
This is deliberate. We are a men’s hormone clinic, not a primary care practice. Some medications interact with testosterone therapy and may need adjusting, and your own doctor is the person placed to see the whole picture.
What is assessed before treatment
Before anything is prescribed, a physician reviews your blood work. That includes total testosterone, free testosterone and estrogen, alongside a baseline PSA test, which screens for prostate risk.
PSA is repeated every six months during therapy, alongside a series of urinary questions. Testosterone does not cause prostate cancer, but a pre-existing cancer could be made worse by it, which is why that baseline matters.
Who may not be suitable
Some men are not appropriate candidates for testosterone replacement, and some are better served by a different approach entirely. Men concerned about fertility, for example, often prefer enclomiphene, which stimulates the body’s own production rather than replacing it, and does not carry the same effect on sperm production.
Your physician will discuss your medical history, your goals and the benefits and risks of each option before anything is prescribed. If testosterone therapy is not right for you, we will say so.
Does where I live affect eligibility?
Yes. Testosterone is a controlled medication, so telehealth testosterone replacement therapy is available in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Enclomiphene is not a controlled medication and is available in all 50 states.
Depending on federal and state regulations, your treatment plan may also require an in-person physical examination. See where treatment is available.
How to find out if you qualify
Start with a free consultation. If testing is appropriate, blood work follows, and a licensed physician reviews the results with you on a video visit before any decision is made.
Call 1-800-530-7746 or book a free consultation.
Related reading
For independent information on this topic, see FDA information on testosterone products.
Medically reviewed by John Webb, MD, MBA. Dr. Webb completed a men’s health (Andrology) clinical research fellowship at Harvard Medical School and has nearly 20 years of experience in progressive healthcare leadership.
This article is general information and is not medical advice or a substitute for consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed healthcare professional.