23 years old - low T help

**The Prestige** · 10-12-2013, 08:43 PM

Have been experiencing some issues with libido, erection quality, fitness (have man boobs + belly [chubby face as well], muscle growth (lifts are getting better), and tiredness.

Went to my GP had test levels taken.

Total Test: 261
Range: [300-1000]

So I appear to be very low for a 23 year old. I'm not sure whats causing this as I try to live a healthy life, though I do have Crohn's as well.

I'm a little scared of TRT as its another life long thing I'd have to deal with + I'm also very worried about MPB. My hair has been thinning lately and I'm not sure why and I don't know if I have MPB or not. My hairline receded when I was 18 but hasn't moved since (though hair is getting thinner). Mothers grandpa has hair + all my cousins on that side. Fathers side, grandpa was bald, but all my uncles + cousins have hair (probably 30+ males on that side from 16-70).

Any way to limit hair loss if I go on TRT?

**kelkel** · 10-13-2013, 12:01 AM

Prestige I'm sorry I missed this thread. Can you post up complete blood work for us to review? So many things can cause Low T we'd be throwing darts trying to guess right now.

**jomamma007** · 10-13-2013, 10:21 AM

would you rather have hair and "some issues with libido, erection quality, fitness (have man boobs + belly [chubby face as well], muscle growth (lifts are getting better), and tiredness." or shed a little faster?
There are things you can take to block dht conversion....dutasteride and others. You should be asking your doc to rx something for your hair.

You need to find the root cause of your low test at your age and not just jump intro trt.
We need bloods.
When did symptoms start?

**powerlifterty16** · 10-13-2013, 10:48 AM

hair is very important..and dht blockers are a no no imo.

**jomamma007** · 10-13-2013, 11:04 AM

6-700 test level will prob keep dht levels fairly low and quality of life will be greatly enhanced...

**The Prestige** · 10-13-2013, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by jomamma007

would you rather have hair and "some issues with libido, erection quality, fitness (have man boobs + belly [chubby face as well], muscle growth (lifts are getting better), and tiredness." or shed a little faster?
There are things you can take to block dht conversion....dutasteride and others. You should be asking your doc to rx something for your hair.

You need to find the root cause of your low test at your age and not just jump intro trt.
We need bloods.
When did symptoms start?

What kind of blood tests you looking for? I haven't seen my GP since this Total Test, test. She was just running lots of tests to see what was wrong with me.

In terms of symptoms, well thats complicated. I say the erection and libido problems were present 4-5 years ago way back in HS, because I remember girls back then commenting about why I couldn't stay hard and such. The weight gain, man boobs + belly, and lack of muscle mass happened after I was on Prednisone for 8 months (2010-2011) due to my Crohns. I thought they were sides of the pred, but it never corrected itself.

It should also be noted I'm on Imuran and have been for 8 years, but I can't find any link between that and low T

Here are some of the blood tests my GP ran when trying to figure out what was wrong:
BUN: 13 [10-20]
Na: 142 [135-145]
K: 4.2 [3.5-5.1]
Chloride: 104 [100-109]
CO2, venous: 24.8 [21-32]
Glucose: 84 [72-100]
Creatinine: .9 [.6-1.3]
Total Protein: 7.4 [6.0-8.5]
ALB: 4.3 [3.4-5]
Calcium: 9.2 [8.5-10.5]
Bilirubin, Total: 1.12 [.20-1]
Alk Phos: 80 [50-136]
GOT: 20 [15-37]
GPT: 26 [12-78]
Cholesterol: 207 [100-200]
Triglycerides: 192 [30-150]
HDL Cholesterol: 44 [40-60]
Iron: 137 [40-170]
Ferritin: 47 [26-388]
Folate: 33.8 [3.1-17.5]
B12: 492 [211-911]
TSH: 2.04 [.36-3.74]
Vit D: 30
WBC: 5 [4.5-11.0]
RBC: 5.58 [4.70-6.10]
HGB: 15.8 [13.5-17.5]
HCT: 46.1 [41-52]
MCV: 82.6 [80-100]
MCH: 28.3 [27.0-34.0]
MCHC: 34.3 [32-37]
RDW: 13.7 [11.5-14.5]
Platelet: 257 [150-450]
MPV: 8.1 [7.4-10.4]

**jungle1** · 10-13-2013, 05:22 PM

Yeah powerliftertty is right avoid the dht blocker lot of dudes get messed up by them, especially if u already have low libido an energy, your just asking for trouble if you take them...trt would be pointless while taking them aswel because of their anti androgenic properties

**The Prestige** · 10-14-2013, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by jungle1

Yeah powerliftertty is right avoid the dht blocker lot of dudes get messed up by them, especially if u already have low libido an energy, your just asking for trouble if you take them...trt would be pointless while taking them aswel because of their anti androgenic properties

I see, thanks for the info!

**kelkel** · 10-14-2013, 08:47 AM

LH and FSH are missing from your tests and are crucial to determine Pituitary function. Prolactin level should be obtained as well.
Your Vit D level is horrible. If not supplementing begin immediately.

