Can Low Free Testosterone be Increased Naturally?

[jump100]

Long story short, my free testosterone is in the tank while my total testosterone has been between 500-550. I can't seem to improve my free testosterone which I understand is the most important.

My vitamin D is optimal (60nd)
I work out everyday, usually lift heavy.
I am eating fine - no sugar, red meat, fruits and eggs.
I get 7 hours of sleep.

And yet, the best I have seen in my free testosterone was 10,18 (Ref 8.80-27.00)

My last lab work is 7.57 (Ref 8.80-27.00)

Am I doomed? I heard that the only way to increase it is by increasing total testosterone.

Sex drive isn't bad and I sleep okay. The only problem is recovery at the gym. I feel very fatigue if I workout three days in a row. Muscles gains are very slow. Pump does not last.

[BallSak]

You need to lower your SHBG. Do you know your values for this?

[theheat]

I have the same problem... I started HRT 3 months ago with a TT of 403, FT 60, BAT 134, SHBG 27, and E2 35. I was doing 1,000 IUs HCG 2 x week and 20mg of T cream a day along with .25 Adex 2 x week. Three months later my libido totally crashed and I have a TT of 719, FT 70, BAT 144, SHBG of 51, and E2 23. It seems pointless to be spending thousands of dollars on HRT if my free/bioavailable T isn't improving because my SHBG has doubled. I'm trying D3, stinging nettle, and boron, and I'll post my results after more BW in June. The only other thing I can think of in my case is to increase the dose of T-cream...

[Times Roman]

if there is no medical reason for your low T, other than this is your normal levels, there is little one can take to boost their natty T levels.

your brain has a feedback mechanism that senses your T levels, and will cut natty T production once T levels rise to a certain point.

It's like the thermostat in your house. Once your house warms up and hits a certain temperature, your heater will cut off. if you put more wood on the fire, then your heater will stay off.

[jump100]

if there is no medical reason for your low T, other than this is your normal levels, there is little one can take to boost their natty T levels.

your brain has a feedback mechanism that senses your T levels, and will cut natty T production once T levels rise to a certain point.

It's like the thermostat in your house. Once your house warms up and hits a certain temperature, your heater will cut off. if you put more wood on the fire, then your heater will stay off.

I am a little confused. If my total T is 500 and I increase it to 700, wouldn’t my free T also increase? My problem is not total T, but free T which is being trapped by something and not getting into my blood stream.

[theheat]

It's being trapped by SHBG, so if you increase total T like I did, you won't see a proportional increase in FT or BAT unless you bring SHBG down. From what I've read on this and other forums, there isn't much you can do aside from keeping E2 within range and trying stinging nettle, boron, D3, and perhaps Proviron .

[jump100]

But my (SHBG) is low already - - 32,60nmol/L (reference: 13,0 - 71,0)

[kelkel]

Interesting stuff above jump. We spoke via pm. Quickest way to decrease shbg is to increase T, but that's a tough thing to do naturally. Proviron will as stated above as can Danazol, but they're only short term remedies.

[theheat]

I would think increasing his total T would increase his free T as well, but there aren't many ways to do it naturally (D3, cholesterol, HIT, cold showers, sleep, cut out alcohol, etc) In my case SHBG doubled while on HCG + T cream which wiped out any gains in FT or BAT. I'm wondering if increasing my dose of T cream to 30-40mg a day will help at all...

[kelkel]

I would think increasing his total T would increase his free T as well, but there aren't many ways to do it naturally (D3, cholesterol, HIT, cold showers, sleep, cut out alcohol, etc) In my case SHBG doubled while on HCG + T cream which wiped out any gains in FT or BAT. I'm wondering if increasing my dose of T cream to 30-40mg a day will help at all...

Such a fine line isn't it? Our numbers don't always follow the path we think they should! Speaking of D, Nettle, etc. when my shbg was elevated I increased my exogenous test briefly and added in the mentioned supps. Now it stays in the 20's (was in low 40's from memory) consistently.

Increasing T (regardless what form) is almost always the quickest way to reduce shbg.

[jump100]

I have not been taking care of my testicles. I take very hot showers all the time, wear shorts (causing more heat) and often cross my legs at my desk at work (don't pick on me now). Maybe I should consider the cold shower, uncrossing my legs and wearing a light underwear or no underwear at all. I need find out what Nettle and other drugs are that you guys are referring to. I still have a learning curve.

[Trenchant7]

Once your house warms up and hits a certain temperature, your heater will cut off. if you put more wood on the fire, then your heater will stay off.

Was just doing some searching to find answers to some questions and ran across this statement. Great way to put it. Makes a lost more sense when its phrased this way.

-T-