Bloodwork for Fertility Optimization: What to Test
2025-01-28
If you're serious about recovery or conception, bloodwork is non-negotiable. Here's what to test and when.
Baseline Panel
- Total testosterone – Where you're starting
- Free testosterone – Bioavailable fraction
- LH and FSH – Pituitary signals; low = suppression
- Estradiol – Can be elevated or crashed post-cycle
- SHBG – Binds testosterone; can swing with cycles
- Prolactin – Elevated in some cases; can affect libido and fertility
Fertility-Specific
- Semen analysis – The gold standard. Count, motility, morphology.
- Inhibin B – Correlates with sperm production
- TSH – Thyroid affects metabolism and reproduction
When to Test
- Before starting – Establish baseline
- At 6–8 weeks – Mid-protocol check
- At 12 weeks – Post-protocol to assess recovery
Your doctor or a TRT/fertility specialist can order these. Some direct-to-consumer labs offer hormone panels.