Lab test results please advise

**Video Vic** · 09-10-2012, 04:58 AM

Hey guys, first post here. My doc ordered a bunch of tests last week and i have the results. Reason for the tests is because i have been having symptoms of low testosterone like low sex drive and slow recovery from light exercise. I am 37 years old.
Doc has suggested a trial of TRT but from these results my levels look ok. I am from New Zealand so we have different measurements than in the US but i have included the reference ranges in brackets. Please comment on my results.

S. Testosterone 14.2 nmol/L (9.9-27.9)
Calculated free testosterone 410.68 pmol/L (170-670)
SHBG 18 nmol/L (17-56)
Progesterone 1.8 nmol/L (0.7-4.3)
S Estradiol 54 pmol/L (<160)
Prolactin 155 nlU/L (0-500)
LH 2.6 IU/L (1.8-9.2)
FSH 2.4 IU/L (1.5-9.7)
S Cortisol 398 nmol/L (138-690)
Ultra sensitive TSH 1.00 mU/L (0.5-5.0)
Fasting glucose 4.5 mmol/L (3.6-6.0)

**kelkel** · 09-10-2012, 09:21 AM

Serum a bit low. Free looks mid-range on that scale. Is that a sensitive Estrogen assay? If not it's useless. LH/FSH are definitely low. As long as there are no pituitary pathologies causing the low LH/FSH I would ask your doctor about trying to jump start your natural production before trying TRT. Clomid therapy, HCG , Nolva, etc. May be worth a shot and just can't hurt.

Take some time and read up on what these compounds can do so you can talk to your doctor about it.

Welcome to the forum Vic. Stick around and learn. More will chime in!

**bass** · 09-10-2012, 03:19 PM

i agree with the big guy, also read the stickies in this section.

**HRTstudent** · 09-10-2012, 11:58 PM

Symptoms of low testosterone overlap with a LOT of other issues.

The good news is that you definitely have some functioning going on there, and by no means are you in really bad shape with regard to testosterone .

I would say you could probably see significant improvement with lifestyle and nutritional changes. The degree of this improvement of course depends on what you've been doing over the recent years.

**steroid.com 1** · 09-11-2012, 10:33 AM

HRT is dead on; issues like Hypogonadism can be caused by many things notwithstanding Hypothyroidism and which carries many of the same symptoms.

Your TSH levels are good but get this tested as well:

FT4
FT3
RT3
Thyroid Antibodies

This will tell you if you Thyroid is under-performing.

**HRTstudent** · 09-11-2012, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by gdevine

This is big red flag: Ultra sensitive TSH 1.00 mU/L (0.5-5.0)

HRT is dead on; Hypogonadism can be caused by many things notwithstanding Hypothyroidism and which carries many of the same symptoms.

Your TSH levels are near tanked which would suggest further Thyroid testing to include:

FT4
FT3
RT3
Thyroid Antibodies

This will tell you if you Thyroid is under-performing.

Low TSH is desirable, and is indicative of a healthy thyroid.

It doesn't necessarily mean his thyroid is fine and dandy, but a low TSH does not support the notion of an unhealthy thyroid.

Regardless, if you have insurance I would run the other thyroid tests anyways. I did the same myself.

**steroid.com 1** · 09-11-2012, 02:29 PM

^^^^LOL, too busy at work today to be on the boards...you are right his TSH is excellent but he may want to get some additional Thyroid as well. TSH is not the be all know all as we know..

**Video Vic** · 09-11-2012, 03:24 PM

Thanks guys. Actually i asked my doc to test for free T3 and free T4 because i had read here that it is important to test those but he told me that he normally only tests for TSH and if that comes back good then there is no need to test for T3 and T4.
Just out of interest, given that my serum testosterone levels are on the low side of normal, do you think that taking enough testosterone to get me to the top of the normal range will make me feel better? My primary concern is my slow recovery from exercise. I would really like to recover as fast as I did in my mid 20's.
Believe it or not, i have found a doc who is willing to put guys who are low normal on TRT. I can't decide whether I should try it or not. Apart from the inconvenience of TRT, what are the other downsides?

**HRTstudent** · 09-11-2012, 08:57 PM

Id recommend reading a lot more, these questions are really ones you need to answer for yourself.

Namely, being on TRT means you are reliant on a doctor, the medical system, and sticking yourself with a needle regularly. If fertility is important to you in the next couple years I would say its not worth going on TRT if you are mainly after improved physical traits.

Testosterone for me has definitely not been any sort of a quick fix and it can take time, months and months. There are people who quit after being on years and essentially TRT just wasnt worth it.

It's all about what you want for yourself and what you might be willing to suffer from. Having a true expert in male TRT is the only starting point I recommend as well.