TRT and Elevated Hematocrit

**V-ROID** · 08-01-2013, 08:05 AM

Has your TRT caused a rise in your hematocrit level requiring regular blood draws to maintain a healthy level?

How long were you on TRT and at what dosage before hematocrit levels became a problem?

Has anyone been on long-term TRT and not had problems with increasing hematocrit levels?

**bass** · 08-01-2013, 08:48 AM

1. yes
2. one month and had to donate

***LowT Mike*** · 08-01-2013, 09:44 AM

Depends on the individual. Men with sleep apnea tend to have a higher hematocrit while on TRT. Also, if you are using superphysiologically doses of T your likely will be over that 55% cutoff. I would have to say 10% of men who are on TRT have this issue.

**bass** · 08-01-2013, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by LowT Mike

Depends on the individual. Men with sleep apnea tend to have a higher hematocrit while on TRT. Also, if you are using superphysiologically doses of T your likely will be over that 55% cutoff. I would have to say 10% of men who are on TRT have this issue.

only 10%? not disagreeing with you but from what I have seen I get the impression its more like 80%, but I am basing this from the number of members here who has this issue.

**powerlifterty16** · 08-01-2013, 10:04 AM

if my hcrit is naturally high will it be worse on trt?

**V-ROID** · 08-01-2013, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by bass

only 10%? not disagreeing with you but from what I have seen I get the impression its more like 80%, but I am basing this from the number of members here who has this issue.

Though 10% sounds much more acceptable to me, I was thinking MUCH higher too. But like you said, most TRT users I am familiar with also have a history of cycling with higher doses. If 10% is the average for low dose TRT users who have no history of "abusing" Test, it sounds more reasonable.

***LowT Mike*** · 08-01-2013, 10:31 AM

Yes its not as common as one would think when doing appropriate doses.

**powerlifterty16** · 08-01-2013, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by powerlifterty16

if my hcrit is naturally high will it be worse on trt?

mike any thoughts?

***LowT Mike*** · 08-01-2013, 01:17 PM

Not necessarily. Like I said it would depend on your health history, sleep apnea?, how much T you use. Just because you have a predisposed high H. Dosent mean that its going to shoot through the roof once you start TRT. People who live at altitude (denver) have on average a few points higher hematocrit. When you start TRT keep up with labs if H goes over 55% then get a blood draw. 1 pint will drop H 6-10%. I see many guys on here that just becasue there labs say they have high H they run to get a blood draw. 51% which is high "out of range" on most labs... is not the cut off to get a blood draw unless you have uncomfortable symptoms of High H. (heavyness, SOB, High BP) No need to get a blood draw and there is no risk of DVT until you start floating around 56%+. If you have electrophysiological issues with the heart. (atrial fibrillation,atrial flutter) you should pay close attention to H.

FYI There has been no documented death of a man using TRT that has died from a thrombolic event. But nobody wants to be the first so just keep it in check.

**powerlifterty16** · 08-01-2013, 01:31 PM

thanks man, that is one of my concerns with starting trt...good to know it's not as big of a concern as i thought...still important to monitor with labs though.

**Rusty11** · 08-01-2013, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by LowT Mike

Depends on the individual. Men with sleep apnea tend to have a higher hematocrit while on TRT. Also, if you are using superphysiologically doses of T your likely will be over that 55% cutoff. I would have to say 10% of men who are on TRT have this issue.

Wow. Like bass, judging from the numerous posts here pertaining to high levels, I assumed it was A LOT higher. I thought I was simply lucky not to have any issues. Seems I'm in the majority. Thanks for posting that.

