Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can boost your energy, sex drive, and muscle mass–all things that can help you feel like your best self. In these cases, treating the other condition may help control the hematocrit levels. Patients are usually monitored for signs of dizziness or low blood pressure afterward, but serious side effects are rare. This treatment is often done at a clinic, hospital, or blood center. Therapeutic phlebotomy is a safe and effective way to bring hematocrit back to a healthy range. Lower, steadier doses help reduce the risk of blood thickening. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through the body. It allows doctors to keep the balance between getting the benefits of treatment and avoiding unwanted side effects. If a clot blocks blood flow to the brain or heart, it can cause a stroke or heart attack. To keep patients safe, doctors use regular blood tests to watch for changes. This is why regular blood tests are needed to catch changes early. When the blood becomes thicker than normal, it flows more slowly. Along with a CBC, your provider might order a peripheral blood smear, which gives them more information about how your blood cells look under a microscope. Benefits include practical tips to keep you healthy and vibrant, up-to-date health news explained simply and clearly, and special promo codes to use for our online courses, special reports, and more. Even with an abnormally low level that is replicated on a repeat test, the decision to begin testosterone replacement therapy and the proper dose requires a careful conversation with your doctor. It's best to measure free testosterone levels in the morning. Because prostate cancer is so common, doctors tend to be leery of prescribing testosterone to men who may be at higher than average risk of having undiagnosed prostate cancer. However, the wisdom and effectiveness of testosterone treatment to improve sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear. However, many men with normal testosterone levels have similar symptoms, so a direct connection between testosterone levels and symptoms is not always clear. To allow the therapy to take full effect, healthcare providers typically wait 30 days after you start TRT to check your testosterone levels. Reputable medical websites and peer-reviewed scientific articles can also provide further insights into the complex interplay between hormones and red blood cell production. Estrogen generally has an inhibitory effect on erythropoiesis, while testosterone (an androgen) typically stimulates red blood cell production. No, at physiological levels, estrogen does not directly stimulate red blood cell production. Choosing a lower dose or a different delivery method can reduce the impact on red blood cells. Polycythemia is not rare in people who take testosterone therapy. Even though higher red blood cell levels can make a person feel more energetic at first, they can be dangerous if they go too high. This lowers the number of red blood cells and helps reduce blood thickness. If red blood cell levels are rising quickly, testing may be done more often. Another study showed a low risk of side effects. In a study review, 85 percent of people who received therapeutic phlebotomy for secondary polycythemia said their symptoms improved. If your hematocrit hits 54 percent or higher, your doctor might recommend therapeutic phlebotomy, which is like a modern, scientifically vetted version of bloodletting. You can safely reduce hematocrit on TRT through therapeutic phlebotomy, blood donation, asking your doctor to change your TRT dose or delivery system, and making lifestyle changes. 8 A hematocrit above 52 percent is typically considered polycythemia. Sometimes the energizing effects of TRT mask the effects of high hematocrit.