Testosterone Therapy (TRT) in Walnut Creek

What I Offer

Testosterone is one hormone among several I look at, so the plan we build may include more than testosterone if your labs point that way. The forms I prescribe:

• Injections
• Gels
• Creams — in my practice, used more frequently than the other preparations

I do not use testosterone pellets; I prefer creams and other forms whose dose can be adjusted or stopped at any time.

Signs Your Testosterone May Be Declining

Testosterone falls slowly, so the signs are easy to put down to age or to a busy life. These are the ones I hear about most:

• Low energy and fatigue
• Low libido
• Changes in erections
• Loss of muscle mass and strength
• More body fat
• Low mood or irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Poor sleep
• Low motivation

Having several of these does not by itself mean testosterone therapy is the answer. It means it is worth checking your levels, which is a simple thing to do.

How It Works, Step by Step

The sequence is the same for everyone; the plan inside it is not.

1. A one-hour first visit: the consultation, your history, and a physical examination. Nothing else happens at this visit.
2. Lab work. You take a kit home and send it to the lab. Saliva testing goes to ZRT Laboratory; if blood tests are needed, they go to a standard lab such as Labcorp.
3. Treatment starts once your results are in, and we have gone through them together.
4. A follow-up visit at one month.
5. If all is well, follow-up every three to six months after that.
6. Labs are repeated at three to six months, then every six to twelve months unless something changes.

That is a tailored plan, not a fixed rule — the intervals move with how you respond.

What Treatment Can Do, and Its Side Effects

When low testosterone is the cause, treatment can bring back energy, muscle, libido and sexual performance, focus and sleep.

Side effects are usually mild — fluid retention, acne, mood swings, or an increase in red blood cells (called erythrocytosis) — and are the reason for regular labs and follow-up. If they appear, we adjust the dose.

Low testosterone is linked with higher cardiovascular risk; in the largest trial to date, treating men with low testosterone did not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Is Testosterone Therapy Right for You?

There is no fixed rule for who qualifies. It depends on my clinical evaluation and on your lab results, nothing else. If your levels are normal, I will tell you. We will look elsewhere for the cause of how you feel. If your history or your labs show a reason not to treat, I will not treat. When they do point to low testosterone, we will agree on a plan together. You will know what each step is for before we take it.

Fees

I would rather you know the numbers before you book.

• Consultation: $150, waived if you proceed with treatment
• Initial lab work: $200, if you proceed
• Ongoing care: $150 per month
• Repeat labs: $200 to $350 each time your levels are rechecked
• Medications are separate, and are not included in the monthly fee

If anything about the plan changes, we will go over the cost of it before it does.

Testosterone Therapy Questions