Hi guys, I posted here a few months ago worried about a blood testosterone result of 473ng/dl (16.4nmol/L). I didn't really have any problematic symptoms at the time, I was just worried that was low. Fast forward about 5 months and I got a result of 19nmol/L, demonstrating that my T levels are increasing. I'm 20 years old, never done any form of steroids, and I've been getting more chest/leg/facial hair growth and I've noticed I've been a fair bit stronger lately too. Curiously, my sex drive has been so-so compared to that of a few months ago, but I think this is more down to my training regime (I find I'm more sexually driven after a week or so off from the gym). When I had the first blood test I was smoking about 10 cigarettes a day, and on the later one I've only been having between 3 and 7. I plan to stop.
The reason I ask how quickly can the level vary is that I was sitting in a very busy waiting room, and as someone with social anxiety and agoraphobia to some degree (I don't get this in the gym - don't ask me why), I realise that this would likely elicit the response from my body to release cortisol, which I understand kills T levels. My prolactin also tested slightly over the limit at 374 (not sure of what unit) which I've read can be to do with stress too. I was worried that after my Triazole/DAA cycle my testosterone level had taken a hit as I got quite depressed following it, but I guess not.
Could my t level still be increasing because I'm still developing? I'm 6' tall, around 187lbs with a bodyfat around the 15% mark. I still can't grow a full beard but have new bits appearing, same for my chest hair. I know there isn't a magical number when it comes to developing (my brother has full chest hair at 18 and more of a beard than me at 20), so could my increasing T level be a sign that I'm not done developing yet? It's still not quite where I'd like it, but at least it's improving. I didn't get the BEST night's sleep the night prior as I woke up feeling a little unrefreshed, but I did get around 8 hours. I think I woke up around 8am and had my blood test at 11-12AM after a LONG wait in the clinic surrounded by lots of people. Perhaps worth noting is that the first time I went for a blood test there was literally nobody around while I waited. I don't know if the presence of people around me in light of my anxiety affected my result one way or another.