I have been diagnosed with Low T recently. I’m 35 years old. At 29 I went to an endo and also had low total T but my free T was pretty solid. Endo did cortisol test and check thyroid and everything looked good.
My most recent test show total T in the mid 200’s and free T is borderline low. Dr. didn’t order any other test other than these two.
I don’t really have any extreme symptoms. Erection strength waxes and waynes but I never have an issue of getting it up. Mostly I get it up and it goes semi sometimes but only takes a minute to get it back. Libido is lower than it was 10 years ago but I still want it or at least think about it a lot. I have random days of depression/anxietey but they are pretty spaced out and nothing serious. I do have a sit down job and lack consistent exercise. I’m not over weight other than a little belly fat (5’ 10" 190lbs 32in waist). I have smoked pot since I was around 15 but not as much as I used to. Don’t drink a lot but when I do I make it count. Energy levels are sometimes low but nothing drastic in my opinion. I’d say my most prevelant symptom is I get injured much easier when playing sports and it takes much longer to recover.
This summer I stopped smoking pot for about two months and stayed lifting weights and playing basketball. I started feeling more energy, more confidence, and libido shot up.
I’m on the fence about getting TRT. I’m wondering how I can know if I change my lifestyle and exercise and eat better, if my body can rebound and and produce more T. Or am screwed and need to get on TRT?
I had stopped TRT in April and after awhile I started becoming cranky at certain times of the day and it has to do with natural daily fluctuations, meaning some days your testosterone is higher than other days and when it’s low of some days, it’s lower in the evening.
Testosterone peaks in our 20’s and begins to decline every year past 30, but because of edc’s in the environment which block hormone production this decline in testosterone is happening earlier. Your lifestyle has an impact as well.
Good for you, now get your nutrition and get an exercise routine and retest everything in 6 months, because I see too often guys jumping the gun and taking the easy way out, but later they start second guessing their decision to go on TRT.
If in 6 months you don’t notice any improve in your erections, then at least you won’t be saying that you didn’t at least try to fix things naturally and this bodes well for being compliant with your TRT.
If I were you I would test your estrogen levels now so that if you decide you want to start TRT later, you’ll have the necessary info to choose the appropriate protocol. One thing is for sure is you won’t need high testosterone to feel good.
If your doctor fights you on testing estrogen, go to Discount Labs and get the test yourself. It’s only like $35 bucks. Highpull has provided a list of appropriate labs needed before undertaking TRT.
We still need those lab values for thyroid, because endo’s won’t be overly concerned with low numbers even if they are causing symptoms. I often see men with suboptimal labs which are clearly causing symptoms and doctors are telling them everything is normal.
Here are my results from my last visit to my primary. I have an appointment with an endo to get more extensive testing. If I don’t have a thryoid or pituitary issue I would assume I could possibly boost my T naturally???
Total test - 274 and 223 a few weeks later
Free test - 8 (8.7-25.1) tested much higher in 2013
FSH - not tested
LH - not tested
E2 - not tested
prolactin - not tested
DHEA-S - not tested
IGF-1 - not tested
TSH - 1.39 (0.40-4.70)
free T3 - ?
free T4 - ?
Lipids:
TRIGLYCERIDES - 171 (0-150)
CHOLESTEROL - 147 (00-200)
HDL CHOLESTEROL - 36 (>40)
non-HDL-C - 111
LDL CHOLESTEROL - 77 (<100)
CMP - not tested
CBC: See below
WHITE BLOOD CELL - 5.4(3.5-12.5)
RED BLOOD CELL - 5.25 (4.5-6.1)
HEMOGLOBIN - 15.7 (14.0-17.5)
HEMATOCRIT - 47.3 (42.0-52.0)
MEAN CELL VOLUME - 90.1 (80-100)
MEAN CELL HGB - 29.9 (25-34)
MEAN CELL HGB CONCENTRATION - 33.2 (32-37)
RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH - 13.2 (0-16)
PLATELET COUNT - 232 (145-483)
NUCLEATED RED BLOOD CELL ABS - 0.00 (0.00-0.03)
VitD - 28.1 (30-100) started taking a 10,000 iu supplement
SHBG - not tested (2013 tested in low end range)
PSA - 2 (0-4)
I have an appointment to get more extensive testing and I’ll be sure request the estrogen. In 2013 my estrogen was level was tested and it was as low as it can safely get. Thryroid was solid too back then. The endo stated he thought the total T was low because of low end SHBG hormone. However at that time my free T was close to maxed out on their scale but total T was garbage.
As far as the erection deal. That crap started randomly when i was about 26. Definatley not a cause by mental thing. Strange part is around that time I had consistent pain for about 4 years in the root of my junk. May have happened from It eventually went away and hasn’t came back. Went to like 8 urologist and they said prostate was normal and had no infection. Anyway I could make another thread out of this but I’m confident if I stay on a strict exercise routine, better diet, boost my T, and throw in some kegels then I can make it stronger. Anyway I could have a whole nother thread on this subject.
I appreciate the tips. Once I get results back from the endo I’ll post the results and post again after I settle in my lifestyle changes.
Your SHBG according to your T/E2 ratios is somewhere in the mid 20’s. FT is the only stuff that matters, TT is inactive, but if what you’re telling me is that TT used to be low and FT high, this tells me your SHBG used to be very low.
If SHBG increased, your FT would decrease and TT increase and that seem to be what happened. As SHBG increases it grabs ahold of the active portion if T deactivating it.
That’s really low, especially for your age. I doubt you’ll get it high enough, but you’re making what appears to be some major positive lifestyle changes so keep it up (pun not intended, but applicable) and see where it takes you. I would go ahead with the labs though.
I agree with the above gentlemen and it’s refreshing to see folks advising you abstain from a TRT for awhile. It’s literally a pain in the ass. If your symptoms are manageable hold off as long as you can. With those numbers it seems like you are headed in the direction of needing it someday but why jump the gun?