Senior Member
H, just received results of bloodwork I had taken last week. The clinic doctor made some generic notes. Could I kindly ask for opinion of you all please?
Total test: 247 Range 240.24-870.68 ng/dL (21-49 Yr old)
Free Testosterone 6.15 nd/dL = 2.49%
Bioavailable Testosterone 145 ng/dL = 58.7%
LH: 3.23 Range 0.57 - 12.07
Albumin: 4.33 Range 3.5 - 5.2 g/dl
Estradiol <10 Range 11-44 pg/ml
SHBG: 20.23 Range 17.10 - 77.60
Last edited by Crest; 02-20-2023 at 04:30 PM. Reason: Add ranges
Knowledgeable Member
You should post ranges to get the best responses.Originally Posted by England
But, assuming standard ranges, your total T looks a bit low. Free doesn't look awful as a %, likely due to what is probably SHBG on the lower end of normal.
Two things...
Post the ranges
What are you looking for? All we can say is well, estradiol looks low, total t looks low, etc. Without more info, like how you are feeling, what your goals are, we are just guessing.
I would say it looks like you can benefit from TRT.
More info gets you better responses...
Member
You have another thread about doing a test only cycle coming up. All those numbers will change in a few weeks of a blast.
Pull labs again mid cycle and see where they're at.
Plans for post cycle in place? You're not already on trt, correct?
Senior Member
Hi guys thanks for replies. Sorry, have added a little more info. I hope it's not too long winded!
I'm 39 year old.
Did not cycle for last 10 years
Tests were taken at 12.30/1pm
I'm not sure if it's relevant but I've been under a little stress recently due to unresolved ongoing issue with neighbour plus some work stuff. Not chronic stress but a little. I don't know to what degree this impacts levels.
I'm not currently on TRT
Yes planned to cycle in next few months (have gear + pct) but looking at these numbers maybe would like to see if TRT is a route I might need to go down later.
My goal. I'm recreational guy just wanting to look and feel great. I'm not competing or anything. These bloods were just for a check before cycling to know if back at baseline after cycle. But after seeing the results it kinda got me thinking if TRT longer term is a good/bad idea. If i had to guess, throughout my lofe I've never had high test, but wasnt expecting to be right at the very bottom of the scale. Some of the symptoms of low T might actually be happening. I don't feel uber depressed but at the same time I don't feel amazing for the last few years and I wonder whether I've drifted into just feeling 'ok' rather than 'good' (you don't know what you don't know). Confusingly, when doing some research yesterday I'm getting all kinds of different numbers of what's considered low test from 230 or 280 ng/dl (UK) to 300 (US). The Dr at clinic is saying my test is low stating the 300 US measurement while the range from his lab begins 240...
Total test: 247 Range 240.24-870.68 ng/dL (21-49 Yr old)
Free Testosterone 6.15 nd/dL = 2.49%
Bioavailable Testosterone 145 ng/dL = 58.7%
LH: 3.23 Range 0.57 - 12.07
Albumin: 4.33 Range 3.5 - 5.2 g/dl
Estradiol <10 Range 11-44 pg/ml
SHBG: 20.23 Range 17.10 - 77.60
Last edited by Crest; 02-20-2023 at 06:58 PM.
Knowledgeable Member
Some simple fixes. Kill your neighbor.
I'M KIDDING!!!
(or am I?)
Yes, I am.
You should pull your numbers at a consistent time, usually first thing in the morning. The numbers probably aren't far off, so the real questions to me are a) are you ready to commit to trt for life and b) are you done having kids? The first one isn't that big a deal, the second one could be. We have a couple of members who are currently coming off to conceive, and it is... well, I will let you dig for the threads.
That said, I do not regret for one minute getting on TRT. It keeps the levels stable and allows all sorts of fun with mini-blasts. At 55, I am done with even thinking about having more kids. I did the cream (20% compounded) and sub-q injections. Cream is a viable option if two conditions. First, you get the 15 to 20% compounded cream, not the 1 to 2% gel. Second, you can tolerate the elevated DHT that comes with topical application. I had good consistent numbers with the cream but my DHT was over 200 with range being 15-60 or something like that.
The injections are essentially painless, and like I said, I can add a little something something from time to time if I want. I have used HCG throughout my TRT, a lot of men don't. I like for my potatoes to complement my meat, so to speak, makes for the total package thing. Well, OK, I use HCG more to keep parts of the HPTA functioning "just in case", but the added benefit is that nothing looks out of place.
Senior Member
Joking/not joking/definitely a neighbour burried under your patio
I'm not far off but still on the diplomatic route.
Do you mind if I ask what T level you were when you decided to take TRT. Maybe you just didn't want to cycle off...
Will book another set of bloods in a couple of weeks and earlier in the AM. Then maybe again two weeks later. I think if tHe next two are lower than a baseline it's something I might seriously consider. I'm a routine kinda guy, but still it's probably a 30+ year commitment.
