Service 01
Initial Hormonal Health Assessment
€149
- Nursing consultation and clinical history
- Hormone and basic health blood panel
- Blood pressure and health screening
- Written hormonal health report
- Results discussion and recommendations
Nurse-led · Carrigaline, Cork
Men's Hormonal Health.Expertly Assessed.
Nurse-led hormonal health assessments, comprehensive blood testing and ongoing monitoring, with access to independent medical consultations when appropriate.
Led by a Registered Nurse
Independent medical consultations
Transparent, per-appointment pricing
No subscriptions or memberships
Why timing mattersA daily rhythm
The Clinic
More than a single number.
Hormonal health is rarely explained by one blood result. Our assessments bring together your symptoms, history, lifestyle and properly timed laboratory testing, so you receive a clear, written account of where you stand and an honest view of what, if anything, should happen next.
The clinic is led by a Registered Nurse and works alongside an independent doctor, who provides remote medical consultations when a medical opinion is appropriate. Each professional works within their own scope, and every recommendation is grounded in evidence rather than trends.
Our approach€149Initial nursing assessment, including blood panel and written report
TwoIndependent professionals: a Registered Nurse and a collaborating medical practitioner
ZeroSubscriptions, memberships or mandatory packages
Our Clinical Approach
Careful, measured and evidence-led.
01
Assess, don't assume
Tiredness, low mood or reduced libido have many possible causes. We look at the whole picture before drawing any conclusions.
02
Test at the right time
Testosterone varies through the day. Samples are taken in the morning, and low or borderline results are repeated before conclusions are drawn.
03
Independent medical decisions
Diagnosis, treatment and prescribing are matters for the doctor, decided independently following an appropriate medical assessment.
04
Monitor with care
Where treatment is started, safe monitoring matters. Follow-up testing is clinically indicated, clearly explained and never sold as a package.
How It Works
The full pathway A clear pathway, step by step.
1
Book your assessment
Choose a morning appointment online. No GP referral is needed.
2
Attend the clinic
Consultation, blood collection and health screening in Carrigaline.
3
Receive your report
A written report and a discussion of your results.
4
medical consultation
A secure video consultation with the independent doctor, where appropriate.
5
Next steps
Further investigations, treatment decisions or referral, as clinically indicated.
6
Monitoring
Follow-up appointments when they are clinically required.
Services & Pricing
Full pricing Transparent fees. No surprises.
Pay per appointment. No subscriptions, annual packages or memberships.
Service 02
Remote Medical Consultation
€249
- Secure video consultation with the doctor
- Review of symptoms, history and results
- Medical assessment and treatment options
- Prescribing decisions where clinically appropriate
- Further investigation or referral if required
Service 03
Ongoing Hormonal Health Monitoring
€149per visit
- Clinically indicated blood panel
- Nursing health and symptom review
- Updated written report
- Results discussion
- Coordination with the prescribing doctor
Combined Initial Pathway
Nursing assessment and medical consultation
€149 + €249 = €398
When both services are appropriate. Medications and additional investigations are charged separately. No prescription is guaranteed.
Your Healthcare Professionals
Meet the team Two clinicians. Clear responsibilities.
JF
Nurse-led careJohnny Forrester
Founder · Registered Nurse
BSc Nursing, MSc Applied Behaviour Analysis
Over ten years of nursing experience. Johnny leads nursing assessment, phlebotomy, health screening, patient education, written reports and monitoring.
A
Independent DoctorDr Alkim
Collaborating Registered Medical Practitioner
Provides independent remote medical consultations, including diagnosis, treatment decisions, prescribing where appropriate and referral.
Doctor's name, qualifications, Medical Council registration and biography must be supplied and approved by the doctor before launch.
An important note
Treatment and prescribing decisions are made independently by the doctor, following an appropriate medical assessment.
Booking any service does not guarantee a diagnosis, a prescription or a particular outcome. Many men who attend will not require testosterone treatment, and further testing or in-person assessment may be advised.
What happens at my first appointment?
