My SHBG came back below range
- Thread starter tlow2013
- Start date
halfwit
I like turtles.
I personally enjoy a lower SHBG as it means you'll have more free testosterone doing its thing, but some theorize that too low of an SHBG may present difficulties in actually benefiting from TRT. If you feel good, I wouldn't worry about it too much. How's your estradiol? Being over aggressive with an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) can drive down that SHBG as well as your E2, which can make you feel less than stellar.
IMT staff
Official Sponsor
If it is too low it can make you feel shitty. It is good to have an optimal free roaming t number but too low can cause your testosterone to be ineffective.
We now know that not only does SHBG preserve testosterone in the blood for later use but it also effects the androgen receptor response to androgen stimulation.
When SHBG gets too low, it could be a sign of insulin resistance. Down around 10 is too low.
We now know that not only does SHBG preserve testosterone in the blood for later use but it also effects the androgen receptor response to androgen stimulation.
When SHBG gets too low, it could be a sign of insulin resistance. Down around 10 is too low.
Megatron28
Moderator
What is your e2 at? 69 or 30 or somewhere else?
halfwit
I like turtles.
So a high E2, but low SHBG? That's a new one to me; they usually as far as I've seen go hand in hand. Ex: 69 HIGH (Range: 20-30pg/mL)?
too low = no fun
I have genetically low SHBG, and testosterone is basically ineffective for me. I don't have insulin resistance, and my E2 stays low without an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), but I don't feel awesome on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) like guys with normal SHBG. I feel basically like I did before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), except I get a bit more energy now and that's about it. I wish I had better news on that, believe me...
I have genetically low SHBG, and testosterone is basically ineffective for me. I don't have insulin resistance, and my E2 stays low without an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), but I don't feel awesome on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) like guys with normal SHBG. I feel basically like I did before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), except I get a bit more energy now and that's about it. I wish I had better news on that, believe me...
Megatron28
Moderator
I found a study on Pubmed (can't find the link to it now) that your thyroid affects your SHBG. If I remember right, a faster thyroid lowers your SHBG and a slower thyroid increases your SHBG. I very easily could have that backwards though. It was a while back that I looked at it. I posted it in the Anabolic forum if you really want to search for it. But maybe you could try modulating your thyroid to increase your SHBG.
Megatron28
Moderator
Is there such a thing as Free E2?
SilverBackGorilla
I like bananas
I am led to believe that a low SHBG causes the test not to bind allowing higher free T. The same thing with E2, nothing to bind to so It's higher and needs more controlling. My doc says his SHBG is 5. He says the lower, the better FWIW.
halfwit
I like turtles.
Gah, you know I remember this being asked a couple months ago and it had an unusual answer. At the risk of being extremely wrong, I'll just state that I do know they both bind to SHBG, but E2 is exponentially less bound than testosterone. I also know that as a negative feedback measure, SHBG is increased if estrogen is allowed to remain elevated for an extended period of time. Other than that, I can't remember the exact names or conventions by which estradiol is free/bound as it pertains to blood work.
That is correct, but as newtohrt above has demonstrated, too low of an SHBG can also cause problems. IMT does a really good job explaining that too.
tlow2013
New member
My E2 was 69 last time I tested the range went up to 30. Could insulin resistance be missed in typical bloodwork? my free T was at 27.5 last time tested which isn't really that high from what I understand. Before I started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) I had super high triglycerides which was brought down with 6 months on Fenofybrate....not sure where that level stands since I got off the medication, I drank soda constantly before all of this, I've since cut way back on sugar and drink only artificially sweetened drinks and try to cut as much sugar out of my diet as possible....guess next step is more bloodwork I see my endo on Friday.
tlow2013
New member
I've also been doing some research on it and correct me if I'm wrong but I have found some information telling me that SHBG is synthesized partially in the testicles, if I'm not on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) and my testicles are shutting down could that be a reason for a lower level?
Megatron28
Moderator
Are you going to do anything to lower your E2? Might be a good idea to get an Aromatase Inhibitor prescribed. Arimidex and Aromasin are good ones,
tlow2013
New member
I am hoping to, my Endo seems kinda naive with the whole estrogen thing, my urologist seems to be on board with my thought that the E2 is causing the shitty feeling but at the same time I'm hoping that lowering my E2 wont lower my SHBG I wish I had a number where it was at but I didn't get it, he just told me it was slightly below range!
tlow2013
New member
Endo will not give me an anti-estrogen, thinking about taking DIM to see if that helps. He is going to switch me Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for a month or two to try to figure out if it's my balls or my brain causing the low t since my primary care doctor that started me on all of this is an idiot and didn't do all the proper bloodwork before I started. If the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) gets my levels up that tells him it's something in my brain causing the low t, if I crash hard it's going to be my nuts that are the issue. He thinks my SHBG is a little low (13) because exogenous testosterone can actually make it go down....my free T and DHT are all in good range. Some ranges I found for SHBG say 10 is the bottom of the range and some say 20.....for some reason the lab didn't send a reference range with my SHBG results. When I do go back on the Testosterone, I think he is onboard with me doing SubQ 3x a week even though he has never heard of it. Who knows maybe I'll feel better on the HCG, I've heard of that happening before! He is having me do 2000IU 3x a week.....is that a lot or a little? I've never researched the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) thing. He is also, just to be cautious, testing me for insulin resistance.
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Mprtz
New member
That's a good sized dose for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and there may be some that don't need an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) on this amount but I think the odds are heavily against it.
tlow2013
New member
That's why I'm guessing if I start doing smaller SubQ injections it may bring my E2 down more, as it stands now I feel not so horrible about 36 to 40 hours after my 100mg injection
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