Hello everyone. First post. I’m scoured the internet and still haven’t run across someone with my situation. I started TRT 6 weeks ago.
I’m 36, 6’5.5", and 275-280lbs. Body fat is 18-19%. I’ve been lifting weights consistently for 15 years+. I’ve always had my test levels checked with my annual Blood Profile, and I’ve always been told I have “excellent testosterone”, with levels in the 800-850 range always. Liver function is always great, etc. So I’ve never thought much of anything. My buddy started TRT about 4 months ago and has been having great results. I train all out like an athlete and have always been surprised that my physique isn’t where I feel it should be given my effort.
I’m fairly successful, married father of two, and have a decent amount of stress in my life. I’ve been on propecia for about 8 years now. I’m not one of those guys that’s going to look good bald. I know this can effect SHBG, but I’m just not sure how much.
With that said, originally when I went on TRT, my prelabs had my total test at an average of around 800, SHBG was around 150 (guy said highest he’s ever seen), and my free test was a 5.7 I think. 5 weeks in we redid my labs and my total test had gone down to 692, SHBG was 137, and my free test was a 5.2 or so. It is worth mentioning that I was hunting Friday-Monday and did a decent amount of beer drinking, although nothing excessive. My labs were on that Tuesday.
I guess what I’m looking for is seeing if anyone:
- has heard of such high SHBG levels.
- knows if propecia can have that much of an effect
I started off on 160MG test Cyp/week. He just bumped me up to 200mg. I’m also doing intramuscular weekly injections of HCG (from my knowledge Subq more frequent is the preferred method). I can say for certain I’m not a fan of being on 200mg/week.
I realize this isn’t a full list of my labs, I’m just looking for some early information to ease my concerns. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I have seen a guy with a SHBG at 246, you definitely take second place. I’ve never heard of Propecia increasing SHBG, testosterone and estrogen absolutely. You will need a very high Total T level, probably closer to 1500 or more.
Effect of 5-alpha-reductase inhibition on sex-hormone-binding globulin in elderly men.
Serum SHBG concentration remained unchanged (44.1 +/- 4.5 vs 45.2 +/- 5.7 nmol/l for pre- and post-therapy levels, respectively).
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Why not?
Your SHBG is insanely high, and there is no question that the cause is propecia. Propecia either pumps up peoples, SHBG, E2, or prolactin (pretty sure its prolactin) either way, it always ends up bad for your sex life/testosterone.
Have you ever heard of Post Finasteride syndrome?
SubQ will not work for you with an SHBG that high. Suggest IM.
Speaking form experience. Also if your doing Keto, or IF, quit.
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We’ve had at least 1 on this board who had increased SHBG because of propecia.
I took propecia and have shbg just over 150, also one of the highest my doc has ever seen. I can’t say one caused the other, just that I took propecia and have crazy shbg too.
My blood tests are pretty similar otherwise. Normal’ish total T, low free T, super high shbg.
I’m on 150mg/week, 3x per week dosing. I have had improvements but not sustained “holy shit I’m 10x better than I was” level improvements yet.
I’m about 150lbs and am switching to cream tomorrow to see if I like that better (NOT gel). It supposedly works really well for high shbg guys. I guess we’ll see.
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keep us posted for sure. I would be interested to hear what happens with that. Not really wanting to put cream on my balls everyday, but not ruling it out either.
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Yeah, I’m back and forth on whether it’s more of a pain to stick myself 3x a week or rub cream on my nuts at least once a day. I figured it was worth a shot with the libido and other improvements some people are getting from it.
I’ll update my thread as I go
Have you tried 150 once a week?
Not really, I accidentally did 100mg at once in the very beginning but only because I misunderstood the concentration.
I was doing the daily subQ thing but feel better so far on 3x a week instead
Still doing sub Q? I switched over to IM completely. SQ was giving me lackluster results.
I went to shallow IM instead. Using a 1/2 30g needle in the delt, I’m pretty skinny so it works for me
I’ve thought about just doing 200mg a week and seeing what happens but at this point I’m just going to try the cream first and see what happens
I use 1/2 inch 27g in delts, and side of quads, pretty lean there.
