This panel includes: Testosterone, Total, LC/MS and Free (Equilibrium Dialysis), and 17-OH-progesterone, a metabolite that has been correlated with sperm production.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) shuts down upstream hormones like LH and FSH required for sperm production, so men on TRT generally have a difficult time fathering a child. Some studies show that adding hCG to a TRT protocol may improve sperm production since hCG is an analog of LH that could stimulate sperm production. But optimizing hCG dose and frequency based on sperm count can be a time consuming process since it takes at least 8 weeks to see changes in sperm tests. Fortunately, there is an easier way by measuring 17-OH-progesterone to predict the efficacy of the hCG+TRT protocol without having to wait for 8 weeks between hCG dose/frequency changes. 

This popular and cost-effective panel includes main blood test variables monitored by many clinics that treat men with low testosterone. This panel is for men who are already on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and who want to monitor their main blood tests. You save substantial amounts of money by ordering these tests together rather than one at a time. The panel includes: Total and free testosterone (LC/MS assay. No upper limit restriction), Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), Estradiol (sensitive- LC/MS assay), CBC (includes glucose, hematocrit and immune cells), CMP (includes liver and kidney function, eGFR), Lipids (LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) 

To find out if sperm count is normalized in men using hCG plus TRT, several studies have found that 17OH-P blood level is correlated to intratesticular testosterone (ITT) required for the testicles to make sperm, so testing for this hormone could not only save time while optimizing HCG dose/frequency but also eliminate the need to perform testicular aspirations, a very difficult procedure to do. Sperm count does not stabilize until 6-8 weeks after starting hCG plus TRT, so knowing your 17OH-progesterone blood level can give you a quick way to determine if your hCG dose and frequency is adequate before your first follow-up semen analysis after 8 weeks.