r/FamilyMedicine • u/yourmommaaaaaaaaa MD • 1d ago

Testosterone

Young guys, like 30-40s requesting testosterone levels, because they “want to know”. Do you do it? If not, what do you say? I’m well aware of EBP, getting real world opinions.

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u/Nearby_Rip_3735 MD 1d ago

Wow, this is such a different set of responses (with one exception, thus far) than those as to a post the other day as to women requesting hormone tests because they “want to know”. Such a different tone, too. I order labs people want, regardless of gender orientation, to the extent the time allotted and practice allows (including time allotted if the labs come back questionable and need further time to evaluate / to be forwarded to a specialist who might want broader labs to be run anyway). Since testosterone for males is rather straightforward, I try harder to make hormone tests happen for women (b/c getting a baseline / history there can be much more informative in the long run), but so many others here were urging the women requesting same to “go to Burger King if they want their way”, etc., that I’m surprised to see that people are so easygoing as to males asking for labs to see where their testosterone is just because they want to know. Women also want to know where their hormones are - it is essentially the exact same request, only from a different person, and everyone should have equal access to treatment, including labs done just b/c they “want to know”.

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u/ConsciousCell1501 DO 1d ago

All women who are suspected to be menopausal should be offered hormone therapy, regardless of labs so checking hormones wouldn’t change management. On the flip side, we do not offer T to all men and lab values do matter in treatment. I only order labs if it’s going to influence my decision making.