Your first appointment is a nursing consultation at our Carrigaline clinic. We take a relevant clinical history, review your symptoms and lifestyle, check your blood pressure and carry out basic health screening, and take a blood sample for your hormone and general health panel. Your written report and results discussion follow once results are available.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You do not need a referral to book a nursing assessment. We will ask for your own GP's details and, with your consent, may recommend sharing relevant results with them.
Is testosterone treatment guaranteed?
No. Many men who attend will not need testosterone treatment, and symptoms are often explained by other factors. Any treatment decision is made independently by the doctor following an appropriate medical assessment. Booking any service does not guarantee a diagnosis, a prescription or a particular outcome.
Will I need repeat blood tests?
Often, yes. A low or borderline result is normally confirmed with a second morning test on a separate day before testosterone deficiency is diagnosed. Illness, poor sleep or intense exercise can lower a result temporarily.
Are medications included?
No. Medication and prescription costs are not included in any of our fees.
Appointments
Begin with a proper assessment.
Morning appointments at our Carrigaline clinic. Your written report and results discussion follow once your results are available.
Carrigaline, Co. Cork · info@yourclinic.ie
02 · Services
Our services.
Three clearly defined services, each delivered by the appropriate professional and charged per appointment.
A thorough starting point: a structured nursing consultation, a hormone and general health blood panel, and a written report that explains your results in plain language.
- Nursing consultation and relevant clinical history
- Hormone and basic health blood panel
- Blood pressure and health screening
- Symptom and lifestyle review
- Written hormonal health report
- Results discussion and recommendations for further assessment
Prolactin, PSA, repeat diagnostic testing and other additional investigations may incur extra charges when clinically indicated. You will be told about any additional charge before testing goes ahead.
Confirm the exact markers in the blood panel, and confirm that additional charges are always explained before testing.
A separate professional service provided by the collaborating medical practitioner, who reviews your history and results and makes independent medical decisions.
- Secure video consultation with the collaborating medical practitioner
- Review of relevant symptoms, medical history and laboratory results
- Medical assessment and diagnostic considerations
- Discussion of appropriate treatment options
- Prescribing decisions where clinically appropriate
- Further investigation or specialist referral where required
No prescription is guaranteed. The doctor may recommend further tests, an in-person examination, or referral before any decision is made. Medication costs are not included.
Doctor to confirm consultation format, video platform, how prescriptions are issued, and in-person examination arrangements.
Clinically indicated follow-up, with each visit booked and paid individually. You are never tied into a plan.
- Clinically indicated blood panel
- Nursing health and symptom review
- Updated written report
- Results discussion
- Coordination with the prescribing doctor where appropriate
Additional testing and medical consultations are charged separately. There are no subscriptions, annual monitoring packages or mandatory memberships.
Combined Initial Pathway
When both services are appropriate
€149 + €249 = €398
Initial nursing assessment plus remote medical consultation. Medications, additional investigations and referrals are charged separately.
Start with the initial assessment.
Everything else follows from an accurate picture of your health.
03 · How It Works
A clear, considered pathway.
Six steps, each with a defined purpose. You only move to the next stage when it is clinically appropriate.
- 1
Book your nursing assessment
Choose an appointment online. No GP referral is needed. Morning appointments are recommended, as testosterone levels are usually highest early in the day. You may be advised to attend fasting.
Online booking - 2
Attend the Carrigaline clinic
Your nursing consultation covers your symptoms, medical history, medications and lifestyle. Your blood pressure and other basic health measures are checked, and a blood sample is taken for your hormone and general health panel.
In clinic - 3
Receive your written report
Once results are available, you receive a written hormonal health report and a results discussion. We explain what your results show, what they do not show, and what we recommend next.
Report and discussion - 4
Medical video consultation, where appropriate
If a medical opinion is appropriate, you can arrange a secure video consultation with the independent doctor, who reviews your history and results and makes independent medical decisions.
Optional · separate service - 5
Investigations, treatment decisions or referral
Depending on the doctor's assessment, this may mean repeat or further blood tests, an in-person examination, a treatment decision, or referral to a specialist. A prescription is never guaranteed.
