Low free testosterone and really high Dihydrotestosterone..Help!!!!

[ninja2012]

Hi,

Just got my results back from my blood work and will see a specialist next week..any ideas why my DHT is so high?

About myself- I am 37 and in good shape as I exercise and eat very healthily. I don't smoke and drink very little alcohol. Also I was tested to have hypothyroidism 2 years ago and am on 50mkg Euthyrox daily.

-6ft 77kgs
-never cycled steroids
-shave every 5 days and its not very thick
-my voice never deepened properly
-Brain fog since 15
-grumpy and get angry quite easy
-poor results after going to the gym and constantly exercising
-bad memory and word recall
-have problem articulating my feelings
-usually have a nap after lunch and lack of energy upon awakening
-eyesight is slowly deteriorating
-not depressed but find it difficult to be in a good mood and happy about life...Emotionally flat.
-small testicules (I think the doctor said they are half the average size) and undersized thyroid glands
-sex every couple months(partly because we have a young baby and partly because of my low libido)
-morning wood once every couple months

my results-
total testosterone- 14.1 nmol/l range 12-35
free testosterone- 264 pmol/l Range 174-729

Dihydrotestosterone 1666 pg/ml Range 250-990
estadiol 43.5pg/ml Range less than 56

LH- 3.11 Range 0.8-7.6
FSH 5 Range 0.7-11.1
TSH 1.00 Range 0.35-5.5
prolactin 111 Range 53-360.4
Vitamin D 40.4 Range 30-100

T4 Free 1.70 Range 0.89-1.76
T3 Free 3.76 Range 2.3-4.2
SHBG 37.8 Range 10-57

Thanks

 

[NateDEEzy]

Don't know why your DHT would be so elevated, but you seem to be an excellent candidate for testosterone replacement. I have all the same symptoms as you. I'm not on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but I wanted to test my theory that low T was the cause of my symptoms and was able to get a half used tube of Testim- rubbed it on my shoulders and literally with 15 minutes felt totally different, I felt alive, I had amazing energy, I actually wanted to get up and do something ( I didn't know what or have anything in particular to do but I wanted to go and do anything, just be active, which is totally the opposite of how I normally am), I just overall felt amazing and alive and had a zest for life back in me.

Anyway, I'd look in to the DHT thing, but I'd be more excited that you seem to be a great candidate for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and have A LOT to benefit from if you go on it!!!

 

[RedLang]

Did you get cortisol and pregnenolone done also? Also euthyrox is t4, how does your t3 look after t4?
I read somewhere low cortisol and low preg will downregulate t3 to slow metabolism. And low cortisol will allow dht to increase. Maybe worth a look?

 

[TheChosenOne]

It's strange that your doctor tested you for DHT. That specific hormone is generally not included in most hormone panels done in routine lab work. Also, it costs quite a bit to add that test to your blood work. Even at privatemdlabs it costs at least $100 to add DHT. Anyways, it's a good thing it was added. That seems extremely high to me. It is also strange that your beard doesn't grow in very thick, because DHT is known to thicken beards. You should definitely figure out what's going on with that. You may have an abundance of the 5AR enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. If thats the case, adding more testosterone would only cause your DHT levels to sky rocket even further. Have you experienced any male pattern baldness, or oily skin?

 

[ninja2012]

T4 Free 1.70 Range 0.89-1.76 I guess its quite high...Maybe I need to cut back to 25mkg from50mkg
T3 Free 3.76 Range 2.3-4.2
No, I didnt get cortisol and pregnenolone tested....

Did you get cortisol and pregnenolone done also? Also euthyrox is t4, how does your t3 look after t4?
I read somewhere low cortisol and low preg will downregulate t3 to slow metabolism. And low cortisol will allow dht to increase. Maybe worth a look?

 

[ninja2012]

Nope beard isn't very thick, actually quite patchy and I have a full head of hair with no signs of it thinning.....Maybe there was an error in the results...I might ask for another test to be sure as I was tested 2 years ago and it was fine or maybe its the thyroid medication is too high and pushing it up, anyway it will be interesting how the specialist interprets it...

It's strange that your doctor tested you for DHT. That specific hormone is generally not included in most hormone panels done in routine lab work. Also, it costs quite a bit to add that test to your blood work. Even at privatemdlabs it costs at least $100 to add DHT. Anyways, it's a good thing it was added. That seems extremely high to me. It is also strange that your beard doesn't grow in very thick, because DHT is known to thicken beards. You should definitely figure out what's going on with that. You may have an abundance of the 5AR enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. If thats the case, adding more testosterone would only cause your DHT levels to sky rocket even further. Have you experienced any male pattern baldness, or oily skin?