Unanswered Saliva Testosterone Kit Accurate?

anthon88

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Hey guys,

So I finally went to my doctor for routine blood work (haven't been since high school and I'm 31 now), and I asked the doc if a blood test shows your testosterone levels. I was playing dumb because I know he has to specifically order that test to be done but I was just curious what he would say. I don't feel any signs of low test but after lifting most of my life I was just curious as to where I stood...especially since I am in my 30's now. Anyway, his reaction was a bit overboard in my opinion.

The first thing he says is, "I am not testing your testosterone levels...especially at your age." So I casually say when is a good time to check them, like 40 years old? And he goes, "I don't check them then, I don't prescribe TRT, etc etc." I was like, I am not looking for TRT was just curious....

So anyway, how do you guys go about getting your Test levels checked? I guess I could have lied and said that I was impotent....but I couldn't bring myself to do it lol I see these at home kits, but they are saliva based and I am not sure how accurate they are. Some things say they are pretty good and others say they aren't. Wondering what you guys think.

Thanks!
 
SFreed

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Shouldn't matter. I've had t levels checked every year when I get my old man physical. And my Dr is 100% against TRT.
 
anthon88

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Shouldn't matter. I've had t levels checked every year when I get my old man physical. And my Dr is 100% against TRT.
How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? Maybe I should find another doc lol
 
anthon88

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Theres private labs all around that will do it for very cheap.
Alright thanks, I’m browsing around. What would you consider very cheap when it comes to these tests?
 
anthon88

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Theres private labs all around that will do it for very cheap.
Alright thanks, I’m browsing around. What would you consider very cheap when it comes to these tests?
 
anthon88

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Theres private labs all around that will do it for very cheap.
Alright thanks, I’m browsing around. What would you consider very cheap when it comes to these tests?
 
anthon88

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Theres private labs all around that will do it for very cheap.
Alright thanks, I’m browsing around. What would you consider very cheap when it comes to these tests?
 
anthon88

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Theres private labs all around that will do it for very cheap.
Alright thanks, I’m browsing around. What would you consider very cheap when it comes to these tests?
 
anthon88

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58. And everyone else is right. You need a different Dr
Wish there was a way to screen them and find out which doctors are willing to work with you before filling out all that paperwork again and hoping for the best. For now, it looks like I’ll have to pay out of pocket and do some private labs to settle my curiosity.
 
anthon88

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Any suggestions on what to order? Free and total test...but what about estrogen, estradiol, DHEA, DHT, FSH/LH, IGF-1, cortisol, etc?

Ideally I would just get most of them but the price starts adding up quickly lol
 

kisaj

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Total and free test, SHBG, FSH/LH, e2 sensitive, thyroid (TSH minimum, free T4 and t3 nice to have). These are your basics. If you can, DHEAS, progesterone, pregnenolone, and vit D are nice.

Don't forget your CBC w/lipids.
 
boooosted

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I have not heard the saliva tests to be very accurate. I am not on TRT so I don't know if this is accurate or not but if you go to an online trt / anti-aging clinic they need to test you. I think they send you or a local clinic a lab slip or something for the test. So I wonder if insurance would even pay for some at that point since it is a doctor prescribing it. Can anyone confirm if this is how it works?
 
anthon88

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Never heard of a doctor refusing testosterone tests
Yeah and his reaction to a simple question was ridiculous. Luckily, i don’t have any issues and it was more of just a curiosity thing.
 

bigdadybry

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Another way around it, with a physician giving resistance, is to lie about symptoms. The doc needs medical necessity, justification, documentation to order a lab test. Low libido, erectile dysfunction, and similar "symptoms" should suffice. The negative (relative) with this approach is it becomes part of your medical record. I am in agreement with getting a testosterone profile benchmark test in your 30's or sooner. It gives you an idea of where YOU want to be when you're older, as compared to what standard lab targets are for a broad range of the population.

Ultimately, I agree with the others about seeking another physician. Primarily because, at some juncture, if you are going to want or need TRT, you would need to find another doctor given this physician's stance on the treatment protocol.
 
anthon88

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Another way around it, with a physician giving resistance, is to lie about symptoms. The doc needs medical necessity, justification, documentation to order a lab test. Low libido, erectile dysfunction, and similar "symptoms" should suffice. The negative (relative) with this approach is it becomes part of your medical record. I am in agreement with getting a testosterone profile benchmark test in your 30's or sooner. It gives you an idea of where YOU want to be when you're older, as compared to what standard lab targets are for a broad range of the population.

Ultimately, I agree with the others about seeking another physician. Primarily because, at some juncture, if you are going to want or need TRT, you would need to find another doctor given this physician's stance on the treatment protocol.
Yeah, I am definitely going to look at other doctors. He didn’t even give me a chance to lie even if I wanted to....didn’t ask if I had any symptoms or anything. Very poor on his part, for all he knew I could have had an abundance of symptoms.
 
goodvibes

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Yeah, I am definitely going to look at other doctors. He didn’t even give me a chance to lie even if I wanted to....didn’t ask if I had any symptoms or anything. Very poor on his part, for all he knew I could have had an abundance of symptoms.
@bigdadybry is right you just have to lie about symptoms and that's what I did in the past. Are you under Kaiser? Cause that line is so effin familiar.
 
Carnivorecon

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Hey guys,

So I finally went to my doctor for routine blood work (haven't been since high school and I'm 31 now), and I asked the doc if a blood test shows your testosterone levels. I was playing dumb because I know he has to specifically order that test to be done but I was just curious what he would say. I don't feel any signs of low test but after lifting most of my life I was just curious as to where I stood...especially since I am in my 30's now. Anyway, his reaction was a bit overboard in my opinion.

The first thing he says is, "I am not testing your testosterone levels...especially at your age." So I casually say when is a good time to check them, like 40 years old? And he goes, "I don't check them then, I don't prescribe TRT, etc etc." I was like, I am not looking for TRT was just curious....

So anyway, how do you guys go about getting your Test levels checked? I guess I could have lied and said that I was impotent....but I couldn't bring myself to do it lol I see these at home kits, but they are saliva based and I am not sure how accurate they are. Some things say they are pretty good and others say they aren't. Wondering what you guys think.

Thanks!
Your dr sounds like an arrogant jerk-off, it's your health not his, i really can't stand drs who ignore a patients right to a choice in managing their health
 

bigdadybry

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With respect to your original question, I have no knowledge or experience on the accuracy of saliva-based T tests.

If it were me, the price were reasonable, and I did not want to go through the BS of going through my PCP, I would do one in the morning and one in the evening in an attempt to catch the high/low of the day's range. If it is a reputable certified lab running the tests, I would use them again for routine testing in the future following the same morning/evening test gathering to develop a trend over time. Additionally, they should publish or disclose their test methodology, which would allow you to research if the method is accurate/viable.
 
anthon88

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With respect to your original question, I have no knowledge or experience on the accuracy of saliva-based T tests.

If it were me, the price were reasonable, and I did not want to go through the BS of going through my PCP, I would do one in the morning and one in the evening in an attempt to catch the high/low of the day's range. If it is a reputable certified lab running the tests, I would use them again for routine testing in the future following the same morning/evening test gathering to develop a trend over time. Additionally, they should publish or disclose their test methodology, which would allow you to research if the method is accurate/viable.
That’s a good idea, thanks.
 

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