- •The lab panel matters more than the protocol. A cheap protocol with no labs is the most expensive version of any of these therapies you can run.
- •Trough timing is non-negotiable. Labs drawn 36 hours after a shot read a peak, not your real number. Protocol decisions made on peak-drawn labs are wrong by default.
- •The marker set differs by protocol. TRT centers on total/free T, sensitive E2, hematocrit, and lipids. GLP-1 centers on A1c, fasting glucose, lipids, kidney/liver, and lean-mass proxies. Peptides center on IGF-1, fasting glucose, and the markers tied to the specific compound.
- •Cross-protocol users (TRT + GLP-1, TRT + peptides) need both panels. The interactions matter, GLP-1-driven weight loss shifts SHBG and free T independent of dose changes.
Overview
Every protocol on this site lives or dies by the lab panel. Bloodwork is what separates a dialed-in user from someone guessing at how they feel. This page is the cross-cut: it pulls together the bloodwork sections from each pillar into a single navigation surface, and points to the deep-dive articles for the specific markers and decisions you're trying to make.
For full context, start at the relevant pillar:
Trough timing, the lab discipline that matters
When should I draw labs on TRT, GLP-1, and peptide protocols?
Trough is the lowest point in your dose cycle, not the morning after a shot. The numbers you can compare across visits are trough numbers; everything else is a peak in a different outfit[1]. Quick reference:
| Protocol | Trough window | What you draw |
|---|---|---|
| TRT, weekly cypionate/enanthate | Morning of next injection | Total/free T, sensitive E2, CBC, lipids |
| TRT, twice-weekly | Morning of next injection (so 3.5 days post-dose) | Same |
| TRT, daily microdose | Any morning before the daily shot | Same |
| GLP-1, weekly | Day before next dose | A1c, fasting glucose, lipids, CMP |
| Peptide cycles (5-on/2-off) | Off-day morning | IGF-1, fasting glucose, marker for compound |
Lab-day discipline matters more than panel selection. If your labs are drawn at random points in the dose cycle, the protocol decisions you make from them will swing on noise.
Related guides & tools
Tools and guides for testing and interpreting your bloodwork.
Calculators
- Free testosterone calculator — free & bioavailable T from total T, SHBG, and albumin.
- Compound half-life chart — time-to-steady-state, so you draw labs at the right point.
- Half-life visualizer — see where levels peak and trough.
Guides
- TRT injection guide — schedule and timing that shape your numbers.
- Side effects reference — which markers to watch and when to act.
- Pillar guides: TRT, GLP-1, and peptides.
In the OptiPin app
OptiPin's Apple Health integration imports lab results automatically as they land in your Health record, plotting markers against your dose timeline so trough-vs-peak draws are visible at a glance. The estimated-levels view models your testosterone, DHT, estradiol, and (for GLP-1 users) compound levels between draws based on dose log and half-life, useful when you want to confirm a lab was actually drawn at trough before reading too much into the number. OptiInsight, OptiPin's AI analysis, correlates lab markers with daily mood, sleep, libido, and training output across the same window, surfacing the patterns that single-lab views miss.
Sources
- [1]Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline (Bhasin et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab) (2018)
- [2]Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026 (American Diabetes Association) (2026)
- [3]Management of Erythrocytosis in Men Receiving Testosterone Therapy: Clinical Consultation Guide (2022)
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I run bloodwork on protocol?
TRT: 6 weeks after any change, then 3/6/12 months for the first year, then annually with hematocrit checks every 6 months[3]. GLP-1: every 3 months in titration, then every 6 months on maintenance[2]. Peptide cycles: pre-cycle baseline, mid-cycle if running >8 weeks, post-cycle. The cadence tightens whenever you change dose, schedule, or compound.
My total T is in range but I feel terrible. What am I missing?
Almost always one of: free T (low despite normal total), sensitive estradiol (crashed or elevated), SHBG context (the same total T means different things at SHBG 20 vs 60), or hematocrit creeping up. Total T alone is the wrong number to chase. See the TRT pillar's labs section for the full minimum panel.
Do I need bloodwork on a peptide cycle?
Yes for anything that meaningfully shifts a downstream marker, IGF-1 for GH secretagogues (CJC-1295/ipamorelin/tesamorelin), fasting glucose for the same class, and compound-specific markers (e.g., MK-677 affects fasting glucose and IGF-1 simultaneously). Topical and short-cycle peptides without systemic effect are lower priority.
Track Your Protocol in OptiPin
Log doses, forecast hormone and compound levels, rotate sites, daily symptom check-ins, and lab tracking, all private and on-device.
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