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Understanding your progress is crucial to your TRT journey. We have created this 6-month progress report of our current TRT patients to provide you with valuable insights into how your treatment might be impacting your testosterone levels, symptoms, and overall well-being. We want to ensure that you have all the necessary information to make informed decisions about your health.
By tracking the progress of our entire cohort, we can offer you a clearer picture of what to expect and how your own results compare. We hope you use this report to initiate discussions with your TRT doctor about your results, any concerns, and/or areas for improvement, so we can tailor your treatment plan to optimise your results.
This report uses aggregate data from our current TRT patients from pre-treatment to 6-months, collected between October 2022 to March 2024. Here you will find:
Blood Test Results: These results provide objective data on key markers related to your hormonal balance and overall health. They serve as a vital indicator of the effectiveness of your TRT regimen.
qADAM Questionnaire Results: This questionnaire evaluates your subjective experiences on multiple facets of your health. By tracking changes in your responses over time, we can monitor how your treatment is positively impacting these areas.
We routinely monitor results from both your blood tests (quantitative measure) and qADAM questionnaire (qualitative measure), as improvement in testosterone levels are strongly correlated with improvement in symptoms, to comprehensively evaluate your progress and the success of your TRT treatment.
Based on blood tests taken throughout the treatment journey. Read more
The typical TRT journey with us includes a blood test at the 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month timepoints after the start of your treatment, and then every 6 months ongoing. At each of these points there is a task on your account to complete a blood test, as well as reminders via email.
These markers include testosterone levels, lipid profiles, and other vital indicators. Blood tests provide us with quantifiable information about the physiological effects of TRT on your body, and help us ensure that 1) your treatment is achieving its intended goals and 2) identify any adjustments that may be necessary. Read less
This chart shows the difference in qADAM scores before and after treatment
Shown at each treatment month
1Rebaselined % Change is used so that the base of the calculation accounts for the lowest score of the qADAM scores being 10, instead of 0
2Improvement (%) is calculated amongst patients that have submitted information in both months
Patients were asked to rate their experience with each symptom, on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=worst, 5=best) before starting TRT, and every 3 months throughout their treatment journey. Smaller values indicate worse symptoms.
Improvement in score compared to pre-treatment at each month post-treatment
Since starting treatment, the vast majority of patients saw improvements in their symptoms at 6 months.
The top 3 improvements patients reported were:
Libido (scoring increased 142% at 3 months, 168% at 6 months)
Energy levels (scoring increased 144% at 3 months, 166% at 6 months)
Sports ability (scoring increased 93% at 3 months, 103% at 6 months)
Energy levels: testosterone plays a role in regulating metabolism and energy production --> low testosterone contributes to feeling lethargic and fatigued, so restoring testosterone levels to normal can help alleviate symptoms and result in improved energy levels.
Libido: testosterone contributes to the physiological processes involved in sexual arousal and maintaining erectile function, such as increased blood flow to the genitals and heightened sensitivity to sexual stimuli.
Sports ability: testosterone, an anabolic hormone, promotes the growth and development of skeletal muscle tissue, aids in muscle recovery and repair processes after intense exercise or training, and helps maintain bone density and strength to reduce the risk of fractures and injuries.
Libido (sex drive) – while testosterone increases libido, if your oestrogen levels are too high, this can affect your sex drive negatively!
Consider reviewing your blood tests results with your TRT clinician so they can make adjustments to your treatment plan.
Also, maintaining a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and managing stress can positively impact libido.
Energy levels – if your testosterone dose is too low or your oestrogen is too high, then you may have lower than expected energy levels.
Consider reviewing your blood tests results with your TRT clinician so they can make adjustments to your treatment plan.
Strength of erections – High estradiol (E2) levels or prolactin (PRL) levels may impact erectile strength.
Consider reviewing these with your TRT doctor - they may suggest medications such as PDE5i, like daily tadalafil, to manage this.
Frequency falling asleep after dinner – this may be a result of having testosterone levels below the target range, and/or from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
OSA is often worsened by TRT, so if you find an increase in daytime sleepiness despite having good testosterone levels, consider discussing with your TRT doctor, or speak with your GP to arrange a sleep study.
Weight gain - this may be due to raised oestrogen (which can be managed), which may cause increased fat and/or via water retention. In addition, TRT can cause weight gain due to increased muscle mass.
If this is of concern, we recommend monitoring waist circumference in addition to weight, which can help differentiate between fat gain or muscle gain (i.e., a decrease in waist circumference would typically indicate that fat loss is occurring).
Amount of height lost – While this can be slowed by TRT, it is not fully reversible. We recommend:
Ensuring that your oestrogen and testosterone levels are in their optimal range.
Ensuring adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D to support bone health and minimise further height loss.
Incorporating weight-bearing exercises into your fitness routine can help maintain bone density and prevent further height loss.
💡 Key takeaway: Most of your symptoms and side effects are treatable - If you have any concerns, consider speaking with your TRT clinician, as we are here to help and support your along your treatment journey! In addition, improving your lifestyle will not only alleviate your symptoms, but will also increase your testosterone levels.
If you need to speak to someone urgently, contact the MANUAL team via help@manual.co for help, who can put you in touch with a doctor, or book a call from your online account. Otherwise, you will discuss your blood results with your doctor at your next review. As a reminder, these monitoring tests are due at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and every 6 months after that.
If you want to make sure that you are using your treatment plan correctly, you can book an injection training video call with us with this link. If you are on topical TRT, feel free to book a call with us using this link.
It's important to address any concerns or deviations from your anticipated results promptly to ensure optimal health and well-being on your TRT journey. Remember, open communication with your healthcare provider is key to achieving the desired outcomes and maintaining balance in your hormone levels!
