First Post: 27 Years Old Low Test Results - What does it all mean?

[jayzeeaye]

First Post: 27 Years Old Low Test Results - Looking for advice

Hello everybody,

I have spent the last few hours reading through multiple threads on this forum and thought I might add to the discussion with my story and results - in a hope to try shape the right path to go down.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

My personal stats and history

• From NZ, 27 years old, 6 feet 5" tall, weigh 240lbs, 16% body fat. I have been lifting seriously 5 days a week for the last 12 months (on the PHAT routine). Progress has been very slow in terms of gaining any noticeable mass, my before picture looks the same as my one year after picture. It's really weird. Although, my strength has increased.
• Healthy personal and family health history
• I am very strict with my diet and track every macro I have eaten for the last 12 months - currently eating 4.2k calories (lean bulking), 525c, 93f, 315p, 59fibre. I also take a NOW Multi, Vitamin D3 5,000IU, NOW Omega 3, Zinc 50mg, Magnesium 400mg and Glutamine 1,000mg every day.
• I don't drink, smoke or take steroids or any illegal drugs. Although, I was on Accutane for approximately 2 years (for acne and dermatitis from the ages 23 - 25)

Current story

For the last two years (ironic the timing after accutane finished) I have suffered from very low libido, ED (can still perform but it's about 60% of what it used to be), no morning wood, fatigue, lethargy and depression in cycles. Before I started Accutane, I had never suffered libido problems or any issues with ED. I thought things might get better over time (like I would return to normal or something), but after two years I was just getting worse. As a result, I decided to do some research and found out that it could be worth checking my testosterone levels (as Accutane seems like it decreases testosterone and actively effects your glands - could be related to my low FSH levels).

My local doctor did not think anything was wrong with my testosterone (did not even refer me to get bloods done) instead she prescribed me prozac and booked me in with a psychologist. This pissed me off as it is not the answer to the underlying problem and I wanted to find out more and solve the underlying issue at hand (not a band-aid fix taking a depression pill that ain't going to do shit but make me worse). Therefore, I took matters into my own hands and got some blood tests done (after having to pay $150, sorry for not getting more results done but it is all I could afford at the moment).

The results of my bloods are as follows (this test was taken early morning, fasted):

Testosterone 10.2 nmol/L (8.0 - 29.0)
SHBG 22 nmol/L (13 - 71)
Free Testosterone 251 pmol/L (198 - 619)
FSH 3.8 IU/L (2.0 - 12.0)
Oestradiol 131 pmol/L (< 161)
Prolactin 151 mIU/L (70 - 300)
TSH mIU/L 1.3 (0.30 - 4.00)

I then took another test the next day at the same lab (a test my GP referred me to take, not sure why she was checking my lipids but anyway)

Testosterone 12.4 nmol/L (8.0 - 29.0)
TSH mIU/L 1.3 (0.30 - 4.00)
Cholesterol mmol/L 3.7 (< 5.0)
Triglycerides mmol/L 0.8 (< 2.0)
HDL Cholesterol mmol/L 1.12 (> 1.00)
LDL Cholesterol mmol/L 2.2 (< 3.4)
Chol/HDL ratio 3.3 (< 4.5)

I have booked in with a different GP (next week) who said they will refer me to an Endo (I'm right at the beginning of this journey).

Questions

1. Could someone with more experience help shed some light on what this may mean? (so far, I gather I could be suffering from secondary hypogonadism, due to low test and FSH?)
2. What steps should I take to try get my life back to the way it was before my Accutane course?
3. For the guys who have been through this, what would you do differently if you started the journey again?

I appreciate any advice in advance and hope somebody will be able to help shed some light. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[JOWS7]

1. That is correct. If you had low testosterone with high levels of FSH or LH, that would be considered primary hypogonadism.

2. Tough question. Sounds like you have taken charge of your health with your exercise regimen, eating habits and supplementation. After a quick google search, it sounds like accutane may reduce testosterone/dht levels. I would do some heavy research in that area. Don't go by anecdotal reports from forums but from scholarly articles/studies.

3. If I were in your shoes, I would do a more in-depth blood panel. There is some good info on T-Nation (click on forums then T-replacement), on what you should look into. You may need to dive into thyroid, adrenal or other areas if something is off. Tackle one issue at a time; don't try to correct everything all at once. Rule out any other causes for your low testosterone; sleep apnea, pituitary abnormalities, medications. If you come to the conclusion that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is warranted, try a post cycle therapy (pct) (post cycle therapy) protocol to see if you could "jump-start" your testosterone production.

 

[jayzeeaye]

Thanks for the reply JOWS7, appreciate it. I have gone to T-Nation and had a look through there, seems to be a lot of info on it. I will take a more conclusive blood test to find out more first.

I went to see another local doctor today to get his opinion on it. He told me my Testosterone levels were normal, told me that protein is bad for me, told me that tracking my diet accurately was bad for me and told me to start taking Prozac as the solution. Fair to say, shits getting pretty depressing dealing with these doctors.