who donates blood?

[Baxter35]

Just curious how many here need to donate blood regularly due to hematocrit? Anybody on trt for an extended time and NOT ever have raised hematocrit? Mines been fine so far, but I'm only a year in. Just wondering if its inevitable, or preventable if trt dosing is dialed in properly.

[Low Testosterone]

From reading about it you would think everyone does or needs to but that's far from the case. Most should never have to donate blood on the basis of need or even prevention. That doesn't mean there aren't men who need to, there are plenty, but it's not a majority and far from it.

One of the worst things I sometimes see is guys who try to be proactive with it. They start donating every 2-3 months right from the start despite having no need to donate - you can lower your hematocrit too much, in fact, it's not hard to do.

On a personal note, I've been on treatment for years and have never had the need to donate.

[hawk14dl]

I'm almost at a year and my blood counts have barely changed

[jasondd1]

I do and more often than every 8 weeks. Hematocrit at 60 last time. Ive cut back my test cyp to 50 mg twice a week from 60 so we'll see.

[Beethoven]

I have to have theraputic draws every couple of months.

[Machdiesel]

Every 2 months, hemo went from 43,to 45, to 48 over 6 months. Wasn't about to wait to see how high it was gonna go

[bullshark99]

4yrs on, never needed too. I have 2-3 times now in the last 18 months only because it's a great gift to give.

[Baxter35]

Good to hear that its less common than it sounds sometimes. If it happens it happens and I'll deal with it then, but nice to know I can relax a bit and not feel like I need to run out and donate asap as posts on here can sometimes make you feel lol. Thanks for everyone's responses.

[Lifted1]

I donated three months into treatment. I was at 41.8% hematocrit pre Trt, 44.6% at six week bloods @ 100mg/wk and up to 51% six weeks later @ 150mg/wk. Imo if its going to rise, it will immediately. It's my understanding that eventually (1 year+) you will "level out" and have a stable crit level.

I also read that you do not have the blood thickening effects if you're using creams.

[Beethoven]

I donated three months into treatment. I was at 41.8% hematocrit pre Trt, 44.6% at six week bloods @ 100mg/wk and up to 51% six weeks later @ 150mg/wk. Imo if its going to rise, it will immediately. It's my understanding that eventually (1 year+) you will "level out" and have a stable crit level.

I also read that you do not have the blood thickening effects if you're using creams.

It hasn't leveled out with me, and I've been on TRT for well over a year. Without the theraputic draws, my crit will hit the fifties within three months or so. I'm at a fairly low dose it doesn't really matter with me, it's just part of my protocol.

[APIs]

Doc makes me do it 3-4 times a year & I don't mind it. Keeps my Hematocrit <48 & I'm on the larger side so it also helps with my BP too. Plus, Red Cross sends me emails once in awhile telling me how my donation made a difference in someone's life. Good deal all around...

[bigt405]

I have donated almost monthly for the past ten months and have finally gotten my levels under control. Mine was 56 when I started donating but after the last donation it was a 44. I am reducing my donations to every two months and see if that will be enough to maintain good levels.

[almostgone]

I donate as often as possible @ the hospital. My hematocrit/PCV was just over 51% prior to TRT and is now @ 52.8% after being on TRT for about 9.5 months. I did a double donation last time so it threw me off of my usual schedule for donating. I am almost to the level requiring a therapeutic draw, but can donate again within a week or so.
Some of us just naturally run higher depending on what other issues we may have going on w/ our bodies and have to make accommodations for that.

[nyjetsfan]

I had to lower T dose to lower Hemo. I donated a lot and this made ferritin go low low. Keep an eye on dose and a lowered one could help keep H/H in line without donating.

[ppwc1985]

I do my own every two months. Mine rises so I have no choice, I start feeling it at about the 6 week mark.