I read the sticky threads in the TRT forum. All the tests are necessary or can I make it with the same as provided above?
Knowledgeable Member
My total T was around 400 when I decided to pursue hrt. TBH, overall the numbers weren't BAD, they just weren't real good. I'm in a field flooded with younger people, so I need to keep the mind sharp. No brain fog allowed!Joking/not joking/definitely a neighbour burried under your patio
I'm not far off but still on the diplomatic route.
Do you mind if I ask what T level you were when you decided to take TRT. Maybe you just didn't want to cycle off...
Will book another set of bloods in a couple of weeks and earlier in the AM. Then maybe again two weeks later. I think if tHe next two are lower than a baseline it's something I might seriously consider. I'm a routine kinda guy, but still it's probably a 30+ year commitment.
I read the sticky threads in the TRT forum. All the tests are necessary or can I make it with the same as provided above?
The bloods I like to pull are:
Total and free T
Estradiol sensitive
DHT
PSA
Thyroid panel
CBC
Lipids
CMP
PSA
You might consider a few others like SHBG, but those will provide a good base.
Senior Member
Appreciate your feedbacks Cylon. Will update here in a couple of weeks.
Peace. ✌️
Superbowl XLIX Champs!
Rather than worrying about what number your test levels are, what low-t symptoms are you suffering from? Everybody's bodies are different and some people don't need as much free test as other people need. The doc at the TRT clinic has financial motivation to tell you that you need TRT. I'll tell you this much though, if you're looking to cycle while on TRT, you're going to have to wait until they do bloodwork less frequently. If your total test is sky high and you're just supposed to be on 125mg per week, they might even refuse to treat you.Joking/not joking/definitely a neighbour burried under your patio
I'm not far off but still on the diplomatic route.
Do you mind if I ask what T level you were when you decided to take TRT. Maybe you just didn't want to cycle off...
Will book another set of bloods in a couple of weeks and earlier in the AM. Then maybe again two weeks later. I think if tHe next two are lower than a baseline it's something I might seriously consider. I'm a routine kinda guy, but still it's probably a 30+ year commitment.
I read the sticky threads in the TRT forum. All the tests are necessary or can I make it with the same as provided above?
Senior Member
Hey HK
That's exactly it. I don't know if the way I feel at the moment is normal or whether I have symptons that I've learned to live with for last few years. AlI I can say is I'm not sleeping as well as I used to, maybe my sex drive is not amazing. I mean I wake up with wood everyday, but the drive to go out and get 'it' might be lacking, I'm a bit foggy maybe... Now again, I did not really start thinking about this until I had taken the blood test. So are these really symptoms, or am I being a hypercondriact. I'm not jumping at the idea of lifelong injections, but if I do not start, am I missing out on feeling better than I do. Tough one!
I wasn't planning to cycle until April or May, so two options. Jump on now, do a PCT then look further at the blood test/TRT route, or go down that route now, which means I can't run a cycle.
What are your thoughts?
Completely understand what you're saying about TRT clinic. I've contacted some regular hospitals to either look at the results I have or run more comprehensive panel.
Last edited by Crest; 02-23-2023 at 12:20 AM. Reason: Change
Senior Member
Have some updated bloodwork.
What do you think? LH and FSH are really low?
Test is little better (this reult 8am vs 1pm last time), but bioavailable is quite high?
Screenshot_20230306_151440_OneDrive.jpg
Screenshot_20230306_151435_OneDrive.jpg
Screenshot_20230306_151426_OneDrive.jpg
Knowledgeable Member
Lh and fsh will trend towards zero in the presence of exogenous test. These numbers are likely your normal and explain the mediocre feelings you are having.
If you want to continue to cycle, pct ad nauseum, you can, but I still think TRT would be a good choice for you.
Member
I dont get why Dr's prescribe that kind of injection protocol. Every two week injections seems like you have huge swings in test levels!
If I recall, the Dr that initially put me on the gel mentioned injections would be once every 2 weeks if I opted for them.
Senior Member
They're loco.
I was offered gel also, which I rejected. It was also 5x the price of the 4 amps, and even worse, 4 amps from the hospital were the price of 40 amps (yes 40) of the same brand in a local pharmacy!
Am still deciding whether to run cycle first, before dropping to this TRT dose though.
Member
I have really good insurance. The gel I was on initially was costing me 10 bucks a bottle. Dr started me on one pump a day and the bottles were for a 30 day supply at 2 pumps. So 5 bucks a month.
When I switched to injections, through a hormone clinic, I started getting my test at Harris teeter. I get 10 vials dosed at 200mg/ml. Each vial is 1 ml. I'm only taking 100mg/week and my script is for 150mg week. So I have a buffer so to speak, that I can play around with dosage if needed. I have yet to file these on my insurance as it's so cheap. I think 10 vials are around 60 to 80 bucks depending on coupons available.
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