Doc's won't just dish it out. I had a right old hoop to jump through, including a female doctor who wouldn't do anything despite a specific reason for my levels and consultant reviews, moved practice and I was sorted.
History:-
Dodgy (badly performed) snip in 2012, massive amount of pain, severed blood vessel badly stitched and pulling into groin constantly. Off to Urology Specialists, 12 months later (late 2013) for a rather nasty op (epididymectomy - nut out job, plumbing all removed, stitched back in). Prolonged recovery again, but really noticed feeling rough about 6 months, and no energy to cycle home after the commute). I can't recommend the snip - still in pain all these years later.
Managed to get a full set of bloods done, especially Testosterone. Lo and behold, my reading came back at 5. Normal is 15-20 nmol. Under 15 and you feel crap, and 12 is borderline for treatment. For my age at the time, average was 20, I was 5 ! I saw a specialist at Manchester !
Had to have more tests, still low, everything else fine. Docs won't put it down to the surgeries - 'unknown' is the diagnosis. Had further two minor procedures on the dodgy nut.
When going on TRT you'll also need PSA tests and the digital exam. Once on it, you can't come off it as your normal levels drop through the floor as you stop making it.
Treatment - daily gel, bi-weekly injection or a monthly injection. I've tried all.
Injections - you start to feel like crap at the end of the 'period', this can vary how long the injections are done, so has to be monitored by blood tests. Also injection fluid is like oil, so needs a big needle and can leave bruising. I stopped as I was limping for 5 days out of 14 after the injection due to tissue damage. Binned it off after I had a potatoe sized swelling.
Gel, applied daily. Again more blood tests to get dose right. Downside, takes a few minutes to dry, imperative no-one comes into contact with it until thoroughly dry. It also burns the skin a little and dries it out. Advantages is you are dosing every day so blood levels more stable although you get more up and down swings during the day/night - this can be managed by splitting the dose.
Getting a blood test when on gel is tricky. It's supposed to be first thing in the morning. If I go before taking my gel, my overnight level is back to 5, if I go right after applying gel, it's 30. If I go in the afternoon it's more like 15. Getting your doctor/nurse to understand this is hard !
Been on replacement 10 years. I'm not faster than I was and I've never tested high for T levels, as it's just not the same as natural production. I can't give blood either. Not all the gel get's absorbed as some soaks in. I can tell when I've forgotten to take it, especially when cycling home from work - just no energy.
Had numerous times when medication was unavailable - just had to switch product as my regular gel is now 'unavailable' and not known when back in stock. A lot of the supply issues is due to more being prescribed to menopausal women (much lower dose).
If you are feeling like crap, then it's always worth a full set of bloods. Don't forget, us UK dwellers are often short of Vitamin D, especially in winter.
PS you also shouldn't be competing in a Sport as it's a banned substance. Your levels will present as normal, but the tests will detect artificial T.
You can't just 'boost' your testosterone, as your body responds by making less, or non if you completely replace it.
If you've got any questions just ask.
