410 ng/dL at 28 - depressive symptoms

[nafione]

Been dealing with depression symptoms on and off the last couple years, and am trying to rule out whether testosterone levels may have something to do with it.

My total measurement is 410 ng/dl, which was taken at 1030 am - I was up at 7.

Fell off the train weightlifting the last couple years but have been back at it lightly the last month. I never managed to make great gains in the gym (4x/day for >1 year, starting fit) - best deadlift would be 5 reps of 250lb. I'm 5'11", 171b, about 8% body fat. I've stayed lean for the last decade, was a competitive triathlete 6 years ago and have maintained a good diet.

Diet is clean. Take 5000 IU vitamin D daily, eat plenty of healthy fats. Should be getting all my micros through food. Low sugar, low stress.

Noticed I don't get morning erections regularly the last few years.

 

[TRTnooby]

Read this: http://www.steroidology.com/forum/testosterone-replacement-therapy/662394-basic-trt-overview.html

410, especially on a blood draw at 1030, is not Hypogonadal. I would not go on TRT for life at 410. Yes it works great, but it is for LIFE. I would much rather not have to give myself shots all the time forever if I didn't have to.

This guy had similar levels to you and raised it up to 700-800 with diet and Lifestyle changes. Try that first.

How to Increase Testosterone Naturally | The Art of Manliness

 

[3J]

doesn't sound like its hormonal

 

[nafione]

410, especially on a blood draw at 1030, is not Hypogonadal. I would not go on TRT for life at 410. Yes it works great, but it is for LIFE. I would much rather not have to give myself shots all the time forever if I didn't have to.

This guy had similar levels to you and raised it up to 700-800 with diet and Lifestyle changes. Try that first.

I know it's not as low as others here have measured. However, being at the 11th percentile given my level of fitness, diet, stress, and sleep is better than 90% of the population is frustrating.

 

[Megatron28]

Have you checked more than just your Total Testosterone in blood work?

Just curious, what are your average daily diet macros?

 

[Chiefy]

What was your free T value?

 

[TRTnooby]

I know it's not as low as others here have measured. However, being at the 11th percentile given my level of fitness, diet, stress, and sleep is better than 90% of the population is frustrating.

First of all get it measured as soon as you wake up, go straight to the lab and get your blood drawn and get a true reading, 1030 after you've been up for 3 and a half hours is not optimal. Get all the things in Mega's Overview checked too. I'm not saying your Test is optimal, I'm saying its not Hypogonadal. Diet and lifestyle changes can have a real effect. You are very lean, and have been for years you said, you probably don't eat much fat/cholesterol. That could easily be the problem. Hook up with 3J, I'm sure he can help you.

 

[Alpin]

Wheres Free Test, Estradiol?
You should have gone around 8 AM

 

[nafione]

I tend to get 30-35% of my calories from fats. Eat shitloads of eggs and other good fats - I do know nutrition. Free T was not tested since total test was in range. The current test is attached.

Last time I had estradiol tested was the first time I started feeling depressive symptoms. Measurement was 138 pmol/L. Don't have any of the other sex hormone measurements but they were all within the given ranges.

I'm going to lift 3h weekly and weigh / log all my food for the next month. I don't have a lot of headroom on the lifestyle factors...View attachment 560362

 

[Chiefy]

I tend to get 30-35% of my calories from fats. Eat shitloads of eggs and other good fats - I do know nutrition. Free T was not tested since total test was in range. The current test is attached.

Last time I had estradiol tested was the first time I started feeling depressive symptoms. Measurement was 138 pmol/L. Don't have any of the other sex hormone measurements but they were all within the given ranges.

I'm going to lift 3h weekly and weigh / log all my food for the next month. I don't have a lot of headroom on the lifestyle factors...

 

[sanipialo]

410 ng/dl around 10:30 is not that low. If you are awake around 7 and have had a good night sleep, don't take the blood test after 8:30. Your current results at 10:30 are not reliable as they can be up to 40% lower than results taken around 8:00. Have another test done around 8:00 to 8:30.

For adults between the 25 and 34. The total testosterone levels are between 447 and 787 ng/dl based on a sample of 45 men. But those are taken between 08:00 and 09:00.

Make sure you have a full blood test and the correct ones at the right time.

 

[Alpin]

410 ng/dl around 10:30 is not that low. If you are awake around 7 and have had a good night sleep, don't take the blood test after 8:30. Your current results at 10:30 are not reliable as they can be up to 40% lower than results taken around 8:00. Have another test done around 8:00 to 8:30.

For adults between the 25 and 34. The total testosterone levels are between 447 and 787 ng/dl based on a sample of 45 men. But those are taken between 08:00 and 09:00.

Make sure you have a full blood test and the correct ones at the right time.

I tend to get 30-35% of my calories from fats. Eat shitloads of eggs and other good fats - I do know nutrition. Free T was not tested since total test was in range. The current test is attached.

Last time I had estradiol tested was the first time I started feeling depressive symptoms. Measurement was 138 pmol/L. Don't have any of the other sex hormone measurements but they were all within the given ranges.

I'm going to lift 3h weekly and weigh / log all my food for the next month. I don't have a lot of headroom on the lifestyle factors...View attachment 560362

You ever cycled homey?
46% HCT with low levels of T is not bad especially with 5.28 RBC'S. Hemo looks good so does thyroid. Would be nice to know Free T3 too...
were you hydrated well on this blood lab?

 

[nafione]

You ever cycled homey?
46% HCT with low levels of T is not bad especially with 5.28 RBC'S. Hemo looks good so does thyroid. Would be nice to know Free T3 too...
were you hydrated well on this blood lab?

I used to be around 5.6 on RBC from triathlon - was doing about 15h cardio a week in 2009. Hydration would change concentrations of blood components I suppose? I was probably not particularly hydrated or rested that morning after a couple G&T's with my roommate to 3am the night prior.

I've never done steroids or pro-hormones.

 

[Alpin]

Hydration would change concentrations of blood components I suppose? I was probably not particularly hydrated or rested that morning after a couple G&T's with my roommate to 3am the night prior.

I've never done steroids or pro-hormones.

Bingo!

 

[Alpin]

Next blood work plz hydrate well and come back and let me know results.

 

[nafione]

Ok. Going to train hard and eat well this month... then retest and get back. Thanks

 

[Megatron28]

You ever cycled homey?
46% HCT with low levels of T is not bad especially with 5.28 RBC'S. Hemo looks good so does thyroid. Would be nice to know Free T3 too...
were you hydrated well on this blood lab?

Homey?

 

[Alpin]

Homey?

Ya I picked it up from my bro Halfwit. ....lol

 

[Black Beard]

If you want the PEAK, try getting the blood drawn at 8 AM. 5,000 IUs may not be enough for you. Get your vitamin d levels to somewhere in the 40-60 ng/dl range. I recall a study saying 50 ng/dl was optimal for maximum testosterone.




Like megatron said, wondering what your diet is like. If you are zinc deficient, you could get a substantial increase in testosterone AND DHT if you restore your body stores. Zinc is essential for intra-testicular conversion of cholesterol into testosterone. It IS the male mineral. A caloric deficit and low fat diet will further drop natural testosterone levels. Even calcium and magnesium are important for optimal androgen synthesis.






Sleep quality, depression/mood, stress, just some of the other variables that can drastically and additively affect testosterone levels.