Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect
when I come to Utah Weight Loss & Natural Hormone Clinic? (Men)
Testosterone Restoration Therapy (TRT) Men
experience significant reduction, or in many cases complete
elimination, of symptoms after being properly treated with
bio-identical (natural) hormones.
- INITIAL
CONSULT During your first
visit to our clinic, we will review your medical history, discuss
personal health concerns, and formulate an individualized treatment
plan for you. Expect to go home with:
- New Patient Packet (a place to keep important educational
materials & helpful handouts)
- Lab slip for blood work (a general health screen)
PSA levels will be checked prior to beginning hormone
restoration therapy, after 1 month of treatment, after 6
months, and once yearly thereafter.
- Saliva Test Kit, which you will complete at home, for
monitoring baseline hormone levels
- If you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes
to register on-line for Relay Health at www.relayhealth.com to
facilitate convenient communications with the clinic regarding
questions that may come up during your course of treatment.
- SECOND CONSULT This
visit is typically scheduled 3 weeks after your initial consult to
allow time for obtaining lab results. Blood and saliva
laboratory results will be discussed, and Bio-Identical Hormone
Restoration Therapy (BHRT) may be initiated if hormonal imbalances
exist. If your lab results indicate additional medical
conditions, options for appropriate treatment will be
discussed. Expect to go home with:
- Instructions for using your new bio-identical
hormones. Prescriptions for these hormones will be faxed to a
compounding pharmacy before you leave our clinic. It will
save you time at the pharmacy if you call them in advance, as
compounding does take extra time.
- Lab slip for PSA monitoring--blood draw 1 month after
initiating TRT.
It
is important not to expect an immediate response from using low,
physiologic doses of testosterone. Our goal is
to restore your body’s testosterone to normal levels. Most
doctors today prescribe testosterone far too aggressively.
This high dosing in men not only shuts down their body’s production of
endogenous testosterone (resulting in shrinking of the testicles), but
may cause increased levels of estrogen, weight gain and breast
enlargement. Therefore, it is important to use only the
amount prescribed by our nurse practitioner. It may
take a couple of months before you notice any improvement in your
symptoms. It’s very important to dose every day,
regardless of how you’re feeling!
- THIRD VISIT
is usually scheduled 1-2 months after your second
visit. We will watch your symptoms closely during
initiation of hormone restoration therapy. Depending on how
you are feeling, your hormone prescription dosing may be
adjusted.
- Expect to go home with a second ZRT saliva test kit, and
additional lab orders as needed.
- FOLLOW-UP VISITS
Depending on your response to treatment, saliva test results, and the
need for additional monitoring of abnormal blood lab results, clinic
visits will be scheduled at 1, 2, 4, or 6 month intervals.
[Note: Testosterone is a controlled
substance, and requires a clinic visit and a new prescription every 6
months.]