**Beethoven** · 08-02-2013, 12:59 PM

Yes I also have had to have blood drawn due to trt. It happened at about the 3 month mark

***LowT Mike*** · 08-02-2013, 03:31 PM

10% and thats the high end. Most practitioners say its even lower and around 4% is what is taught at A4m. Largely due to the majority of guys out there doing creams and gels. This is the largest TRT patient group and as a whole the docs treating these guys dont get their serum T that high so there is no issues of high H. If you are doing appropriate amounts of T you shouldn't have high H at all unless you are part of the 10%. I think what you "have seen" has been from steriod boards and lets be honest most likely guys are doing more than what they need on those boards and for different reasons then what is medically intended and/or other anabolic ancillaries. Main reason for high H is super-physiological doses. 2 things you can do to lower H. Therapeutic phlebotomy and TITRATE DOSE LOWER. See the connection there. 56% is the cutoff. Im not counting the guys hovering around 52-53%

**V-ROID** · 08-02-2013, 05:13 PM

Good to hear that coming from you Mike. Did ya'll know that my real middle name is "Titrate" and not "O"? VEGAN-TITRATE-ROID!

**FRDave** · 08-02-2013, 05:45 PM

So lowering your dosage will eventually drop your levels, thus no need for a blood draw?

**austinite** · 08-02-2013, 05:50 PM

No, lowering dose would lower production, it won't bring you down from say 56% to an acceptable range. Blood is there to stay until you remove it.

**The Deadlifting Dog** · 08-02-2013, 06:40 PM

RBC have a life span of about 4 months.
Lowering testosterone dosage lowers production of RBC.

Thus...

If one lowered their testosterone dosage their hematocrit level would slowly drop over time as their RBC slowly die and get replaced by a now lower production of RBC.

**austinite** · 08-02-2013, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by The Deadlifting Dog

RBC have a life span of about 4 months.
Lowering testosterone dosage lowers production of RBC.

Thus...

If one lowered their testosterone dosage their hematocrit level would slowly drop over time as their RBC slowly die and get replaced by a now lower production of RBC.

4 months is enough time to develop thrombosis. I wouldn't count on ANYTHING other than bloodletting.

**The Deadlifting Dog** · 08-02-2013, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by austinite

4 months is enough time to develop thrombosis. I wouldn't count on ANYTHING other than bloodletting.

totally agree with you.
I was typing from my i-pad and couldn't edit my post.

If someone is running high say 55% or above, then I would definitely recommend donating blood or bloodletting.

Hoever I do feel that if someone is consitently in need of blood draws then it is probably wise to lower their doseage.

**austinite** · 08-02-2013, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by The Deadlifting Dog

totally agree with you.
I was typing from my i-pad and couldn't edit my post.

If someone is running high say 55% or above, then I would definitely recommend donating blood or bloodletting.

Hoever I do feel that if someone is consitently in need of blood draws then it is probably wise to lower their doseage.

Sure. Really depends on how you respond. My dose has been lowered and lowered and lowered. Still have to drain frequently. If I lower my dose anymore, my test levels would be unsatisfactory, and I'm not even near upper range. CBC's just need to be observed regularly by everyone.

Sometimes crazy things happen, too. Recently my HCT went up from upper 40's to 55% in a matter for 4 weeks or so. I can't explain it since it's the first time that's ever happened. Never seen an increase so rapidly develop.

**Bonaparte** · 08-02-2013, 07:25 PM

Austin, the increase was likely from dehydration, as blood volume directly affects hematocrit.

**austinite** · 08-02-2013, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Bonaparte

Austin, the increase was likely from dehydration, as blood volume directly affects hematocrit.

I'm getting a urinalysis done. Dehydration is my thought also, but I would think that I might see signs in a CMP, which is perfect.

Thank you, Bona.

**Brazensol** · 08-02-2013, 07:36 PM

Probably the reason we think it is higher than the 10% quoted above is likely due to the fact most guys who are not having a problem won't be here posting about it. I must admit I also thought it would be higher than 10%. Good to hear it's appears not to be.

**TestingMe** · 08-03-2013, 06:34 PM

If you like you can read my (sad) story here

(oh, I cant post links but I made a thread)

short story is my Hematocrit levels were about 55-56 before i realized it for over a year...all sorts of stupid easily avoidable problems...

donated yesterday and felt better right away and even better today...

Now I have to figure out how to start up slowly the right way..