After trying to get tested through my local GP , which was a massive fail, even after telling them exactly what to test for they still only sent me for a basic testosterone scan, I paid an online company who specialise in male hormones, to test a blood sample and got the following results (PSB). They show my test and free test as low, but can anyone here figure out why from the rest of the results?
Any help is much appreciated as TRT in the UK seems ALOT harder to go about than in US … no NHS GP’s seems to understand / give a toss about it
Hormones
Result Units Range
Test 8.33 Nmol/L 8.64 - 29
Free T 0.209 Nmol/L 0.2 - 0.62
Oestradiol 56 Pmol/L 41 - 159
FSH 5.4 IU/L 1.5 - 12.4
LH 5.3 IU/L 1.7 - 8.6
SHGB 19 Nmol/L Not given
Albumin 43 g/L 35-50
Prolactin 157 mU/L 86 - 324
Thyroid
Result Units Range
TSH 1.69 0.27-4.20 mlU/L
Free T4 15.60 12 - 22 Pmol/L
You definitely quality for TRT based off your numbers, any doctors refusing TRT at this point is just personal position. You are indicating to have testicular failure, testicles aren’t functioning well at all.
The reason why most doctors do not care about endocrine disorders is most have no education or training on the matter, even endocrinologist tend to take the same careless attitude. The truth is managed healthcare doctors have someone pulling their strings and aren’t practicing medicine anymore, the state or the insurance companies are making all the decisions for the doctors.
It is for this reason I believe doctors are unhappy under this kind of control, it shows in their careless attitude.
I think I could probably tell where you got that sort of protocol from You are certainly in good hands. If I could recommend you something, that will help tremendously later on: keep a journal about how you feel during the first couple of weeks. I also started on that protocol, and that info helped us a lot with determining what to do next. Cheers
Just to put it in perspective - i was 90kg at probably about 30% bf in Januay. Its taken me untill sept to drop nearly 5kg and about 5% bf .
This is training in a powerlifting capacity 3 times a week , and 2x a week either BJJ or Boxing.
Not looking to make any changes to diet for the next few months. Looking forward to seeing the difference over the next few months to both my libido and my physique
libido still not improved, however , first time in months ive managed to lower bf% without taking a hit at overall bodyweight. I also feel like i maybe slightly less fatigued through the week from training i.e. better recovery, nothing magical, still feel pretty beat up through the week (rest fri / sun) but not as bad as before TRT
So far has been abit of a rollercoaster ride tbh, had some days where i feel ontop of the world, other days where i felt like shite still. Libido still low, but i don’t feel as fatigued after training which is good,
Have a follow up consultation next week with my Doc.
Your levels haven’t reached a stable state, your levels will be higher in 2 more weeks.
I have noticed that even though my levels are more or less stable at 6 weeks, 8 weeks is the true measure of my protocol. This is the experience of many other men with some taking longer.
Testosterone Cyp (Half life 8 days) -Steady state in 40 days
So basically same amount but ED instead of EOD and dropping the AI. He said that the AI may have been having and effect on my Natural Estrogen Regulation and the high estrogen could be the cause of a still non existant libido
Body fat has dropped from 24.6% > 22.6% bf in 3 months on TRT, bearing in mind before TRT it took me about 7 months to drop from 25.9% to 24.6%. Ive also even upped my calories slightly as i felt more hungry, but still in enough deficit to be loosing bf .
I still think that im not dialled in tho. Libido still non existant (starting to think ill never get it back untill i retire/change jobs where i can actually get 8hrs sleep and less stress) . I feel more levelled with ED than i did EOD , but best way to explain is …
before TRT i felt a mix of 1 & 2. On EOD i felt a mix of 1,2,3 & 4. Now ED i feel a constant 2 . So i think there maybe room for more improvement but better than pre TRT, Speak with the doc later.
Your FT4 looks good but you are not converting a lot of it to T3, so you should test your RT3 to see if maybe that could be the reason behind some of your symptoms.
You only have ferritin value and not iron, % Sat or TIBC?
Ferritin should be around 110, so your value points towards you having inflammation (especially if you have low iron value).
RT3 = Reverse T3 which blocks T3 (the active thyroid hormone) which when it is high, it can make you have hypothyroid symptoms even with good FT3 values. Do you have any hypothyroid symptoms like cold feet/hands, fatigue, low sex drive, hair loss and etc?
How to improve it?
Well, first test your ferritin, iron, % Sat and TIBC. If you have low iron but high ferritin than you need to focus on finding out why you have inflammation and fix that, And then you need to get your iron values optimal.
And also make sure to supplement with iodine during this time.
Then in a 5-7 week period you can then do a full thyroid panel to see if you have improved your values.
I have fatigue and low sex drive, but put it to low T , defo dont have hair loss or cold hands/feet . . . my mrs complains im too hot if anything . . .
You are certainly in good hands. If I could recommend you something, that will help tremendously later on: keep a journal about how you feel during the first couple of weeks. I also started on that protocol, and that info helped us a lot with determining what to do next. Cheers