HRT Improvement Advice

[vpi]

Hey guys, I***8217;m looking for some advice on where you think I can improve my Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). I***8217;ll try not to make this post too long but if I miss some info please call me on it as I value input from guys with longer experience with HRT than I have.

Goal: Want to keep test levels at normal/high range and continue making muscle gains from lifting.

Background: I have always had low test levels even in my teens. First time I was test (early 20s) I was barely at the low end of the normal range and my levels steadily dropped after that. I was unable to find a doctor willing to prescribe HRT until last year (am 40 now). I started out using Androgel then started learning more and decided to try injections. Currently on injections which provide a much more level and solid feel than Androgel did.

Blood work prior to starting any HRT:
TESTOSTERONE, FREE 40.7 L (46.0-224.0 pg/mL)
TESTOSTERONE, BIOAVAILABLE 78.5 L (110.0-575.0 ng/dL)
IRON % SATURATION 18 L (20-5- % calc)

Current: I was on Androgel about 9 months then switched to injections which I***8217;ve been on about 3 months (much better!).

Workouts: Doing a 4x a week heavy program called Y3T bodybuilding.com and seeing some good gains I***8217;d like to keep going. Up to 6***8217;1***8221; 226 from 200 over past 6 weeks; some fat but more muscle than it usually is for me.

Protocol: Day 1: HCG 500 units, Day 2: Testosterone Cypionate 200MG, Day 3: Anastrozole 1.1mg, Day 4: nothing, Day 5: repeat.

Current blood work:
TESTOSTERONE,TOTAL,MALES 1180 H (241-827 ng/dL)
ESTROGEN, TOTAL, SERUM 177 H (130 OR LESS pg/mL)
RED BLOOD CELL COUNT 5.31 (4.20-5.80 Million/uL)
RDW 15.5 H (11.0-15.0 %)

Thoughts: I like the test level this high but my estrogen is higher than it should be. My doctor says estrogen should be 130 or less. What are your guys thoughts on how low I should aim for with estrogen and how to best get it lowered? Also, any other thoughts on what I can do to improve the above with my goals in mind?

Thanks all for your time and input!

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

You cant go by total estrogen levels, that number does not mean much to us, need to look at E2 (Estradiol).

 

[vpi]

You cant go by total estrogen levels, that number does not mean much to us, need to look at E2 (Estradiol).

Thanks man. Yeah, my doctor doesn't order the right stuff on my blood work - I had to push to get him to even check estrogen at all. Plus he wants me to get my test down under like 600. I need to get my blood drawn elsewhere and get more control over what gets checked.

 

[vpi]

bump

 

[NateDEEzy]

Thanks man. Yeah, my doctor doesn't order the right stuff on my blood work - I had to push to get him to even check estrogen at all. Plus he wants me to get my test down under like 600. I need to get my blood drawn elsewhere and get more control over what gets checked.

LOL he wants your testosterone below 600? From my understanding, when it comes to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) most guys feel best and therefore shoot for high-normal. Now, this is all dependent on how you feel as everyone is different, but as a general indicator, high/normal is usually optimal (granted you keep E2 in optimal range). And 600, depending on what range you use, but on a general 300-1200 ng/dl range, 600 puts you in the bottom 1/3 lol. Not even at midpoint.

 

[NateDEEzy]

That'd be like using a school tutor who wants to shoot for D+'s LOL

 

[Megatron28]

He listed the normal range as 241-827 for the lab he used. Depending on the time the blood was drawn ( i.e. peak or trough) getting it around 600 may not be all that unreasonable of an expectation. He is treating you for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) -- not running a cycle of AAS. There are can be health issues with having your T above normal. Coming in at 600 at the low point of your protocol would mean that you are spending most of your 5 day protocol at the upper end of the range.

 

[NateDEEzy]

He listed the normal range as 241-827 for the lab he used. Depending on the time the blood was drawn ( i.e. peak or trough) getting it around 600 may not be all that unreasonable of an expectation. He is treating you for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) -- not running a cycle of AAS. There are can be health issues with having your T above normal. Coming in at 600 at the low point of your protocol would mean that you are spending most of your 5 day protocol at the upper end of the range.

oh opps didn't see that.. btw I've always wondered that, why do different labs have different ranges? like would a reading of 600 on the scale mentioned equate to like a 900 on a 300-1200 range? or would a 900 reading on a 300-1200 range be a 900 on the 241-827. I tend to belive that the later is true, but I've never had a true expanation of why or how different ranges are used. it's the same units, so i'm led to believe that has to be universal so the results will always be the same no matter what the range used.. anyone have any explanation?

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

its still measured in ng/dl regardless of the range, there are just differing views on normal.

I do not like shooting for a number, to me that is backwards.

 

[NateDEEzy]

its still measured in ng/dl regardless of the range, there are just differing views on normal.

I do not like shooting for a number, to me that is backwards.

I have to agree with this!

So that would then mean the range listed is irrelevant and he would have the same result from a different lab with a different range, that's what I kinda assumed