The venesection was painless to say the least, thank you for using local anaesthetics; highly recommended
Therapeutic Venesection: Restoring the Balance in Blood Levels
Therapeutic venesection is a safe procedure to lower blood levels. If you are doing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), you increase the body’s production of red blood cells, and polycythaemia can be a common side effect.
Polycythaemia means you have more haemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells), a higher level of hematocrit (the proportion of blood that is red cells), or more red blood cells overall. It makes your blood thicker, causing blood flow to slow down and become sluggish. Your organs may not get the blood they need to function, and you may experience some side effects like:
- Plethoric (red) face
- Breathlessness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nose bleeds
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
This is why it’s crucial to monitor haemoglobin and haematocrit levels while on testosterone therapy and, if necessary, follow up with therapeutic venesection. To a certain extent, testosterone is useful in enhancing endurance and strength. However, when excess red blood cells are produced due to the addition of external testosterone to the body, it can cause serious health concerns.
Therapeutic Venesection for Those in Hormone Replacement
Those who use anabolic steroids and testosterone sometimes blast and cruise (B&C) — using heavy amounts and then going through lessening periods for optimal results. If someone is doing this, it’s especially important to get the guidance of a doctor. A professional M.D. can keep a close eye on blood levels to prevent harm.
Therapeutic venesection, which takes about an hour, is a great way to help balance haemoglobin and haematocrit levels and it takes about an hour. It is similar to donating blood, but a physician prescribes this procedure to reduce blood viscosity (thickness).
In the United Kingdom, those on exogenous testosterone are not allowed to donate blood, and one may not want to involve their NHS GP for a referral to a haematologist (blood specialist). At Harley Street MD, we welcome anyone concerned about this and strongly suggest booking an appointment before a private venesection.
What’s Included in the Therapeutic Venesection Package?
At Harley Street MD, we provide therapeutic venesection caused by exogenous testosterone replacement.
To assess if this is necessary, we will check your blood count before any procedure. A repeat of the blood test is done 7-14 days after, which is included in the package.
We accept self-referrals, and your visit will be kept private. The procedure, where about a pint of blood is drawn, usually reduces haematocrit (thickness of blood) by roughly 3%. Sometimes, additional sessions are needed to bring blood levels fully back to normal.
You’ll receive the following:
- Consultation up to 30 minutes
- Blood test before treatment (bedside haemoglobin test)
- Therapeutic venesection procedure (up to 450 ml)
- Follow up in 10-14 days with a complimentary blood test (full blood count).
A blood test to confirm polycythaemia will be conducted before the therapeutic venesection/phlebotomy. You might be given medication to further minimise your risk before your follow-up, usually within two weeks after your procedure. A full blood count will be tested after the venesection, which is also included in the price. Ensure you are fully hydrated before arrival and allocate one hour for the procedure.
Call us today to book an appointment if you suspect you might have polycythaemia from testosterone replacement.
We Offer a Wide Range of Blood Tests
If, for any reason, you are worried you may be suffering from low testosterone or have been using steroids, we recommend coming into our office for guidance. We offer our clients many options for blood tests to ensure you are reaching your goals safely.
- Full blood count (£55): Full haematology profile including haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct).
- Standard Health Profile (£95): full blood count, kidney function test, liver function test, iron profile, bone profile, fasting blood sugar, full cholesterol breakdown and inflammatory marker.
- Advanced Health Profile (£165): full blood count, kidney function test, liver function test, iron profile, bone profile, fasting blood sugar, full cholesterol breakdown, inflammatory marker vitamin D level, complete thyroid profile (T3, T4, TSH).
- Complete Health Profile (£195): full blood count, kidney function test, liver function test, iron profile, bone profile, fasting blood sugar, full cholesterol breakdown, inflammatory marker, vitamin D level, complete thyroid profile (T3, T4, TSH) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).
- Complete Hormone Profile (£165): LH, FSH, testosterone, oestradiol (E2), prolactin, SHBG, free androgen index (FAI).
- Complete Growth Hormone Profile (£195): Tumour Markers – CEA (bowel cancer), CA19.9 (pancreatic cancer), AFP (liver cancer), HbA1c (Diabetes Screening), IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1).
- Advanced Prostate Profile (£95): free PSA, total PSA, free: total PSA ratio.
Our experienced Harley Street doctors specialise in testosterone replacement therapy and therapeutic venesection. Book a confidential consultation today, and let us help you get back to full health.
