Low progesterone (serum 17)

[BigStu81]

Hey Guys

Thought I'd make a separate thread for this.

Testosterone bloods just got in (everything else is in range) and my serum 17 is below range.

- Serum test level: 21 nmol/L (606 ng/dl)
- Serum androstenedione level (XE2pn) - 1.6 nmol/L
- Serum 17-alphahydroxyprogesterone level - 0.6 nmol/L (below low reference limit - 1.2 - 3.7).

What are the implications of this?

The background story is that I started TRT several months back and six pumps of Tostran had me at 80 nmol/L (around 2300 ng/dl) so my dose was halved a month ago. Prior to it being halved several results were out of range and hemocrit was climbing towards top end of range.

My doc thought the high testosterone reading was likely due to bloods drawn near application site. I wasn't so sure as I apply on my shoulders and bloods were taken from inside of elbow and also because my estradiol was around 90 pg/ml (now at 27). However, I then remembered applying gel to my bicep areas a couple of days earlier so maybe that affected it as was close to the blood drawing site. Going from 2300 ng/dl to 600ish is a big drop from halving my dose.

 

[halfwit]

I'm curious why 17-alphahydroxyprogesterone was tested. Your doctor looking for adrenal problems? From what I understand, that specific hormone is tested for cortisol imbalances, not the same as progesterone itself.

Androstenedione is going to go up due to TRT, but not sure why that was tested either unless he's looking for adrenal problems again.

 

[BigStu81]

He did mention in my first appt that he was going to check my pituitary (I think it was that) although he said it's very unlikely.

I think my local NHS surgery who run my bloods and send to my private doc just repeated the initial test. Not sure if that could be the reason.

 

[BigStu81]

I thought a lot of hypogonadal guys also suffered cortisol issues, although I don't really know much about that. Just something I remember reading.

 

[halfwit]

He did mention in my first appt that he was going to check my pituitary (I think it was that) although he said it's very unlikely.

I think my local NHS surgery who run my bloods and send to my private doc just repeated the initial test. Not sure if that could be the reason.

Pituitary would be leutinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Pretty strange, but hopefully this gets your TRT back on track.

 

[daleb]

Lots of guys who are low T - specially secondary hypogonadism - have dysfunctional adrenals and thyroid. Not a bad idea to check things out. Saliva cortisol 4part is the gold standard for adrenal testing. Thyroid is TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, Reverse T3, TPO, Tgab - if a pit tumor is suspected then add in TSI(expensive, thats why its not always recommended). I think what happens is for whatever reason the pituitary downregulates and the adrenals attempt to pick up the slack, which they can only do for so long, eventually a person crashes, then dies.

 

[BigStu81]

Cheers man. I have complete trust in my private doc as he is one of the UK's leading hormone specialists and I'd read many glowing reviews from his TRT patients prior to seeing him. Will PM you his name but don't want to post it as he does frequent some forums, although probably mainly UK ones.