hematocrit - How often should this be checked?

[AverageMan]

I stated TRT on June 11 and will not have a blood test for hematocrit (red blood cell count) until Sept. How long does hematocrit take to creep up?

During my dr visit last week, my BP was prefect. Not sure if BP is an indicator of hematocrit?

MY TRT protocol was 50mg cyp E3.5D until about 1.5 weeks ago when the dr bumpted me to 60mg E3.5D

 

[tbonexl]

This is a great post. Something that isn't talked about enough. Unfortunately, I can't answer this because I'm still in the process of working out the details myself...

 

[Megatron28]

Just donate blood every 56 days and they will spot check your RBC's. You can take that number and multiply by 3 to estimate your hematocrit. Donating blood will keep your hematocrit in check.

Everyone is different. There is no way to know how your hematocrit specifically will respond to your specific TRT protocol.

 

[3J]

yup... i give blood every 3 months and keep mine just within normal range

 

[Mprtz]

Dosage and age seem to be two factors. Higher dosages and older patients seem to show more rapid increase.
120mg per week is a middle-of-the-road TRT dose. On 200mg my hct went from 45 to 53 in about 3 to 4 months.

 

[AverageMan]

Just donate blood every 56 days and they will spot check your RBC's. You can take that number and multiply by 3 to estimate your hematocrit. Donating blood will keep your hematocrit in check.

Everyone is different. There is no way to know how your hematocrit specifically will respond to your specific TRT protocol.

Thanks Mega - I donate regularly at the Red Cross. My last donation was just before starting TRT, so I won't be eligible for another ~1.5 months. I don't recall the Red Cross folks checking red blood cell count - Iron, yes, but not red blood cells. When is this done? onsite or at the lab?

 

[Mprtz]

Thanks Mega - I donate regularly at the Red Cross. My last donation was just before starting TRT, so I won't be eligible for another ~1.5 months. I don't recall the Red Cross folks checking red blood cell count - Iron, yes, but not red blood cells. When is this done? onsite or at the lab?

When they test "iron", they are likely referring to testing hemoglobin which is essentially interchangeable with hematocrit and usually closely correlated to red blood cell count as well.

 

[3J]

When they test "iron", they are likely referring to testing hemoglobin which is essentially interchangeable with hematocrit and usually closely correlated to red blood cell count as well.

yup!!! that would be the case

 

[Megatron28]

When they test "iron", they are likely referring to testing hemoglobin which is essentially interchangeable with hematocrit and usually closely correlated to red blood cell count as well.

Sorry. They are all essentially the same thing to me. I should have been more precise.

 

[AverageMan]

When they test "iron", they are likely referring to testing hemoglobin which is essentially interchangeable with hematocrit and usually closely correlated to red blood cell count as well.

Got it - that makes sense. thanks!