Bloods 7 Months Apart, High SHBG - Opinions

Pharma TRT
1

I went to my doctor about 6 months ago with some symptoms that made me think I could have been suffering from low T. In terms of libido and sexual function, I was and am still working fine in that department. Though not at the level I was at a few years ago, in terms of erection hardness and morning wood (I am 30). The symptoms I was and am still feeling are, low energy, low drive/focus, brain fog, I have become massively injury prone now and also take a very long time to recover from these minor muscle strains and joint issues.

With my results, my doctor sent me to an endo and told me that TRT might be the best option for me. The two sets of bloods below are from February and September respectively. Both were taken on a 10-12 hour fast and within an hour of waking up in the morning.

February
Total test: 23.8 nmol/L (11.5 - 32.0)
SHBG: 81 nmol/L (15 - 50)
Free test: 272 pmol/L ( 260 - 740)
TSH: 1.40 mIU/L (0.40 - 3.50)
Free T4: 14.4 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0)
Free T3: 4.2 pmol/L (2.6 - 6.0)

September
Total Test: 21 nmol/L (8.3 - 29)
SHBG: 57 nmol/L (11 - 71)
Free Test: 297.2 pmol/L (255.0 - 725.0)
E2: 115 pmol/L (<150)
TSH: 1.7 mIU/L (0.5 - 4.0)

Apologies for the inconsistent blood tests. I’m not sure why my general practitioner did not order the exact same bloods as my endo did previously, as I that is what I asked for.

My main issue here is that 7 months ago I thought that it was purely my SHBG messing with my free T. For whatever reason, my SHBG has come down to a better level, yet I don’t see much of an improvement in free T numbers, and no change at all in the way I feel. I get the impression that as a healthy 30 year old that exercises regularly and eats well, my free T numbers should be much better, taking into consideration my total T.

Basically I’m looking for whatever input I can get. Is this perhaps an issue in my head? My endo was less than helpful, and didn’t offer anything beyond ‘check your levels in 6 months and hopefully your SHBG goes down’.

2

You are seeing a natural daily fluctuation, nothing more and is why you feel no different.

Tomorrow it will be high again, the next day lower, the next three days high again, then low… you get the point.

You lift weights, SHBG increase, eat something that changes insulin, SHBG decreases or become insulin resistant and SHBG decreases.

Endo’s are generally very bad at TRT, most don’t care whether they are doing things right, most would rather not prescribe it because of the TRT politics in western medicine. TRT is a very taboo subject in western medicine and is like a dark rain cloud hanging overhead.

I mean TRT isn’t all that profitable so why should they get their hands dirty, there is no incentive.

It doesn’t matter, more than likely none of your doctors may not allow TT levels 800> which is actually what you need do to high SHBG.

You should seek care from private doctors that specializes and prescribe TRT everyday all day.

Your SHBG will NOT go down, the liver is going to increase SHBG as you age binding up more and more testosterone. You can’t lower SHBG much naturally, only androgen excess will suppress SHBG and you’ll never produce enough naturally.

You age, T declines and SHBG increases, this ends one way and one way only.

Your endo is a idiot and probably wants nothing to do with TRT and is blowing smoke up your a**, he will make excuses in 6 months why he won’t prescribe TRT.

3

I got my SHBG down from 80 to 40 in 6 weeks. Although I may go to weekly shots instead twice weekly because my FT is only 15

4

It’s just a daily variation in SHBG, tomorrow it will be somewhere else. If you were to test SHBG ten more times, it would bounce around quite a bit, higher, lower, higher again. The days SHBG is higher, FT is lower, but you need FT optimal the majority of the time and not only on certain days.

5

Mine went from 5 to 15. What is optimal for most? I’m on 140 split up twice and it’s 15

6

@cp1217
Start your own thread so you have everything in one place. When you are asking 5 different questions about your own situation in 5 different threads you will get less quality answers.

7

Sorry man I’m new here

1 Like
8

@cp1217
Nothing to be sorry about. Just trying to help

9

Whats up CP, I am also a high SHGB guy. Originally mine was sitting at 77, after 4 months of TRT at 100mg/week IM it is now sitting at 65. Like systemlord said, somethings make it go up and down. My TT was super low which is probably why mine was so high, I also do a lot of weight training and exercise. Point being, it will go up and down depending on many factors. The biggest challenge is getting your FT up, in order to do this your Test dose has to be high enough to overcome the amount of androgens that will be circulating in your blood. Thankfully, 100mg/week does it for me thus far, I thought I would need far more but luckily my body responds strongly to TRT. Hang in there and keep an eye on how you feel and your FT level. If your doctor is being unhelpful, feel free to move along my friend. Also, like system said, 800 TT isn’t nearly enough to overcome your SHGB, my TT at blood work was 1276, FT was sitting at 124 which is only middle of the pack and that was two days after my shot. So as you see, SHGB is something we both have to overcome.