Almost 21 years old. please give me advice

[jacobk91]

i really didnt know where to post this, or even if this is the right website to ask this question, but i figured there are probably some very knowledgeable people here. First off, i am 20 years old, almost 21 and i know i have low test, and i need help figuring out what to do next because im sick of feeling like crap all the time. For a 21 year old, i have no sex drive. I have to force myself to masterbate because i know its good for me and having sex is more of a chore to me than it is enjoyable. Im fatigued most of the time and not agressive at all. I went to the doctor and told him i suspected that i had low test levels so we had a blood test done. I had the test done first thing in the morning since thats when it is highest i read. here are the results.


Testosterone, Total

your level: 354
standard range: 250 - 1100
units: ng/dL

Free Testosterone

your level: 45.9
standard range:35.0 - 155.0
units: pg/mL


all my doctor would tell me is that "this falls within the normal range" and sent me on my way. i did my own research and found that as a 21 year old my levels should be much higher. After annoying him for long enough i got him to refer me to an endocrinologist which i have an appointment with in an few weeks.

By the way, i have never used any anabolic substances like prohormones and steroids. I make sure i get plenty of good fat in my diet as well. always at least 25 percent of my cals.

since im not an expert, just how bad are my test levels for being 21? what should i tell my endocrinologist and what should i do to get my levels up? Nothing is off the table for me because im sick of being like this. and if my endocrinologist cant help me, does anyone know a good doctor in the seattle area that can? My main fear is that if my levels are like this now, i dont even want to imagine what they will be like when im 30 or 40...

[kelkel]

Welcome to the forum Jacob. Yes, your levels are low and should be much higher for someone your age. Labcorp current range for T serum is 349 - 1197 btw. Your doctor telling you that you fall within the normal range shows his own ignorance and is your indicator to move on. Your 21years old, not 70. What is your height, weight and estimated body fat?

First thing we need to see is complete BW with ranges. Particularly important is your LH/FSH levels as well as thyroid panels. LH & FSH will indicate if there's a pituitary issue and thyroid panels will tell us if your hypothyroid, which can give symptoms that mirror low T. An example of bw is in the Finding a TRT Physician Sticky at the top of the forum. Also in there are links to search for doctors in your area who specialize in TRT. Remember, just because they own the title Endo" does not mean they know TRT. Follow the instructions in that sticky. Then begin to read all the stickies and educate yourself as much as possible. You need to find the root of the problem and fix it, not just jump into TRT. It should be avoided as long as possible.

Also visit www.allthingsmale.com and read Dr. Crislers papers, over and over again. Prepare for this doctor visit and take paperwork with you indicating exactly what you want tested. He works for you and your paying for it.

Good luck, welcome and post up BW with ranges when possible.

[jacobk91]

Welcome to the forum Jacob. Yes, your levels are low and should be much higher for someone your age. Labcorp current range for T serum is 349 - 1197 btw. Your doctor telling you that you fall within the normal range shows his own ignorance and is your indicator to move on. Your 21years old, not 70. What is your height, weight and estimated body fat?

First thing we need to see is complete BW with ranges. Particularly important is your LH/FSH levels as well as thyroid panels. LH & FSH will indicate if there's a pituitary issue and thyroid panels will tell us if your hypothyroid, which can give symptoms that mirror low T. An example of bw is in the Finding a TRT Physician Sticky at the top of the forum. Also in there are links to search for doctors in your area who specialize in TRT. Remember, just because they own the title Endo" does not mean they know TRT. Follow the instructions in that sticky. Then begin to read all the stickies and educate yourself as much as possible. You need to find the root of the problem and fix it, not just jump into TRT. It should be avoided as long as possible.

Also visit www.allthingsmale.com and read Dr. Crislers papers, over and over again. Prepare for this doctor visit and take paperwork with you indicating exactly what you want tested. He works for you and your paying for it.

Good luck, welcome and post up BW with ranges when possible.

im 5'11" and weigh 165 and around 9 to 10 percent bodyfat. (ive worked hard and ate perfect for five years simply to get to that point, i was obese through my teen years) Im not sure what LH and FSH mean but i wil,l try to educate myself and read everything on that website. the doctor did some other tests too. on my records i have a cortisol test, a "TSH" (dont know what that means) a "cbc platelet with no differential" (dont know what that means either), a comprehensive metabolic panel, and an esr. I dont know if those matter at all or if i should post them too.

Ill go to that site and read everything as well as the stickies, thanks

[ecdysone]

I'd say this: your free testosterone looks pretty good abeit a little low. Your total is not so good for your age, but shouldn't be causing any libido issues.

Like Kel said, we need more blood test values: mostly LH and TSH, although it would be great to get FSH and estradiol too.

