Can i get trt on nhs

He also carries out a physical examination, including a check on the prostate. A key part of this information gathering process is a review of the results of a detailed questionnaire completed by the patient.

The information from this internationally validated questionnaire is used by the doctor in establishing a measure of the severity of symptoms. The questionnaire is available here if you would like to assess your symptoms. Do remember, however, that the questionnaire results require careful medical assessment alongside other key information before any diagnosis can be made.

If, following a blood test and other investigations and information gathering the doctor considers that the patient may be suffering from testosterone deficiency syndrome he will discuss the benefits and potential risks of testosterone replacement therapy TRT or other testosterone treatment with him. If treatment is indicated and the patient wishes to proceed, then he will start a trial period of TRT or testosterone stimulation therapy.

TRT is usually given by testosterone gel, cream or long acting injections for the first two to six months. Testosterone replacement therapy TRT has been shown to be highly effective in relieving the symptoms of testosterone deficiency — in particular in restoring energy, health and sex drive.

TRT therapy is often needed long-term and can safely be continued in these forms if good symptom relief is maintained or changed to other types if needed. Testosterone treatment including TRT has been in use in the UK and other countries for over half a century over which time the safety of testosterone replacement therapy has confirmed been confirmed by research, including detailed studies at the Centre.

Similarly, despite concerns, first raised in the s, about TRT and prostate cancer, a review of research by the British Society of Sexual Medicine has found no compelling evidence of any link between the two. However, every effort is made to exclude pre-existing prostatic cancer, by clinical examination, and a sensitive blood test to measure the levels of Prostate Specific Antigen PSA in advance of any course of testosterone replacement therapy.

To ensure the safety and effectiveness of treatment, including giving the right dosage, it is essential that the results of treatment are carefully monitored, both to establish the diagnosis and to monitor the treatment carefully, blood tests and laboratory measurements are required at regular intervals. After the initial consultation and diagnosis, detailed clinical examinations need to be carried out at month intervals.

Testosterone replacement therapy TRT at the Centre comes in many forms. However, we provide a range of medications and treatment types to suit all lifestyles. For the first two to six months we normally recommend a testosterone gel which is easy to apply. This method can safely be continued for as long as you are happy with the daily applications. In the long term, some patients prefer the ease of long acting injections which are given six to 10 weeks apart. To make sure their male hormone treatment is safe and effective, our specialist doctors monitor our patients on an ongoing basis during testosterone replacement therapy.

We carefully check the progress of your male hormone replacement therapy via our on-site pathology lab and blood testing services. You can discuss alternative treatment methods during regular follow up appointments and changing to alternative treatment types is straightforward. Our male hormone specialists have spent 30 years developing a successful treatment model including testosterone replacement therapy for our patients.

This makes our clinic one of the longest established UK healthcare providers of testosterone replacement and hormone therapy for men. Our regular TRT therapy clinics in London Harley Street and Manchester Deansgate provide a swift, confidential solution for men struggling with the symptoms of low testosterone. We make sure our patients have the time they need to fully discuss the health problems they are facing and to work with our doctors to find the right treatment solution.

Diagnoses are based on a comprehensive blood test including a full hormone panel, review of symptoms, medical history and physical examination. For those patients who go on to treatment, either with testosterone replacement therapy or other options, careful and regular monitoring is carried out.

These tests enable us to make sure you have the best low T treatment as well as monitoring the safety of testosterone replacement therapy for you and the relief of your low T symptoms. Our specialist medical team — Professor Andrew Krentz, Dr Clive Morrison, and Dr Anand Patel — have many years of expertise in helping patients overcome the effects of low testosterone with hormone replacement therapy for men.

European Medicines Agency, CMDh position, No consistent evidence of an increased risk of heart problems with testosterone medicines, ;. Getting testosterone replacement therapy on the NHS is not a straightforward matter. Despite its excellent standard of care, the NHS bureaucracy often prevents those who really need treatment from getting it. And it lacks flexibility for the treatment of low testosterone. When you experience the symptoms of low testosterone you should visit your GP to discuss them.

Depending how sympathetic they are, they will send you off for a blood test for low testosterone. Although, the insistence for a blood test usually must come from the patient, believing their symptoms to be associated with testosterone deficiency. They will normally send you for two lab tests to confirm a diagnosis of low testosterone. Tests are typically done before 9am, which in theory is when testosterone production is at its peak. Once the GP receives the lab results back confirming your diagnosis of low testosterone, they will refer you to an endocrinologist.

Then the endocrinologist will decide on your treatment. Generally speaking, the NHS standardised model of care works well for many medical conditions. Patients visit their doctors with symptoms, then have tests to confirm a diagnosis. They then receive treatment based on a combination of lab tests and symptoms. However, this system has serious flaws when it comes to the treatment of a condition as low testosterone. Firstly, the majority of GPs lack sufficient knowledge of testosterone replacement therapy.

So you may end up receiving treatment for depression instead of testosterone deficiency. You may come across an open-minded GP who is willing to listen to your concerns. Even if you are suffering with symptoms. This is because doctors are trained to treat testosterone deficiency only when tests show testosterone levels to be outside the normal range. If you do manage to get a referral to an endocrinologist, you may have to wait several months for an appointment. Several months of low testosterone is not a nice place to be.

Prescribed methods of testosterone treatment tend to vary between endocrinologists. Some may prescribe testosterone injections, whereas others may prescribe gels. Those who do receive [proper] treatment on the NHS are indeed very fortunate. But there are many who fall foul of the standard care model and are frustrated because they are refused treatment. But in order to qualify for testosterone replacement therapy on the NHS, patients have to jump through countless hoops. You can start the process with an open-minded and experienced hormone replacement therapy doctor.

You can get approval for treatment in as little as 48 hours, provided you have the appropriate blood tests and forms complete. And we aim to treat patients as individuals — not just a lab number.

You can have a remote consultation in the comfort of your own home. The staff at Balance My Hormones are also always on hand to assist in other aspects of care.

This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts. Now how do I know this… As a GP in the NHS, I had reviewed a young man who presented with all the symptoms of low testosterone and had a blood test which was more or less in the normal range, however, I referred quoting all the facts from the endocrinology societies expressing the need to treat in light of normal values and he would benefit from treatment optimisation therapy , but what was the end results…outright rejection of the referral, stating that they will not support this management!!!!!

The next conundrum, which was at times even more frustrating, actually having specialists give the advice on guidance on testosterone administration which seemed incorrect. I had a patient who was thankfully after a long drawn out battle issued Sustanon but was told to use it every three weeks.

So yes the path to TRT testosterone replacement therapy on the NHS is a real one, but one which is paved with trial and tribulations with an end result, which is at times, is not what you expected…. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

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