Any advantage to High Free Testosterone?

[75 Dogs]

My levels of free testosterone have always been high. I've been on TRT for years (@ 180mg testosterone/week) so I'm tested every 6 months at this point.

As an example, one of my last tests has these results:

Total test - 971 ng/dl on a scale of 294-916
Free test - 36.4 pg/ml on a scale of 6.8-21.5

Is there any advantage to having higher levels of Free Testosterone...or how can I use higher levels to my advantage?

[Couchlockd]

Hell yes

Thats the value we chase.

[charger69]

Hell yes

Thats the value we chase.

^^^^ what he said!


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[75 Dogs]

Hell yes

Thats the value we chase.

That's awesome, but what does it mean if I run a cycle?

Does it mean I’d benefit from more than just a test-only cycle? Does it mean I need lower test than someone else to get the same results? Is it just a nice number to brag about?

I’m not sure of the practical application of having high Free Test.

[Windex]

That's awesome, but what does it mean if I run a cycle?

Does it mean I’d benefit from more than just a test-only cycle? Does it mean I need lower test than someone else to get the same results? Is it just a nice number to brag about?

I’m not sure of the practical application of having high Free Test.

For all intensive and practical purposes, the total testosterone score is irrelevant. I don't even check it anymore despite it being no cost to check.

The free testostone score you have is good. It simply means that the TRT dose you have (180mg) is the sweet spot for your body. If the bloodwork changes in the future then you could adjust the dose if needed.

Running a cycle isn't going to be affected by your TRT, just that you don't require PCT and people who are on TRT retain a much larger % of their gains whether it's size, strength, condition, etc.

Are you using HCG with TRT and is the 180mg being done as 1 shot or 2 shots of 90mg?

[75 Dogs]

For all intensive and practical purposes, the total testosterone score is irrelevant. I don't even check it anymore despite it being no cost to check.

The free testostone score you have is good. It simply means that the TRT dose you have (180mg) is the sweet spot for your body. If the bloodwork changes in the future then you could adjust the dose if needed.

Running a cycle isn't going to be affected by your TRT, just that you don't require PCT and people who are on TRT retain a much larger % of their gains whether it's size, strength, condition, etc.

Are you using HCG with TRT and is the 180mg being done as 1 shot or 2 shots of 90mg?

Perfect, thanks for that info.

Yes, I’m splitting my testosterone into 2 doses of 90mg weekly, using HCG 3 times a week, and an estrogen blocker 3 times a week.

[Test Monsterone]

180 mg is a pretty high TRT dose... Also, I'm not sure taking an estrogen blocker 3 times is a week is healthy. If you're converting into estrogen, why not lower the dose to get in the 750-800 range so you may not need the AI?

It just doesn't make sense that you're taking 180 mg of test and HCG and you're levels are only around 900. What concentration is your test? How many IU of HCG a week are you taking?

[GearHeaded]

Running a cycle isn't going to be affected by your TRT, just that you don't require PCT and people who are on TRT retain a much larger % of their gains whether it's size, strength, condition, etc.

just going to add a point to this..

as true as this is (yes PCT sucks and is not ideal for gains) it usually only holds true for the first couple cycles. after you've put on some muscle over and above what you could have without AAS use then going back to having NORMAL test levels (ie, TRT) is not going to do a whole lot to maintain those gains.
the purpose of doctor supervised TRT is to keep all your blood levels in 'normal' ranges. you on TRT are gong to be the same as your skinny non lifting 50 year old neighbor (ie, in 'normal' ranges). thats all TRT does is make a 'sick' person normal again.. to hold onto excess muscle tissue normal does not cut it. it takes supraphysioligical levels and way above normal blood levels of Test, Estrogen, IGF, Hematocrit, etc.. (all things that being on gear does for you , but TRT does not do).

now your first couple of cycles that you do , then YES being on TRT will help you maintain some of those gains as your not gong to be subject to a PCT crash . but once you've put on any real quality muscle , then simply being in 'normal' ranges is not going to do much for you other then keep your "normal" .. for maintaining muscle that you've built over and above your natural genetic limit you need to 'blast and cruise' imo, not just maintain normal levels .

