Doctor Explains the Most Important Lab on Steroids

Everyone says “get your bloodwork done” — but nobody explains which labs actually matter if you’re running steroids, TRT, growth hormone, or other PEDs. In this harm reduction guide, board-certified urologist and men’s health specialist Dr. Alex Tatem breaks down the 10 essential blood tests for steroid users — what they measure, what they DON’T tell you, and how to interpret them correctly. We cover: • BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel) – electrolytes, glucose, dehydration risks • CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) – liver enzymes (AST, ALT), oral steroid stress • Cystatin C – accurate kidney function for muscular lifters • Testosterone (Total + Free) – TRT vs blast levels • Hematocrit / CBC – polycythemia & stroke risk • Estradiol (E2) – aromatization & gynecomastia • IGF-1 – verifying real growth hormone • Fasting Lipid Panel – LDL, HDL, triglycerides & heart disease risk • TSH – thyroid suppression from T3/T4 use • LH, FSH + Semen Analysis – fertility & HPG axis recovery This video covers steroid bloodwork, TRT labs, growth hormone monitoring, hematocrit management, liver toxicity from oral steroids, lipid damage from anabolics, and long-term cardiovascular risk. ⚠️ This is harm reduction — NOT medical advice. Steroid use carries serious risks. If you want a deep dive on coronary calcium scores, stress tests, echocardiograms, carotid IMT, and advanced longevity imaging — drop a comment below. Stay safe. Don’t fly blind. 🕒 Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:23 BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel) 03:37 CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) 06:17 Testosterone 07:28 Hematocrit / CBC 09:03 Estradiol (E2) 09:44 IGF-1 10:49 Fasting Lipid Panel 12:12 TSH (Thyroid Function) 13:59 Semen Analysis