A
- Anastrozole
- An aromatase inhibitor sometimes prescribed alongside TRT to reduce excess estrogen when estradiol runs high. Used sparingly — over-suppression causes its own problems.
- Androgens
- The family of male sex hormones, of which testosterone is the primary one. Includes DHT, DHEA, and androstenedione.
- Aromatase
- The enzyme that converts testosterone into estradiol (estrogen). Body fat contains aromatase, which is why heavier men often run higher estradiol on TRT.
B
- BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy)
- Hormone therapy using molecules chemically identical to those the body makes. In the TRT context, BHRT usually means compounded testosterone or pellets. The "bioidentical" label is marketing more than medicine — FDA-approved testosterone is also bioidentical.
C
- CBC (complete blood count)
- A standard blood test that measures red and white cells. On TRT, the key value is hematocrit — the percentage of blood volume made up of red cells — because TRT can raise it.
- Clomid (clomiphene)
- A medication that stimulates the pituitary to produce more LH and FSH, boosting natural testosterone production. Sometimes used as an alternative to TRT in men who want to preserve fertility.
- Cypionate
- Testosterone cypionate — the most commonly prescribed injectable testosterone ester in the U.S. Administered once or twice weekly.
D
- DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
- A potent androgen made from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. Responsible for many male-pattern traits, including hair loss susceptibility.
E
- Enanthate
- Testosterone enanthate — an injectable testosterone ester with a very similar profile to cypionate. Common outside the U.S.
- Enclomiphene
- An isomer of clomiphene that stimulates natural testosterone production without some of clomiphene's side effects. Increasingly used in telehealth protocols.
- Estradiol (E2)
- The primary form of estrogen in both men and women. Men need some estradiol for libido, bone health, and mood. A "sensitive assay" is required for accurate measurement in men.
F
- Free testosterone
- The portion of testosterone not bound to SHBG or albumin — the biologically active fraction. Often tracks better with symptoms than total testosterone.
- FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
- A pituitary hormone that stimulates sperm production. TRT suppresses FSH, which is why it reduces fertility.
G
- GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1)
- A class of medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) used for weight loss and diabetes. Some TRT clinics offer these as adjunct therapies, though they are not part of TRT itself.
H
- HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
- A peptide that mimics LH, keeping the testes producing testosterone and sperm while on TRT. Prescribed to men who want to preserve fertility or maintain testicular size.
- Hematocrit
- The percentage of blood volume made of red cells. TRT typically raises it; values above 52–54% usually prompt a dose reduction or therapeutic phlebotomy.
- HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
- Umbrella term for replacing any hormone. In men's health it usually means TRT; in women's health it refers to estrogen/progesterone therapy.
- Hypogonadism
- The clinical condition of producing insufficient testosterone. Primary hypogonadism = testicular failure. Secondary = pituitary/hypothalamic origin.
I
- IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1)
- A proxy measurement for growth hormone activity. Some clinics check it as part of a comprehensive male-optimization panel.
- Injectable
- Testosterone delivered via intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SubQ) injection — the most common and affordable delivery form.
L
- LH (luteinizing hormone)
- The pituitary hormone that signals the testes to produce testosterone. Measuring LH alongside testosterone helps distinguish primary from secondary hypogonadism.
- Low T
- Informal term for clinically low testosterone. Used in marketing, but not a diagnostic label on its own.
P
- Pellets
- Small testosterone cylinders implanted under the skin every 3–6 months. Release hormone slowly for stable blood levels without weekly dosing.
- Peptides
- Short chains of amino acids sometimes prescribed for recovery, weight management, or growth-hormone support (e.g., sermorelin, ipamorelin, BPC-157). Regulatory status varies; many are compounded rather than FDA-approved.
- Phlebotomy
- Blood donation or therapeutic blood draw. Used to manage elevated hematocrit in men on TRT.
- PSA (prostate-specific antigen)
- A blood marker used to screen for prostate issues. TRT doesn't cause prostate cancer, but can accelerate growth of existing cancer, so PSA is monitored regularly.
S
- SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin)
- A protein that binds testosterone in the blood, reducing its bioavailability. Men with high SHBG may have normal total testosterone but low free testosterone and symptoms of low T.
- Subcutaneous (SubQ) injection
- Injection into the fatty layer beneath the skin. Increasingly preferred for TRT: less painful than IM, comparable absorption, uses shorter needles.
T
- TDS (testosterone deficiency syndrome)
- Another clinical label for hypogonadism, used primarily by urology.
- Topical gel
- Testosterone in a gel or cream applied daily to the shoulders, arms, or abdomen. AndroGel and Testim are common branded forms.
- Total testosterone
- The sum of all testosterone in the blood — bound and unbound. The standard first-line measurement, typically drawn in the morning.
- Trough
- The lowest blood level of testosterone during a dosing cycle — typically the day before the next injection. Used to verify doses are adequate.
- TRT (testosterone replacement therapy)
- Medically supervised restoration of testosterone to a healthy range in men with clinically low levels.
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