Tim Harty, The Business Times 

Knowing what testosterone replacement therapy at Gameday Men’s Health did for him, Ray Costello figured out what he wanted to do upon retiring from the U.S. Navy after 30 years of service: Run his own Gameday Men’s Health.

It was just a matter of where, and Costello said he and his wife, Aixa Soria, initially were looking at territories in North Carolina, Arizona, California and Texas. Then, Gameday corporate mentioned Grand Junction.

“They provided us with demographic information, and so we paid a couple of visits,” Costello said “And when I started going out and talking within the community about what we were thinking about bringing here, every single person that we talked to, male and female, said, ‘We need this here.’”

So, now it’s here. Gameday Men’s Health, 2148 Broadway, Unit B5, has been in Grand Junction since Nov. 21, but franchise owners Costello and Soria didn’t have their grand opening until April 2.

Gameday Men’s Health provides four core services, and Costello listed them: “The first one being testosterone replacement therapy. We also do medical weight loss. We do vitamin injections or vitamin therapy. And then erectile dysfunction services. Those are the four core.”

But far and away the most sought-after service is testosterone replacement therapy, which Costello said “has become kind of a mainstream-type thing. It’s gaining popularity, mainly because men’s testosterone levels over the years have been declining rapidly, and we don’t understand why. Whether it’s food, it’s environmental, it’s very, very concerning. “

Costello can talk at length about it, but he also had a good summary. Gameday Men’s Health will: book an appointment; draw the person’s blood; determine the testosterone level within 15 to 20 minutes; check other levels such as prostate-specific antigens and hemoglobin; and while the testing is being done, the clinician will run the person through a battery of questions.

Costello rattled them off: “What are you feeling? Why are you here? Is it brain fog? Is it fatigue? Is it low libido? Are you having problems with maintaining a good weight because you’re in the gym all the time and you’re not seeing a difference? Are you having problems maintaining muscle? 

Are you having problems sleeping?”

Those answers provide the symptomatology to clinician Matt Chernikovich, then get paired with the test results, and another discussion ensues.

“And we can either treat you or not, based off of the level that you have, and we kind of just go from there,” Costello said.

About 30 percent of men don’t need testosterone replacement therapy, he said.

And for the ones who do have low testosterone, they can start a regimen of hormones, or they can choose to walk away with the knowledge and do nothing more.

“The testosterone-level test, that initial one that we do, and the consultation with our clinician are complimentary. I do not charge for that,” Costello said. “So that first 45-minute appointment is free.”

For those with low testosterone who do seek replacement therapy, Costello said it’s life-changing. He knows what it did for him: better sleep, better attitude; became more positive; brain fog alleviated; and he got better results at the gym.

He also knows TRT is life-changing, because customers tell him so.

“The purpose behind what we’re doing and the results that we get, the feedback we get from the people that come in here, it’s incredible,” he said. “I never knew that I could feel this good, providing this type of service.”

Of course, there are the other core services, and Costello said Gameday Men’s Health is a place people like to come to just to talk. He touts the man-cave environment, ESPN on TV, snacks on hand; Gatorade, coffee and water to drink. It’s a place that relaxes people and makes them feel comfortable talking about whatever they need to talk about.

“You know, there’s different things that we deal with that we’re not comfortable talking about,” Costello said. “But I’d say nine out of 10 guys after they’ve started with us, within a few weeks they’re more open with some of the other things that are going on in their life. And so we’re able to help them.”

Gameday Men’s Health is not the only place in town that does what it does. Costello readily acknowledges that. But answering the question about whether his business has competition in Grand Junction, he ultimately answers, “No, because nobody can do what we can do. And nobody else has Matt.”

Costello said Chernikovich as a physician’s assistant is a game-changer at Gameday Men’s Health.

“There’s nobody better than my clinic director at what we do here,” Costello said. “We have other Gameday clinic directors asking him questions. He’s always learning more about the subject of testosterone replacement therapy, about peptides, about the weight-loss market, what type of vitamins should we offer here. He never stops learning. It’s just a continuous thing with him. He’s a gem. He’s a one of a kind.”

Chernikovich also puts customers at ease, as Costello said, “The most common thing that I hear from the men that leave here is, ‘I had a great talk with Matt. He made me feel comfortable.'”