18 Years Old - Need Advice - Testosterone

[Deequarius]

Hey everyone... I'm new here on this website as far as actually posting goes and I'm looking for some advice..

I'm 18 years old and I am approximately 6'2'' (closer to 6'3'') and this morning I weighed in at 192 pounds @ 10% BF. I'm a senior in high school and plan on attending a large Big 10 University in the fall next year. I have been lifting for almost 5 years now and seriously for 2 with a strict diet. I lift 6 times a week: Mon. - Sat. I've been an active football player and also excelled on the swim team all through middle and high school. Now being done with organized sports I have buckled down on my diet instead of during sports basically just eating whatever I could get my hands on. I eat a minimum of 6 times a day and my macros are as follows: Calories: 4250, Protein: 210 grams, Fat: 90 grams, Carbs: 740. I lose weight really easily so I do my best to keep my carbs high. And this is a rough estimate. It's more something that I just try to aim to be near because with school it makes it kind of difficult to actually hit it perfectly every day. And I know how important sleep is and I ALWAYS get atleast 8 hours a night.

Anyway, for the past.. I'd like to say 6 months, I've noticed less energy in day to day life, and my libido isn't nearly where it used to. It used to be a struggle everyday to refrain from dipping my wick into everything that moved. I also have noticed some strength loss and with my diet being on point, my muscle mass is dropping and it has me really frustrated. So I asked my family doctor to order me a blood test to check my test. levels. I got a call the next day and my doc told me that my test levels were at 316 ng/ml. He said they were in the normal range but with research on my own it seems that for someone my age it is on the very low end. I haven't been sleeping well lately and I think my test levels could be a contributing factor to this. Also, as I stated above, I did weigh in at 192 pounds this morning but this 8 pounds lighter then what I was sporting 4 months ago with a similar BF % and despite me increasing my caloric intake.

I have never messed with any kind of AAS because I didn't think the chances of crashing my natural endocrine system was worth it. Outside of just trying to get as much food into my body as possible I have stuck with a basic foundation of Protein Powder, Creatine, BCAA (for intraworkout), and minerals/vitamins (glutamine, fish oil, multivitamin, etc).

Some things to know... I have been done growing since mid sophomore year in high school. I developed early and my growth plates fused early. I know I'm done growing because when I blew my shoulder out in early in football my junior year my doctor checked my growth plates out along with my shoulder and said that I was done growing.

With finding out about my test levels and with the knowledge of what my doctor has told me which basically translates to me as my physical development is more or less completed I have been doing research on what I could do from here as I doubt my doctor would want to do anything to manipulate my levels as he believes I am still 100% normal. I have looked into POTENTIALLY doing a test e, with proper PCT of course. Before coming to that I did consider test boosters but from what everyone says, including my family doctor, Test Boosters are trash and are a complete gimmick. I've seen what some of you sometimes do to people my age who even think of dropping a word related to AAS on a public forum... So please... nothing rash, just give me something constructive. I really appreciate any and all advice.

THANK YOU

[Times Roman]

don't

[austinite]

How exactly did you come to the conclusion that your "Physical Development" is completed? That is far, far from reality.

Lower range testosterone levels do not justify steroid use at your age in my opinion. The rationale is silly at best. If you're genuinely concerned with your low T levels, seek the guidance of a qualified physician to determined why you're in this situation. Steroids will only make things worse for you and no PCT will recover the root cause, considering you have no history of steroid use.

Find the root cause and you can bring your T levels back naturally. Don't use your blood work as an excuse to cycle at your age. Furthermore; epiphyseal lines/plates are merely one of many reasons not to cycle at your age.

I appreciate that you've done some research and are attempting to overcome all objections so that you get responses you'd like to hear, but the fact is, you're not ready to cycle anything.

Best of luck.

[Deequarius]

The reason I believe I am done developing physically is because that is what my doctor said. He told me that I developed early and that I am done growing, and my test levels dropping is apart of aging. He told me quote: "physically you are in your early to mid 20s." I also asked what I should do about my test levels and he simply wrote me off with a "continue with an active life-style."

I am absorbing all the information you are saying. Clearly you are far more knowledgeable in this category than I am and I hope I don't irritate you by my mentality here but I have always been one to ask "why?"... I believe naturally increasing my testosterone is a very valid response but on a different spectrum... what I'm getting from your rationale to exclude me from cycling, which in principle is completely valid, is that you believe me to be too young. I may be ignorant on this but I feel age to be a very rough measure of when someone is ready for gear... People don't develop at the same rate. I have kids in my graduating class that if you covered their face you'd guess they were 13 years old at best and others you'd say they were 24.

Again, I want to make sure that you don't think that I am discrediting your expertise, I'm just asking for info.

Thank you!

[austinite]

Yes, you have low T, so visit a qualified physician and get treated. What other reasonable alternative is there?

