The Hematocrit reaction

[HEVEW8]

So I'm trying to wrap my head around why some of use are having issues with high hematocrit levels and others are fine, maybe it's due to a allergic reaction to the type of testostrone. I wonder if maybe changing to a different ester would help? I'm currently on test cyp, so maybe test ethinate might suit me better, or sust 250, or primoteston. Has this topic ever been brought up?

Your thoughts.?

[Torqued]

My understanding is that the increase in hematocrit is generally a dose dependent side effect of TRT. It's not an allergic reaction and is a function of testosterone's effect on the body. What dose are you on? And are you donating blood regularly?

See this article (Effects of Graded Doses of Testosterone on Erythropoiesis in Healthy Young and Older Men) and some of the references cited.

Conclusions: Testosterone has a dose-dependent stimulatory effect on erythropoiesis in men that is more pronounced in older men. The testosterone-induced rise in hemoglobin and hematocrit and age-related differences in response to testosterone therapy may be mediated by factors other than erythropoietin and sTfR.

Increase in hematocrit is a predictable effect of testosterone therapy (1,2,3,4,5,6). Erythrocytosis is the most frequently reported adverse event in testosterone trials (2). Anecdotally, older men appear more sensitive to the erythropoietic effects of testosterone than young men (7,8,9,10)...

[bass]

Testosterone stimulates the bone marrow to produce more RBC, hematocrit is a percentage of rbc, wbc to plasma i believe, so the more rbc and wbc the thicker the blood, and therefore higher hematocrit %

[junk2222yard]

So I'm trying to wrap my head around why some of use are having issues with high hematocrit levels and others are fine...

Do not discount different people get different effects. I have only been on HRT for a little over 3 months, but the deeper I get into reading about it the more I recognize how varied the effects are, and the needed protocols.

I did read recently about a study done on TRT (can't remember the purpose) with standard Test doses, and I believe 17% of participants had a substantial increase in Hematocrit. This could indicate (possibly) only 1 in 5 TRTers would need to take measures to reduce their hematocrit.

Note: This is off the top of my head -- I may be mis-remembering -- so in the mean time I will try to dig up the study and if I find it I will post a link.

[HEVEW8]

To answer my dose question, I was on 50mg twice weekly, I then cut to 40mg, and now I'm at 30mg twice weekly, I did not donate until it was too late had to have a phlibodomy. I can't understand how some people that cycle 250 twice weekly are not dropping like flies from strokes and heart attacks.. Lol.

[junk2222yard]

I can't understand how some people that cycle 250 twice weekly are not dropping like flies from strokes and heart attacks.. Lol.

Well, if you are cycling, that isn't HRT. On a cycle you come off at some point, and you got to figure, hematocrit will go down. TRT is long term, so although your hematocrit might build up more slowly than a cycle, you don't come off, so eventually it gets much higher.

Just my $.02, I am no expert.

[HRTstudent]

So I'm trying to wrap my head around why some of use are having issues with high hematocrit levels and others are fine, maybe it's due to a allergic reaction to the type of testostrone. I wonder if maybe changing to a different ester would help? I'm currently on test cyp, so maybe test ethinate might suit me better, or sust 250, or primoteston. Has this topic ever been brought up?

Your thoughts.?

First of all, there are wide individual variations.

Secondly, there is a dose-dependent response. A lot of people on this forum have been on TRT for a short period, thus they are still working to minimize benefits vs risks.