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Symptom screening · STOP-BANG · 90 seconds

Could sleep apnea be in the picture? Take the screener.

STOP-BANG is the validated 8-question screener clinicians use to flag obstructive sleep apnea risk, a common consideration before and during testosterone therapy.

Question 1 of 8

1

For education only. A high-risk screen is not a diagnosis of sleep apnea.

How this screener is scored

Each yes answer scores one point out of eight. Zero to 2 points is read as low risk, 3 to 4 as intermediate risk, and 5 or more as high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. This tool applies that exact, validated scoring rule and nothing else.

Why it matters alongside TRT

Testosterone therapy can worsen obstructive sleep apnea that isn't being treated, which is one reason sleep apnea risk is commonly screened for before starting TRT and revisited if new symptoms, like louder snoring or new daytime fatigue, show up during treatment.

What a real diagnosis requires

A sleep study, either in a lab or an at-home test ordered by a clinician, is what actually confirms obstructive sleep apnea and measures its severity. This questionnaire only flags whether that kind of testing is worth discussing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the STOP-BANG questionnaire?

STOP-BANG is an 8-question yes or no screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea risk, built from the acronym Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, Pressure, BMI, Age, Neck size, and Gender. It takes about 90 seconds and is widely used by sleep clinics and anesthesiologists.

Why does sleep apnea matter for testosterone therapy?

Testosterone therapy can worsen untreated obstructive sleep apnea in some people, which is why many prescribers screen for sleep apnea risk before starting TRT and ask about symptoms during follow-up. Treating a significant sleep apnea issue often happens alongside, not instead of, TRT monitoring.

How is STOP-BANG scored?

Each yes answer counts as one point, for an 8-point total. Zero to 2 points is usually read as low risk, 3 to 4 as intermediate risk, and 5 or more as high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, per the original validation study.

Does a high-risk score mean I have sleep apnea?

No. A high-risk screen means your profile matches a pattern associated with higher sleep apnea risk. Confirming an actual diagnosis requires a sleep study, which a clinician can order based on your symptoms and this kind of screening result.

This tool is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose sleep apnea or any other condition. Talk to a licensed healthcare provider about your symptoms and whether a sleep study makes sense for you.

Source

Chung F, Yegneswaran B, Liao P, et al. "STOP questionnaire: a tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea." Anesthesiology. 2008, with the BANG criteria added in subsequent validation work.STOP-Bang validation summary, PubMed