**The Prestige** · 10-14-2013, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by kelkel

LH and FSH are missing from your tests and are crucial to determine Pituitary function. Prolactin level should be obtained as well.
Your Vit D level is horrible. If not supplementing begin immediately.

Ya I don't have those. I'll have to ask my doctor, she is calling me tomorrow to talk about the results.

As for vitamin D, the lab results say this.

< 20 Deficient
20-30 Insufficient
30-100 Sufficient

I didn't think it was that bad, lol. How much do you recommend I start taking?

**powerlifterty16** · 10-14-2013, 11:15 AM

a lot of the members here use more modern ranges and strive for optimal levels. 60 vit d levels are minimum, and id say 80 is a pretty good elvel. you can go higher than that too...hard to get your d too high, but id say 140 is too high.

**The Prestige** · 10-14-2013, 07:11 PM

Another thing I'm wondering is, I have oily skin + oily hair (though I don't really get acne). How is this possible, isnt high T the cause of this?

**Chodecabode** · 10-14-2013, 07:18 PM

Do you fap a lot? Watch excessive pr0n? Sleep regularly/eat well?

**The Prestige** · 10-14-2013, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Chodecabode

Do you fap a lot? Watch excessive pr0n? Sleep regularly/eat well?

Um, fap once a day + sex usually once a day. Pr0n once a day. I get at least 6 hours every night, usually 7-9. Do I fap more than I use to and watch more pr0n? Ya, but I started losing my erection quality long before I was faping daily. I remember my first gf in HS would comment why couldn't I stay hard or why isn't it "rock hard". Seriously my max is about 75% hard and its rare if I get to that. I also don't get random erections.

Eat well? Um idk, I try to. I'm not obese or anything, but I'm a little overweight (like I said in OP I got a belly and man boobs now, probably around 25% bf) 5'10ish around 175lbs. In terms of the quality of food, no different than the stuff I have eaten all my life. I'm a simple man I eat the same stuff all the time lol. Lot of pasta and red meat.

**powerlifterty16** · 10-14-2013, 08:02 PM

life is one big mystery. no disrespect to you, but I find it hilarious that guys with gut fat and man boobs get more poon than guys like me who work out.(not an insult just saying in general lmfao).

**kelkel** · 10-14-2013, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by The Prestige

I didn't think it was that bad, lol. How much do you recommend I start taking?

Minimum 5K per day with a meal as it's fat soluble.

Originally Posted by Chodecabode

Do you fap a lot? Watch excessive pr0n? Sleep regularly/eat well?

Lovely post.

**The Prestige** · 10-14-2013, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by powerlifterty16

life is one big mystery. no disrespect to you, but I find it hilarious that guys with gut fat and man boobs get more poon than guys like me who work out.(not an insult just saying in general lmfao).

Lol. no harm, I know exactly what you mean. That being said, the girl I'm with was with me prior to the boobs lol. I don't get checked out as much anymore since the belly+boobs. So all is right in the world!

**powerlifterty16** · 10-14-2013, 08:22 PM

cool that she hasn't left you like lots of girls would man ha.

**The Prestige** · 10-20-2013, 09:54 AM

Alright, I'm heading back to my GP on Wednesday. I should ask her to refer me to an endo right?

**apple2go** · 10-20-2013, 01:18 PM

@The Prestige: I am very sorry to read your case, I have low test too. It is very rough that a lot of guys suffer from low T without ever abusing AS. Altough I cannot write any constructive post here but I will check this thread in the future to see how you progress. Good luck!

@powerlifterty16: I can tell you that girls don't like that kind of mentality like "life is not fair with me blablabla". Even if you don't told them they will know that after few words with you. Furthermore it is not a real wish to bang hot girls just because you are working out and maybe having a solid body, because how your body looks is only one aspect of the "game".It is like train only your biceps and chest and wonder why you don't improve, or just working out like a mad man but eating in the KFC every day. And even if your body is solid in your eyes this is very subjective. (little note: if you are a bodybuilder most young chicks will say "it is too much" even though you think you have little mass and feel need to bulking). I am very far from expert in the seducing art with my 10 girl experience, but I can tell you that you should learn about girls as soon as possible since it helped me a lot. Start with the basic: Neil Strauss The game, because it is more like a novel. Then you can study more dry books like The Mystery method etc. But watch out this books/seminars/videos etc are overhyped! What they will do with you is to boost your ROI therefore you just have to practise a lot and succes will come sooner or later (theres variance in it haha). If only I could read about girls when I was 16!

(not an insult just saying in general lmfao)

Sorry for the off guys but I couldn't resist to answer him.

Cheers!

**The Prestige** · 11-01-2013, 10:51 AM

Alright so I finally got an appointment with a urologist next week (GP wants me to see them first to make sure physically I'm okay, and he will also talk about TRT) and an endo the week after. Will a urologist be knowledgeable?

What should I ask for? I have very mild MPB so I kinda want to limit DHT, I hear shots are good for that? When it comes to shots don't I have to see the doctor to get them every week? How does that work when you work a 9-5 since most offices are closed at 5/6?

Also in general while on TRT how much can I expect my testicles to shrink? Is it gonna look silly? Will I still be able to have kids?