Testosterone Therapy

At Three Rivers Medicine in St. Louis and Creve Coeur, Missouri, our physician-led primary care testosterone therapy provides medically supervised, individualized hormone management for adults experiencing symptoms of low testosterone. This service integrates in-depth medical evaluation, lab monitoring, and ongoing physician oversight into a comprehensive treatment model, ensuring safe and effective care within your long-term health plan.

Testosterone plays a central role in energy, mood, muscle mass, bone health, and sexual function. According to clinical studies, as many as 20% of men over the age of 60 have levels below the normal range, with symptoms that may significantly impact quality of life. Testosterone therapy can improve symptoms when medically indicated; however, inappropriate use without physician supervision may lead to adverse effects, including cardiovascular risk and hormone imbalance.

Our primary care framework allows for a measured approach: careful diagnosis, structured dosing, lab-guided adjustments, and coordinated management of related health factors such as cardiovascular risk, metabolic health, and endocrine function. This physician-led model contrasts with fragmented, prescription-only approaches that lack continuity of care and thorough medical evaluation.

What Makes Our Physician-Led Approach Different?

Many clinics offer testosterone prescriptions based on limited evaluation, often via telehealth or limited testing. At Three Rivers Medicine, testosterone therapy is integrated into your primary care practice, ensuring that hormone management is aligned with your overall health plan.

Our approach includes:

• Detailed hormone testing with repeat labs to confirm diagnosis
• Evaluation of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors
• Diagnosis of underlying causes of low testosterone
• Individualized dosing and formulation selection
• Ongoing monitoring for response and safety

This physician-led model helps reduce risks associated with inappropriate dosing, unsupervised therapy, and fragmented care. Research indicates that coordinated primary care models result in better chronic disease outcomes compared with episodic or concierge-only services disconnected from routine medical records and preventive planning.

For patients interested in broader preventive and proactive care, Three Rivers Concierge Medicine offers a model of concierge doctor-led care with enhanced access to your clinician, modern diagnostics, and personalized follow-up plans aligned with hormone management and overall wellness.

Who Should Consider Testosterone Therapy?

Testosterone therapy may be appropriate for adults (typically ages 30–80) who:

• Have symptoms consistent with low testosterone
• Have lab-confirmed low testosterone levels on multiple tests
• Are interested in physician-supervised, long-term hormone care
• Prefer coordinated care within a primary care setting

This therapy is not appropriate for patients who:

• Expect one-time prescriptions without physician follow-up
• Seek acute care only or have urgent medical complaints
• Are being evaluated solely through insurance-only episodic encounters
• Have untreated prostate cancer or significant cardiovascular instability (contraindications determined by physician)

How the Testosterone Therapy Process Works

Step 1: Initial Medical Assessment

Your clinician performs a comprehensive health review, including medical history, symptom assessment, and lab testing. Accurate diagnosis is foundational to safe hormone therapy.

Step 2: Lab Evaluation

Testosterone levels vary throughout the day; we obtain multiple measurements including free and total testosterone, SHBG, and related biomarkers to confirm diagnosis and rule out confounding conditions.

Step 3: Personalized Treatment Plan

If appropriate, your physician will recommend a tailored regimen that may include topical, injectable, or other medically approved testosterone formulations. Dosing is individualized to optimize benefits and minimize risk.

Step 4: Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment

Follow-up labs and clinical evaluations occur at regular intervals to track hormone levels, symptom response, and safety markers like hematocrit. Changes in dosing are made based on clinical criteria—not arbitrary timelines.

Related Services and Internal Resources

To support your comprehensive health journey, explore our related care offerings, including Internal Medicine for chronic disease management and ongoing health optimization. For broader preventive care and enhanced clinician access, learn more about Concierge Medicine. For educational content on hormone health and metabolic wellness, visit our News & Insights section.