•6 min read

Labs to get before starting any peptide

A clinician-led baseline lab checklist to discuss before peptides or hormones: CBC, CMP, lipids, hormones, IGF-1, and more. Educational only; PeptIQ never gives dosing advice.

PeptIQ Team
Peptide Research & Education

PeptIQ is for adults 18+ and never gives dosing advice. Talk with a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any peptide, hormone, or medication. This guide is educational, not medical advice.

Whatever you're considering, the first step is the same: a licensed clinician and a baseline. Labs show where you're starting from, catch problems that should rule a compound out, and give you something to measure against later. Your clinician decides what to order. This list is a conversation starter, not a prescription, and PeptIQ never gives dosing advice.

A common baseline to discuss

  • CBC: red cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit. Testosterone and AAS can raise hematocrit.
  • CMP: kidney and liver function, electrolytes, glucose. The FDA links SARMs to liver injury (FDA).
  • Lipid panel: the testosterone label lists dyslipidemia among abuse-related reactions (label).
  • HbA1c and fasting glucose: GH secretagogues like MK-677 may alter glucose and insulin sensitivity (FDA).
  • Hormones (men): total and free testosterone (morning, on two separate days), LH, FSH, estradiol. The FDA requires low testosterone to be confirmed on two morning tests before treatment is started (FDA 2015 label change). LH and FSH show whether your own axis is working, which matters most at 18–25.
  • Hormones (women): as your clinician directs, plus a pregnancy test where relevant. SARMs carry miscarriage warnings (FDA).
  • Thyroid (TSH).
  • IGF-1: before anything that targets growth hormone.
  • Lipase/amylase: ask about these before GLP-1-class drugs. Pancreatitis was reported in the retatrutide Phase 2 trial (NEJM).
  • Blood pressure and resting heart rate: retatrutide raised heart rate with dose (same source).
  • Fertility (if relevant): semen analysis before any androgen. The testosterone label lists infertility (label).

Why under-25s should take this most seriously

Your endocrine system is usually working fine at baseline. Labs record that, so if something changes later you and your clinician can see it.

Questions to ask your clinician

  • Is this FDA-approved for my condition, or is it research-only or unapproved?
  • What should I recheck, and when?
  • What symptoms mean I should stop and call you?

Tracking

PeptIQ lets you log lab results next to your protocol so you and your clinician can see trends together.

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