Hormone Replacement Therapy Blood Testing
Written by Dr. Di Santo, Published on October 25th, 2018
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Hormone Replacement Therapy
Test your HGH Blood Levels
HGH
and Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy Testing
As we've
mentioned elsewhere, one of the most important steps of our Hormone
Replacement Therapy diagnostic process is the blood testing that we
conduct upon the sample that you provide during your physical.
After our
affiliate physician draws your blood sample, he or she will seal the
sample and send it securely to the diagnostic testing firm LabCorp.
You may also choose to go through your physical on site with a
representative from LabCorp, where your blood sample can be stored
and analyzed on site.
LabCorp
will process your blood sample over the course of a few days, and
your results will be available within a week of providing your
sample.
The
results of your blood test will look very complicated on paper, but
your medical representative at the Conscious Evolution Institute will
go over the details with you and explain it in a way which is simple
to understand. Every one of these tests will increase the ability of
your prescribing physician to make an accurate diagnosis.
Hormone
Blood Panel Tests
Plasma
Homocystine Test
Homocystine
is an amino acid that our body manufactures from the foods that we
eat, especially meat. Although our bodies need a certain amount of
Homocystine for proper function, elevated Homocystine levels are
correlated with a number of different health conditions. High
Homocystine Levels increase the risk of blood clot formation, stroke,
hardened arteries, embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and heart attack.
It may also increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Patients
with abnormally high levels of Homocystine in their blood stream may
need to be tested for heart health before being approved for Hormone
Replacement Therapy with Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone.
Lipid
Panel with LDL/HDL Ratio
The Lipid
Panel is a small group of tests used to measure the level of
cholesterol present in your blood stream. These tests will uncover
your LDL Cholesterol, which is also referred to as Bad Cholesterol.
The ideal LDL Cholesterol Level for healthy individuals is between
100-129 mg/dL. For patients at risk for heart disease, an LDL
Cholesterol level of 100 mg/dL or less is best for the body. When LDL
Cholesterol Levels are too high, this increases the risk of various
cardiovascular problems greatly.
HDL
cholesterol is also referred to as Good Cholesterol. For this form of
cholesterol, the higher your level, the better. For men, an HDL
Cholesterol Level of 40-49 mg/dL is considered normal, and 50-59
mg/dL is considered ideal for women. For both sexes, a level of 60
mg/dL is considered optimal. HDL Cholesterol has a restorative and
protective effect upon cardiovascular health, and is associated with
reduced risk for heart attack, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
Triglycerides,
like LDL Cholesterol, are necessary for normal, healthy heart
function, but elevated levels are bad for your health. Triglycerides
in the blood stream are directly correlated with your diet and
fitness level, and triglycerides can be controlled by engaging in
healthy exercise and eating a healthy diet. Healthy Triglyceride
levels are considered below 150 mg/dL.
Your Lipid
profile will also gauge the level of total Cholesterol in your blood
stream. Using these other tests, we will also be able to determine
the ratio of HDL/LDL Cholesterol in your blood stream. The higher
this ratio is, the better it is for your heart health. Levels of Very
Low Density Lipoprotein can also be determined. These Lipoproteins
are responsible for transporting the various forms of cholesterol
throughout the body.
Testosterone
Free and Total
As you can easily imagine, the levels of Free Testosterone and Total
Testosterone in your blood stream have a direct correlation with the
amount of Testosterone available to your body. Total Testosterone
refers to all of the Testosterone present in your blood sample, in
all forms. Free Testosterone refers to Testosterone in your blood
stream which is unbound. Free Testosterone is Testosterone that isn't
being used by your body.
If you have too much Free Testosterone, this means that your body
isn't using Testosterone that your Testes and Adrenal Glands are
producing in an effective way. If Total Testosterone production is
too low, this means that your glands are not producing Testosterone
effectively, which can occur for a variety of reasons, most of which
can be deduced by other tests in this hormone panel.
Insulin-Like
Growth Factor-1 Testing
This is
the single, most important test with regard to your Human Growth
Hormone Function. It may be counter-intuitive, but directly testing
HGH Production is not an effective way to assess your need for HGH.
When the pituitary gland secretes HGH, or when it is injected into
the body, it only remains in the blood stream for a short period of
time.
It quickly
disperses throughout the body to areas where it is metabolized. The
majority of HGH circulates through the liver, where it is converted
into a hormone known as Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1. IGF-1 performs
most of the tasks associated with Human Growth Hormone, and this
hormone remains active in the body for a few days, making it a more
effective means to monitor HGH Secretion by-proxy. If IGF-1 Levels
are low, this is powerful evidence that you are suffering from HGH
Deficiency.
Follicle
Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone Testing
These
tests are critically important for the accurate diagnosis of
Testosterone Deficiency. In males, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, also
known as FSH, is responsible for the healthy production of sperm. In
males, Luteinizing Hormone (or LH) is responsible for the proper
production of Testosterone. FSH and LH production are mediated by
both the Pituitary Gland and the Hypothalamus.
