HRT for low-normal levels?

[Zircon]

I agree. I saw 627 for 20-40 year olds...and for aroudn 27 year old I would expect you to avergae around 600.

I'm not sure what to do - the best would be to get a reputable trt specialist. You really need to do all test, but I think even then you wont know for sure.

At soem stage they might put you on trt for a while (say 2 months) and keep your levels steady at around 700 - and then you would be able tpo expereicne if there is a marked improvement.

As I posted as a 29 year old my levels aren not great either - very much like yours. My sex drive is pretty low, and I have trouble putting onmuscle, recovering from gym, and dont have much energy normally.

I am currently attmpeting to revamp my diet, and to some extent my lifestyle to see if that will affect my hormones positively.

But its a shame tht docs look at leves and say 350 is a normal value for a 25 year old (which they do) It's not.

I think like me you'r eint he low range...and its a difficult spot. Idont want trt...but I dont want to compromise the quality of my life either if there are options available.

I suspect around age 35 i'll be on trt...currently I'm an athlete tho...so its a little difficult for me lol.

 

[Maxgain]

truely a 27 year old weigh lifter diet and rest in check id expect 800 to aim for

 

[fakename]

well, i am 27, lifting for almost 10 years, eat super-clean high protein diet with plenty of red meat. also, i am 50% italian and unlike my relatives, have no facial or body hair and a lack of agressiveness/competiveness.

just not sure as to the risks vs. rewards of trt at 27. is this a life long commitment? can i safely come off when i dcide to have kids, etc.?

another big fear of mine are the migraines i suffered through puberty. have this fear of trt sparking them back up...but may be worrying too much.

like i said, i have a long distance doc in place and ready to help, but i am am afraid that i may need constant monitoring...

 

[Zircon]

I think most of us here agree that you can forget about gp's. They dont know enough abotu this.

As for uroogists and endo's I suspect they too will not be very concerned abotu your levels. If you went under 400 or ...then perhaps at your age...which is why I say we are both a bit borderline.

I suspect you ill feel quite a bit better at 800...but thats just my opinion. I have taken test prop before, and the very next morning I wake up extreely fresh ...the rest of the cycle is also great. But this is normal.

What you want to find out is how youll feel at about 800 which is where we both expect to be, eating well exercising and looking after ourselves. I agree 400-500 sucks.

Your best bet is to go on metamorphosis.com and read up on some specialists...all this is gonna cost you bucks for sure.

On the other hand you dont want cowboys who simply inject you with 200mg every week...or even worse every other week( morons lol)

For now I'm sitting tight and see what will happen. I will admit though its frustrating living and not being sure if u r living at 100%. I'm pretty sure after kids i will be on trt though.

Slat1 is also in this position..although his figures improved. Not sure why.

Im due for anther check next week. We'll see wht comes off it...

 

[Zircon]

The study quoted above though states that total T is not a good indicator at all...

A better indicator is SHBG apparently...I believe if thats eleveated it's bad?

And free T is more important than total T.

 

[Maxgain]

The study quoted above though states that total T is not a good indicator at all...

A better indicator is SHBG apparently...I believe if thats eleveated it's bad?

And free T is more important than total T.

Yup the shbg is sex hormone biding globulin a protein which binds testosterone making it inactive. The free T is the only thing that can exert an effect so is most important. As you age the trend is for SHBG to increase and total T to decrease leading to a nice drop in free testosterone.

For all those people with borderline low T this is the best it will be it only gets worse with age so you are delaying the inevitable and feeling crap in the process.

 

[Maxgain]

well, i am 27, lifting for almost 10 years, eat super-clean high protein diet with plenty of red meat. also, i am 50% italian and unlike my relatives, have no facial or body hair and a lack of agressiveness/competiveness.

just not sure as to the risks vs. rewards of trt at 27. is this a life long commitment? can i safely come off when i dcide to have kids, etc.?

another big fear of mine are the migraines i suffered through puberty. have this fear of trt sparking them back up...but may be worrying too much.

like i said, i have a long distance doc in place and ready to help, but i am am afraid that i may need constant monitoring...

You need a high fat diet as well but i presume you take in suffiecient amounts. Typically it will be lifetime commintment as it is hardly likely for T levels to improve and will only get worse.
HCG should be intro in all trt programmes and this maintains teses functioning for most this is sufficent and men remain fully fertile if not FSh analogs can be given. Having children is not a contraindication in most cases.

 

[sigmund]

The study quoted above though states that total T is not a good indicator at all...

A better indicator is SHBG apparently...I believe if thats eleveated it's bad?

And free T is more important than total T.

Spot on! Dropping SHBG = more free test, and that's what counts. You could have low test but if more of it is free (unbound) in comparison to someone who measures well over 1000 ng/dL but has a far greater bound percentage then you'll reap the benefits of higher natural FREE test levels - as the unbound will be hitting the receptor sites working its "magic".

Getting E2 checked is critical, as high E2 increases SHBG. What you might actually need is an AI like Adex / Aromasin to keep E2 (and SHBG) down, freeing up your natty test.

 

[bilter]

SHBG -sex hormone binding globulin, yes the lower the better. This has an inverse effect on free test. Fakename, have you cycled before? If yes did you study/and conduct proper PCT? You may want to do a PCT to see if it can boost your HPTA. TRT is a life long comitment. I am on right now and looking for a way to eliminate it. Low dose TRT should not affect you fertility but yo could have it checked if you do manage to got on trt and then want kids. As zicron stated gp's really know very little about this subject. I had to INSIST to have my test levels measured as part of a yearly blood test and I am 40! The Dr had no idea why I would want to know what my test levels are. I have been struggling with the symptoms of low test for years and they were very quick to put me on zoloft (later changed to celexa) when depression was not even the problem, turned out to be low test levels and it would not have been diagnosed without my insistance. Good luck, keep us informed.

 

[Maxgain]

much.

like i said, i have a long distance doc in place and ready to help, but i am am afraid that i may need constant monitoring...

You need to be able to get tests taken before trt full assay one month after commencement 3 months after and every 6 months after and typically one month after any changes