so for example.. I on TRT can maintain about 190 pounds and 10% body fat at 5'9". however to maintain the 212 pounds I got to lean on my last cycle I need to 'cruise' on more then just TRT (ie, normal test). roughly 500mg a week will help me maintain that. so I generally cruise on 350mg a week of primo or eq along with 150mg a week of test. thats my off cycle dosage... If I went back to a true TRT protocol and normal ranges, due to my genetics, I would shrink and lose muscle and strength on TRT.

one reason for this is that testosterone is not an anabolic hormone that works in linear fashion. if you have say a test level of 500 ng/dl and you increase it to 1000 ng/dl , your don't necessary have any additional anabolic capacity. as test levels go up, anabolic mechanisms do not equally go up with that in linear fashion. however, when you get to certain ranges ie supraphsysioligcal ranges (3x normal, so like 3000+ ng/dl) there then becomes a change that happens where anabolic switches are manually turned on and things are up-regulated.
when cruising you need to maintain high enough levels to keep some of these "switches" on and activated . and Normal test, estrogen, etc. blood levels are definitely not going to.

because test levels have to be fairly high to get these anabolic responses out of it , for some guys its better to add an anabolic steroid to their cruising protocol and not just depend on test (other drugs are much more efficient then test at maintaining muscle) .


bottom line. IF your new to gear usage and running cycles, then TRT will help you maintain for the first couple cycles that you do (as that is way better then the PCT crash) but after that point you'll need to cruise and maintain more then just normal levels.
just depends on how advanced you are.

guarantee you Big Ramy is not going to maintain his 330 pounds of muscle with 'normal' testosteone levels. and again thats all TRT really is is brining all your hormone levels into normal ranges (there is nothing above optimal or supraphysiological about TRT .. TRT is taking a sick person and getting them 'normal').

thats my rant

[Couchlockd]

180 mg is a pretty high TRT dose... Also, I'm not sure taking an estrogen blocker 3 times is a week is healthy. If you're converting into estrogen, why not lower the dose to get in the 750-800 range so you may not need the AI?

It just doesn't make sense that you're taking 180 mg of test and HCG and you're levels are only around 900. What concentration is your test? How many IU of HCG a week are you taking?

I'm 938ng at 175mg test per week.

Mr. Monsterone, you ask alot of newb questions, but then shell out vet level experience answers.

I don't understand you.

Just cuzz Joe blow gets 900 on 100 mg test does not mean everyone will see similar results.

People metabolise things differently, as well as have different levels of other hormones that effect levels.

Also just cuzz Joe blow gets 900 on 100mg test, that doesn't mean hell also perfectly double that level with 2x the dose.

[Test Monsterone]

just going to add a point to this..

as true as this is (yes PCT sucks and is not ideal for gains) it usually only holds true for the first couple cycles. after you've put on some muscle over and above what you could have without AAS use then going back to having NORMAL test levels (ie, TRT) is not going to do a whole lot to maintain those gains.
the purpose of doctor supervised TRT is to keep all your blood levels in 'normal' ranges. you on TRT are gong to be the same as your skinny non lifting 50 year old neighbor (ie, in 'normal' ranges). thats all TRT does is make a 'sick' person normal again.. to hold onto excess muscle tissue normal does not cut it. it takes supraphysioligical levels and way above normal blood levels of Test, Estrogen, IGF, Hematocrit, etc.. (all things that being on gear does for you , but TRT does not do).

now your first couple of cycles that you do , then YES being on TRT will help you maintain some of those gains as your not gong to be subject to a PCT crash . but once you've put on any real quality muscle , then simply being in 'normal' ranges is not going to do much for you other then keep your "normal" .. for maintaining muscle that you've built over and above your natural genetic limit you need to 'blast and cruise' imo, not just maintain normal levels .

so for example.. I on TRT can maintain about 190 pounds and 10% body fat at 5'9". however to maintain the 212 pounds I got to lean on my last cycle I need to 'cruise' on more then just TRT (ie, normal test). roughly 500mg a week will help me maintain that. so I generally cruise on 350mg a week of primo or eq along with 150mg a week of test. thats my off cycle dosage... If I went back to a true TRT protocol and normal ranges, due to my genetics, I would shrink and lose muscle and strength on TRT.