The levels
of these two hormones will help indicate the source of your
Testosterone Deficiency. For most adult males, Low-T is the result of
reduced signaling from the hypothalamus which leads directly to
reduced stimulation of the Testes. In most men, the Testes are
perfectly capable of producing Testosterone, they simply don't
receive the signal to do so.
If LH and
FSH Levels remain normal or high, this means that the deficiency is
the result of the testes. If the levels of these hormones are
abnormally low, this shows that the deficiency is the result of
either age-related Andropause or because of some other, sudden
complication which inhibits the hypothalamus or the pituitary.
Estradiol
Testing
Estradial is a member of the Estrogen family, but it still plays an
important role in male health. Balanced Estradial Levels contribute
to healthy body fat percentage, as well as strong bones. Estradiol
Testing is another way that your doctor can assess your need for
Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy.
If your Estradiol Levels are abnormally low, this provides evidence
that you may be suffering from Low-T. Estradiol is naturally made by
the male body primarily through the breakdown of Testosterone, and if
there is not sufficient Testosterone in the bloodstream, then the
body will often have abnormally low levels of Estradiol. One of the
most damaging symptoms of Estradiol Deficiency is osteoporosis.
High Levels of Estradiol may be an indicator that Testosterone HRT is
not right for you, because this is a sign that you may be at elevated
risk of Prostate Cancer or cardiovascular complications.
Complete
Blood Count With Differential/Platelet
This is a
very common blood test which is frequently performed during many
general-health check-ups. The CBC Test is actually a panel of blood
tests which measure the levels of various cells in your blood stream.
Among the cell concentrations tested are platelets, white blood
cells, hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit.
Each
aspect of testing measures a different aspect of the health of the
body. A number of other tests can also be included in this Hormone
Panel, but these are the most common:
Red
Blood Cell Count - Tests for Anemia and other disorders.
White
Blood Cell Count - Tests the health of the immune system.
Platelet
Test - This measures the ability of your blood stream to form and
clear blood clots.
Hemoglobin
Test - Measures your body's capacity to deliver oxygen to the body
Hematocrit
Test - Hematocrit concentration is related to numerous different
disorders, including leukemia and anemia.
Comprehensive
Metabolic Panel
Like the Complete Blood Count, the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel is a
group of tests which measure for various aspects of human health. The
CMP is a collection of fourteen different tests which measure the
functional capacity of various different organs of the body.
The CMP is a very general test, which is often performed during
routine physicals. The various tests performed in this panel measure
for the presence of a number of important hormones released by the
liver and the kidneys, and there are also tests that measure fluid
and electrolyte balance as well. These tests are used to find
evidence for various medical conditions such as hypertension and
diabetes. These tests can also discover underlying issues with
parathyroid function.
PSA
Testing
PSA Testing is one of the most important tests conducted before
initiating Low-T Treatment or HGH Hormone Replacement Therapy. PSA is
short for Prostate-Specific Antigen. There is nothing inherently
dangerous about elevated PSA Levels, but High PSA Counts are a
recognized, common symptom of Prostate Cancer.
If your blood test comes back indicating that your PSA Levels are
high, and you have never engaged in Hormone Replacement Therapy in
the past, you need to undergo further testing for Prostate Cancer. If
you do have Prostate Cancer, HGH and Testosterone HRT both may
exacerbate the existing cancer and are not recommended until further
study is conducted.
Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy also has the side-effect of
increasing PSA Levels, but this increase is not correlated with an
elevated risk of Prostate Cancer. Both Testosterone HRT and Prostate
Cancer elevate PSA Production. The earlier hypothesis that PSA Levels
correlated directly with Prostate Cancer Risk led many to believe
that Testosterone Replacement could enhance the risk of this form of
cancer, but all subsequent research has revealed that this is a
benign side-effect.
Cortisol
Testing
Cortisol Testing is an important aspect of diagnosing both
Testosterone and HGH Deficiency. Cortisol is a stress hormone
produced by the human body which controls pain tolerance,
fight-or-flight response, and energy management, among other things.
Cortisol at normal levels is necessary and healthy for the normal
function of the body, but excess levels of Cortisol have a negative
impact on your overall Hormone Balance. Cortisol is a member of the
Glucocorticoid family, and is derived from the same hormones which
are used to manufacture Testosterone in the human body. High cortisol
levels also inhibit HGH Production.
Cortisol Testing is also used to diagnose a disorder known as
Cushing's Syndrome, which is a metabolic disorder in which the body
produces excessively high levels of Cortisol, to the detriment of
human health. One of the most significant symptoms of Cushing's
Syndrome is extreme fatigue.
