Hormone/ blood tests

[Mew]

Finasteride isn't taken seriously and most of them don't know what it is, so I'm reluctant to try and talk about it again.

Show your Doctor this and he should take you seriously. Also, participate in the study if your side effects have not resolved after quitting.
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=58504

what tests to ask for?

There's a sticky post at top of HORMONES section about Recommended blood tests on that "other" site you're also a member of -- suggest you read that. Also already gave you direct links to do so in your inquiry on that forum.

 

[Boondock]

Assuming you go NHS, there's no way your doctor will let you go in with such a long "shopping list" of tests. The low-hanging fruit to go for will be testosterone, free testosterone (or if they can't do that, SHBG), prolactin, and some of the estrogens - estradiol is the one normally recommended. Your Doctor will probably chuck in thyroid as well.

The key thing to remember with the NHS is that your doctor will either tell you you're fine or not. You need to get the values yourself, since what's "fine" in the range of blood tests may be low for someone your age - you want to be in at least the top half of testosterone, for instance. Just make sure you go to the reception and get a copy of your tests.

If you want to go to Harley Street you can get a fairly extensive test for a few hundred quid. See http://www.clinicheck.com/cms/images/st ... 090223.pdf

There's absolutely no way to get the list Mew gave you on the NHS, and to do it privately would I imagine cost you a couple of grand. It's not really very practical, and they'll think you're just a super-hypochondriac for asking for it.

 

[Boondock]

Yeah I know that list is ludicrous.

I just want to explain to my doctor the few things going on down there and point out a couple of tests, I can see it being awkward with propecia, but I will mention I took it for 5 months and whether he knows about it or not insist on some tests.

On another note, has anybody been to the doctor with numerous problems? I literally need to go in for this, and two skin problems (not related to hair loss or any drugs) I'm struggling to pluck up the courage and go in and open up with 3 bloody problems. Then again I guess there doctors, they have seen it all right.

I haven't tried it myself. My experience with NHS doctors has been very negative. Generally they don't like more than one problem, and they don't like complex problems either. One of my doctors actually used Google while I was in the clinic.

I'm sure you could give it a try, just don't expect the Doctor to take the time to go through your problems and find a solution. You may hit on a gem of a Doctor, but I expect they'll try and get you out of there in 10 minutes.

 

[Mew]

Actually, I did provide you a link to the shortlist.

Here it is anyway.

Total Testosterone
Free Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone
Androstenedione
DHT
3alpha-diol G (Androstenediol glucuronide -- ("Adiol-G" for short): metabolite of DHT, measures 5AR-II activity
Estradiol (E2)
LH
FSH
SHBG
Prolactin
TSH

 

[Boondock]

I would go total testosterone, free testosterone (or SHBG, from which you can work it out), and estradiol.

If your T is low you could then look at whether anything was up with your LH.

 

[Fanjeera]

The ones I usually do are T, estradiol, FSH and LH along with sperm analysis. You should see them first thyroid is also worth checking -- that means TSH and T3. If it's all okay, you can move further to free T, SHBG, androstenedione and prolactin maybe. If you still don't see the problem, then do IGF and DHT, if it's available. And of course, if it's reachable, then 3a-diol-g.

 

[Fanjeera]

Ups & downs is normal I think. Or do you remember not having them at all before finasteride?