Blood work questions

[dk94]

Hi. I've been running test long term and have experienced fluctuating sex drive. Right now it's very low. I'm going to be getting blood work done shortly. Aside from testosterone and estrogen levels, what should I be checking for that can affect sex drive, possibly something often over looked?
Thanks in advance.

[teedoff]

How much test? How old are you? What is the reason you've been running test long term? Dr prescribed trt?

[Cylon357]

Hi. I've been running test long term and have experienced fluctuating sex drive. Right now it's very low. I'm going to be getting blood work done shortly. Aside from testosterone and estrogen levels, what should I be checking for that can affect sex drive, possibly something often over looked?
Thanks in advance.

Are you currently taking anything else? Finasteride? Nandrolone ? Some OTC test booster? Need to know that, too.

Good questions from @teedoff, btw, need answers on those as well for the best answers, but there are some good guidelines.

Definitely order
Total and Free test
E2 sensitive
Thyroid panel
Lipid panel
CBC

Depending on age and a few other answers to the questions, you might need to add:
SHBG
DHT
PSA
Prolactin (maybe)

BTW, this info MAY be in a sticky somewhere, but sometimes they get a little out of date, or don't cover the specifics of a given situation.

[teedoff]

Double post.

[< <Samson> >]

How much test? How old are you? What is the reason you've been running test long term? Dr prescribed trt?

Also - how long is long?

[dk94]

Basically two and a half years test 250/mg week with .25mg arimadex 3x a week. I know it's high but last time I was checked I was 695 ng/dl at this dose. My estrogen read as slightly high so I upped the arimadex to .5mg 3x week which was believe crashed my estrogen. Im running this because of prior abuse of aas and I just want to feel good. Not taking anything else right now besides prostate support, NAC, omegas and pre workout.

[Cylon357]

Basically two and a half years test 250/mg week with .25mg arimadex 3x a week. I know it's high but last time I was checked I was 695 ng/dl at this dose. My estrogen read as slightly high so I upped the arimadex to .5mg 3x week which was believe crashed my estrogen. Im running this because of prior abuse of aas and I just want to feel good. Not taking anything else right now besides prostate support, NAC, omegas and pre workout.

That is probably too much adex. Either dose. What is your injection schedule? Sub-q or IM? C or E?

Don't drive to a number until you know what your numbers are when you feel your best. Too often, we tend to see estrogen a point over range and freak out. Not saying that is what you did, just saying it has happened before. Many times. I've done it. A lot of men have. Don't. Watch for negative sides, and adjust dosing or ancillaries based on those sides, not just on a number.

That said, 695 seems low, based on 250 a week. My guess is that you are doing something like once a week injections and drew that blood work at a trough (that is, right before your next injection). Break that up into two injections per week and you will likely feel better from that alone. Not so major peaks and valleys. Also, is this test prescribed or UGL?

Do you have your free testosterone levels ? That is the one we REALLY want to see as it is what is the most useful and makes us feel the best.

What is "prostate support"? Saw palmetto or dutasteride?

[dk94]

Thanks for the thorough response. Last time I was checked I was injecting 1x a week IM, the test was a day before my shot as you said. Now I break it up 2x a week sub q with test enth. I am running ugl. I don't have my free testosterone numbers but I'll get them checked. The prostate support is just some OTC saw palmetto, stinging nettle and lypotine.

[Cylon357]

OK, in that case, I would pull everything I mentioned in my post about tests. It is going to be a bit expensive, maybe 250'ish, depending on where you purchase, but you are going to want to have those numbers going forward. You are just going to need to know what is what. I would still pull bloodwork at your trough, because even with 1x per week and getting bloods at trough, I think you ought to be higher than that.

Have you used this UGL for long? Because it just seems under dosed to me right now.

[dk94]

OK, in that case, I would pull everything I mentioned in my post about tests. It is going to be a bit expensive, maybe 250'ish, depending on where you purchase, but you are going to want to have those numbers going forward. You are just going to need to know what is what. I would still pull bloodwork at your trough, because even with 1x per week and getting bloods at trough, I think you ought to be higher than that.

Have you used this UGL for long? Because it just seems under dosed to me right now.

I really appreciate the response. I have those notes. I'll be posting the results when I get them but it'll be a atleast a few weeks.

[< <Samson> >]

I never run a Ai, push about 175mg a week of test + other compounds. And, I felt horny af 24x7

Although now I feel like death since I came off for going on a month

[Honkey_Kong]

Hi. I've been running test long term and have experienced fluctuating sex drive. Right now it's very low. I'm going to be getting blood work done shortly. Aside from testosterone and estrogen levels, what should I be checking for that can affect sex drive, possibly something often over looked?
Thanks in advance.

Are you running this TRT yourself with gear you bought it a dealer? Or are you under the supervision of a doctor administering this?

[kelkel]

If only running TRT you should be able to go without any AI's. Adex at .5 x 3 pw is a ton....
Having estrogen over range is fine. It's healthy actually.
Takes Cylon's recommendations. Particularly know your FT level. If really high (and it should be at that dose) it gives you room to lower your dose and still be in great shape with less worries about estrogen, hematocrit, etc.

[dk94]

Are you running this TRT yourself with gear you bought it a dealer? Or are you under the supervision of a doctor administering this?

My self but I'm going to be seeing a naturopath recommended by some in the body building community to monitor me until I can find a good trt doctor that will let me be in the high end of the normal range.

[Honkey_Kong]

My self but I'm going to be seeing a naturopath recommended by some in the body building community to monitor me until I can find a good trt doctor that will let me be in the high end of the normal range.

Usually, your best bet is to find a TRT clinic. I would recommend though getting the minimum dose that alleviates your low-t symptoms. Every body is different and some people require higher levels in their body to achieve normal function than others. That's why there is a "normal" range. Raising your levels higher than what they need to be in order to alleviate symptoms puts you at an unnecessary risk for other health complications down the road.

You're better off being at a level that alleviates your symptoms and if you want to cycle just blast the doses (and steroids ) you want, returning back to your TRT dose after it's done.

But you can do whatever you want.

[dk94]

Thanks for all the input. In anticipation of my blood work I'm going to lower my test intake to 200mg per week and cut out the ai all together. How long will it take for my body to respond and adjust so that the new numbers are accurately shown on blood work?

[Cylon357]

Thanks for all the input. In anticipation of my blood work I'm going to lower my test intake to 200mg per week and cut out the ai all together. How long will it take for my body to respond and adjust so that the new numbers are accurately shown on blood work?

I would say a minimum of 6 weeks, maybe 8 if you want to be safe.