Dependent upon the severity of High Cortisol Levels, this test can
either provide evidence that Hormone Replacement Therapy is needed,
or that Cushing's Syndrome is the primary cause of your deficiency.
DHEA-Sulfate
Testing
This test is performed in order to evaluate the healthy function of
the Adrenal Gland. DHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone. This
hormone is a part of the Androgen family, and is released by the
Adrenal Gland in combination with other male hormones. DHEA-Sulfate
is the form of DHEA which circulates freely through the blood stream.
Individuals that suffer from DHEA Deficiency generally also suffer
from Testosterone Deficiency, but DHEA Deficiency implies that the
medical source of the problem is the result of a malfunction of the
Adrenal Gland or as a result of a processing malfunction in the
brain. Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be successful under these
circumstances, but may need to be combined with other forms of
treatment.
Thyroid
Hormone Panel
The goal of this series of blood tests is to measure the functional
capacity of your thyroid gland. The Thyroid Hormone Panel will always
include Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Testing, and may also
necessitate tests of Total Thyroxine (T4), Free Thyroxine (T4), and
Free Tri-iodothyronine (T3) that your body is producing.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a precursor hormone which encourages
the Thyroid to release T3 and T4. Total T4 Testing measures the
amount of T4 released by the Thyroid Gland. Free T4 Testing measures
the amount of T4 that can be delivered to cells. T3 Testing measures
the amount of active Thyroid Hormone which can be utilized by the
cells of the body.
This test ensures that your Thyroid is functioning properly, because
two of the most common symptoms of Thyroid Deficiency are weight gain
and exhaustion, two common symptoms of both HGH Deficiency and Low-T.
Insulin
Fasting Blood Test
Insulin is
a hormone vital to human function. Insulin is a hormone released by
the pancreas which helps take carbohydrates that you digest and ship
them to cells all throughout your body. In some men and women, the
body becomes resistant to Insulin over time, leading to a condition
known as Type-Two Diabetes.
Diabetes
is a serious medical disorder which shares some symptoms in common
with both HGH and Testosterone Deficiency. Type-2 Diabetes can lead
to serious feelings of fatigue, because the body is not receiving
energy optimally as a result of insulin resistance.
If your
Insulin Levels are too high, then this means that you may be either
Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic. In this case, you need to make changes in
your life which encourage healthier Insulin Balance. You may still
qualify for some forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy, but it is
important to get your Insulin Levels under control.
Hemoglobin
A1C Test
Hemoglobin A1C Testing is another form of diagnostic test used to
discover underlying signs of Diabetes which may mimic signs of
Hypopituitarism or Hypogonadism. If you have ever seen advertisements
for Blood Sugar Monitors on television, these products are designed
to measure Hemoglobin Levels in the bloodstream.
Hemoglobin is the biological form that glucose takes in the blood
stream after it has been processed. In patients that are Diabetic or
Pre-Diabetic, Hemoglobin Levels are elevated in the blood, meaning
that the patient is suffering from High Blood Sugar because their
body is not appropriately shipping glucose around the body.
As with Insulin Testing, if Hemoglobin Concentration in the blood is
too high, this is a sign of Diabetes, and you need to get your Blood
Sugar under control either through changes in your lifestyle or
through treatment. You may still qualify for some forms of Hormone
Replacement Therapy after your health status has been appropriately
evaluated and treated.
Serum Ferritin Test
This test is important for the accurate diagnosis of Testosterone and
Human Growth Hormone Deficiency, because it rules out alternate forms
of the fatigue and low energy levels associated with both of these
forms of Hormone Deficiency.
Ferritin is a form of protein which is used by the body to transport
iron throughout the blood stream, so that it can be effectively used
by various organs in the body. Ferritin is also normally found in the
bone marrow, skeletal muscles, spleen, and liver. The human body
produces Ferritin in response to iron present in the blood. The
greater levels of iron in the blood, the more Ferritin will be
present.
Abnormally low Ferritin Levels are a sign of anemia, a medical
condition that occurs when the body is not getting a sufficient
amount of usable iron in the diet. If low levels of Ferritin are
found in the blood stream during Hormone Testing, this may rule out
your need for Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Sex-Hormone
Binding Globulin Test
The goal
of this test is to discover the concentration of SHBG in your blood
stream. Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin, also known as Sex-Steroid
Binding Globulin, is responsible for transporting the sex hormones of
the body throughout the blood stream.
Sex
hormones are divided into two classes, Androgens and Estrogens. This
test is important for diagnosing Testosterone Deficiency, because
Testosterone is a member of the Androgen family. If SHBG levels are
abnormally low, this can cause the body to distribute Testosterone
abnormally throughout the body, inhibiting the beneficial effects of
Testosterone.
SHBG can
also be used to indirectly measure Testosterone Levels, by comparing
the ratio of Free Testosterone bonded to SHBG to unbonded SHBG
molecules.
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