What's the difference between total and free testosterone?

Total testosterone measures all testosterone in your blood. Free testosterone is the active portion available to your cells. Many men have 'normal' total T but low free T — and still experience all the symptoms. We test both.

Will TRT affect my fertility?

Traditional TRT can suppress natural testosterone production and reduce sperm count. If preserving fertility is a concern, we discuss alternatives like clomiphene or HCG alongside or instead of TRT. We factor this in before recommending a protocol.

How long until I feel the effects?

Most patients notice changes in energy and mood within 4–6 weeks. Libido and body composition improvements typically develop over 3–6 months as the protocol is optimized. We set realistic expectations at your first visit.

Do you accept insurance?

We are a cash-pay practice. Many patients find that our lab and visit costs are comparable to — or less than — what they'd pay through insurance with copays and deductibles. We can provide documentation for FSA/HSA reimbursement.

What if my levels are 'borderline'?

Lab ranges are population averages, not optimal targets. If your testosterone is in the low-normal range but you have significant symptoms, that's a clinical conversation worth having. We look at your full picture, not just whether you cleared a cutoff number.

Idaho Health& Hormones

Patient Portal Book Consult

Academic Center

Journal Patient Portal Book Consult

✦ Wellness · Boise, ID · Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone therapy in Boise, ID — properly dosed, properly monitored.

Low testosterone isn't just a number on a lab report. It's low energy, lost muscle, reduced drive, and a body that doesn't respond the way it used to. At Idaho Health & Hormones, we treat it with clinical precision — and we serve Boise patients from our Meridian clinic, minutes away.

Book a Consult Call (208) 268-8851

Board-certified provider · Comprehensive labs · Same-week appointments

✦ Why it matters where you go

One lab value isn't enough to build a protocol.

Many TRT clinics in the Boise area check total testosterone, see a low number, and prescribe a standard dose. That's a starting point — not a protocol.

Your testosterone doesn't work in isolation. Free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, thyroid function, and metabolic markers all interact. A protocol that ignores those relationships can leave you feeling no different — or worse, create new imbalances.

At Idaho Health & Hormones, every patient starts with a comprehensive hormone panel. We review all of it before recommending anything. Then we choose a delivery method — injection, pellet, or cream — based on your physiology, your schedule, and your goals.

✦ Your protocol, your choice

Three ways to optimize. One right fit for you.

Most flexible

Testosterone Injections

Weekly or biweekly self-administered injections. Precise dosing, fast adjustment when needed. Ideal for patients who want active control over their protocol.

Most convenient

Testosterone Pellets

A small pellet inserted under the skin quarterly releases a steady, sustained dose — no daily medications, no weekly injections. Most patients prefer the consistency.

Non-invasive

Testosterone Cream

Transdermal cream applied daily. A good option for patients who want a non-injection route with more frequent titration flexibility.

✦ The process

Start with labs. Leave with a plan.

Step 1

Comprehensive blood draw

We test total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, thyroid panel, PSA, hematocrit, and a full metabolic panel. Not just one number.

Step 2

Provider consultation

Cheryl Fish, NP, reviews your labs with you in plain language. You'll understand what each marker means, why it matters, and what we recommend — before anything is prescribed.

Step 3

Your personalized protocol

We select the delivery method and dose that fits your biology and your life. Your protocol isn't copied from someone else's chart.

Step 4

Ongoing monitoring

Labs every 3–6 months. Dose adjustments when needed. You're never just left on a protocol and forgotten.

✦ Recognizing the signs

It's not just libido. It's everything.

Low testosterone affects more systems than most men realize. If you're experiencing several of these, a lab draw is worth doing:

Fatigue that sleep doesn't fix
Reduced sex drive or performance
Difficulty building or keeping muscle despite training
Increasing body fat, especially around the midsection
Mood changes — irritability, low motivation, flat affect
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Poor sleep quality
Joint aches or slower recovery

Most men with low T have had these symptoms for years before connecting them to hormones. A morning blood draw takes 10 minutes and answers the question definitively.

✦ Location

Boise patients, 15 minutes away.

Our clinic is located at 2667 E. Gala Ct., Suite 110 in Meridian — easy to reach from Boise, Eagle, Nampa, and the rest of the Treasure Valley. Free parking, same-week appointments, and no referral needed.

We see Boise-area men every week. Most new patients are booked within 5 business days.

✦ Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

What's the difference between total and free testosterone?: Total testosterone measures all testosterone in your blood. Free testosterone is the active portion available to your cells. Many men have 'normal' total T but low free T — and still experience all the symptoms. We test both.
Will TRT affect my fertility?: Traditional TRT can suppress natural testosterone production and reduce sperm count. If preserving fertility is a concern, we discuss alternatives like clomiphene or HCG alongside or instead of TRT. We factor this in before recommending a protocol.
How long until I feel the effects?: Most patients notice changes in energy and mood within 4–6 weeks. Libido and body composition improvements typically develop over 3–6 months as the protocol is optimized. We set realistic expectations at your first visit.
Do you accept insurance?: We are a cash-pay practice. Many patients find that our lab and visit costs are comparable to — or less than — what they'd pay through insurance with copays and deductibles. We can provide documentation for FSA/HSA reimbursement.
What if my levels are 'borderline'?: Lab ranges are population averages, not optimal targets. If your testosterone is in the low-normal range but you have significant symptoms, that's a clinical conversation worth having. We look at your full picture, not just whether you cleared a cutoff number.

✦ Ready when you are