Is this "enough" ?

[BigLittleTim]

Gentlemen,

Started HRT six weeks ago: 100mg Test Cyp. / week
Resulting bloodwork is below...

Tests: (3) Testosterone (29868W)
Testosterone 380 ng/dL 200-500

Tests: (4) Free Testosterone (29918W)
Free Testosterone 18.8 pg/mL 10-30

Does this seem like "enough"?

Are the target levels given (at right) optimal or low, in your opinion?

Thanks.

BigLittleTim

[zaggahamma]

with the ranges you provided, both levels look to be on the higher end which is usually optimal...do you have before levels to compare?

[BigLittleTim]

I guess my real question is: Are the ranges supplied by this testing laboratory "good"?

ie: Is 200-500 ng/dL a range folks with bodybuilding and HRT experience would regard as healthy... or skimpy?

I always thought "300-900" was the range for natural levels of Testosterone, with 600 considered "average". Now there's this...

-BigLittleTim

[zaggahamma]

yes, both quest and labcorp used the range of 241-827 ng/dl with my tests so 600 would be a little better than average or around the 75 percentile...
i had a similar problem when testing for estrogen...all my previous tests tested for estradial and then the last one tested total estrogens so i really had nothing to compare the last test to

[TBones]

everything i've been reading says around 300-1200 is normal. My last lab 5 years ago says 240-950 >40 yrs and 300-950 19-40 yrs. Free test on lab says 9-30 ng/dl is normal.

[BigLittleTim]

I just got the following response from my doctor, after I requested he up my dose from 100mg/Wk. to 200 mg/Wk: I told him although my levels of Test. were higher, I still have low energy and low sex drive.

"I am not comfortable with 200mg/week, that is very high dosing, we look at both, how someone feels and how their liver and red blood cells are being effected."

Do you think 200mg/Wk. Test. Cyp is "very high dosing"?

-BigLittleTim

[zaggahamma]

I just got the following response from my doctor, after I requested he up my dose from 100mg/Wk. to 200 mg/Wk: I told him although my levels of Test. were higher, I still have low energy and low sex drive.

"I am not comfortable with 200mg/week, that is very high dosing, we look at both, how someone feels and how their liver and red blood cells are being effected."

Do you think 200mg/Wk. Test. Cyp is "very high dosing"?

-BigLittleTim

to a regular practicing physician YES....to a hrt clinic NO

and remember...always individual basis...some might need 100mg ew to bring to optimum levels where one could possibly need more

200mg ew could bring levels out of range and long term dosing could bring about serious sides

[phatkid77]

tell ya what, 100mg only took me to just above yours.. upped it to 150mg a week and im at over 800ng and feeling much better..

phats

[BigLittleTim]

Unfortunately I think I've shown too much knowledge about H.R.T., for a layman, and my doctor is now as stubborn as a mule about not raising my dosage. Doctor's do not like it when you start quoting, chapter and verse, medical studies and protocols.

I've started using 150 mg/Wk and I indeed DO feel much better and like my "normal" self again. Energy is consistent throughout the day, and not tired all the time as I was before H.R.T. I'm going to be supplementing my doctor prescribed dosage with an extra 50 mg/Wk. I could wish it were ALL prescription human-grade Test. Cyp., but I guess it's not to be with this doctor.

Thanks all for sharing your experience and knowlege with me.

-BigLittleTim