The First Steps...
what you should do
if you think you are Andropausal
1. Seek the advice of your
General Practitioner, and tell him/her your symptoms,
which are the most important factor in establishing a
diagnosis.
2. A blood profile may be
suggested, which needs to include not just total
testosterone, but a test for free
active testosterone, which is best obtained in
the form of the Free Androgen Index (FAI)
by calculation from the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin.
Where this is not available, the free testosterone and
the free-and-weakly bound testosterone can be used. The
symptoms you are suffering are more important than the
lab data, as accepted reference ranges vary widely.
If you are over 50, it is
advisable to include a Prostate Specific Antigen
test, and is mandatory before and after starting
on testosterone treatment.
3. An interactive on-line
questionnare to assess the severity of your condition
from your symptoms has been developed and validated by
Prof. Lothar Heinemann, which may help determine
whether you are suffering from Androgen Deficiency.
To take this test,
and to use our other help resources, click here
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