Little Increase in Total T Despite Increasing Dose?

[TheWestern]

From November to February I was taking 50mg TCyp 3x/week, 900iu HCG, Anastrozole 0.125mg x3/week. Previous update here: First Follow Up Three Months In

My total T was 535 ng/dl, free T 19 pg/ml.

My provider switched me to 30mg TCyp, daily (210mg/week). I dropped the HCG in about April, Anastrozole has remained the same. I just got my follow-up lab results.

554 ng/dl total T, 19.5 pg/ml free T.

I’ve lost about ten pounds since February, my cholesterol is better, and estradiol is lower. My SHBG is still low (14.3 nmol/L in Feb, 15.9 now).

It seems almost impossible to me that I’m on 210mg of Tcyp/week and my total testosterone is only 554 ng/dl, a 19 ng/dl increase over my 150mg/week dose.

What are some factors that can cause this? My exercise has been consistent, my BF is lower, my dosage is substantially higher, but my total T number has barely moved.

[Andrewgen_Receptors]

Your SHBG is really low - you clear test quickly.

Dropping HCG will also drop T a bit too, which arguably could have been replaced by the increased Test dose (subjective).

Do you care what your numbers are, or are you more interested in feeling better? Do you feel any better?

[systemlord]

@TheWestern

My SHBG is still low (14.3 nmol/L in Feb, 15.9 now).

Don’t worry about what’s out of your control and unless you’re a diabetic, your SHBG will remain low.

Also TRT suppresses SHBG a bit.

@TheWestern

554 ng/dl total T, 19.5 pg/ml free T.

I’d go a little higher if I were you, high 600’s to be exact.

@TheWestern

My exercise has been consistent, my BF is lower, my dosage is substantially higher, but my total T number has barely moved.

You dropped the HCG which was producing T and E2 inside your testicles and adding it to the cypionate injections.

[highpull]

@anon93533489

This testosterone from vital herbal

What, exactly, is this product?

[highpull]

@TheWestern

It seems almost impossible to me that I’m on 210mg of Tcyp/week and my total testosterone is only 554 ng/dl, a 19 ng/dl increase over my 150mg/week dose.

It does and I have seen worse. It is not rare to see lab results vary significantly without a dose change, and vary only slightly with what would seem to be a significant dose change. Could be anything from a change in your metabolism to lab error, I suppose, don’t really know for sure. If it’s a concern, re run it, particularly if you are aiming for a number.

If you feel better and are satisfied with the dose change, I wouldn’t worry about it.

[swoops39]

@TheWestern

It seems almost impossible to me that I’m on 210mg of Tcyp/week and my total testosterone is only 554 ng/dl, a 19 ng/dl increase over my 150mg/week dose.

Lower peaks and higher trough with changing frequency.

[hankthetank89]

I wouldnt obsess about numbers on a paper. I have seen my T come back 3000 and 30,000 within a period of 3 days. After i saw that i have never checked my T again, cuz its BS apparently.

You have a reason to inject. Now, do you see or feel a difference?

No one cares if you numbers are good if you dont get shit out of it, and no ones cares if your numbers are bad if you actually get what you wanted out of it.

[enackers]

Like others said. Forget bout numbers and focus on symptom resolution.

Anastrzol at these levels make no sense.

[TheWestern]

Thank you everybody for your replies. I did know that dropping the HCG would stop endogenous T production, but I did not expect the levels to remain this flat with the dose increase. It looks like the SHBG is the culprit, no surprise there. I definitely feel better than before TRT, but I do believe it has more to give at a slightly higher level. I’ll post the rest of my labs below if anybody is interested.

[systemlord]

@TheWestern

I definitely feel better than before TRT, but I do believe it has more to give at a slightly higher level.

Might as well optimize because why not, right?