I’ve been on prescription HCG now for 5 weeks and have not felt any difference. I have low T from past history of steroids. Someone told me that if my SHBG is high that HCG will not increase my levels. Anyone know a bit more about this to confirm? Thanks!
It is very individual, need to observe if HCG will further increase SHBG for you.
What you heard is not incorrect, but it’s not totally correct either.
Whether or not HCG will work for you has very little to do with SHBG. SHBG will only determine how much free T you will have available vs total T.
Do you know if you are primary or secondary hypogonadism?
If you are secondary (pituitary gland not cranking out FSH / LH properly), then you stand a chance with HCG only, though in this case your testicles still may not produce enough total testosterone to overcome a really high SHBG and leave you with enough free testosterone to do much good. Blood test will confirm this.
If you are primary (high levels of FSH / LH, but the testicles still aren’t producing adequate amounts of testosterone), then you are just spinning your tires in the mud with HCG. You won’t squeeze blood out of a turnip.
Either scenario ends with taking further measures though. If you’re secondary, you could probably try another drug to lower SHGB and be ok. If you are primary, throw it in the trash and go straight to testosterone injections.
Unfortunately out of all 7 doctors no one tested my LH and FSH. I had them order that test for me today. I will get those numbers and see which group of hypogonadism I am.
Don’t waste your money. If you’ve already started injecting, then the test will do you no good at this point.
The only way to know at this point would be to stop everything for a few weeks and then test. Other than that, you can take a semi-accurate guess by seeing if Total T levels are responding to HCG. If they aren’t then you’re most likely primary. If they are, then secondary would be a good bet.
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HCG doesn’t usually suppress SHBG enough and sometimes increases, TRT will suppress SHBG.
Yes it can. In my case HCG montherapy reduced SHBG from 55 to 30, increasing free testosterone from 250 to 900. It depends on whether your primary or secondary and whether your nuts are capable of producing enough androgens to suppress SHBG.
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Any increase in androgens SHOULD produce a reduction in SHBG, it’s a normal cause and effect, so a healthy dose of HCG over time or test or anything that increases your overall androgen levels should lower it. There can be other factors at play that interfere, but in general yes. It is also likely to go back to where it was once you stop taking whatever you take to raise your androgen levels.