I obviously need testosterone, but I'm only 19?

[dynamo_123]

Doctors in the past have asked me to get my testosterone levels checked, but my parents always refused.

Anyway, I have all the symptoms attributed with low testosterone as well as many other feminine features such as a very weak receding chin, small bone frame, chubby face and lips while being skinny, constant depression and anxiety, cry when I'm hurt etc.

I have been told that it's very unadvisable to take testosterone at 19 unless it's monitored by a doctor, but it's clear I need it and many doctors told me to get it checked, but like I said my parents won't allow it, so I have to take testosterone behind their back because I don't like feeling like a girl.

So what do you advise I should do? Thanks.

[xelnaga]

Your 19. You can go get all your tests and doc. apts with out your parents involvement. They may get some billing stuff in the mail if you live with them but that will be weeks after you have accomplished the mission.

I find it interesting that doctors have discussed getting your testosterone levels checked. Its pretty rare for a doc. to be savvy enough to look into that at 19yrs. There are some exceptions where docs. immediately look to hormones such as genetics disorders such as klinefelter syndrome.

[Swifto]

You cant self prescribe HRT because you "think" you may have "low testosterone".

You need BW to confirm it, then go from there.

[Dr Pepper]

Like said above you don't need your parents approval your an adult! Get it tested asap

[Honkey_Kong]

Like said above you don't need your parents approval your an adult! Get it tested asap

And can I add. At his age if the doctor wants to prescribe you HRT at all without looking for the causes, get a second opinion.

[auswest]

You're 19 not 13 go see a doctor!

[stevey_6t9]

Fvck what your parents think, your an adult and can make your own decisions in life. Go see a doctor.

[Standby]

dont be a girly man (sorry for the joke ) go get the tests bro you dont need your parents for it

[Fetch]

Do you go to college? Get your bloodwork there. If not, just go to a Quest or something and get it checked. It's not that expensive, and your parents won't be any wiser.

[chuckt12345]

lol,, your parents wouldnt allow them to test your testesterone??? WHY, that def sounds made up. Sorry but it does.

[Times Roman]

those feminine features may not be a lack of test, but genetic instead. are anyone of your parents exhibiting some of the same characteristics as you describe?

[jasc]

I dunno that you can attribute "crying when you get hurt" to low test lol...

[Standby]

those feminine features may not be a lack of test, but genetic instead. are anyone of your parents exhibiting some of the same characteristics as you describe?

his mom? lol come on times

[Times Roman]

his mom? lol come on times

really?

"very weak receding chin, small bone frame"
could come from either parent

My friends dad when I was a kid practically had no chin, and he was very frail. Passed those traits on to his son.

This would be genetic, not a lack of testosterone. If anything, I'm thinking it might be a lack of growth hormone?

you must have been absent that day they taught this in high school? =)

[Fetch]

Yes, physical characteristics such as bone structure are genetically determined, and are not influenced by hormones.

[Standby]

really?

"very weak receding chin, small bone frame"
could come from either parent

My friends dad when I was a kid practically had no chin, and he was very frail. Passed those traits on to his son.

This would be genetic, not a lack of testosterone. If anything, I'm thinking it might be a lack of growth hormone?

you must have been absent that day they taught this in high school? =)

well you heard it kid you dont need test you need growth hormones. and they teach it in high school to so you should be good to go


love you times

[RZGP]

I dunno that you can attribute "crying when you get hurt" to low test lol...

thats what i was about to say lol

[Times Roman]

well you heard it kid you dont need test you need growth hormones. and they teach it in high school to so you should be good to go


love you times

not what I said either. why so grumpy?

[Standby]

not what I said either. why so grumpy?

im not grumpy. my first post was just a little trolling joke no big deal and so was the second lol i guess you just got to know my personality in real life

[Bonaparte]

Yes, physical characteristics such as bone structure are genetically determined, and are not influenced by hormones.

While genetics are the main factor, testosterone is still crucial to the development of secondary sex characteristics.

[xelnaga]

Yes, physical characteristics such as bone structure are genetically determined, and are not influenced by hormones.

I beg to differ fetch. I abused prohormones and steroids from a very early age. My face def. has more pronounced secondary sex characteristics than any other males in my family.

[cb714]

Dude, you will only be guessing without a proper exam. Go see a doc. You dont want to start taking testosterone at your age because you "think" you need it. Find out for sure what's wrong and take it from there.

[Fetch]

While genetics are the main factor, testosterone is still crucial to the development of secondary sex characteristics.

I beg to differ fetch. I abused prohormones and steroids from a very early age. My face def. has more pronounced secondary sex characteristics than any other males in my family.

That's correct. I was referring to the idea that bone structure is influenced by hormones. Secondary sex characteristics, such as facial hair, breast size, etc, can absolutely be influenced. The OP was suggesting that his small bone structure and narrow chin/etc were possibly a result of low test, I was disagreeing with that.

[Fetch]

Actually, I just looked it up. According to my Genetics textbook from back in school, bone structure is entirely genetic. According to Wikipedia, "n males, testosterone directly increases size and mass of muscles, vocal cords, and bones, deepening the voice, and changing the shape of the face and skeleton. Converted into DHT in the skin, it accelerates growth of androgen-responsive facial and body hair, but may slow and eventually stop the growth of head hair. Taller stature is largely a result of later puberty and slower epiphyseal fusion." Unfortunately, it's not sourced, so it's difficult to ascertain the legitimacy of the information.

