34 yr Need Some Advice from Experienced Gurus

[Sevanski]

34 yr old, 181 lbs, roughly 17% bod fat

Last year, I noticed I was feeling very lethargic, etc., so I had my blood levels tested. As expected, I had low T. So for about six months, I exercised regularly, switched to a plant based diet, took vitamins, lowered stress, and got a ton more sleep... Basically, I tried everything.

I got my blood tested today, and here are the results:
Total T: 330
Free T: 7.21
SHBG: 24.30
Free test: 2.16%
Bioavailable test: 194

So here is my question... I want to know what I am talking about when I visit my doctor later in the week, so I want some advice. My concern is that I want to have kids, so I don't want to shut my testes down and kill my sperm count. Is there anything I can do to get my test up AND remain fertile?

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[halfwit]

TRT is NOT an automatic kiss of death to being fertile. There are several drugs out there that can help keep your boys making swimmers such as HMG. I've read that HCG may also have a similar ability, but the science backs HMG moreso.

Before you throw in the towel, what were your LH /FSH at? FSH is the hormone responsible for spermatogenesis, and if you're secondary hypogonadal, there is a possibility that an underlying issue is also dropping your testosterone. SERMs for instance increase both natural LH and FSH, which is a possibility.

Worst case, you bank some swimmers as an insurance policy, just in case you do go on TRT and are unable to conceive.

My .02c

 

[Sevanski]

LH - 3.99
FSH - 6.44

I wonder if my insurance would pay for any of this... Its not that expensive online, so Im not sweating it all that much.

 

[halfwit]

LH - 3.99
FSH - 6.44

I wonder if my insurance would pay for any of this... Its not that expensive online, so Im not sweating it all that much.

That actually looks primary to me, so TRT may definitely be your best choice here. I'd definitely see what your doctor thinks and push to see if they can rule out primary hypogonadism (usually testicular in nature) as you're smack dab in the middle of both ranges.

Insurance companies vary, but they usually will cover the visits and blood work. Getting them to pay for the testosterone or other needed drugs is a crapshoot, and really depends on the plan. Mine doesn't cover testosterone, but everything else at 100%, go figure.

 

[Sevanski]

Just curious... Why do you think primary?