Delts never have PIP though.
First off thank you for the reply. It definitely eases my mind some. A good buddy of mine and his father do TRT among other wellness therapies. Unlike the shopping center T clinic I’m going to now, his father was a full on and well known medical doctor for decades. He retired and opened his hormone clinic around 7 or 8 years ago. We could discuss why I didn’t originally go with them but that will distract the discussion at hand. WIth that said, they’ve been at the forefront of peptide therapy, among other things. I’m a huge skeptic. However they’ve convinced me that if I get off propecia and follow their regimen I won’t lose any hair. So I’m planning on getting off propecia.
I’ve done some research on Post FS after you told me so thank you for that. Hopefully I don’t suffer the consequences but if I do I do. There’s no going back on taking it.
What’s interesting is I’ve never had any problems with ED and still don’t. I’m pretty damn strong in that department.
I’m hugely against fad diets. I live a very well balanced life. I don’t deal with “macros, keto, etc”. I know generally what I can and can’t eat to still enjoy life. I have no desire to be 10% body fat. A true 14% is good enough. However, if I want to drink some Rusty Nails or eat a 40 ounce tomahawk with some Au Gratin Potatoes every now and then I’m going to do that.
As of now, my shopping center test expert wants me taking Nettle Root and Boron so lower by SHBG. I’m skeptical of that as well but I’m willing to give it a try.
Regardless, I"m convinced a pathway to ditching propecia is a must.
THis is good to know. I haven’t had a lot of luck finding discussions regarding IM HCG in males. Then again, I just found this forum.
100%
I tried messing with these things to see if they lowered my SHBG, but they didn’t really, BUT, mine was never as high as yours, so maybe it will help.
What will help lower your SHBG is androgens, namely, testosterone. See how you feel on 200mg, but likely you are going to need more than that to overcome such a high SHBG.
Mine was 37 at the lowest and 70 at its highest. Medications, alcohol, those types of things made mine go up, but I have since cut back quite a bit so mine hovers in the 40’s.
Also, having higher SHBG means you will have less issues with e2, DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT take anything for e2. Just don’t do it.
If your dose is too high, back off a little.
I’ve thought about taking something crazy for a TRT dose, like 250-300mg a week just to see what would happen given how high my shbg is but never have tried it
I think with the creme I can try some effectively higher doses and see how it goes fairly quickly since it has a shorter half life
And regarding e2… mine was really low naturally as expected. Single digits I believe or at least close. Just the anti E effects of Cialis is enough to make my dick numb.
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It’s looking like propecia really is the culprit. I have a phone call with the peptide doctor today to see what they recommend for an alternative. I’ll keep you posted. I travel a lot and do 3 big Asia trips every year so if it’s something that requires constant EQ injections I just don’t see that being viable. I know they also do plasma injections but that seems costly and painful.
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There is a testosterone cream now that may be an easier option than bringing syringes to Asia. I don’t know what’s allowed or not allowed over there, but I am planning on going next year if the stars align 
It took me a few months but I’m starting to have noticeable improvements from TRT with almost the same blood results, so there is hope.
I’ve been fortunate enough to go to Asia close to 50 times. My first trip was when I was 18. Then I took a hiatus until work started taking me there. Most of my time is in Singapore, China, and Vietnam. It’s a great experience and one I take for granted these days.
There is no way in hell I would ever bring syringes to Asia. Even if the country’s leader told me face to face I could do it. I’d be ok bringing a cream with prescription to China and Vietnam, but not to Singapore. I take valium when I fly (only when I fly) and my assistant notifies the Singaporean government weeks in advance that I’m bringing it and gets permission. I know in the past Singapore has singled out bodybuilders, tested them, and then refused them access into the country. Now I look nothing like a bodybuilder, but I am a big guy (not fat) and do get a lot of attention.
That’s awesome. I’ll get my assistant to do the same. Just kidding, I am my only assistant, haha
Yeah I knew some of those countries were crazy attic when it came to drugs so hopefully the cream option makes it easier.
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