Why Should You Get Regular Blood Tests When Using Testosterone?

Blood work is one of the most important parts of supplementing testosterone. Regular blood tests can tell you if there are any changes in your body that you should be aware of. Anabolic steroids can cause changes in both physical and psychological aspects. These changes could lead to unwanted effects that are harmful to your body, making anabolic steroids potentially dangerous if used incorrectly without medical attention.

Contact us at info.bkk@pulse-clinic.com or chat on your preferred platform:

 +66 65 237 1936    @PULSEClinic   PulseClinic

What is the Medication Used in TRT?

Medications used in testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) are classified as anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are medicines that mimic testosterone. TRT uses this type of medication in a low amount and aims to bring your testosterone level to normal. Testosterone is a major hormone that is most important in men. This hormone is responsible for male characteristics. Some people could produce less testosterone than they should. This could lead to a lot of health issues. The male body needs testosterone to develop secondary sex characteristics and control the reproductive system. 

Having low testosterone means this function cannot work properly, leading to erectile dysfunction or symptoms of andropause. Anabolic steroids mimic these functions by activating androgen receptors in your body. This could help create similar effects to natural testosterone produced by your body and replenish the missing natural testosterone that your body needs.

This medication is usually used to help rebalance hormone levels in people with low testosterone. Transmen and transmasculine individuals undergoing masculinizing hormone therapy can also benefit from anabolic steroids. This can help people assigned females at birth develop masculine secondary sex characteristics such as a deeper voice, muscle distribution, hair pattern, and beard growth. 

Anabolic steroids are sometimes used to help with muscle growth in men. Though this might sound like it has a lot of benefits, using too much for a long time could cause more harm than good.

Side Effects of Testosterone Medication

Testosterone medication can cause many changes in your body. This might be beneficial for various reasons, such as masculinizing hormone therapy, treating individuals with low testosterone, or even muscle building. However, testosterone medication and anabolic steroids are known to be very dangerous. Side effects from these medications include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Increased risk of blood clots
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Increased risk of stroke
• Liver issues
• Baldness
• Depression

Misuse of anabolic steroids can also cause your body to become dependent on the medicine. Another permanent damage from testosterone usage is shrunken testicles. This would result in your body stopping producing its own testosterone entirely. Excess use of testosterone can also lead to enlarged breasts, which could also be permanent even after stopping the medication.

These side effects could be life-threatening, and the increased risks may be unnecessary if you don’t need the medication. This is why it is suggested to use this type of medication under a doctor’s care. Blood work can help monitor any changes happening in your body. Routine blood work also allows your doctor to track differences between each checkup. This could help minimize any risks associated with the use of anabolic steroids.

Also read: Body Builder Health Checkup and Lab Tests

What Does the Testosterone Blood Work Test for?

It is recommended that you do blood tests regularly while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Routine blood tests will let your doctor know about the potential risks that testosterone can pose to your body. This is not only to help you minimize any risks that come with the medication, but blood work can tell you a lot about your body. Knowing all the important changes in your body can also help you optimize your training to maximize your gains. Here are the important tests included in the TRT package at PULSE Clinic (Thailand):

• Hormone profile: To help check for hormonal imbalance that could come with using testosterone, as well as to test your current testosterone level. This is important as the goal of TRT is to help rebalance testosterone levels back to normal in people with low testosterone.
• Blood count tests: Testosterone medication could increase the number of your blood cells. This is important in monitoring your risks of developing blood clots. An abnormal amount could put you at risk of having a stroke or heart attack.
• Inflammation test: Inflammation can cause issues contributing to heart conditions and issues in the circulatory system. This is to help monitor the inflammatory response in your body that could come with changes after TRT.
• Cholesterol test: This can tell you about the state of your cardiovascular health. Testosterone could affect your heart health. It could help improve your health, as low testosterone can increase the risk of heart health issues. This should be relatively safe if you take the medication at the recommended dose. However, to make sure your body functions normally and there aren’t abnormal changes in your cholesterol, a test for cholesterol levels is important when you’re on TRT.
• Kidney and liver functions: The kidneys and liver are responsible for filtering out waste and processing medications. The use of testosterone can put a strain on these two organs. This is really important for making sure the medication won’t leave permanent damage on your organs.

Blood work is important for your health. This could help you maximize the benefits you could get from TRT. If you have other concerns about your health while being on TRT, your medical provider could help you make sure your TRT journey is safe and give you the optimal results.

Contact any PULSE clinic near you for more information about getting tested for testosterone levels and getting TRT if you have low testosterone. There is no reason you should keep these issues to yourself. We’re here to help.