one reason for this is that testosterone is not an anabolic hormone that works in linear fashion. if you have say a test level of 500 ng/dl and you increase it to 1000 ng/dl , your don't necessary have any additional anabolic capacity. as test levels go up, anabolic mechanisms do not equally go up with that in linear fashion. however, when you get to certain ranges ie supraphsysioligcal ranges (3x normal, so like 3000+ ng/dl) there then becomes a change that happens where anabolic switches are manually turned on and things are up-regulated.
when cruising you need to maintain high enough levels to keep some of these "switches" on and activated . and Normal test, estrogen, etc. blood levels are definitely not going to.

because test levels have to be fairly high to get these anabolic responses out of it , for some guys its better to add an anabolic steroid to their cruising protocol and not just depend on test (other drugs are much more efficient then test at maintaining muscle) .


bottom line. IF your new to gear usage and running cycles, then TRT will help you maintain for the first couple cycles that you do (as that is way better then the PCT crash) but after that point you'll need to cruise and maintain more then just normal levels.
just depends on how advanced you are.

guarantee you Big Ramy is not going to maintain his 330 pounds of muscle with 'normal' testosteone levels. and again thats all TRT really is is brining all your hormone levels into normal ranges (there is nothing above optimal or supraphysiological about TRT .. TRT is taking a sick person and getting them 'normal').

thats my rant

That makes sense, and from my little experience I agree. The only theoretical benefit of TRT over being natty is that a poor diet, bad rest, drugs won’t affect the test levels like they would in a natty.

[Test Monsterone]

I'm 938ng at 175mg test per week.

Mr. Monsterone, you ask alot of newb questions, but then shell out vet level experience answers.

I don't understand you.

Just cuzz Joe blow gets 900 on 100 mg test does not mean everyone will see similar results.

People metabolise things differently, as well as have different levels of other hormones that effect levels.

Also just cuzz Joe blow gets 900 on 100mg test, that doesn't mean hell also perfectly double that level with 2x the dose.

I can see how I come off like that. It’s because I’ve been researching steroids for over 12 years and I just took the plunge last fall. So I have a lot of theoretical knowledge but not a lot of personal experience.

For example a study I read claimed that the magic number IU of HCG to bring natural levels to their optimum is around 700iu. Also on 200mg I was at over 1600 total test, with no HCG. Now maybe the stuff I have is overdosed, but that is why I thought that his levels were low.

[MonsterMMORPG]

if i were you i wouldn't go to the cycle

my natural free testosterone level was lower end in your scale it means 6.8

already you should be able to put a lot of muscle with that free testosterone amount

[75 Dogs]

just going to add a point to this..

...bottom line. IF your new to gear usage and running cycles, then TRT will help you maintain for the first couple cycles that you do (as that is way better then the PCT crash) but after that point you'll need to cruise and maintain more then just normal levels.
just depends on how advanced you are.

guarantee you Big Ramy is not going to maintain his 330 pounds of muscle with 'normal' testosteone levels. and again thats all TRT really is is brining all your hormone levels into normal ranges (there is nothing above optimal or supraphysiological about TRT .. TRT is taking a sick person and getting them 'normal').

thats my rant

OUTSTANDING post! I don't know that I've seen that much good information compiled as clearly in one place.

Thank you for taking the time to write your "rant". Easy and very enjoyable read. You deserve some sort of award for that.

[75 Dogs]

if i were you i wouldn't go to the cycle

my natural free testosterone level was lower end in your scale it means 6.8

already you should be able to put a lot of muscle with that free testosterone amount

Don't worry, I definitely need to add a lot more muscle before doing a cycle

[GearHeaded]

OUTSTANDING post! I don't know that I've seen that much good information compiled as clearly in one place.

Thank you for taking the time to write your "rant". Easy and very enjoyable read. You deserve some sort of award for that.

so, "the best rant reward" eh I'll take it

[charger69]

Are you saying that you do not believe in cycles with low test? I know that the majority of this is talking about the cruise portion, however if you are taking a 19 nor, mast, and low test you are also missing the benefits of estrogen conversion.
I have actually had some good cycles with low test (300 mg/wk) but I think that I may have been missing out.


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[75 Dogs]

so, "the best rant reward" eh I'll take it