Why is Free-T level dropping?

[GeriatricOne]

Note the rise and fall of my Free-T. Each time I get a dose increase my levels rise for a couple of months then drop by half. Increase dose, rise, drop...

Is this normal? Should it remain roughly level and not fluctuate this drastically...?


I started TRT in June of last year. Total-T = 207 Free-T = 3.0 (range=7.2-24.0)

July Free-T = 22.5 (4 weeks at 100mg IM)

September Free-T = 7.8 (12 weeks at 100mg IM)

^Dose increased to 130mg

October Free-T = 17.5

December Free-T = 15.5

January (today) Free-T = 8.0

^Dose increased to 145mg IM

[GotNoBlueMilk]

Free T numbers are a tricky thing to rely on. You really show give Total T more weight in your self evaluation. Free T is typically a calculation based on total T and SHBG levels.

[jimmyinkedup]

Shbg ....

[lacey23]

,,,,,

[lacey23]

Shbg ....

Shouldn't SHBG be going down as testosterone goes up though?

OP- Were the tests all take at the same time relative to your last injection? What were your other #'s like total test, SHBG, E2 during these test dates?

[jomamma007]

Shouldn't SHBG be going down as testosterone goes up though?

OP- Were the tests all take at the same time relative to your last injection? What were your other #'s like total test, SHBG, E2 during these test dates?

If your dose is increasing your estrogen will obviously rise with it, and as far as I know, if you aren't taking an ai it will elevate your SHBG lowering your free test. Be sure to test for e2 and SHBG next time you get bloods

[steroid.com 1]

Actually, after the start of TRT bioavailable and Free Test are the panels most telling about your serum levels.

There are a host of reasons why you are seeing variation.

Jimmy is right on about SHBG, but E2 can effect as well as the timing of your blood work relative to your injections and how you metabolize and what's going on in your life like stress and life style.

You'd need complete blood work to make a true assessment.

[HRTstudent]

There are a variety of reasons why your SHBG will rise or fall...

It's worth noting that some good physicians do not even care about free testosterone , and instead rely on total testosterone numbers along with how the patient feels.

If you're driving your therapy based on your SHBG, I have to think you're setting the wrong sail for your ship!

[lacey23]

If your dose is increasing your estrogen will obviously rise with it, and as far as I know, if you aren't taking an ai it will elevate your SHBG lowering your free test. Be sure to test for e2 and SHBG next time you get bloods

Test (and androgens in generaly) decrease SHBG
E2 increases SHBG.

Generally speaking I think the rise in testosterone trumps the rise in E2 in this regard, and most people see a decrease in SHBG as total testosterone rises, even with E2 rising as well. E2 could defenitly be the reason for an increase in SHBG though.

The only cases I've seen where there was a disproportionate rise in E2 vs. Test (which would probably result in increased SHBG/Lower free test) are people that produce excessive aromatase from HCG . Some guys on Test cyp alone will have E2 in the 20's, and then when they introduce in HCG can all of a sudden have E2 in the 100's. I'm not sure that is the case, but it is the only case I can think of off the top of my head where E2 increases at a higher rate than test resulting in increased SHBG.

But yeah. Can't really say without more bloodwork OP.

[GeriatricOne]

First of all, where can I find all those hot tattooed women in gdevine's pictures?

My E2 rose between October and December and started anastrozole in December. Today's blood results were to check the E2, which is back to 14.0 on a 7.5 - 42.6 range.

When Free-T is high, my Total-T has been in the 600-700 range. When Free-T is low, my Total-T has been in the 400 range.

Lifestyle = Intense CrossFit daily, strict Paleo diet, minor stresses, but often too little sleep. I took a lot of antibiotics last month, but antibiotics were not a factor in Free-T dropping before. All other lifestyle factors have been constant through these rises and falls.

[HRTstudent]

why are you taking antibiotics multiple times in what seems like a short period of time?

[lacey23]

First of all, where can I find all those hot tattooed women in gdevine's pictures?

My E2 rose between October and December and started anastrozole in December. Today's blood results were to check the E2, which is back to 14.0 on a 7.5 - 42.6 range.

When Free-T is high, my Total-T has been in the 600-700 range. When Free-T is low, my Total-T has been in the 400 range.

Lifestyle = Intense CrossFit daily, strict Paleo diet, minor stresses, but often too little sleep. I took a lot of antibiotics last month, but antibiotics were not a factor in Free-T dropping before. All other lifestyle factors have been constant through these rises and falls.

So, it's not necessarily free T or SHBG problem here I wouldn't think, but rather total T?

Free T is going to be a % of total T. If you have less total T to work with then you are going to have less free T as well. I don't think a free test near the bottom of the range is all that uncommon for a total in near 400.

I'm not sure of any interactions with antibiotics, so I can't really speak to that.

I'm trying to think of possible reasons for such a big difference in total test.

-Were all the tests done exactly at the same point after your last shot? If you take the test 3 days after your last shot you could still be near a peak, where if you take the blood test 5 days after it can make a pretty big difference. For example, this graph (upper right) is of Test E, so if using test cyp there would be a light steeper drop. Still you can see there could be a few hundred point difference in ng/dl if bloodwork is taken a few days different.



-Was you HCG getting older by chance? It degrades (I'm not exactly sure at what rate). But maybe the HCG was new at the higher test #'s, and a few months old at the lower #'s?

-Is your test from a pharmacy or UGL? Any chance in different quality batches?

[GeriatricOne]

Bad cut on leg got infected. Doc gave me antibiotics to fight both staph and strep bacteria. Later in the month I got sick and took a z-pack

My blood is always drawn at the end of my 7-day cycle before the next injection. Injections are Monday morning. Blood always drawn at 9:30 on a Monday morning before injection.

I also receive 300mg HCG weekly.

[GeriatricOne]

I go to the Low-T clinic. They do A LOT OF BUSINESS. I'd think they run through their inventory on a regular basis, so no old batches, but I can not be sure of that.

[GeriatricOne]

Am I understanding correctly? That there is no consensus what causes this rise and fall, but that it is not normal? Levels should remain roughly constant?

[LT75]

I just had this same issue happen to me. My free and total T levels dropped between BW(12 weeks) while maintaining the same dosage EW(125mg IM). Like the OP I had a severe sinus infection and was on antibiotics(levaquin) for 2 weeks right up to the labs.

Total T went from 623 to 360
Free went from 192 to 139(46-224 range)
Estradiol sensitive went from 22 to 17(3-70 range)

Doctor forgot to include SHBG in this run of labs. So can antibiotics block Test?

[Trific]

Maybe it's the antibiotics or maybe it's because of the stress the body is under by having the infection?

[steroid.com 1]

Free T numbers are a tricky thing to rely on. You really show give Total T more weight in your self evaluation. Free T is typically a calculation based on total T and SHBG levels.

Incorrect; the Free assay scores testosterone bound to Albumin.

Bioavailable is jut that, testosterone moecules not bound to SHBG (bound for good) or Albumin (loosely bound and will become bioavailable some time).