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Short answer — you can get tested and treated online, but it should be done through a licensed telemedicine provider (or lab + clinician) so labs are ordered, results reviewed, and testosterone is prescribed and monitored safely. Here’s a practical step‑by‑step plan, what to expect, and a few named services to consider.
- Decide how you want testing done
- Home blood‑draw kit (finger prick or small venous sample mailed to a lab) — convenient, good for screening:
- Everlywell Testosterone Test — easy home collection and fast results.
- LetsGetChecked — home kit plus nurse/telehealth follow‑up if abnormal.
- Standard blood draw at a lab ordered by a clinician — more complete testing and generally more accurate:
- LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics (blood draw centers nationwide).
- DirectLabs/HealthLabs let you order some tests directly in some states.
Why pick one: home kits are convenient; lab draws allow a fuller panel and are usually accepted by prescribing doctors.
- Which tests you should have Ask for (or order) morning fasting bloodwork (ideally between 7–10 AM):
- Total testosterone (primary)
- Free testosterone or calculated free testosterone
- SHBG (helps interpret free T)
- LH and FSH (distinguish primary vs secondary hypogonadism)
- Prolactin (if secondary suspicion)
- Estradiol (if symptoms like gynecomastia)
- CBC (hematocrit/hemoglobin)
- CMP (liver/kidney function, electrolytes)
- Lipid panel, HbA1c or fasting glucose
- PSA in men >40 or if risk for prostate disease
- Get a telemedicine consultation
- Have a clinician review your symptoms + labs and discuss causes, risks, and treatment options.
- Telehealth services that commonly evaluate and treat low testosterone:
- Roman (Ro) — focused men’s health; orders labs, offers multiple testosterone formulations, ongoing follow‑up.
- Hims & Hers (Hims) — affordable, streamlined care for men’s sexual and hormonal health; labs + prescriptions.
- PlushCare — board‑certified physicians who can order labs and prescribe TRT; accepts many insurances.
- LetsGetChecked — integrates home testing with telehealth nurse/doctor follow‑up and prescription options.
- Everlywell (paired telehealth) — good for initial screening, then follow up with a clinician for prescribing.
- If you prefer specialty care: Teladoc or local endocrinologists offering telehealth can manage more complex cases.
Why these: they’re established, explicitly offer TRT pathways, and partner with labs/compounding pharmacies for prescriptions and monitoring.
- Treatment options you’ll discuss
- Topical gels, injections (testosterone cypionate or enanthate), patches, or pellets. Each has pros/cons (cost, convenience, steady levels).
- If you want to preserve fertility, discuss alternatives (clomiphene citrate, hCG, or referral to a reproductive/endocrine specialist) — exogenous T suppresses sperm production.
- Monitoring schedule (typical)
- Recheck total (and sometimes free) testosterone ~6–12 weeks after starting or dose change, plus CBC, CMP, and estradiol as indicated.
- If stable, check labs every 3–6 months in the first year, then at least yearly.
- Watch hematocrit (risk of erythrocytosis), PSA in older men, lipids, and symptoms.
- Safety and red flags
- Don’t buy testosterone from overseas or unverified sources without a prescription.
- Providers should screen for contraindications: breast/prostate cancer, very high PSA, hematocrit >50%, uncontrolled heart failure, severe untreated sleep apnea.
- If labs or symptoms suggest secondary causes (pituitary disease), you’ll need referral for imaging or specialty care.
- Insurance and cost
- Some telemedicine providers accept insurance (PlushCare, Teladoc depending on plan); others are cash/ subscription models (Hims, Roman). Home test kits and labs vary: home kits ~$50–200; lab draws billed to insurance or out‑of‑pocket.
Next step
- Tell me your country or state (U.S. vs elsewhere) and whether you prefer home testing or an in‑lab draw, and I’ll suggest the best specific service and next actions for your situation.