"Normal" Total T, Low Free T

[The_Myth]

Been off TRT for about a year now, got retested (LabCorp). Fasted, AM.

I’m 57yo, 6 feet, 190 lbs, just started working out again. When I was on T I was same height and weight but at 12% BF compared to 18% currently.

Total T 354 (Range 264-919)
% Free Test (Dialysis) 1.2 (1.5-3.2)
Free Testosterone, Serum 42 (52-280)

I asked via email to start TRT and my doc asked me to come in to discuss. I get all of the arguments - 354 was my peak (AM), two out of three indicators are low, I have symptoms, etc…

What I don’t completely understand is how my free test relates to my total. As I understand it, much of my total test is bound to something else and is therefore unusable, resulting in symptoms despite my “normal” total test.

[trtwuzup]

Here’s how I see it.

They say 2 percent is the free you need.

But 2 percent of 350 is way different then 2 percent of 650.

Your free t is low.

Btw just got these. This is with a total t of 621.

More confusion…Not used to this calculation of free t:

[systemlord]

@The_Myth

What I don’t completely understand is how my free test relates to my total. As I understand it, much of my total test is bound to something else and is therefore unusable, resulting in symptoms despite my “normal” total test.

Some of your testosterones is bound to SHBG and weakly bound to albumin.