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New Members SSAD Guidelines

These notes are offered as a guideline to new visitors to the Help Centre, and should only be used as such. They are not definitive, and it should be remembered that, whatever advice you receive from members of this site, no course of treatment should be undertaken without the guidance of a Qualified Medical Practitioner.

1. Read as much as you can on the subject. "The Testosterone Revolution" by Dr Malcolm Carruthers is an informative, enjoyable read by leading advocate and practitioner of Testoterone Replacement, and a good place to start. This book is available in Hardback from the Andropause Society - click here, or as a free e-book in the help centre - click here

2. Browse the forum - there is a wealth of information on there given freely by people who know what they are talking about. In particular, use the search function to read the pre-selected selection of general postings of use to new people. Please only post specific questions as new topics to the forum. Click here for the forum and go to "search the forum" where you will find a variety of search functions available, especially one for new visitors which presents a selection of threads addressing basic questions.

3. Start a blog. The blogs are intended for you to keep an event by event record of your search for wellness for others to see and comment/advise on. Eventually your blog will become a complete case history, available as a guide and encouragement to others. Start off by giving a full description of your symptoms/history etc. Click here for the blogs

4. Go to see your GP. General Practice is becoming more aware of the problems relating to Androgen Deficiency, and your GP may be able to help you on the NHS. Specifically, you should ask for a blood test which includes the following basic components:-

Total Testosterone
SHBG
PSA

The important piece of diagnostic data is NOT the Total but the Calculated Free Testosterone. This can be obtained from Total Testosterone and SHBG using the Nomogram which you can print out from the Help Centre by clicking here. (tell us about your experience with your GP on your blog)

5. Due to the inherent difficulties in producing accurate and reliable lab results for testosterone ( see the article "Validity of Androgen Assays" - click here to read) - it is wise not to place too much diagnostic importance on lab results, and specialists are more and more using symptomatology as a diagnostic tool. As part of the Help Centre, we have provided a self assessment test, devised and validated by Prof Lothar Heinemann, and used world-wide by Andrologists as an accurate indicator for Androgen Deficiency. Click here for the Self Assessment test

6. So, with a diagnostic questionnaire score and a blood test capable of calculating your free available testosterone, you will be in a good position to start your journey to wellness. The first place to try is always your GP, but if that leads no-where, there are private practitioners who will be willing to help. Consult the "Doctors List" in the help centre for a doctor who is a full member of the Society for the Study of Androgen Deficiency (The Andropause Society). We acknowledge that this list is far from complete, but we are adding to it all the time. Click here for the Doctors' List

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The Information on this site is provided for information only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional. Copyright © 2000 - 2009 The Andropause Society.