[Deequarius]

I'm sorry if I didn't state it well in my last two posts... I have a visited a qualified physician- one that has a degree from the University of Iowa, a top 10 medical school in the nation. He disregarded it as to his understanding, my levels are technically still in the normal range. What should I do now?

[austinite]

I'm sorry if I didn't state it well in my last two posts... I have a visited a qualified physician- one that has a degree from the University of Iowa, a top 10 medical school in the nation. He disregarded it as to his understanding, my levels are technically still in the normal range. What should I do now?

No, it was me who wasn't clear. Let me be very clear...

He is not a qualified physician with respect to male hormones if he disregarded your levels at your age. That is a doctor that should not, ever, discuss endocrinology with a patient and should stick to general practice. A college degree and from a leading medical school has nothing to do with understanding male hormones.

Find a qualified physician, one that will not disregard your abnormal levels. Visit our HRT section and post your blood results, you will quickly understand where I'm coming from.

[Deequarius]

Alright. Will do!

[Deequarius]

Everyone please feel free to post your thoughts/opinions on the matter or any experience you have had in this department with low-T at such a young age!

[michael30]

....

[Ashop]

don't

Simply,,easily and WELL put!!!

[austinite]

Op although i dont always agree with austinite's delivery, his advice and knowledge are pretty much always spot on. You should definately seek the help of a hrt specialist. I strongly urge you not to cycle. That would be at best just a temporary fix. You seem to have the right attitude and a good build dont jump the gun and screw your bodies natural hormones up for good. That is a mistake i made. I had low T. Pushed my dr. To prescribe test. When the real cause was just medication i was on and an unhealthy lifestyle. Good luck!

What's that supposed to mean? Elaborate if you will.

[fit2bOld]

Completely agree with the information provided by Austinite.
A practitioner qualified in male hormone treatment is what you need. Start with an endocrinologist. Has your pituitary gland been checked.
Did the Dr check your LH and FSH that signal the production of testosterone.
A blood test for for your test level is just a start.

[michael30]

....

[austinite]

Your very knowledgeable. An asset to this site. But sometimes in my opinion your far too serious( politely put) the delivery of your advice can be harsh or dare i say confrontational.

I see. I apologize if I hurt your feelings at some point. Never intended to.

Have a powerful day

[michael30]

....

[austinite]

I'm not offended. Appreciate the feedback, I know you said it specifically to get a response from me. I don't always like to sugar coat advice. It is what it is.

Back on topic...

[Deequarius]

Okay so I'm going to go ahead and get an appointment with an hrt specialist.. I want to get to the bottom of this because I really feel that I live a healthy life-style and low-T doesn't really make sense to me. It doesn't run in my family line on either side so I definitely agree that I need to do some further investigating with a specialist in this department.

If I may ask... if I am able to get my testosterone levels back where they should be and continue working with a clean diet... Where do you think my genetic potential could take me? Referring to weight and what not.. And with my development through life and where I am at now... When would be a safe/suitable age for me to realistically consider my first cycle provided if that were to even be a subject of interest for me at that point in time?

[fit2bOld]

25 years old 230lbs 15% or less body fat based on 6'3"

[lovbyts]

Everyone please feel free to post your thoughts/opinions on the matter or any experience you have had in this department with low-T at such a young age!

My opinion...

He is not a qualified physician with respect to male hormones if he disregarded your levels at your age. That is a doctor that should not, ever, discuss endocrinology with a patient and should stick to general practice. A college degree and from a leading medical school has nothing to do with understanding male hormones.

Find a qualified physician, one that will not disregard your abnormal levels. Visit our HRT section and post your blood results, you will quickly understand where I'm coming from.

I can post this 2 or 3 more times if you want me to.

[Deequarius]

I posted my blood results in the HRT section and still don't have a response I'm just waiting now...

[Deequarius]

230 pounds?? Holy shit. I thought I was doing really well when I hit 200... Wow...

[AnabolicBoy1981]

Young guy.
Fantastic genetics.
700+carbs doesnt get fat
All of a sudden gets weaker and loses libido.

There is a cause for this. This is not normal. If you honestly didnt cycle anything...there is some health concern that needs to be addressed.
But first....let me pretend you are lying. Lets say you did a cycle, or something...juice, prohormone, etc. And lets say your 6 months post cycle and your thinkin "Damn, i ran pct" its been 6 months why aren't i recovered yet?". Well, as i can tell you at 20 a ran a LIGHT cycle and my balls shrunk to raisens....RAISINS. Couldnt even find them.
I satyed away from juice till 25, ran a cycle twice as heavy, and my balls only shrunk 30-40%. point is, pre-mature cycling supprresses your endocrine system way harsher ...and TIME is the only thing gonna make it better.
....but thats only if you were lying.

