I’d argue TT is not normally distributed (at least not if you took the medical data from testing).
The right hand tail would have a far wider dispersion than the small amount to the left of the peak.
This would be caused by the folk on large amounts of exogenous testosterone- that same group of extreme values would also make the mean excessively high.
Good to know. I understand distributions fully- we used tables back in my day rather than a button on a calculator. Id be interested in how they determine outliers in the medical studies.
I nearly applied to work in medical statistics after graduation.
Also OP, as I’ve contributed to derailing this…
I’ll help get it back on track. Ive been on TRT for 7 months.
Pros
I’m not sleeping in the day all the time.
I recover from exercise again and can ride as much as I like.
Its cured my constant migraines
I’m happier- more confident and definitely better able to concentrate.
I’m stronger and leaner.
I’m less likely to get the Mrs pregnant with lower sperms count (I’ve had all the kids i want).
Cons
Its costing me money
I have to inject myself
My GP isn’t that supportive and sees me a bit like a junkie (I wasn’t low t, I had low free t on account of high shbg).
My libido and erection quality is all over the place.
I’ve got a bit if moob growing back.
My balls are tiny now
I’ve recently donated blood as my hematocrit has crept up.
I guess I do not get it. You’re talking average, then you go to the median.
I posted averages from a random study. I know they do not mean much, I am not ignorant to that fact. I just think they are interesting. I don’t read too much into data these days, seen too much distortion of it for various reasons. But, I still look at it.
Anyway, I am well aware of the differences between mean (average) and median. Median is middle, half above and half below. Want to have more fun with my example? The mode is 1.
We can continue to argue about data and statistics (I’ll be gone for a while as I have to work), but the comment above is the bottom line. No argument there. That is the take home message for @dark_rider.
If I came across blunt @highpull then apologies- you’ve been nothing but extremely helpful on my trt journey so far and I’ve appreciated all your advice.
I’m a numbers guy. Some people immediately think of the mean when someone says average-
Mean, median and mode are all types of average.
When I said “average” I was referring to the median (probably not specific enough in the context of the conversation but any medical average published will be a median)- as has been pointed out, in the context of medical data its the only one thats really means much when analysing studies.
My point about averages being meaningless without distribution data was aimed more at the thread in general rather than the data you posted-
My point being 50% of blokes will look at their T levels and go “oh my god I’m below average T”… does that mean they should all jump on some trt…
Those are rhetorical questions and again, not aiming them at you- they are aimed as general questions for us to ponder.
For what its worth- i was relatively high T and chose to start trt.
Its improved my life so far! And again, thanks for your help so far on that journey!
Would be good to have a Danny style argument and go back and forth about statistics for three pages and derail this guys thread just to liven stuff up a bit around here 
No thank you.
Yeah fair enough.
I’d be interested in your thoughts about free t hypothesis @anon18050987 as from what I understand some of this is coming under fire these days?
I read some articles about how cells can uptake SHBG bound T and that free T isn’t a clear as cut measure as has been touted?
I certainly had every low T symptom in the book though and had very good total T numbers but low free T.
Definitely getting symptom resolution too so for me that’s what matters.
Yes, you are talking about this convo we had:
Good stuff, I miss the months when I had time to contribute more scientific literature opinions on here (I don’t know if others do too haha).
Hopefully I can go over some stuff in the coming months because there were some great topics on here, waiting to get dissected.
In today’s cultural archetype this is NOT acceptable! How could you think it’s acceptable for men to be men?
Testosterone is a chemical weapon!
1. What’s your protocol? 105mg twice a week for 210mg a week total
2. How do you feel? 1,000 times better than I did. I had low T since I was tested at 32 and am now 38.
3. How did you feel before testosterone therapy? weak, tired, no drive. I would sleep 9-10 hours and still be tired. I would go hard in the gym for 10 minutes and then be ready for a nap and barely make it through a workout. I only wanted sex maybe once a month. I was ALWAYS tired.
4. What’s your libido? I went from barely once a month to wanting it 3 times a day or more. Wake up with morning wood every day between 3am-6am. The wife is still adjusting to my new drive.
5. How long have you been using testosterone? since january 2021
6. Did you have children before you started using testosterone? nope, never. Dont want them.
7. What are the disadvantages of testosterone therapy? Biweekly injections and $100/month cost.
8. Do you regret starting therapy? not one damn day.
@Mr_Pectacular What ester out of interest? Are you getting any e2 sides at that dosage? How’s hematocrit looking?
Varies WILDLY. I’ve tried T in dosages as high as 250mg/wk (not TRT, not even the same ballpark) and as low as 50mg/wk (do not recommend). Generally fluctuate between 100-150mg t/wk. I’d never recommend for someone to replicate my various protocols/alterations. Hormonal regulation is complex, once surpassing replacement playing around with this shit is akin to playing Russian roulette.
Fluctuates depending on the parameters I tweak. Purely speaking from a replacement context, 125mg T/wk will have me looking and feeling 100x better than I did at baseline.
Ehhh… #antidepressants
No, and if I were to have children I’d adopt as to avoid passing on my genes. Wouldn’t want my child at risk of dealing with any of the shit I’ve had to deal with.
No, though some semblance of public education pertaining to male hormones ought to be the implemented. The level of systematic misinformation present is astounding.
Thats my primary qualm, people asking inappropriate or insulting questions relating to the topic at hand.
Life is unfair… also, given your lipids you may have trouble finding a provider willing to put you on testosterone replacement.
LDL-C of 193 is quite high.
I’ve noted a difference between 100-300ng/dl, but the difference doesn’t appear to be as stark in contrast to say… 300-700ng/dl
I am taking Test Cyp and even tho my E2 is pretty high, I have had no to minimal sides. The worst thing I have is acne on my chest and shoulders. It was easily fixed with some antibiotic Rx cream my local doctor gave me.
Just started a few months back.
Hey man, what would you reccomend to someone who took accutane and now feel worse because of it ?
Don´t want to go off-topic, but this sentence caught my attention.
How safe would this be to do a short test-drive to my system, let´s say, during 2 months? Bio-identical Gel. And how bad would it shut me down in the case i had to come off? Not that it has to be that way but just eventually for some whatever reason. Would it require a re-start PCT or just let me body reactivate ?
Because this is what my doctor told me : it would not completely shut down as we´d be making small T pulses with short life (hours i´d say).
Looking strictly for median levels that improved well being.
40 yr. My current levels are since 4 years ago : Total T = range from 210 to 385 and Free T ranging from 8 to 23.
Last labs have 1 month : Total T = 210. Free T = 19. Free T doesn´t look too bad. Does it ?
Today I did another test. Testosterone is 278 ng/ml. The lowest ever result after eating healthy shit the whole month. I don’t care, today I’m going to buy beer and a lot of shit food…
I was on TRT for 2 years and stopped cold turkey and letting the body recover naturally, it only took four and half weeks to return to a fully functioning HPTA.
Your mileage may vary.
You mean a fully funcioning axis, which would produce your very same (low, but equal) hormone levels prior to TRT, am I right ?