Don't understand Testosterone results

[BDTMD]

I've been having weekly testosterone tests to try and understand my levels and why I feel fatigued.

Week 1- 190, 150, 249 (three tests)
week 2- 250, LH 2.9, SHBG 19
Week 3- 246
Week 4- 310
Week 5- 385
Week 6- 269, LH 3.1, FSH 1.7
Week 7- 191
Week 8- 310

I've also taken 2 tests in the afternoon, both were at 190. I don't understand the big difference in ranges, from 190 up to 385. Is this normal? Is my testosterone considered low even with 1 reading at 385?

 

[Mprtz]

You should include the ranges from the lab that did these.
That's a lot of tests for total T... did you test anything else? Free T? Thyroid?

 

[BDTMD]

I've had all the Thyroid tests, everything is normal, sleep apnea normal. The test ranges for all tests except week 6 was 280-800. Week 6 I went to a LabCorp which is 340-1100.

 

[Megatron28]

Which of these tests were taken first thing in the morning? That is when you want to check. Your natural testosterone levels can fluctuate quite a bit over a 24 hour period.

 

[BDTMD]

All of those tests listed were taken between 7:30 and 9:00am. I didn't list the two that were in the afternoon but those were both 190.

 

[BDTMD]

Does giving blood lower or raise your testosterone levels?

 

[MBB]

Does giving blood lower or raise your testosterone levels?

Neither.

BTW, what's your diet like? stress levels? workout? how much sleep are you getting a night? age? BF%? Have you had other tests for things like liver function, prolactin, etc?

 

[BDTMD]

I eat healthy, I'm 34, 6ft 195lbs. My BF is 18%. I get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I had a full blood panel done and the Dr. said everything was normal. He said my T was low so I did a sleep apnea test and that came back normal. I retested at 385 and he the. Said I was fine. Since the. I had more testing and my levels were tested at 269, 190, and 310 (all morning tests). Are my tests low? To me they are all over the place, but that might be normal.

 

[MBB]

You're definitely in/approaching the hypogonadal range (depending on which labs range you use). Did your doc give you a copy of the results? If not, get a copy and post the results up here. Also, have you had E2 tested?

 

[Alpin]

Test first thing in the a.m.

 

[BDTMD]

I understand he testing, what I really want to know are if my levels are truly secondary hypogonadism. With one level at 385 and two at 310, those are above the 300 level the society of endocrinology recognize for treatment. They say less than 300, so is 300 and 310 a huge difference

 

[Alpin]

I understand he testing, what I really want to know are if my levels are truly secondary hypogonadism. With one level at 385 and two at 310, those are above the 300 level the society of endocrinology recognize for treatment. They say less than 300, so is 300 and 310 a huge difference

Sec. Hypogonadism is diagnosed by looking at a few factors...
LH,FSH, TT
They would both need to be low to low normal with hypogonadal levels of T to confirm secondary.
You are borderline secondary...imo

 

[BDTMD]

I've only had my LH tested twice and my FSH tested once. For the first test my Total T was 249, LH was 2.91. I had the test run again and I had a total T of 269, LH of 3.1, FSH of 1.7 and estradiol of 12.5. See anything in those results?

 

[Megatron28]

You have Secondary Hypogonadism. Next thing to check is Prolactin. And post your thyroid results. There is normal and there is "normal normal".

 

[methos0123]

You sound exactly like me! Although I have seen a couple of my first lh and fsh tests that were 8.3, and 7.1 for LH. FSH were 3.9, and 3.5 respectively. I'm still pretty sure that makes me secondary because the LH can move around quite a bit.

You would probably due good to get on therapy with a good doc that will listen and work with you.

 

[Alpin]

I've only had my LH tested twice and my FSH tested once. For the first test my Total T was 249, LH was 2.91. I had the test run again and I had a total T of 269, LH of 3.1, FSH of 1.7 and estradiol of 12.5. See anything in those results?

Those are my exact baselines as well before going on any HRT.
Those numbers are hypogonadal. No ifs or buts about it.

 

[Alpin]

I understand he testing, what I really want to know are if my levels are truly secondary hypogonadism. With one level at 385 and two at 310, those are above the 300 level the society of endocrinology recognize for treatment. They say less than 300, so is 300 and 310 a huge difference

I think you mean to say that AACE defines hypogonadism below 300 ng/dl which is true.

 

[BDTMD]

Yes I did mean AACE. I still thought that levels in the 300-400s is low for someone who is 34, but AACE doesn't define by age. Why don't they use age as a factor? I'm being compared to all males over 19 to 80 that have been tested and some of them could have health problems. I don't like being compared in a range from 280-1100, that is too broad. So when my Dr says that since I have had a few levels in the 300s I'm normal, what do I say or counter with?

 

[halfwit]

Yes I did mean AACE. I still thought that levels in the 300-400s is low for someone who is 34, but AACE doesn't define by age. Why don't they use age as a factor? I'm being compared to all males over 19 to 80 that have been tested and some of them could have health problems. I don't like being compared in a range from 280-1100, that is too broad. So when my Dr says that since I have had a few levels in the 300s I'm normal, what do I say or counter with?

How about, "You're fired."?

Don't waste your time on some clown that's clueless; can you imagine what his treatment would be like? Do yourself a huge favor and look around a bit for a new doctor that actually can rub two brain cells together and make a decision without having to rely on what lab ranges tell him.

Yes, you're hypogonadal - the question is what are YOU going to do about it.

My .02c

 

[Alpin]

^^^^

Listen to this guy!

He's troubleshooted me one time too many....
Lol