Talking to your doctor

Many men put off talking to their doctor for months, even years. But the sooner you talk about the issue, the quicker you are likely to get your sex life and energy levels back on track. So why delay?

A GP will probably assess your symptoms by asking questions about your sex life, as well as other influences on your health - like any medication you are taking, your lifestyle, typical diet and usual level of exercise.

To make your appointment easier, our online questionnaire will help you to record and print your own answers to the likely questions, so you can take them along to your consultation.

Simply click here to begin and answer the questions online. Then when you're finished, press print and you can take the printed answers to your consultation with your GP. Easy!

Typical tests

Testosterone deficiency syndrome is diagnosed by a blood test. If your testosterone level is confirmed to be low, you will probably be referred to a specialist - usually an endocrinologist or urologist - who may then do further tests.

The blood tests will show whether your symptoms are due to primary or secondary TDS. These tests are usually done in the morning (between 8 and 11am)¹⁸, when the testosterone in your blood is naturally at its highest.

Additional examinations (if applicable)

Sometimes a specialist may recommend additional examinations; this may involve having an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or a CT (computed tomography) scan to check for enlargement of the pituitary gland, which regulates the testosterone level in your blood.

A bone density scan (of your hips and spine) might also be recommended to check whether there is any weakening of the bones (osteoporosis), which can occur when low testosterone is left untreated.

Yes, it might seem like a lot of tests, but they are all really important to make an accurate diagnosis of TDS.