75 mg test E split into two doses per week. HCG 500IU M/W/F (need fertility)
Trough level bloods
TT 920 ng/dl [280-836]
Free T 0.85 nmol/l [0.2-0.62]
E2 135 pmol/l [41 - 159]
HB / HCT / Cholesterol / BP all normal
Feel great.
Worried about long term health implication of being above range most of the time.
Do I need to lower my dose?
Cheers
Lab ranges please. If you’re getting a CBC with lipids and a CMP every 6-9 months, monitoring PSA, and all looks fine; My non medical-professional opinion is it’s probably relatively safe. However, if you’re very concerned, you could lower it just a little bit and probably will feel no different. I would like to know the free T range the most from your labs.
Thanks @blshaw
Updated OP with reference ranges.
Yes all ok at the moment, but not sure if I should be concerned with long term sides. Thanks for the advice, I might consider doing that. Next labs due in a couple of months (started this protocol 2 months or so ago).
I will give you an example from my own life. My total T frequently at trough is similar to yours however, my free T is only 2/3 of range. Yours is pretty high likely due to an SHGB difference. If I were in your shoes and health were my number one concern, I would lower my dose but likely not that much. Maybe lower it a little bit say 10 mg. Retest in a couple months and gauge how you feel. You can titrate down again if you want to or stay depending on results and how you feel.
Yes my SHBH is 22 this time [18-54]. Interesting as last time a year or so ago, it was 55.
I might do as you say if still similar labs in 2 months thank you.
No, no need to lower your dosage, because the Free T ranges are poorly defined because there’s no standardized hormonal normal ranges. The CDC is currently working on creating standardized hormonal normal ranges.
Also, all current lab testing for testosterone is flawed to some degree. Total T lab testing being the most accurate can still show plus or minus 70 ng/dL splitting the same blood sample into two. Free T testing is even less accurate.
Higher testosterone is shown to be healthy.
What would those be, exactly?
If your BP, lipids, CBC, etc are all fine, then I see no added strain from your TT level. If they are not, or you aren’t managing them at all, then maybe consider a smaller T dose
T testing is all over the place. If it were me and my labs were good and I felt fine, I wouldn’t change anything after only one blood test.
If the psychological stress of being above the range long term bothers you, lower your dose to get in range where you don’t stress about it.
Mostly cardiovascular disease eg increased risk of MI, cardiomyopathy and atherosclerosis. But I don’t know how significant being slightly above range for years is in regards to those risks. You’re probably right - my labs and BP are otherwise fine, and what real difference would it make to drop it all by 100 or so …
Thanks. You’re probably right
You shouldn’t be over-stressed of being slightly above the range. The body has astounding adjustment capabilities. This task is not cerebral, or at least not voluntary, so trust your system. For example, creatininemia levels are standardized but, were you are slightly off-range, or your body is off-range (+75Kg,+173cm), this would not be an issue. The same goes for almost everything, even PSA, Hematocrit, CRP…
I’m not a doc, obviously, but I don’t think so.
I use 100 mg of T once per week and 1000 IU HCG thrice per week and my T value on any day is 700 to 1000 and my E is in the 30s.
That’s a low-T consequence. Men with the highest testosterone, have the least medical problems and decreased risk of dying or being admitted to a hospital.
Why 1000 IU hcg?
1000 IU thrice per week.
Why that dose tho - 3000 per week?
It is the dose my doctor prescribed for fertility while taking TRT after 500 IU twice per week failed.
Ah thanks. Good luck. I’m at 500 IU M/W/F for fertility, about 2 months in. Been on TRT for about 4 years. Subjectivity balls still feel kinda small like when on trt alone. See what happens
Thanks. Good luck to you too.
So far it worked for two kids.
Oh nice. I had my two before. See what happens. Good to hear it worked for you.