Hello everyone, new to the forum here.
I am currently in the midst of being seen by a military doctor who has diagnosed me with depression, anxiety, and extreme insomnia. We were going through our typical monthly checkup and I thought to ask about getting my hormone levels checked because I had them checked in 2017 for a regular blood work exam, and I thought I had remembered my test was a bit low. Long story short she pulled my records, and said she wants me to get my hormones tested again.
Iām not too sure about all the hormone levels and what they mean and how to interpret it and what not but Iāll post what was found in 2017. I have fresh full scale blood work panel coming in next week so Iāll compare them later.
I am 21 years old currently, do these seem normal or pretty low for being 21? Iāve never touched steroids etc.
Testosterone 488 ng/dl (REF RANGE 348-1197)
Testosterone Free 17.4 pg/ml (REF RANGE 9.3-26.5)
Luteinizing Hormone Lutropin 4.2 mlU/mL
Estradiol 24.6 pg/mL
hCG Beta Subunit <0.1 mlU/mL (REF RANGE 0.0-1.9)
You really should be looking closer thyroid hormones, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3 and antibodies. Thyroid hormones work together with testosterone to fuel the body and I have taken your Total T and Free T numbers into account and estimated SHBG to be under 10 nmol/L with 20 nmol/L being considered low just so you realise how low your SHBG really is.
Men with low SHBG such as yourself tend to have anxiety and depression issues, low thyroid function is a cause for low SHBG. Men and women are often scripted SSRIās for depression and anxiety when the cause is low thyroid hormones. You can check thyroid status by measuring waking (97.8) and afternoon (98.6) body temperatures, if you fall short then you have either have subclinical or full blown hypothyroidism.
If SHBG is low do to low thyroid hormones then testosterone is also low and both need to be addressed. Doctors should suspect hypothyroidism with SHBG below 20 nmol/L. You may have to pay for these tests yourself, doctors often refuse to do extensive testing do to cost. Discount labs cuts through the BS and arguing with the doctors.
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Thanks for your input. The last test I got done was in 2017, and by a pretty unprofessional officer in the military, who didnt really care to much. Since my symptoms have increased severely I went to another military doctor who has ordered a legit full scale blood test that she said will check āAnything, and everything you can think of.ā. I should be getting the results sometime this upcoming week, and will post them back here to get some advice, as I wont be seeing that doctor until mid August. Also, I found out thyroid issues do run pretty bad in my immediate family, so Iām starting to think that may be the culprit.