As clinically indicated - 6
Follow-up monitoring
Where it is clinically required, monitoring appointments check your symptoms, blood results and general health, with findings shared with the prescribing doctor.
When required
Good to know
Not every man needs treatment.
Symptoms often linked to low testosterone are common and have many possible causes. For a significant number of men, results are within the expected range, or another explanation is more likely.
Other causes that may need investigation
- Poor sleep, including obstructive sleep apnoea
- Thyroid conditions, anaemia or diabetes
- Low mood, depression, anxiety or stress
- Medication side effects
- Excess weight, alcohol intake or overtraining
- Recent illness
Where another cause seems more likely, we will tell you, and may recommend you speak with your own GP.
Clinical content: Doctor to review and approve this section.
Ready to take the first step?
04 · Men's Hormonal Health
Understanding testosterone.
Measured, evidence-based information to help you understand your health, and why accurate assessment matters.
This entire page is clinical education. It must be reviewed and approved by the doctor before publication, and checked against current Irish advertising rules for medicines.
Testosterone and its roles
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. It is produced mostly by the testes, under the control of signalling hormones from the pituitary gland in the brain, known as LH and FSH.
It contributes to sexual desire and function, sperm production, muscle and bone strength, red blood cell production and body composition, and it plays a part in mood and energy. Levels vary between individuals, through the day, and gradually over a lifetime.
Symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency
Symptoms that may be associated with low testosterone include:
- Reduced sex drive
- Fewer morning erections, or erectile difficulties
- Fatigue and reduced energy
- Low mood, irritability or poor concentration
- Reduced muscle strength and increased body fat
- Reduced body hair, over the longer term
None of these symptoms is specific to low testosterone. Each is common, and each has several other possible causes.
Fatigue and reduced energy
Persistent tiredness is one of the most common reasons men seek a hormone test, yet it is most often explained by something else: poor or insufficient sleep, stress, low mood, anaemia, thyroid problems, diabetes, alcohol, medication or overtraining.
Testosterone treatment is not a remedy for general tiredness, and finding the true cause is what makes a difference.
Changes in libido and sexual function
Low sex drive is one of the symptoms most closely linked with low testosterone, but relationships, stress, mood, fatigue and medications all play a part.
Erectile difficulties more often have a blood vessel, nerve or psychological cause than a hormonal one. Because they can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, they deserve a proper medical assessment in their own right.
Sleep, weight and metabolic health
Carrying excess weight, type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea are all associated with lower testosterone levels. The relationship often works in both directions, and improvements in weight, sleep and activity can be associated with improved levels.
This is why your assessment includes a review of sleep, lifestyle and general health alongside your blood tests.
The importance of accurate diagnosis
Testosterone deficiency is diagnosed only when consistent symptoms occur together with consistently low testosterone levels, confirmed by properly timed blood tests.
Where levels are low, further tests such as LH, FSH and prolactin help to identify why. This matters, because the underlying cause can change what the right next step is.
Why symptoms alone do not establish deficiency
Online questionnaires and symptom checklists can be a reason to get tested, but they cannot diagnose testosterone deficiency. Many men with these symptoms have normal levels, and some men with lower levels have few symptoms.
A diagnosis depends on both symptoms and reliable laboratory evidence, interpreted by a clinician.
The role of repeat morning measurements
Testosterone is usually highest in the early morning and falls through the day. Recent food, illness, poor sleep and intense exercise can all lower a result temporarily.
- Samples are taken in the morning, and you may be asked to attend fasting
- A low or borderline result is normally repeated on a separate morning before a diagnosis is made
- Testing is best avoided during or soon after an acute illness
Fertility considerations
Testosterone taken as a medicine signals the body to reduce its own hormone production, which can significantly reduce or stop sperm production. Recovery after stopping can take many months and is not guaranteed.
If you are trying to conceive, or may wish to in the future, please tell us at your first appointment. Testosterone treatment is generally not suitable in this situation, and other approaches or specialist referral may be considered.
