[Lotus]

Test kits are expensive,

These kits seem reasonable for isolating individual tests from Amazon:

Testosterone test $34.95 +shipping http://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Level...71-0554045

Male Andropause 2 Hormone test $65.00 +shipping http://www.amazon.com/Saliva-Hormone-Tes...pd_sim_hpc

Estrogen Hormone Balance Level $34.95 + shipping http://www.amazon.com/Estrogen-Hormone-B...51-2298277

Other Tests are available, so if your wanting to get some idea where your hormones are at, this seems like it would do it fairly inexpensive compared to other test companies. I can't find if it offers to run it through your health insurance, but if you factor your deductible plus sample fee's and your costs still seem reasonable.

P.S. It's blood and saliva testing

[Karren]

Personally if I want to see something specific..... I just have my endo add it to the prescription during my annual checkup and she sends me the test results.... the insurance picks up most of the bill....

[Lotus]

My thought was for the people that don't have insurance, or just too lazy (me,lol) to make it to their doctors, again factor in deductibles and lab fees, so weigh the +/-.

To prevent hormonal imbalance and find the best breast enhancement pills for you, the first step you should take is to get a hormone test. You can request one with your doctor or if you do not have insurance, consider an at-home saliva hormone test kit. You can order individual tests for each of the most important breast-enhancing hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
http://mustgrowbust.com/breast-blog (sorry, Monika)

[MonikaT]

I'm not quite sure why I'm being issued an apology.

[SarahSchilling]

I'm not quite sure why I'm being issued an apology.

Was wondering myself, and I'm not even you

[Lotus]

Because it's form the mustgrowbust From transfemme, ( you don't remember?)


You got upset because transemsme made unqualified remarks about BO!, so now I watch what I say about MGB (actually it was Transfemme you where referring too!) later I understood what you where talking about after reading the articles.

[GoneGirl]

I'm thinking about asking my doctor to include sex hormone analysis at my next blood test. I figure that sooner or later he's going to question my breast growth and order the test anyway. What should I ask be tested? Is total testosterone the standard? What about estrogen?

CK

[Lotus]

What should I ask be tested? Is total testosterone the standard? What about estrogen?

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2010/may2...Men_01.htm

Don’t Lower Your Estrogen Too Much!
When reviewing the studies about the multiple pathological effects of excess estrogen in aging men, it may be tempting to take high doses of an aromatase-inhibiting drug (like Arimidex®) to slash estrogen levels as low as possible. Don’t do this, as men need estrogen to maintain bone density, cognitive function, and even to maintain the inner lining of the arterial wall (the endothelium).
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/nov2...ale_02.htm

Those two should help described what to ask your doctor, one other is a Mammogram, yup, if we're gonna grow them we need to take precautions too!. I had one a year ago, it was awkward but not uncommon.

[GoneGirl]

Thanks, Lotus. Very interesting. The price of an accurate free testosterone blood test is ridiculously high ($1000) and not covered by my insurance. The much cheaper and less accurate saliva test ($36) measures total testosterone, most of which is bound up and inactive. I suppose the saliva test might give some ballpark information. Anyone do it? Was it helpful?

CK

[MonikaT]

Lotus, my only issue with Transfemme/BB is that all sites that mention BO and what it is alleged to do can ultimately be traced back to TF/BB, and I just want some independent corroboration that BO reprograms the pituitary to convert T into E. I'm something of a natural-born skeptic and I'd like independent proof.

CK, as for blood tests, you need total T, SHBG, albumin (which is usually part of a complete metabolic panel that is very common), and estradiol at the very least. I find estradiol a very hard sell unless you are experiencing a lot of breast pain and growth. Most medicos refuse to order it.

Estradiol should be 21.80-30.11 pg/mL. Anything higher or lower in a male is associated with a shorter lifespan. http://www.lef.org/protocols/male_reprod...ion_01.htm Look for the box near the bottom about estrogen balance.

Total T is largely useless, but most doctors cling to it as the standard, and the reference range is wide (291-739 ng/dL at my lab) and lab-dependent.

With total T, SHBG, and albumin, you can calculate free T here: http://www.issam.ch/freetesto.htm I have to assume this is an accurate calculator since Johns Hopkins recommended its use on a reference card aimed at doctors about male hypogonadism.

Free T should be in the range of 9-30 ng/dL. http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/t...tive/83686

If you want blood tests and don't want to ask a doctor or can't get the doctor to order them for you, check out The Life Extension Foundation www.lef.org. They offer all kinds of hormone panels, individual tests, and recommended male or female panels, etc. They also offer an annual discount period roughly from April-June. Members get an additional discount. They do their testing through Labcorp so if you have a nearby Labcorp lab, they send you a requisition, you go, get the blood drawn, and LEF mails and/or emails you the results. If there is no Labcorp in your area, they send you a kit, you go to whatever lab is near you, pay a fee for drawing the blood, then ship the vials off to be tested, etc.