I would also recommend a second testosterone test: early am and fasting.

You are definitely on the low side, but at your age, it would be best to explore other avenues (other than testosterone supplementation) if possible.

[jacobk91]

ive had a tsh done, here are the results

TSH

your value: 1.17

standard range: 0.40 - 4.00

units: uIU/mL

my first test was very early am, an i had only had breakfast. but i will try to get another one fasted soon

[HRTstudent]

that's a really good tsh...

your T numbers are low for your age STATISTICALLY, but people are variable. not everyone even does better on a higher number. if your number was 200, I would probably say something different.

but, as it is, there are things - lifestyle and nutrition - that you can do still to optimize your level. I wouldn't really advise someone only 21 and with low-normal numbers to go on TRT. it's great that you checked though because now you can know for sure what's working.

I'd start with getting plenty of vitamin D (5k IU a day with a meal). cutting out crap. watch the documentary Food Inc and it can really help you I believe. I think I was getting in lots of toxic crap in my college days because I loved the microwave and quick, easy, processed foods. we're now finding out, this stuff is basically our modern day lead paint (poison).

so... vitamin d, fish oil, active lifetsyle, cut out processed crap, learn stress reduction, get fresh air daily if you aren't already. I can give you anything other than a guarantee that this will help raise your testosterone.

how high? nobody can tell you, but at 21 and those numbers I believe you have a real fighting chance at avoiding all the BS that comes with hrt.

[kelkel]

I think I was getting in lots of toxic crap in my college days because I loved the microwave and quick, easy, processed foods. we're now finding out, this stuff is basically our modern day lead paint (poison).

^^^That, is a perfect analogy. Could not have been said better!

Op, like HRT said that's an excellent TSH level! Be interesting to see your SHBG level also to see if for some reason your binding to much test.

[steroid.com 1]

jaco - For a 20 year old man who is still physically maturing (you will to about the age of 25 or so...) both your Total and Free are very low...more in the range of an old man of about 85!

As you continue to mature your body needs optimal levels of Bio Available (think Free) to continue with the maturing process...so this is an important time for you.

Something is amiss and you need to know why.

Have there ever been any injuries in the past? Are you taking any medications? Medical history?

Make sure your Edno understands where your levels (all of them) should be for a man your age.

See the charts in the link below (Note: Also other good info on this site as well and if you're a lurker and want to learn more in layman's terms this is a good place to start) and you'll get a better understanding where you should be and where you are at from an age perspective.

Might want to arm yourself with this info and info from Dr. Crisler's site BEFORE your Endo appointment.

http://www.mens-hormonal-health.com/...ls-in-men.html

[jacobk91]

jaco - For a 20 year old man who is still physically maturing (you will to about the age of 25 or so...) both your Total and Free are very low...more in the range of an old man of about 85!

As you continue to mature your body needs optimal levels of Bio Available (think Free) to continue with the maturing process...so this is an important time for you.

Something is amiss and you need to know why.

Have there ever been any injuries in the past? Are you taking any medications? Medical history?

Make sure your Edno understands where your levels (all of them) should be for a man your age.

See the charts in the link below (Note: Also other good info on this site as well and if you're a lurker and want to learn more in layman's terms this is a good place to start) and you'll get a better understanding where you should be and where you are at from an age perspective.

Might want to arm yourself with this info and info from Dr. Crisler's site BEFORE your Endo appointment.

i plan on going to my endo fully prepared with all the information i can get. I actually have already seen that chart, and that is when i realized that i actually had low t for my age.

ive had no major injuries in the past, but i suppose i should mention ive been on an ssri from a young age, and i suspect that has a lot to do with my lack of libido. but would that also be causing the lack of testosterone? or could it be that i was depressed in the first place because i was lacking testosterone to begin with.? i did a little reading, and i think i foudn that ssris can cause sexual disfunction (which i deinitely have) but not that they necessarily lower testosterone. any input on that?

Im fairly certain that my diet is not the problem. I eat ZERO processed foods and never any fast food. 95 percent of my calories come from whole foods like chicken, rice, oats, eggs, nuts etc. I dont even remember the last time i ate something out of a package. I already take fish oil daily and i make sure i get plenty of fat as well. I will look into vitamin d supplementation though.

also, should i get all my necessary bloodwork tests from the stickies done before i go see my endo so i already have them for him to look at?

[HRTstudent]

i plan on going to my endo fully prepared with all the information i can get. I actually have already seen that chart, and that is when i realized that i actually had low t for my age.

ive had no major injuries in the past, but i suppose i should mention ive been on an ssri from a young age, and i suspect that has a lot to do with my lack of libido. but would that also be causing the lack of testosterone? or could it be that i was depressed in the first place because i was lacking testosterone to begin with.? i did a little reading, and i think i foudn that ssris can cause sexual disfunction (which i deinitely have) but not that they necessarily lower testosterone. any input on that?

