Low FSH

Pharma TRT
1

For the past 7-8 years I have had heat intolerance, low libido, performance issues, excessive sweating, oily skin. I am 27 years old, about 17-18% body fat, I work out/do cardio regularly and try to eat right. I take a multivitamin and zinc supplement.

Lately, I have been compiling a lot of labs to get a full picture of my health:

Testosterone, Serum 620 348-1197 ng/dL CB
Free T 14.6 (ref range 8.9-26.9)
LH 3.6 1.7-8.6 mIU/mL CB
FSH 1.2 LOW 1.5-12.4 mIU/mL CB
Estradiol 26.9 7.6-42.6 pg/mL CB
Sex Horm Binding Glob, Serum 43.4 16.5-55.9 nmol/L CB
Test Name Flag Result Ref Range Units Graph Info
T4,Free(Direct) 1.62 0.82-1.77 ng/dL
Test Name Flag Result Ref Range Units Graph Info
TSH 3.020 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
Test Name Flag Result Ref Range Units Graph Info
Thyroglobulin, Antibody <1.0 0.0-0.9 IU/mL
Test Name Flag Result Ref Range Units Graph Info
Reverse T3 21.9 9.2-24.1 ng/dL
Test Name Flag Result Ref Range Units Graph Info
Thyroid Peroxidase 13 0-34 IU/mL
Test Name Flag Result Ref Range Units Graph Info
Triiodothyronine,Free 3.6 2.0-4.4 pg/mL

My biggest concern is the isolated low FSH. As I understand it, normally FSH/LH levels go up together or go down together since they are controlled by the pituitary. I’m not really sure how to attack it at this point, since my LH is normal? Should I get an MRI?

Also, my total testosterone in 2011 was 978 (ref range 300-1197) and dropped to 568 in 2012, so something pretty drastic happened, and I’m not sure what. Any feedback on my low FSH would be greatly appreciated. Also, do my thyroid #s look ok?

2

Can someone please give me some advice on the low FSH and what I should do?

3

First off I am no expert but I have had simillar issues. Looking at your lab reslults it seems your TSH is high even though it is in the reference range. I’ve seen KSMan and a couple of others here state that you need to be at 1.0 or lower. Google subclinical hypothyroid and see if the symptoms match what your are dealing with. Also read the thyroid stickies at the top of the forum. Good luck!!

4

Thyroid basics sticky is a good read. I suspect that your elevated rT3 is masking the effects of your rT3, leading to above mid range fT3 and T4. Along with that I expect that your body temperatures are low. No signs of thyroid autoimmunity.

You may have an iodine deficiency causing these problems. That would be the good news as it can be fixed.

Thyroid problems can lead to your sex hormone profile. Sometimes fixing a thyroid problem will improve T levels. If not, a HPTA restart might be useful.

Elevated rT3 can be from sustained problems that stress your adrenal glands. These can be stresses from work, relationships, job loss, accidents, acute or chronic infections etc. This can be a condition called ‘adrenal fatigue’. Starvation diets or over training can also be a cause. Again, rT3 blocks action of fT3 and fT3 is what controls metabolism and body temperature.

Hypothyroidism and low T have many symptoms in common. So you probably have a double dose of many of these symptoms.

Read the advice for new guys stick as well, it covers terminology and a lot of things that you need to know.

Provide more of your labs, including CBC and cholesterol.

At your age, we also need to suspect that prolactin might be a factor and you can do lab work for that.

With elevated rT3, your adrenal health comes into play. Your cortisol levels may be low. Do AM Cortisol blood work, and get the lab work done near 8AM ← important

Action items:

  • check body temperatures as per sticky and report
  • report history of using iodized salt and/or vitamins that list iodine
  • do these labs: AM cortisol, DHEA-S and prolactin
  • report CBC and cholesterol, more labs if needed
  • read both stickies carefully
  • if there has been a lot of stress in your life, get Wilson’s book on ‘adrenal fatigue’ from amazon.com

If you are iodine deficient, others in your household can be too.

A MRI is justified if prolactin is elevated.
Did you have any blows to the head or whiplash prior to the onset of these problems?