TRT Advice

[DJMikeT]

It's difficult to comment without 'normal' ranges for each of the tests. You did provide the range for Free T and that's in the upper 87th percentile of your normal range but still in range, which is good. That is, assuming these are nadir values (taken just prior to the next scheduled injection).

Just as an example of why you must have ranges for the lab where you got the results, my lab (LabCorp) using the direct Free T test method has a normal range of 7.2 to 24 pg/mL (for my age group). If you applied my range to your lab's results, you would be so far out of range you'd be in the anabolic steroid misuse category, but of course we know you're not.

Here's the results with the ranges added.

IGF-1 Somatomedin-C - 96 NG/ML Standard Range is 55-168 NG/ML

Testosterone - 904 NG/DL Standard Range is 300-890 NG/DL

Sex Hormone Globulin - 47.1 NMOL/L Standard Range is 16.5-55.9 NMOL/L

Calc Free Test - 170.5 PG/ML Standard Range is 47-244.0 PG/ML

Estradiol Level - <17 PG/ML Standard Range is <=60.7 PG/ML

Clinical Pathology Labs is the Lab running the tests for my doctor.

I agree that with LabCorps ranges I would be way out of range on the free test. Seems like this Lab uses a different scale on the ranges.

Looks like my total Test is just over the top of the scale and that's with me using less than the dosage my doctor recommended. I feel really good where I am at right now, in your opinion should I maintain what I have or make an adjustment??

[Youthful55guy]

Looks like my total Test is just over the top of the scale and that's with me using less than the dosage my doctor recommended. I feel really good where I am at right now, in your opinion should I maintain what I have or make an adjustment??

IGF-1 Somatomedin-C - 96 NG/ML Standard Range is 55-168 NG/ML
Not great but not bad either. I can't recall from this long thread, are you using an AI? I'm not sure if that's the right E test. Most male sensitive labs are designed with an upper range of around 40 pg/mL. You need sufficient E to make GH and that in turn drives IGF-1 levels. Low E = Low GH = Low IGF-1.

Testosterone - 904 NG/DL Standard Range is 300-890 NG/DL
On the high side, probably because your SHBG is on the high side (but not out of range). SHBG binds T and protects it from liver metabolism, so it drives Total T up, even though Free T suffers. Only Free T crosses the blood brain barrier to 'make you feel normal'. However, I definitely would not consider a dose increase. Even though the T is bound to SHBG, it still has peripheral effects such as raising hemoglobin levels.

Sex Hormone Globulin - 47.1 NMOL/L Standard Range is 16.5-55.9 NMOL/L
On the high side but not out of range. You may benefit from lowering it slightly. This will have a net effect of lowering your Total T and raising your Free T. You may actually be able to lower your T dose by lowering your SHBG slightly. You do not want to go too low, because then you will metabolize T too quickly and your Free T will drop like a rock. It's a delicate balance. I would shoot for about 30 to 35 nmol/L with your test range. The difficulty here is that you need either a very open minded doc to get the drugs prescribed, or go off the reservation and obtain them through alternate channels (my approach). There are basically 3 choices in the USA for prescription drugs: Anavar (Oxandrolone), Danazol (Danocrine), and Proviron. In the EU and elsewhere you also have the choice of Winstrol (Oral Stanozolol). I only have experience with Anavar and Winstrol, and both are EXTREMELY effective at very low dosages so there are minimal side-effects. With Anavar, I've found that 5mg 2X per day is optimal for me. For Winstrol, the dose is lower at 5mg 2X per day. I recommend 2X per day dosing because they both have very short half lives. Winstrol is much less expensive than Anavar, so there is less counterfeiting if you obtain it through alternate channels. I do not have personal experience with Danazol, but I did see two posts where guys found it effective at 20-30 mg per day. It is about as expensive as Anavar, so I see no real reason to use it unless you can get it prescribed and covered by insurance (not likely). There is very little information out there in Proviron and the stuff that's out there is mixed information.

Calc Free Test - 170.5 PG/ML Standard Range is 47-244.0 PG/ML
About perfect. I see no reason to increase your dose. If anything, consider lowering your dose by lowering SHBG. See above discussion.

Estradiol Level - <17 PG/ML Standard Range is <=60.7 PG/ML
I question whether this is the correct lab. I'd consider getting it done myself with the best lab out there for guys for about $53 + $6 lab fee (https://www.discountedlabs.com/estra...itive-lc-ms-ms).

[DJMikeT]

IGF-1 Somatomedin-C - 96 NG/ML Standard Range is 55-168 NG/ML
Not great but not bad either. I can't recall from this long thread, are you using an AI? I'm not sure if that's the right E test. Most male sensitive labs are designed with an upper range of around 40 pg/mL. You need sufficient E to make GH and that in turn drives IGF-1 levels. Low E = Low GH = Low IGF-1.

Testosterone - 904 NG/DL Standard Range is 300-890 NG/DL
On the high side, probably because your SHBG is on the high side (but not out of range). SHBG binds T and protects it from liver metabolism, so it drives Total T up, even though Free T suffers. Only Free T crosses the blood brain barrier to 'make you feel normal'. However, I definitely would not consider a dose increase. Even though the T is bound to SHBG, it still has peripheral effects such as raising hemoglobin levels.