Risks, contraindications and monitoring
Like any medical treatment, testosterone therapy carries risks and is not suitable for everyone. The decision always rests with the prescribing doctor.
Possible risks
- Raised red blood cell levels (thicker blood)
- Reduced fertility and testicular size
- Acne, fluid retention or breast tenderness
- Worsening of untreated sleep apnoea
- Effects on prostate monitoring
May not be suitable with
- Prostate or breast cancer
- Plans to conceive
- A high red blood cell level
- Untreated severe sleep apnoea
- Uncontrolled heart failure or recent cardiovascular events
Where treatment is started, monitoring typically includes symptom review, testosterone levels, full blood count, blood pressure and, where appropriate, PSA. Checks are usually more frequent in the first year and then generally annual once stable, as directed by the prescribing doctor.
This information is general. It does not replace individual medical advice. If you have concerns about your health, speak with a doctor.
Answers start with accurate testing.
05 · Our Team
Meet your healthcare professionals.
A nurse-led clinic working alongside an independent doctor, each responsible for their own professional decisions.
JF
Founder
Founder · Nurse Lead
Johnny Forrester
Registered Nurse
BSc Nursing · MSc Applied Behaviour Analysis
Johnny is a Registered Nurse with more than ten years of nursing experience. Alongside his nursing degree, he holds a master's degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis, a discipline focused on understanding behaviour and supporting lasting change. That perspective shapes how he approaches conversations about sleep, activity, nutrition and long-term health.
He founded The Hormone Optimisation Clinic to give men in Cork a careful, transparent and properly governed route to understanding their hormonal health.
Johnny's role
- Nursing assessment and clinical history
- Phlebotomy (blood collection)
- Blood pressure and health screening
- Patient education
- Written nursing reports and results discussions
- Monitoring, within his professional scope of practice
NMBI Registration (PIN):
Johnny to approve this biography and supply his NMBI PIN and a professional portrait.
A
Collaborating Medical Practitioner
Collaborating Medical Practitioner
Dr Alkim
Registered Medical Practitioner
The doctor's role
- Independent remote medical consultations
- Medical assessment and diagnosis
- Treatment decisions and prescribing, where clinically appropriate
- Requesting further investigations or in-person examination
- Specialist referral where required
Irish Medical Council Registration:
Required before launch: doctor's full name, qualifications, Medical Council registration number and division, approved biography, and written consent to be featured. Do not describe the doctor as a specialist unless on the Specialist Division of the register.
Independent responsibilities
Who is responsible for what.
The nurse and the doctor each work within their own professional scope and are individually accountable for their decisions.
The Registered Nurse
Assessment, testing and monitoring
- Takes your history and carries out health screening
- Collects blood samples and arranges laboratory testing
- Provides written nursing reports and results discussions
- Recommends when a medical opinion may be appropriate
- Does not diagnose medical conditions or prescribe
The Independent Doctor
Medical decisions
- Carries out the medical consultation and assessment
- Makes diagnostic and treatment decisions
- Decides whether prescribing is clinically appropriate
- Arranges further investigation or referral
- Acts independently of the nursing service
Clinical governance: confirm the nurse's scope (e.g. "does not prescribe") and the formal arrangement between nurse and doctor before publication.
06 · Pricing
Transparent, simple pricing.
Pay per appointment. No subscriptions, annual monitoring packages or mandatory memberships.
Initial Hormonal Health Assessment
€149
Nursing consultation, hormone and basic health blood panel, blood pressure and health screening, written report and results discussion.
Remote Medical Consultation
€249
Secure video consultation with the independent doctor. A separate professional service. No prescription is guaranteed.
Ongoing Hormonal Health Monitoring
€149per appointment
Clinically indicated blood panel, nursing review, updated report and results discussion.
Combined initial pathway (when both are required)
€398
Initial nursing assessment plus remote medical consultation.