Okay so you never juiced , look fantastic , had 5 years of steady progress and horniness no its kerplunk.
Football player. Have you had any hits to the head...AT ALL? The pituitary is not immune from damage. Empty sella sydrome is often considered a benign condition where there is too much water in the sellica where the pituitary rests. The sellica is a boney structure. Jars to the head can rock the pituitary against it, damaging it. Those with head trauma kickboxers, etc. were fouund to have empty sella syndrome. Empty sella syndrome again, thought to be benign by many physicians, has been shown in other sources to affect pituitary hormones.
Pituitary tumor could also be a possibility, as could hyperprolactemia.
A good endo will get a MRI of your pituitary and bloodwork of pituitary hormones. You might wanna ask them to ck your HGH(igf-1) levels too.

[Audiofreak37]

I remember a few years back when my energy started to fall too. I started looking up ways you can naturally increase your testosterone, and it's helped me a lot with energy, feeling low, and strength. It might sound like a bit of a bullshit answer, but it helped me, and it sure can't hurt, right?

They've done studies that prove that strength training, specifically squatting/deadlifting heavy ass weights (which your probably already doing) increases your testosterone. You say you'll be going to a big University, so I'm sure studying has you stressing and set back your sleep intake, right? Rest and stress play a big role in optimal hormonal function. A diet high in zinc and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower) helps too. I eat a massive bowl of cauliflower most days. You say you consume 90g of fat per day, which is pretty spot on, however low fat intake has a big effect. You don't wanna overdo it of course, and it very well may not be the answer, but I'd increase by 10g~ and see if it makes a difference for you.

Just my $0.02

[michael30]

Pm sent

[qwertylifts]

Do u really want to be on trt for life?

[Deequarius]

Do you have to have a certain number of posts to see PMs? I am not sure where to find it and I don't have any notifications lighting up..?

[austinite]

Yes. 50.

[Deequarius]

Squatting has never been my strong point... I have rather long legs to match my height so my PR is only 395 x 3... I am always working to improve it! And yes I am very stressed from my studies with finals and everything so that could play a factor as well. Thank you for the knowledge and I will go ahead and try to add more of these foods into my diet. Seriously, appreciate it!

[Deequarius]

Will I be able to see PMs that have already been sent to me before I hit the 50 post mark after I achieve it?

[austinite]

Yes.

[Deequarius]

Swear I haven't juiced. If I had run AAS and this happened, I wouldn't even ask for help, I'd be straight to my doctor literally trying to save my balls.. And looking at myself I don't notice any change in the size of my testicles and with the suggestion from my Sports Med. doctor I check my balls for any abnormalities such as lumps or tenderness. And yes, I have taken some hits to the head. I'm sure anyone who actually tried out on the field does as well. I did have a nastier blow to the head in a game against the future "All Class Elite-Team MVP" (basically the best athlete/football player in the state through all school sizes). I more than likely had a concussion but I kept my mouth shut, bucked up and stayed in the game to keep playing. Also, cancer of any kind has not been something to run in my family on the male end. My grandmother and her sister on my Mom's side have Leukemia and Colon Cancer respectively but nothing on the male side. The only thing that I am at an increased risk for is heart attacks. My grandfather had his first heart attack at age 43. What would happen if I was in fact a victim of any of the things you suggested?

[Deequarius]

Okay thank you!

[michael30]

Sorry for some reason i thought you could view pm's before you had 50 posts but couldnt respond until 50. But hey you only got 8 more to go!

[Deequarius]

Yeah, I'm going to just post around real quick!

[Deequarius]

Well I hit 50 and still can't see my profile or messages.. hmm...

[Deequarius]

Does it sometimes take a while after you hit 50 posts to actually gain the privileges that come with that??

[Audiofreak37]

Squatting has never been my strong point... I have rather long legs to match my height so my PR is only 395 x 3... I am always working to improve it! And yes I am very stressed from my studies with finals and everything so that could play a factor as well. Thank you for the knowledge and I will go ahead and try to add more of these foods into my diet. Seriously, appreciate it!

You're squatting over double your body weight bro that's awesome, let alone at your height so it ain't that! It very well may come down to stress as a major contributor- I don't know if you believe in all that power of the mind stuff, but if people can spook themselves into having a panic attack, and literally believe it's a heart attack, then I'm sure being stressed out with finals trying to get into a good university can set your test levels back from optimal. Let me know how the diet helps

[Deequarius]

Fortunately for me, my finals are done tomorrow so I can get some much needed relaxation... Before contacting a HRT specialist I think I am going to wait and have my levels tested again two weeks from tomorrow and see if my levels change!

[Deequarius]

Sorry for some reason i thought you could view pm's before you had 50 posts but couldnt respond until 50. But hey you only got 8 more to go!

Hey dude if you wanted to send me another PM go ahead. I can view them now but something is messed up with the system so I can't send anything nor can i view my profile. I can however, view my messages in a weird roundabout way. So go ahead and resend that message you sent earlier.