Andrew Huberman's Testosterone Lab Workup: What He Recommends and How to Run It in Miami

Medically reviewed by Shane D. Naidoo, MD
Medical Director, TrufaMED Urgent Care & Concierge Medicine
Board-Certified, Emergency Medicine
Last reviewed: May 2026

Andrew Huberman has had a larger influence on how men in their 30s and 40s think about hormone optimization than any clinician of the last decade. The Huberman Lab podcast has hundreds of millions of downloads, and the testosterone episode is one of the most-shared. He has also discussed his own decision to start TRT around age 45 publicly, including the specific dose he runs, the labs he tracks, and the reasons he decided to start. The framework is concrete, clinical, and specific. It is also widely searched.

The lab workup he recommends is not exotic. It is the same baseline panel any thoughtful clinician runs before considering any hormonal intervention. The reason it is worth writing about is that most men hear "testosterone optimization" and reach for the prescription before understanding the panel. The order matters. This is the panel, the framework, and what a supervised version looks like at TrufaMED in Miami.

The baseline panel he discusses

Before any conversation about TRT or hormone intervention, the framework Huberman has discussed publicly recommends:

• Total testosterone, the conventional measurement, drawn fasted in the morning between 7 and 10 AM
• Free testosterone, the bioavailable fraction, often more clinically relevant than total
• Estradiol, yes, men measure estradiol; men with elevated estradiol have a different symptom cluster than men with low testosterone
• Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), modulates how much testosterone is bioavailable
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), distinguish primary testicular failure from secondary (pituitary) hypogonadism
• Prolactin, flags pituitary issues that masquerade as low testosterone

Add a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, and hsCRP for safety and context. Why we run expanded panels covers the broader rationale; the testosterone-specific subset above is the relevant one for this protocol.

What "normal" means in testosterone terms

Reference ranges for total testosterone in adult men are typically 300 to 900 ng/dL. The lower bound is statistical, not optimal. A man at 320 ng/dL is "normal" by population. He is also at the bottom of the adult range and may be symptomatic, especially if he was running 700 a decade ago.

The Huberman framing on this point is conservative. TRT makes the most clinical sense for men with two separate morning total testosterone values below approximately 300 ng/dL AND consistent symptoms (low libido, fatigue, loss of morning erections, loss of muscle mass, depressive symptoms, erectile dysfunction). Men inside the normal range may not benefit, and starting therapy is a long-term commitment with real downsides.

The dose discussion

Huberman has publicly described starting at approximately 160 mg per week of testosterone cypionate, split into multiple injections, and later moving to a smaller dose every other day to smooth peaks and troughs. His total testosterone reportedly moved from approximately 800 ng/dL to approximately 1400 ng/dL on protocol. These are his personal numbers, run under his own physician's supervision, and he has explicitly framed them as personal data, not a recommendation.

The clinical reality is that dosing is individualized to baseline labs, body composition, hematocrit response, estradiol response, and goals. There is no universal dose. The dose discussion belongs in the encounter, not on a podcast or a blog post.

Why fertility planning is not optional

Exogenous testosterone suppresses the body's own testosterone production. It also suppresses sperm count, often dramatically, and the suppression is not always reversible. Men planning future fertility within the next five to ten years should not start TRT without an explicit fertility plan, which may include sperm banking, clomiphene-based alternatives, or hCG protocols designed to maintain testicular function during therapy.

This is the single most-skipped step in the popular conversation about TRT. The Huberman framing flags it consistently, and the TrufaMED encounter requires it before any prescription is written.

Monitoring after starting

The cadence the framework discusses, and what TrufaMED runs:

• Baseline panel, full hormone and safety markers before initiation
• 4 to 6 weeks after starting, first re-check; total and free testosterone, estradiol, hematocrit
• 3 months, confirm steady-state response and adjust dose if needed
• Every 6 months once stable, full panel including hematocrit (polycythemia risk), PSA (prostate monitoring), estradiol, lipid panel
• Symptom tracking, at every visit, in clinical detail

TRT without ongoing monitoring is not therapy. It is access. The clinical layer is what makes it medicine.

