Do I need TRT at 23? (blood tests)
Hello,
First some stats: 23, 6'2, 210 lbs., total testosterone 315 ng/dl (tested about an hour after I woke up)
For a while I was thinking about doing a prohormone cycle to make some good gains in the gym. I had never done any kind of cycle, so while I was at my psychiatris's office for a regular check-up I had him check my testosterone levels so I could establish a pre-cycle baseline. I did not expect them to be low, but my total test level was 315. After doing some research I have become even more alarmed at my low test level, mostly because I have several symptoms of low testosterone that I feel may have been misattributed to depression, as it's statistically the most likely explanation. I have been on several anti-depressants in the past several years, but eventually stopped them, switched to another, stopped taking that one, and so on. The primary reason I stopped taking them was because I saw little to no improvement. Before this recent test I had never had my testosterone levels checked, but suffered the same symptoms I do now.
Currently and in the past several years I have felt pretty "blue", it's like I'm at a constant low-grade depression that never goes away. I am always VERY low on energy even though I am physically healthy and have been for a long time. My sex drive is low and even when it rises up a little I lethargically weigh the options of going out looking for tail vs saving the energy and doing nothing on my couch (I hate myself for even thinking this). I can still get an erection, but it's not as hard or powerful as it was, and it takes more manipulation. There have been times when I just knew I could have a girl if I wanted her, and I did (want her), but then I just sit around and take no real action. Later when things didn't work out the way I wanted them to I feel like shit and I blame myself for doing nothing (appropriately placed blame), it really sucks. I don't sleep very well; I can't even remember a time when falling asleep was easy. I am also very smart and do very well in school, but I have been losing a lot of my motivation and drive. Not just with school but with every single area of my life!
Something else I have noticed, but not as frequently as the other symptoms listed above is, on occasion, in the past I have just felt "like a girl". I mean this in that I have gotten emotional over trivial issues. I understand how irrational my thinking is and how irrational my emotions are, but can't seem to change my emotional state and feel like my reactions are more in line with the normative reactions of a female. This is not very common issue at all, but just popped into my head. As said, it's not common or chronic.
So I have low energy, depression, low sex drive, poor sleep, and low motivation/drive. I can see how this would be interpreted as being caused by depression, but factor in 5 years of unsuccessful treatment of stable symptoms with psychiatric medications and a recent blood test showing a low testosterone level.... I'm thinking it just could be"Low T".
On one end I'm very unhappy with my low testosterone level, but on the other if it is in fact the cause of my issues then I need to know and would be just happy to know what has been causing me to feel like this for so long. My understanding is that a testosterone level of around 700 would be normal for a male at age 23, so I can't help but suspect that my level of 315 has to be having some effect (or lack thereof) on my body and well-being.
What do you all think? Do I have "Low T"? I would obviously like to prevent having to go through injections for the rest of my life, but not as much as I would like change my current state. Have those of you on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) felt a big improvement from it? If you could turn back the clock would you do it again? I was thinking about doing a 12 week cycle of test c to see if my symptoms improved so I could know for sure if "low t" was the cause of my problems. Is this a bad idea or should I go see an endocrinologist or urologist first?
Any and all help is appreciated!
**edit: I also wanted to add that my follicle stimulating hormone (FSM) is "in range" at 4.3 miu/ml and my lutenizing hormone (LH) is "in range" at 4.9. I also had my estradiol tested and at 36 pg/ml. I am also not taking any prescriptions. Thanks!
Hello,
First some stats: 23, 6'2, 210 lbs., total testosterone 315 ng/dl (tested about an hour after I woke up)
For a while I was thinking about doing a prohormone cycle to make some good gains in the gym. I had never done any kind of cycle, so while I was at my psychiatris's office for a regular check-up I had him check my testosterone levels so I could establish a pre-cycle baseline. I did not expect them to be low, but my total test level was 315. After doing some research I have become even more alarmed at my low test level, mostly because I have several symptoms of low testosterone that I feel may have been misattributed to depression, as it's statistically the most likely explanation. I have been on several anti-depressants in the past several years, but eventually stopped them, switched to another, stopped taking that one, and so on. The primary reason I stopped taking them was because I saw little to no improvement. Before this recent test I had never had my testosterone levels checked, but suffered the same symptoms I do now.
Currently and in the past several years I have felt pretty "blue", it's like I'm at a constant low-grade depression that never goes away. I am always VERY low on energy even though I am physically healthy and have been for a long time. My sex drive is low and even when it rises up a little I lethargically weigh the options of going out looking for tail vs saving the energy and doing nothing on my couch (I hate myself for even thinking this). I can still get an erection, but it's not as hard or powerful as it was, and it takes more manipulation. There have been times when I just knew I could have a girl if I wanted her, and I did (want her), but then I just sit around and take no real action. Later when things didn't work out the way I wanted them to I feel like shit and I blame myself for doing nothing (appropriately placed blame), it really sucks. I don't sleep very well; I can't even remember a time when falling asleep was easy. I am also very smart and do very well in school, but I have been losing a lot of my motivation and drive. Not just with school but with every single area of my life!
Something else I have noticed, but not as frequently as the other symptoms listed above is, on occasion, in the past I have just felt "like a girl". I mean this in that I have gotten emotional over trivial issues. I understand how irrational my thinking is and how irrational my emotions are, but can't seem to change my emotional state and feel like my reactions are more in line with the normative reactions of a female. This is not very common issue at all, but just popped into my head. As said, it's not common or chronic.
So I have low energy, depression, low sex drive, poor sleep, and low motivation/drive. I can see how this would be interpreted as being caused by depression, but factor in 5 years of unsuccessful treatment of stable symptoms with psychiatric medications and a recent blood test showing a low testosterone level.... I'm thinking it just could be"Low T".
On one end I'm very unhappy with my low testosterone level, but on the other if it is in fact the cause of my issues then I need to know and would be just happy to know what has been causing me to feel like this for so long. My understanding is that a testosterone level of around 700 would be normal for a male at age 23, so I can't help but suspect that my level of 315 has to be having some effect (or lack thereof) on my body and well-being.
What do you all think? Do I have "Low T"? I would obviously like to prevent having to go through injections for the rest of my life, but not as much as I would like change my current state. Have those of you on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) felt a big improvement from it? If you could turn back the clock would you do it again? I was thinking about doing a 12 week cycle of test c to see if my symptoms improved so I could know for sure if "low t" was the cause of my problems. Is this a bad idea or should I go see an endocrinologist or urologist first?
Any and all help is appreciated!
**edit: I also wanted to add that my follicle stimulating hormone (FSM) is "in range" at 4.3 miu/ml and my lutenizing hormone (LH) is "in range" at 4.9. I also had my estradiol tested and at 36 pg/ml. I am also not taking any prescriptions. Thanks!
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