[xelnaga]

Actually, I just looked it up. According to my Genetics textbook from back in school, bone structure is entirely genetic. According to Wikipedia, "n males, testosterone directly increases size and mass of muscles, vocal cords, and bones, deepening the voice, and changing the shape of the face and skeleton. Converted into DHT in the skin, it accelerates growth of androgen-responsive facial and body hair, but may slow and eventually stop the growth of head hair. Taller stature is largely a result of later puberty and slower epiphyseal fusion." Unfortunately, it's not sourced, so it's difficult to ascertain the legitimacy of the information.

You stated that "according to my text book...bone structure is entirely genitics" then you post an unrelated quote from wikipedia?

[xelnaga]

Anyone that disagrees with the concept of testosterone impacting facial appearance must look no further than juiced female athletes.

[Fetch]

You stated that "according to my text book...bone structure is entirely genitics" then you post an unrelated quote from wikipedia?

Unrelated? One source says that bone structure is influenced by genetics alone, the other source says that bone structure is influenced by hormones. The discussion in question was whether or not bone growth was influenced by Testosterone, correct? Or are we talking about different things?

[Lemonada8]

Bone structure is heavily related to hormones, and only a full hormone panel will be a me to determine such issues and perhaps a genetic panel.
Estrogen is a big player in bone density
How is your bodily hair growth OP? Look up "tanner puberty stage" and see how you compare. If you are growing pubic hair and pit hair then prolly just mainly genetic but there can be some other factors playing a part.

Get the blood tests, don't do anything w/o the supervision of a doctor

[Fetch]

Looking for studies on this is actually kind of difficult. I found one that used older men with low test levels. It measured their levels and their mean bone density, applied testosterone treatment for 6 months (effectively putting them in the range of a normal young male for that length of time), and measured again. It found only very slight differences in bone density (less than 1%).

If you're interested.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10372695

[dynamo_123]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

Fvck what your parents think, your an adult and can make your own decisions in life. Go see a doctor.

I live in a third world country and the only doctor within a 30 mile radius who specializes in this sort of stuff is a family friend, so I have to go through my parents to get a meeting with him, and that's where the problem lies.

The OP was suggesting that his small bone structure and narrow chin/etc were possibly a result of low test, I was disagreeing with that.

I didn't suggest that they were a result of low testosterone, I'm saying that testosterone might remedy those things (the bad chin, probably not the bone structure though). Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough.

How is your bodily hair growth OP? Look up "tanner puberty stage" and see how you compare. If you are growing pubic hair and pit hair then prolly just mainly genetic but there can be some other factors playing a part.

Get the blood tests, don't do anything w/o the supervision of a doctor

My body hair's fine (legs + pubes + pits). And the problem about the doctor supervision thing is as I mentioned above, the only doctor within a reasonable distance who could possibly supervise me is a family friend.

I just want to be a bit less Tobey Maguire and a bit more John Wayne, that's all.

[Bonaparte]

Anyone that disagrees with the concept of testosterone impacting facial appearance must look no further than juiced female athletes.

Exactly.
And we aren't talking general bone structure, but the growth of more pronounced facial bones (jaw, brows, cheekbones, etc), which count as secondary sex characteristics.

[dynamo_123]

Exactly.
And we aren't talking general bone structure, but the growth of more pronounced facial bones (jaw, brows, cheekbones, etc), which count as secondary sex characteristics.

Spot on, that's what I've been meaning to get across. My concern is that almost everyone knowledgeable on the subject has told me it's a bad idea to run test at such a young age; the only acceptable situation where you can do it is after a blood test. Just came here to get a second opinion.

[Fetch]

Exactly.

Nobody was disagreeing with that.

[Fetch]

Spot on, that's what I've been meaning to get across. My concern is that almost everyone knowledgeable on the subject has told me it's a bad idea to run test at such a young age; the only acceptable situation where you can do it is after a blood test. Just came here to get a second opinion.

You need to get your levels checked. It's the only acceptable way to do it, there are too many variables. Whether you believe low test has a major effect of bones/etc or not, it's not possible to diagnose someone with low T based on such evidence. If indeed your levels are deficient, then your age doesn't matter... you should be treated. It makes very little sense that your parents would be so against the idea of having this blood work done... explain that low test could be caused by a life threatening condition, as well... pituatary tumors, etc.

[xelnaga]

Nobody was disagreeing with that.

Lol... When presented with overwhelming evidence contrary to your opinion, act as if you've agreed all along !

[Fetch]

Lol... When presented with overwhelming evidence contrary to your opinion, act as if you've agreed all along !

What evidence? Post a study. I pointed out bone structure in general as being unrelated to hormones, and a 'small frame' in particular. I then pointed out a study that was done on the topic. I also already inferred that I wasn't sure about whether bone mass was related to Test or not, there seems to be very little conclusive evidence out there. I called myself on it, if you care to look.

[Swifto]

What evidence? Post a study. I pointed out bone structure in general as being unrelated to hormones, and a 'small frame' in particular. I then pointed out a study that was done on the topic. I also already inferred that I wasn't sure about whether bone mass was related to Test or not, there seems to be very little conclusive evidence out there. I called myself on it, if you care to look.

Bone structure is related to sex hormones. Just like height and epiphysil growth plates are related to estrogen, GH and IGF. Similar to your index finger and ring finger are related to endogenous testosterone exposure at a young age.

[sir.solidarity]

Your legally an adult...wat?

[Honkey_Kong]

OP, make an appointment with that doctor. He's not going to dime you out to your dad. That would unethical.