What a supervised version looks like at TrufaMED

The hormone optimization workflow at TrufaMED concierge medicine:

• Baseline visit, full hormone panel (total and free testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, LH, FSH, prolactin), CBC, CMP, lipid panel, hsCRP, vitamin D, B12, ferritin. Drawn fasted, morning.
• Results consultation, physician interpretation of the full panel against your symptom history, family history, and goals. Discussion of whether TRT is appropriate, whether alternatives (clomiphene, hCG) fit better, or whether the right answer is no medication and an optimization of sleep, training, body composition, and labs that move with lifestyle.
• If TRT is initiated, informed consent, fertility planning, dose individualization, follow-up schedule, prescription. Ongoing monitoring on the cadence described above.
• If TRT is not initiated, a written summary of the baseline, an action plan, and re-check schedule.

For men interested in a single baseline panel without ongoing concierge membership, the visit is available through urgent care or telehealth. Concierge membership is the better fit when ongoing optimization and longitudinal monitoring are part of the picture.

What we will not do

We will not prescribe TRT in a single short visit without baseline labs and a fertility discussion. We will not initiate testosterone above the upper end of physiologic ranges. We will not skip estradiol management on protocol. We will not market TRT as a longevity intervention for men who are not symptomatic and who fall inside normal ranges. The framework Huberman publicly discusses is consistent on these points.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Andrew Huberman and why is his testosterone protocol relevant?

Andrew Huberman, PhD, is a Stanford neuroscience professor and the host of the Huberman Lab podcast. He has discussed his own testosterone optimization publicly. The framework is referenced widely because it is one of the most-cited approaches to hormone optimization in men. TrufaMED is not affiliated with Dr. Huberman or the Huberman Lab.

What labs does the framework recommend before any TRT consideration?

Total testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, LH, FSH, prolactin. Plus CBC, CMP, lipid panel, and hsCRP for safety and context.

Is TRT appropriate at 'normal' levels?

The framework is conservative. TRT is most appropriate for men with clinically low testosterone (typically two morning values below approximately 300 ng/dL) AND consistent symptoms. Men inside the normal range may not benefit, and therapy is a long-term commitment with trade-offs.

What are the main risks?

Suppression of endogenous testosterone, fertility suppression (often dramatic and not always reversible), elevated hematocrit, elevated estradiol if not managed, and indefinite continuation once started.

How often are labs re-checked after starting?

Baseline before initiation, 4-to-6 weeks after starting, 3 months, then every 6 months once stable, with hematocrit, PSA, and estradiol tracked on the same cadence.

What dose ranges has Huberman publicly discussed?

Approximately 160 mg per week of testosterone cypionate split into multiple injections, later transitioning to a smaller dose every other day. These are his personal numbers under his own physician's supervision and are not a recommendation. Individual dosing is highly individualized.

Should young men get a baseline testosterone check?

The case in the framework is that knowing your baseline in your 20s and 30s gives you a personal reference point for the future. It is reasonable for any man thinking about long-term hormone health.

Will TrufaMED prescribe TRT?

Through our concierge program, yes, when clinically appropriate, with full informed consent, fertility planning, and ongoing monitoring.

Does insurance cover testosterone labs and TRT?

Standard testosterone labs with documented indication are typically covered. Compounded preparations and concierge visits are often self-pay.

How is this different from a TRT clinic?

Standalone TRT clinics focus on the prescription. The clinical layer at TrufaMED includes the full panel, fertility planning, cardiovascular and prostate monitoring, estradiol management, and broader concierge integration.

What if my goal is fertility, not TRT?

Different framework, different labs. Add LH, FSH, prolactin, semen analysis referral if indicated, and consider clomiphene or hCG rather than exogenous testosterone.

Where can I schedule a hormone baseline?

The concierge medicine page on trufamed.com has details. Men interested in a single baseline panel can schedule an initial visit at urgent care. Call (305) 537-6396.

Schedule a hormone baseline

If you want to know where you actually are before any hormone conversation, the next step is a baseline panel. TrufaMED concierge medicine runs the full panel, with physician interpretation and a follow-up plan. To talk through whether TRT or alternatives are appropriate for your situation, call (305) 537-6396 or schedule through the concierge page.