Sex Hormone Globulin - 47.1 NMOL/L Standard Range is 16.5-55.9 NMOL/L
On the high side but not out of range. You may benefit from lowering it slightly. This will have a net effect of lowering your Total T and raising your Free T. You may actually be able to lower your T dose by lowering your SHBG slightly. You do not want to go too low, because then you will metabolize T too quickly and your Free T will drop like a rock. It's a delicate balance. I would shoot for about 30 to 35 nmol/L with your test range. The difficulty here is that you need either a very open minded doc to get the drugs prescribed, or go off the reservation and obtain them through alternate channels (my approach). There are basically 3 choices in the USA for prescription drugs: Anavar (Oxandrolone), Danazol (Danocrine), and Proviron. In the EU and elsewhere you also have the choice of Winstrol (Oral Stanozolol). I only have experience with Anavar and Winstrol, and both are EXTREMELY effective at very low dosages so there are minimal side-effects. With Anavar, I've found that 5mg 2X per day is optimal for me. For Winstrol, the dose is lower at 5mg 2X per day. I recommend 2X per day dosing because they both have very short half lives. Winstrol is much less expensive than Anavar, so there is less counterfeiting if you obtain it through alternate channels. I do not have personal experience with Danazol, but I did see two posts where guys found it effective at 20-30 mg per day. It is about as expensive as Anavar, so I see no real reason to use it unless you can get it prescribed and covered by insurance (not likely). There is very little information out there in Proviron and the stuff that's out there is mixed information.

Calc Free Test - 170.5 PG/ML Standard Range is 47-244.0 PG/ML
About perfect. I see no reason to increase your dose. If anything, consider lowering your dose by lowering SHBG. See above discussion.

Estradiol Level - <17 PG/ML Standard Range is <=60.7 PG/ML
I question whether this is the correct lab. I'd consider getting it done myself with the best lab out there for guys for about $53 + $6 lab fee (https://www.discountedlabs.com/estra...itive-lc-ms-ms).

Once again great advice, I actually have Anavar on hand because my wife is using it to get her back stronger. I tested it and it's legit. I agree with you and wasn't even considering raising my dosage but was considering cutting back to .25mg every 3 days instead of the .30mg that I'm currently dosing. I'm thinking since I started the HCG that my Test will rise slightly anyway.

Not taking any AI at this time, to answer your question.

Might be a good idea to get another panel using the private lab for my E2, but I've had both high and low E2 in the past and to be honest I feel really great at the moment. However, still something to consider.

I appreciate all your detailed answers to my questions, you've been a great help and I can only hope to help someone in the future the way you have been helping me.

[DJMikeT]

Sex Hormone Globulin - 47.1 NMOL/L Standard Range is 16.5-55.9 NMOL/L
On the high side but not out of range. You may benefit from lowering it slightly. This will have a net effect of lowering your Total T and raising your Free T. You may actually be able to lower your T dose by lowering your SHBG slightly. You do not want to go too low, because then you will metabolize T too quickly and your Free T will drop like a rock. It's a delicate balance. I would shoot for about 30 to 35 nmol/L with your test range. The difficulty here is that you need either a very open minded doc to get the drugs prescribed, or go off the reservation and obtain them through alternate channels (my approach). There are basically 3 choices in the USA for prescription drugs: Anavar (Oxandrolone), Danazol (Danocrine), and Proviron. In the EU and elsewhere you also have the choice of Winstrol (Oral Stanozolol). I only have experience with Anavar and Winstrol, and both are EXTREMELY effective at very low dosages so there are minimal side-effects. With Anavar, I've found that 5mg 2X per day is optimal for me. For Winstrol, the dose is lower at 5mg 2X per day. I recommend 2X per day dosing because they both have very short half lives. Winstrol is much less expensive than Anavar, so there is less counterfeiting if you obtain it through alternate channels. I do not have personal experience with Danazol, but I did see two posts where guys found it effective at 20-30 mg per day. It is about as expensive as Anavar, so I see no real reason to use it unless you can get it prescribed and covered by insurance (not likely). There is very little information out there in Proviron and the stuff that's out there is mixed information.

Do you stay on the low dose Anavar or Winstrol indefinitely or do you cycle it?

[Youthful55guy]

Do you stay on the low dose Anavar or Winstrol indefinitely or do you cycle it?

I do not use Anavar. I only tried an experiment to see if it worked for me. I read a recent paper on a very large RCT study that use of Anavar with HIV patients. I noted in their bloodwork tables that SHBG came down in a dose-response fashion to the amount of Anavar they used. They also discussed this in the paper. This lead me to try the experiment. I found it quite effective and through a series of labs, nailed down my personal dose at around 5mg 2X per dat to keep my SHBG where I wanted it.

I do use Winstrol regularly. Like the Anavar, my 2.5mg 2X dose took several labs to nail down. There is no need to cycle at this low dose, as liver labs stay in range. I monitor liver labs several times per year. We were a bit perplexed about them going out of range for a while. My doc ran every test imaginable. Finally, we decided to repeat the labs after taking a month off of Naproxen (but I still took my Winstrol). The liver labs fell back into the normal range in that test, so we are pretty confident we know the cause. I was (still am) taking Naproxen daily for elbow pain after left triceps reconstruction surgery 10 months ago. I tore it off the bone in a motor scooter accident. I now have the Naproxen down to once per day and some days none.