Included in our fees
- The appointment, as described for each service
- Standard blood panel for that service
- Written report and results discussion (nursing services)
- Coordination between nurse and doctor where appropriate
Charged separately
- Medications and prescription costs
- Additional investigations when clinically indicated, such as prolactin, PSA or repeat diagnostic tests
- Further medical consultations
- Specialist referrals and any external fees
Any additional charge will be explained before it is incurred. Please see our Cancellation Policy.
Confirm: prices for common additional tests, payment methods, when payment is taken, and whether VAT applies to any service (most healthcare services are VAT-exempt, but confirm with an accountant).
Clear fees. Careful care.
07 · FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
If your question isn't answered here, please get in touch.
Getting started
What happens at my first appointment?
Your first appointment is a nursing consultation at our Carrigaline clinic. We take a relevant clinical history, review your symptoms and lifestyle, check your blood pressure and carry out basic health screening, and take a blood sample for your hormone and general health panel. Your written report and results discussion follow once results are available.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You do not need a referral to book a nursing assessment. We will ask for your own GP's details and, with your consent, may recommend sharing relevant results with them.
How much does the service cost?
The initial nursing assessment is €149. A remote medical consultation, where appropriate, is €249, making €398 when both are required. Monitoring appointments are €149 each. Medications and additional investigations are charged separately, and there are no subscriptions or memberships.
Testing
How are testosterone levels assessed?
With a blood test taken in the morning, when levels are usually highest. You may be asked to attend fasting. Your result is interpreted alongside other relevant markers and your symptoms, rather than in isolation.
Will I need repeat blood tests?
Often, yes. A low or borderline result is normally confirmed with a second morning test on a separate day before testosterone deficiency is diagnosed. Illness, poor sleep or intense exercise can lower a result temporarily.
What happens if my blood results are normal?
That is useful information in itself. Your report will explain what your results mean and may highlight other factors worth exploring, such as sleep, stress, weight or other medical causes. Where appropriate, we will recommend you speak with your own GP.
The doctor and treatment
Is testosterone treatment guaranteed?
No. Many men who attend will not need testosterone treatment, and symptoms are often explained by other factors. Any treatment decision is made independently by the doctor following an appropriate medical assessment. Booking any service does not guarantee a diagnosis, a prescription or a particular outcome.
Can I see the doctor remotely?
Yes. medical consultations take place by secure video. In some cases the doctor may advise further tests or an in-person examination before making a decision.
Are medications included?
No. Medication and prescription costs are not included in any of our fees.
How frequently will I need monitoring?
This depends on your circumstances and is guided by the doctor. For men who start treatment, monitoring is typically more frequent during the first year and generally annual once stable. Each appointment is booked and paid individually.
Your situation
Can I attend if I already receive prescribed TRT?
Yes, you are welcome to attend for monitoring. Please bring details of your current prescription and prescriber. Your existing prescriber remains responsible for your treatment unless your care is formally transferred.
Can the clinic assess patients who have used non-prescribed testosterone?
Yes. We offer a confidential, non-judgemental assessment. Being open about what you have used helps us interpret your results accurately and keep you safe. The clinic does not supply, or advise on the use of, non-prescribed substances.
What if I want to preserve fertility?
Please tell us at your first appointment. Testosterone therapy can significantly reduce sperm production and is generally not suitable for men trying to conceive. The doctor will take your plans into account and may consider other approaches or specialist referral.
How are my medical records protected?
Your health information is handled in line with GDPR and Irish data protection law. It is accessed only by the professionals involved in your care, and shared with others only with your consent or where the law requires. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.
All FAQ answers require review by the doctor before publication.
Still have a question?
08 · Contact & Booking
Book or get in touch.
Appointments at our clinic in Carrigaline, Co. Cork.
Appointments
Book your appointment online
Choose your service and a time that suits you. Morning appointments are recommended for hormone testing.
Book an AppointmentOnline booking opens soon. In the meantime, please contact the clinic by email or phone.
Supply full address, Eircode, phone number, clinic email, clinic hours and booking link.
General enquiries
Send us a message
For questions about our services, pricing or appointments.
Please do not include medical details, symptoms or test results in this form. Your health information will be collected securely at your appointment.
