We men are masters at explaining away our symptoms. Always tired? Must be the changing seasons. Not hitting the mark in the bedroom? Well, with work being so busy, maybe you’re just a bit distracted. Struggling to lose weight? You get the gist.
Our flat-out refusal to admit something deeper might be at play is just another one of the quirks that makes men such fascinating creatures.
The question is, why do we do it? What would be so wrong with discovering there is something holding us back from a life of fulfilment?
Gentlemen, this is the exact epiphany that led me to take my first-ever testosterone test. For a good while now I’ve been feeling lost in no man’s land.
There has been a longstanding malaise that I just haven’t been able to put my finger on. I go to the gym but feel like I’m not getting the most out of my workouts, no matter what potions I gulp down before training.
At work, I’ve been performing well enough to get me by, yet I just felt there was something keeping me from taking myself to the next level.
Like many of you reading this, I rolled out the same bingo card of excuses. But it was only after I came across a rare video of substance on my TikTok For You about the impact of low testosterone that I even considered my T levels could be an impacting factor.
After a quick session on Google, I came across MANUAL, an at-home test kit that has given over 30,000 men clarity on their testosterone levels.
So, buoyed by research and thirst for answers I decided to put my pride aside and give it a go. Here’s how I got on…
You, Me, And The Big T
There’s certainly no shortage of home testosterone kits on the market, but I was drawn to MANUAL’s offerings for several reasons.
Unlike other brands, MANUAL tests for both total and free testosterone. Now, I don’t proclaim to be an expert on male hormones, but from my limited knowledge of testosterone, the latter is key for understanding the full picture.
Why? Because while total testosterone represents the overall amount found in the blood, some of it is attached to proteins that transport it around your body, potentially lowering the amount available for use.
By testing for free testosterone, which isn’t attached to any proteins, MANUAL can accurately measure whether your body is deficient in T.
Now, it’s no secret that getting a doctor’s appointment is twice the struggle it used to be just a few years ago. I’ve got no doubt that if I tried to raise my concerns with a GP it would take weeks to get the wheels in motion, by which point I would have likely given up.
MANUAL offers men the chance to discuss their results with leading testosterone specialists and licensed clinicians within days of taking the test, which, for me, was another huge plus.
Answers At The Prick Of A Finger
After punching in my card details it took just a couple of days for my test to arrive in the post. The kit included alcohol wipes and plasters, and two lancets just in case I made a mess of it the first time around.
I’m not a squeamish person, but even if you are, let me put your mind at rest by assuring you the test was easy and painless with minimal fuss.
I posted it, and within two days I received my results online. My reading was a (relatively) pleasant surprise. While my testosterone levels are on the low side of normal for a 27-year-old, they weren’t as low as I had feared.
Nevertheless, I was given a full and thorough explanation of my results, and provided with expert advice on how I might move forward.
What I found most comforting was that MANUAL doesn’t try to force you down the treatment route if it’s not necessary. In my case, I was given tips on a few lifestyle tweaks and supplements that could help me boost my T levels naturally.
The door remains open for me to take a second, more comprehensive test and explore Testosterone Replacement Therapy Service (TRT) should I want to, and it may well be something I consider when I hit my 30s.
For now, I’m just happy I’ve finally got some answers.
How Much Did All This Cost?
MANUAL’s test kit cost me just £33.95, a steal for the service I received. I’d have no hesitation paying it again if I ever felt my symptoms were worsening.
What’s more, the results MANUAL’s TRT has achieved for other men is nothing short of staggering. Some users have seen a 417% increase in their free testosterone levels since starting the programme.
If you’ve made it this far and are still on the fence, you can save 45% off your first order when you use MANUAL discount code GYM45 at the checkout.