Im fairly certain that my diet is not the problem. I eat ZERO processed foods and never any fast food. 95 percent of my calories come from whole foods like chicken, rice, oats, eggs, nuts etc. I dont even remember the last time i ate something out of a package. I already take fish oil daily and i make sure i get plenty of fat as well. I will look into vitamin d supplementation though.

also, should i get all my necessary bloodwork tests from the stickies done before i go see my endo so i already have them for him to look at?

honestly, unless you know this endo is good with male HRT and TRT then you are wasting your time and money. endo's are primarily diabetes docs then thyroid. I went to a real piece of crap endo who I tried to fish info beforehand to see if he treats male trt. some said yes, I had a pharmacist tell me he's a good doc and he prescribes testosterone... and he was a moron. total waste for me.

anyways, I would get all the blood work you need IF You can beforehand for the simple reason that it will speed things up regardless of what you do.

the absolute basics for the endo would be the testosterones, shbg, estradiol sensitive, prolactin, and progesterone. you could get other things like dht and dhea, but the endo probably won't even bother with it lol.

my advice, if you want to pursue TRT then find a local true expert doc who handles male TRT specifically. it's probably going to be an internist or urologist. I've yet to hear or read from an endo who specializes in TRT.

[CAP]

hey, Im 21 and very similar issue,) 0 sex drive,depression, anxiety. I use to drink a lot of soy milk while I was begining puberty. I was stupid and uninformed and actually thought soy increases test but actually decreases it, also my bastard parents had me on antidepressants. along with th stress ,I think I ****ed up my entire life because of this and not to mention my baby penis ,which i will need penis enhancement for,and thats around 20,000 for a couple inches. I never had my test checked so I will start with a saliva test. and home much more valuable would a serum test be then a saliva test. good luck to you with your test levels.

[kelkel]

Hi Cap. Start a thread and introduce yourself and break your dilemma down for us there so we can chime in. Putting it here is what we call "hijacking." We'll be glad to help, just post up.

[jacobk91]

i saw my endo and he ordered some new tests. a few of them came in today (im still waiting on the others), but i have no idea how to interpret them. we are going to have a follow up app once they are all in, but i would like some opinions/interpreations...

LH

Your Value: 3.9
standard range: 0.8 - 7.6
Units: mIU/ml

FSH

Your Value: 6.1
standard range: 0.0 - 14.0
Units: mIU/mL

Prolactin

Your Value: 8.6
standard range: 4.4 - 16.4
Units: ng/mL

no idea how to interpret this

[steroid.com 1]

i saw my endo and he ordered some new tests. a few of them came in today (im still waiting on the others), but i have no idea how to interpret them. we are going to have a follow up app once they are all in, but i would like some opinions/interpreations...

LH

Your Value: 3.9
standard range: 0.8 - 7.6
Units: mIU/ml

FSH

Your Value: 6.1
standard range: 0.0 - 14.0
Units: mIU/mL

Prolactin

Your Value: 8.6
standard range: 4.4 - 16.4
Units: ng/mL

no idea how to interpret this

These are fine.

LH/FSH in simple terms are the androgen messengers who tell the testes to do their thing and they are in good ranges.

Prolactin at high levels can cause a host of issues that you don't want and mid range here is best...right where you are.

Keep posting when other panels arrive but so far so good!

[jacobk91]

new results came in, this one was done first thing in the morning. TESTOSTERONE, FREE, BIO AND TOTAL

Testosterone, Total Your Value: 361 standard range: 250 - 1100 Units: ng/dL

Testosterone, Free Your Value: 34.7 standard range: 46.0 - 224.0 Units: pg/mL

Testosterone, Bioavailable Your Value: 76.0 standard range: 110.0 - 575.0 Units: ng/dL

SHBG Your Value: 46 standard range: 10 - 50 Units: nmol/L

Albumin, Serum Your Value: 4.8 standard range: 3.6 - 5.1 Units: g/dL

[jacobk91]

new results came in, this one was done first thing in the morning. TESTOSTERONE, FREE, BIO AND TOTAL

Testosterone, Total Your Value: 361 standard range: 250 - 1100 Units: ng/dL

Testosterone, Free Your Value: 34.7 standard range: 46.0 - 224.0 Units: pg/mL

Testosterone, Bioavailable Your Value: 76.0 standard range: 110.0 - 575.0 Units: ng/dL

SHBG Your Value: 46 standard range: 10 - 50 Units: nmol/L

Albumin, Serum Your Value: 4.8 standard range: 3.6 - 5.1 Units: g/dL

my bio and free test are below the "standard range". how bad are those numbers?