TL;DR: Test shows high LH, low-normal T. Ive got symptoms of low T. What could be causing the LH and T discrepancy? Does that ratio matter symptomatically?
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Stats: 34, 6'0, 195lbs, 20%BF
Problems: For the last 3-4 months, my sex drive has been in the pits. Can't get it up (with a partner or without). Haven't gotten off in 3 weeks - and I don't feel any of the pressure I normally would after having abstained for even 3 days. Don't seem to be losing weight despite exercise and diet. Strength gains are garbage.
Relevant drug use: I've never used exogenous hormones or pro hormones. I've been taking dutasteride (Avodart) for hair loss for four years without any obvious side effects.
Other history: I had been an especially easy gainer in my 20s - even for my age. (Total'd 1400 raw at ~11% BF at 24). Fat distribution has always been femaleish (hips and chest). Had a mild case of gyno during puberty.
Blood work (normal range in parentheses):
Test time: 8:00 AM
TSH: 3.55 mIU/L ( < 5)
T4: 14 pmol/L (12-22)
LH: 10 IU/L (2-9)
FSH: 4 IU/L (2-12)
Prolactin: 7 ug/L ( < 18)
HCrit: 0.44 L/L (0.31-0.51)
BA test: 4.0 nmol/L (1.6-13.2)
No other hormone tests were prescribed (He did get my sodium, potassium, LDL/HDL, glucose serum, etc. All were mid-normal.)
Doctor's response: Referred me to see an endocrinologist, but didn't seem too concerned by the numbers.
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LH is high (above the normal range). However, bioavailable test (and FSH) is in the lower third of the normal range. I wonder whether the high LH is a consequence of the dutasteride blocking DHT conversion > decreasing inhibition of the hypothalamus > increasing LH production. I suspect (given my fat distribution) that I'm aromatizing a lot of the test that the LH has been producing. But I don't know shit.
What could be causing the problems that I've described?
Thank you
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