Can I get TRT on the NHS?
Realising that they are suffering from the symptoms of low testosterone is often only the start for men of what can be a long path to finding the necessary treatment. As with tackling most health problems, making a visit to their local GP surgery will be their initial move in trying to get TRT on the NHS. But with one on 20 patients in England waiting at least four weeks to see a GP, even this may take some time.
Once face to face with a GP, the question is, do they know much or indeed anything about testosterone deficiency? Most GPs are not trained specialists in this area and the NHS diagnostic process looks initially at other causes for symptoms including:
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- ‘Mid-life crisis’ (psychological)
- Lack of sleep
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
- Too much alcohol
- Low self-esteem
If they rule out these potential causes, your GP may request a blood test to measure total testosterone levels. However, the threshold set by the NHS for low testosterone is as low as 8.6 nmol/L for total testosterone. This low threshold is despite many men suffering from symptoms at much higher testosterone levels, for example 15 nmol/L for loss of libido and energy, obesity at between 10 and 12 nmol/L and depression, disturbed sleep, lack of concentration and type two diabetes at between eight and 10 nmol/L.
It is also a fixed threshold, taking no account of research showing average testosterone levels decline with age and measured levels become more variable as well. What is more, reference may not be made to levels of free testosterone (not attached to proteins in the blood), which according to research are more closely correlated with low T symptoms.
If you do succeed in persuading your GP to get your testosterone tested and the result comes in below the threshold level, then you are likely be referred to an endocrinologist, with the prospect of a long wait for an appointment, possibly nine months to a year. Only then will they recommend suitable treatment options, which may include TRT. These tend to be standardised (restricted to gels or certain types of injections) and may not include treatments like hCG, which can preserve testicular function including fertility, for example.
Once on treatment, there is also likely to be limited follow-up testing and monitoring to see how it is going
Private TRT UK vs. TRT on the NHS
While you may manage to clear all these hurdles and secure TRT on the NHS, so avoiding having to pay for treatment directly, it is clearly a long process and the outcome is far from certain.
On the other hand, private UK TRT clinics like the Centre for Men’s Health can offer a very different experience. The Centre has a team of expert doctors with in-depth knowledge of the symptoms and diagnosis of low T/testosterone deficiency.
Rather than waiting months, with the Centre for Men’s Health you can be tested and in front of the doctor in the consulting room within days and in London we offer blood testing and consultation on a same day basis. Patients will also be tested for a range of blood markers in addition to testosterone to rule out other potential diagnoses for the symptoms they are suffering.
There are often treatment options available that are not offered by the NHS and these can be tailored to your exact needs and response to treatment over time.
Alongside this, patients are offered regular blood testing and monitoring to ensure testosterone and other marker levels are optimal and within safe limits.
CHAT NOW FOR HELP BOOK A CALL WITH AN EXPERTReferences:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/male-menopause
https://www.nottsapc.nhs.uk/media/3xca50qg/testosterone-info-sheet.pdf