Testosterone replacement therapy, usually shortened to TRT, comes in more than one form, and the form is only part of the story. How a provider confirms the plan and how they monitor it afterward matter just as much.
This article explains how TRT is delivered, how injections and pellets differ, which labs come first, how monitoring works, and how TRT runs at GIOSTAR in Henderson.
What TRT is
TRT is testosterone therapy prescribed by a licensed provider when your labs and history point to a fit. The word "prescribed" does the work in that sentence. A responsible plan begins with measurement, not with a product.
At GIOSTAR, TRT comes as a monthly membership, with check-ins and lab monitoring built in. A nurse practitioner prescribes only when your results and history support it.
The labs that come first
Guidelines call for two early-morning blood draws plus a review of how you feel. Testosterone runs highest in the morning, so the timing matters. Blood counts and PSA are on the baseline panel too.
The sequence at GIOSTAR:
- Free consultation with our patient team, with no obligation.
- Visit with your nurse practitioner in Henderson, who reviews your history and goals, orders your labs and sets your total.
- Baseline labs. A morning draw at a Quest location near you, with results in about a week.
To prepare, fast 8 to 12 hours and drink plain water only, and keep taking prescribed medicines unless your provider says otherwise. Pause biotin, found in many hair, skin and nail supplements, for 72 hours before your draw unless your provider tells you otherwise, because it can skew some results.
For more on the labs, read what a full-body blood panel measures.
TRT injections
Injections are the most common form. A small dose of testosterone goes under the skin or into the muscle on a schedule.
At GIOSTAR, most men use a weekly or every-other-week injection, learned in one short training visit and given at home. Each injection takes about a minute. Before your first home dose, a nurse trains you on your injection.
A few reasons people choose injections:
- The dose is adjustable. Because each dose is separate, your nurse practitioner can raise or lower it from your labs.
- It is easy to pause. If something needs to change, the next dose simply changes.
- It is done at home. After training, there is no standing appointment for each dose.
If you would rather not self-inject, your nurse practitioner talks through your options at your visit.
TRT pellets
Pellets are small, rice-sized implants placed under the skin in a minor in-office procedure. They release testosterone slowly, and a new set is placed every few months.
People who like pellets usually like the idea of not thinking about dosing for months at a time. The tradeoff is that a dose already in place is harder to adjust than a weekly injection. If your labs call for a change, you wait for the pellet or have it removed.
At GIOSTAR, the TRT plan is built around injections. Ask your nurse practitioner at your visit about your options. Whichever form a provider offers, the questions in the next section apply.
How TRT is monitored
Monitoring is what separates a plan from a prescription. At GIOSTAR:
- Testosterone, hematocrit, PSA and blood pressure are checked on a set schedule, following Endocrine Society guidance.
- Hematocrit measures the share of your blood made of red cells. If it passes 54%, we pause or adjust your dose.
- Your dose aims at the middle of the normal range. We recheck to keep it there.
- Recheck labs come within about 3 months. Expect a PSA recheck 3 to 12 months after you start.
- Once your dose is stable, checks move to a routine schedule, and your nurse practitioner reviews blood pressure at every check-in.
A provider who cannot tell you the schedule is not monitoring on one.
What people notice early on TRT
The most common early effects are mild bruising or irritation where you inject, and acne. Tell your nurse practitioner about anything that worries you, and you can call us at 702.703.5393 between visits.
TRT, fertility and family plans
Testosterone therapy lowers sperm production. If you plan to have children, tell your nurse practitioner at your visit, before you start. They will talk through your options with you.
Who testosterone replacement therapy may be right for
TRT often suits men who want a plan for training, work and family time, with a provider who goes through their labs with them. Give your nurse practitioner your full health history at your visit, plus every medication and supplement you take, and your plans for children. The nurse practitioner confirms whether you are a candidate.
What to ask any TRT provider
- How do you confirm that testosterone fits me?
- Which labs do you run, and when?
- What do you do if hematocrit or PSA moves?
- Who adjusts my dose, and how often?
- What is the commitment, and how do I cancel?
- What is the full total, in writing?
At GIOSTAR, memberships run a 3-month minimum, then month to month, and cancelling takes 30 days' notice by phone. The total depends on your plan: your dose and how often you inject. GIOSTAR prices medication separately by dose, and the lab work your nurse practitioner orders adds to the total. Your nurse practitioner gives you the full total at your free consultation, before you book. TRT is not billed to insurance, and Cherry offers monthly payment plans for qualified applicants.
For context on the wider approach, see how hormone therapy works.
TRT at GIOSTAR in Henderson
GIOSTAR stands for Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research. Founded by Dr. Anand Srivastava, GIOSTAR International is part of a network across three countries, and our Henderson wellness center at 2482 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Ste 100, is now open. Dr. Ryan Peterson, our Medical Director, oversees care. Start with a free consultation at 702.703.5393, or learn more about hormone therapy at GIOSTAR.
