HRT 4 ALL / Blood Tests
The guide for practicing safe DIY Hormonal Treatment
Made by teens for teens
A blood test is a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a hypodermic needle.
These can be used to measure various things in the body like cholesterol, vitamin concentrations, electrolytes, hormone levels and more.
Note the hormone levels part, which is the primary reason why we do blood tests.
To make sure our estrogen and testosterone levels are in satisfactory zones as well for checking organ function too.
Note: Blood Tests are not required to practice DIY HRT.
This article is simply here to offer guidance to those whom have extra money and aren't bothered spending it on testing their levels.
When it comes to purchasing private blood tests, you usually go through an online lab.
Whom will then create a lab order for you to fulfill at the clinic you requested to enroll.
This is all done remotely and without a doctor, which is why it's called private.
These labs do not require insurance and follow HIPAA privacy rules.
Note: All the listed labs below allow minors and teenagers to use their services.
Before you buy blood tests you should be educated on what each blood test means and what they're necessarily testing for.
I made a brief "dictionary" for information on each blood test including intended applications and purposes.
Note: Many of these tests are included in packs of other tests.
For example, if you wanted to test your Testosterone, Estradiol and U&E, don't buy these tests individually.
Instead purchase the [Private MD Labs] Women's Hormone Light Test
because it includes all these tests and more at a cheaper cost.
Yes, both FTMs and MTFs can use the "Women's" Hormone Light.
[Private MD Labs] Test your Testosterone with Women's Hormone Light Test
[Private MD Labs] Test your Estrogen with Women's Hormone Light Test
[Private MD Labs] Test your Prolactin with a Prolactin Test
[Private MD Labs] Test your AST/ALT with Women's Hormone Light Test
[Private MD Labs] Test your HbA1C with a HbA1C Test
[Private MD Labs] Test your Cholesterol with a Lipids Panel
[Private MD Labs] Test your CBC with Women's Hormone Light Test
[Private MD Labs] Test your U&E with Women's Hormone Light Test
I will be providing pediatric blood test ranges below. I took reference primarily from two pediatric reference value sheets.
Note: If you are not aware about what the tanner stages are, I recommend reading more below.
Tanner Stages for Biological Females
Tanner Stages for Biological Males
If a table is made for females, emphasized in pink, then trans women should follow that table.
If a table is made for males, emphasized in blue, then trans men should follow that table instead.
I will also include some unisex tables that applies to everyone regardless of gender, emphasized in green.
| Tanner Stage [MALE] | Range (ng/dL) | Mean (ng/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You Have Not Started Puberty | You Have Not Started Puberty |
| 2 | 18 - 150 | 42 |
| 3 | 100 - 320 | 190 |
| 4 | 200 - 620 | 372 |
| 5 | 350 - 970 | 546 |
| Tanner Stage [FEMALE] | Range (ng/dL) | Mean (ng/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You Have Not Started Puberty | You Have Not Started Puberty |
| 2 | 7 - 28 | 18 |
| 3 | 15 - 35 | 25 |
| 4 | 13 - 32 | 22 |
| 5 | 20 - 38 | 25 |
| Tanner Stage [MALE] | Range (pg/mL) | Mean (pg/mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You Have Not Started Puberty | You Have Not Started Puberty |
| 2 | 5 - 16 | 11 |
| 3 | 5 - 25 | 16 |
| 4 | 10 - 36 | 22 |
| 5 | 10 - 36 | 21 |
| Tanner Stage [FEMALE] | Range (pg/mL) | Mean (pg/mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You Have Not Started Puberty | You Have Not Started Puberty |
| 2 | 10 - 24 | 16 |
| 3 | 7 - 60 | 25 |
| 4 | 21 - 85 | 47 |
| 5 | 34 - 170 | 110 |
| Age [MALE] | Range (ng/mL) | Mean (ng/mL) |
|---|---|---|
| All Ages | 3 - 18 | 10.5 |
| Age [FEMALE] | Range (ng/mL) | Mean (ng/mL) |
|---|---|---|
| All Ages | 3 - 24 | 13.5 |
| Age [MALE] | AST Range (U/L) | ALT Range (U/L) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-13 Years Old | 8 - 60 | 7 - 55 |
| Over 14 Years Old | 8 - 48 | 7 - 55 |
| Age [FEMALE] | AST Range (U/L) | ALT Range (U/L) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-13 Years Old | 8 - 50 | 7 - 55 |
| Over 14 Years Old | 8 - 43 | 7 - 55 |
| Percentage (%) | Diabetes Risk |
|---|---|
| < 5.7% | Decreased Risk for Diabetes |
| 5.7 - 6.4% | Increased Risk for Diabetes |
| > 6.4% | Ongoing High Blood Sugar |
I've decided to not make a table and instead
redirect you to the full list on Mayo Clinic's Catalog.
The contents are too long for me to fit into a table.
I've decided to not make a table and instead
redirect you to the full list on Mayo Clinic's Catalog.
The contents are too long for me to fit into a table.
I've decided to not make a table and instead
redirect you to the full list on Mayo Clinic's Catalog.
The contents are too long for me to fit into a table.
The earliest you can start doing blood tests is after one month of starting HRT. This is because testosterone takes some time to reach a steady state, where your levels are stable. You should always do blood tests the day before you usually inject, to get trough levels. If you can, after you've done your first blood tests do them every 6 months.
I have made a list of blood tests you should do, ordered in three tiers of significance.
For injection users,
the earliest you can start doing blood tests is after one month of starting HRT.
This is because estrogen takes some time to reach a steady state, where your levels are stable.
You should always do blood tests the day before you usually inject, to get trough levels.
If you can, after you've done your first blood tests do them every 6 months.
For pill users,
The earliest you can start doing blood tests is after one week of starting HRT.
You should always do blood tests about 4 hours before you'll next take your pills, to get trough levels.
If you can, after you've done your first blood tests do them every 6 months.
I have made a list of blood tests you should do, ordered in four tiers of significance.