Ok my 30 day follow up is due, which lab tests shoud I get?

[GymJim]

Ok my 30 day follow up on this 10% testosterone gel is (over)due- which lab tests should I get to see how this has affected me? And should I apply the gel the same morning I get the labs?

I can say that I feel great as far as my libido, but I want to see what the numbers are only in the specific labs I need because I will end up paying for them myself.

[mranak]

[quote=GymJim]Ok my 30 day follow up on this 10% testosterone gel is (over)due- which lab tests should I get to see how this has affected me?
Free Testosterone
Total Testosterone
DHT (Dihydrotestosterone)
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Estradiol (most sensitive estradiol test available)

Would hurt to also get:
Total Estrogens
Cholesterol Panel

Originally Posted by GymJim

And should I apply the gel the same morning I get the labs?

Yes. Just make sure they don't draw blood in the same area as the gel.

Originally Posted by GymJim

I can say that I feel great as far as my libido, but I want to see what the numbers are only in the specific labs I need because I will end up paying for them myself.

Oh! hrmm...no insurance? The list prices on these labs are absolutely ridiculous. Like Free Testosterone might have a list price of $390 which the insurance company will pay a negotiated rate 80-90% less than that. So even if you have insurance but haven't paid your deductable or something, doing through the insurance company is good because you will at least only have to pay the insurance companies negotiated rates.

[earthdog]

If you can't get them to give you the insurance company's negotiated rates as mranak suggests, then check out the men's blood test package offered at www.lef.org. They offer a men's testing package for $299, I believe. I think it has most of the important assays included in the package.

[GymJim]

Originally Posted by mranak

Yes. Just make sure they don't draw blood in the same area as the gel.

going through the insurance company is good because you will at least only have to pay the insurance companies negotiated rates.

Thanks for the advice, I actually did go a local testing lab the first time that accepted my insurance, and was just waiting to get a bill in the mail. I am still a little unclear as to what I might end up paying, but hopefully I will get charged discounted rates subject to my deductible.