Information
Privacy Policy.
Placeholder structure only. Must be completed and reviewed by an Irish solicitor or data protection adviser before launch. Health data is special category data under GDPR.
Draft · awaiting legal review
Who we are
The Hormone Optimisation Clinic, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, is the data controller for personal information collected through this website and our services. Contact: info@yourclinic.ie.
What we collect
Through this website: your name, email address, optional phone number and the content of your enquiry. Through our clinical services: health information needed to provide your care, collected at your appointment and through our booking provider.
How and why we use it
[To be completed: purposes, lawful bases under Article 6 GDPR, and conditions for processing health data under Article 9 GDPR.]
Who we share it with
[To be completed: e.g. laboratory partners, the collaborating medical practitioner, booking and email providers, and your own GP with your consent.]
How long we keep it
[To be completed: retention periods for enquiries and for clinical records.]
Your rights
You have rights to access, correct and erase your data, to restrict or object to processing, and to data portability, where applicable. You may also complain to the Data Protection Commission (dataprotection.ie).
Information
Cookie Policy.
Draft · awaiting review
Our use of cookies
This website does not use advertising or analytics cookies, and does not set cookies of its own. For that reason, we do not display a cookie consent banner.
Third-party services
Our typefaces are provided by Google Fonts, which means your browser connects to Google's servers to load them. Our online booking system, if you choose to use it, is provided by a third party with its own cookie policy.
If this changes
If we introduce analytics or other non-essential cookies in future, we will ask for your consent before setting them and update this policy.
If analytics are ever added, a consent banner must be added before any non-essential cookies load. Consider self-hosting fonts to avoid the Google Fonts connection.
Information
Terms & Conditions.
Placeholder. Terms must be drafted or reviewed by an Irish solicitor before launch.
Draft · awaiting legal review
Our services
The clinic provides nurse-led hormonal health assessments, blood testing and monitoring. Remote medical consultations are provided separately by an independent doctor, who is solely responsible for medical decisions, including diagnosis and prescribing.
No guaranteed outcome
Booking or attending any service does not guarantee a diagnosis, a prescription, a particular treatment or a particular result.
Fees and payment
[To be completed: fees, when payment is taken, accepted payment methods, refunds.]
Eligibility
[To be completed: e.g. minimum age, circumstances in which a service may be declined or referred elsewhere.]
Website use
The content of this website is general information and does not constitute medical advice.
Information
Cancellation Policy.
Clinic to decide the notice period and charges, then have this reviewed.
Draft · awaiting confirmation
Changing or cancelling an appointment
If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please let us know at least [48] hours in advance so the time can be offered to another patient.
Late cancellations and missed appointments
[To be completed: any charge for late cancellation or non-attendance.]
If we need to reschedule
If we need to change your appointment, we will contact you as early as possible and offer an alternative time, or a full refund of any fee paid.
Information
Clinical Disclaimer.
Draft · awaiting doctor and legal review
General information only
The information on this website is general in nature and is not a substitute for individual medical assessment or advice. Do not delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here.
Independent medical decisions
Nursing services are provided within the scope of practice of a Registered Nurse. Medical consultations, diagnosis, treatment and prescribing decisions are made independently by the collaborating medical practitioner following an appropriate assessment. No service guarantees a prescription or outcome.
Medical emergencies
This clinic does not provide emergency care. If you have chest pain, severe symptoms or think you need urgent help, call 112 or 999, or attend your nearest emergency department.
A disclaimer does not replace proper clinical governance, indemnity insurance and documented nurse–doctor arrangements.
Information
Accessibility Statement.
Draft
Our commitment
We want this website to be usable by as many people as possible. It has been designed with readable text sizes, strong colour contrast, keyboard-accessible navigation and support for reduced-motion settings.
Known limitations
Our third-party booking system is outside our direct control and may not meet the same standard.
Accessing the clinic
[To be completed: physical accessibility of the clinic, parking and step-free access.]
Feedback
If you have difficulty using this website or attending the clinic, please contact us at info@yourclinic.ie and we will do our best to help.