Testosterone therapy · Protea Medical Center
Testosterone replacement therapy in Tempe, for men and women.
Persistent fatigue, low libido, changes in sexual function and concerns about testosterone levels are common reasons men see our physicians. We evaluate what may be contributing and, when appropriate, prescribe and monitor testosterone therapy for men and women.
Low testosterone in men
What concerns lead men to ask about testosterone?
Usually something has changed: energy, libido, strength or mood. These can be signs of low testosterone, but sleep, stress, thyroid function and metabolic health can produce similar symptoms. The evaluation is meant to sort out which factors are involved.
Persistent fatigue
Feeling run down even when sleep and diet look reasonable.
Low libido
Less interest in sex than you are used to.
Changes in sexual function
Including erectile changes, which many men find hard to bring up.
Strength and muscle
Training doesn't produce the results it used to.
Mood and drive
A shorter fuse, a flatter mood, or less interest in things that used to matter.
Concerns about your levels
A previous lab result, a family member's experience, or simply wanting to know where you stand.
Why are so many men's levels lower than they used to be? Dr. McCarthy takes that on in The Low Testosterone Crisis.
Beyond one number
Why can your labs look "normal" when you still feel off?
Because total testosterone is only part of the story. A protein called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) holds testosterone so it isn't free to use, and chronic stress affects hormone balance. Two men with the same total number can feel completely different.
Your physician reads total and free testosterone, the binding proteins and your symptoms together. Sometimes the answer is testosterone. Sometimes it's stress, sleep or another hormone, and addressing that may come first.
Why your labs can look "normal" while you still feel terrible
A topic Dr. Brendan McCarthy covers in his podcast episode Testosterone Q&A Pt. 2
How it works
How does TRT work at Protea?
Testosterone therapy follows the same four steps as all hormone therapy at Protea, with follow-up labs built in from the start.
Your first visit
Symptoms, sleep, stress, training, goals, and anything you have already tried.
Baseline labs
Total and free testosterone and the proteins that bind it, read alongside the rest of your health.
Dose and route
Testosterone comes in several forms. If TRT is appropriate, your physician explains which form and how much, and why, before you start.
Follow-up labs
Repeat testing, including the compounds testosterone is converted into, guides any adjustment to your plan.
Your physician will tell you exactly what is monitored and when. See our lab testing and the best way to take testosterone.
Choosing a provider
What to look for in any TRT provider
Online clinics have made testosterone easier to start, and for some men that is where the research begins. Wherever you are treated, these are reasonable questions to ask.
How was the need for testosterone established?
Symptoms like fatigue and low libido have several possible causes. A history, an exam and lab work help show whether testosterone is likely to be part of the picture.
Which labs are checked, and when?
Total and free testosterone and the protein that binds it are a starting point. Repeat labs show how your body is handling a given dose and route.
What exactly is in the product?
It is reasonable to ask where your testosterone comes from and how its quality is checked.
Who adjusts the plan?
Know who reviews your results, how to reach them with questions, and what would lead them to change the dose or route.
Dr. McCarthy discusses product quality and dosing in his episode on buying testosterone online.
Prostate questions
Does testosterone therapy affect the prostate?
It's one of the most common questions men ask. The Truth About Prostate Cancer & Testosterone walks through what the research says about testosterone levels and prostate cancer risk. Bring your history and your questions to the first visit.
Talk with us first if
- You have had prostate cancer or an abnormal prostate result. Those decisions are made with your urologist or oncology team.
- You're hoping to have children. Say so at the first visit; it changes the conversation.
- You're already taking testosterone from another source. Don't stop on your own; bring what you're taking and we'll review it with labs.
Testosterone for women
Is testosterone therapy for women too?
Yes. Testosterone is part of every woman's biology. It plays a role in mood and a significant role in libido, and it supports bone density. It is also often misunderstood, so when it is prescribed the dose, the share that is bound versus free, and its metabolites are considered together and checked with labs.
Birth control pills raise SHBG, which lowers free testosterone, and that can surface as low mood and low libido in your twenties and thirties. How a dose is given, and how easily it can be undone, belong in the conversation before you begin.
Start with The Truth About Testosterone in Women and Dosing, Labs & What Most Doctors Miss, or see our menopause and perimenopause care.
- Total testosterone
- All the testosterone in your blood, bound and free.
- Free testosterone
- The share that is not bound to protein and is available to use.
- SHBG
- Sex hormone-binding globulin, the protein that holds testosterone. Birth control pills raise it.
- Metabolites
- What testosterone turns into in the body, such as estradiol and DHT. Watched with labs.
Your physicians
Who prescribes testosterone at Protea?
Licensed naturopathic physicians who include hormone therapy in their practice. Protea Medical Center is in south Tempe on Elliot Road near I-10, an easy drive from Chandler, Ahwatukee, Gilbert and Mesa.
Dr. Daniel Berzins
Senior Physician, Director of Nutrition
Studied biology and chemistry at Northern Arizona University and earned his medical degree from Sonoran University. His specialties include hormone therapy, men's health, metabolism, thyroid health and nutrition.
Dr. Melissa Clark
Physician
Completed a residency in endocrinology after Sonoran University of Health Sciences. Her clinical focus includes low testosterone, thyroid disorders, menopause and PCOS.
Get started
Talk with a Protea physician about testosterone.
Tell us what's changed, and a care coordinator will contact you to schedule your first appointment. New here? See what to expect.
From the library
Listen before your visit
Free episodes and papers on testosterone for men and women, labs, the prostate and buying online.
This content is for education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation with a licensed provider, and no one should start, stop or change a medication on its basis.
Questions
Testosterone therapy questions
What is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)?
TRT is prescribed testosterone for someone whose levels, symptoms and history indicate a need for it. At Protea it begins with an evaluation and baseline labs. If TRT is appropriate, your physician chooses a dose and route with you and monitors your response with follow-up labs.
Why do my labs say "normal" when I still feel off?
A single total testosterone number can miss part of the picture. SHBG holds testosterone so it is not free to use, and chronic stress affects hormone balance. Your physician reads total and free testosterone and binding proteins together with your symptoms.
Is it safe to buy testosterone online?
Online clinics have made testosterone easier to start. Whatever the source, you should know exactly what is in the product, how the dose was chosen and who is reviewing your labs. If you already use testosterone, do not stop on your own; bring it to your first visit.
What forms of testosterone are there?
Several, each with trade-offs. Creams can transfer to partners, children or pets, and do not work equally well for everyone. Pellets are steady, but once placed the dose cannot be reduced. Your physician will explain which route fits you.
Can I take testosterone if I am worried about my prostate?
Bring the worry, and your history, to the first visit. If you have had prostate cancer or an abnormal prostate result, decisions are made together with your urologist or oncology team.
Do women take testosterone too?
Yes. Testosterone plays a role in women's mood and libido and supports bone density. When it is prescribed for women, it is dosed carefully and its metabolites are monitored with labs.
Where is Protea, and do you see men from outside Tempe?
We are at 850 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 101, in south Tempe near I-10. Patients come from Chandler, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa and Phoenix.
Ready to learn more about becoming a patient?
Our team can answer questions about testosterone therapy, explain what to expect, and help you determine the appropriate next step.
Still exploring? Visit our educational library.