Free T Levels: What They Should Be and Why It's Important

[clarkster]

System Admin posted this yesterday about Free T levels and I wanted to start a thread about it. Please if you have anything more to add, please do so. Many of us look at Total T and know what are Free T is, but don't know what that really means and what Free T levels should be. This applies to me as my last lab work on Free T was 9 and considered normal. HRT experts please chime in on this as this is an eye opener for me.

System Admin's quote: "You want to be within 20-30 and if you are below 15 you need some help. Your levels do NOT typically run linearly at all. You can have a Total of 900 and a FREE level of 9, your testosterone is bound and is not being used."

[Failure]

On a side not, what does high free T mean? I was tested recently and have 26.9 in 8.7-25.1. Does it mean that I am wasting Test at my dose and can lower it for the same effect?

[dreadnok89]

The higher the free t the better is what I have heard

[bullshark99]

I also wish someone knowledgeable would chime in. I have asked this in the past also posted in to Low T Mike when he was introduced, never received feedback but if you are over range on Free T is this dangerous long term? Personally I am 700-900 Total but my free sometimes runs over range.

[LFH40]

I also wish someone knowledgeable would chime in. I have asked this in the past also posted in to Low T Mike when he was introduced, never received feedback but if you are over range on Free T is this dangerous long term? Personally I am 700-900 Total but my free sometimes runs over range.

My BW cam back yesterday and my total is 433 however my free T is 6.8. I'm seeing a lowtestosterone .com dr tomorrow morning.

[clarkster]

Paging: Kel, Bass, Austinite, Vettester. Any experts please chime in.

[clarkster]

Bump

[kelkel]

Clarkster what exactly is your question?
Is it about free T or hypermetabolizer's (from your pm?)

[clarkster]

Hey Kel, maybe both, I don't know and don't know if they relate in with one another in any way at all. I haven't had BW done in about 2 months and they didn't/wouldn't test F Test at that time. What do you do if your Total T levels are where your Dr finds them 'acceptable' as mine did and I think it was 675, but my F Test was 9 and according to the System Admin if you're below 15 you 'need some help.' If my Free Test isn't increasing with my Total Test as BW indicated, what does that mean my Testosterone is not being bound exactly and how can I fix things?
Let me re-post System Admin quote:
System Admin's quote: "You want to be within 20-30 and if you are below 15 you need some help. Your levels do NOT typically run linearly at all. You can have a Total of 900 and a FREE level of 9, your testosterone is bound and is not being used."

[kelkel]

They're two different things. Hyper-metabolizers basically use up or excrete their test very rapidly. They don't necessarily need more T, just more frequent T.

When it comes to low Free T, what are the ranges on your blood test?
Talk to your doc about focusing on your FT level, not total T. FT is what works for us all. Total T is nice to know but in reality it's just a number.
Have you tracked your SHBG level? This is what binds your T and as we age it can go up. It can also follow your Estrogen level. Meaning if your E rises so can your shbg. Some guys simply have to run a higher serum T level to maintain optimized FT levels. Many doc's may be uncomfortable with this.

The quickest way to increase FT and decrease SHBG is to increase your testosterone level. More test suppresses shbg levels. Also optimized Vit D levels will help here over time as well. There are other minor things that can be taken such as stinging nettle root and/or avenacosides to help with shbg.

Fill me in on your shbg and we'll discuss further...

[clarkster]

Hey Kel- Just looked over 3 years of BW and SHBG has never been tested, unless it's listed under some other name that I can't find. Dang. I'll ask them to test next time. My FT on last BW was 6.8 and the range was 5-40. So the Dr said it was in range. I'll ask if he can start focusing on FT on not Total T. My vit D level was in range this last BW. I'm pinning Test every Tues and Friday at 70mg. and M-W-F HCG at 250ius. Don't seem to need an AI.

[kelkel]

It would be listed as SHBG.
6.8 is horrible on that scale. Bullshyte that your doc said that. Hopefully you can talk some sense into him.
Vit D in range? That's a broad statement. You want it optimized.
Don't seem to need an AI? Always base this on BW, never a gut feeling.

[lovbyts]

On a side not, what does high free T mean? I was tested recently and have 26.9 in 8.7-25.1. Does it mean that I am wasting Test at my dose and can lower it for the same effect?

Basically yes that's what it means. You dont need to be that high and over time it could start to feel not so good.

Being more in the middle or upper middle is typically better IMO.

You might want to start a new thread of your own so you get more specific answers.