New Test Results just came in

[beagle187]

If you've seen my other posts, you will know my history. So I quit testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) back in Nov 2012. Been off for 6 months.
Just got my blood test back, here are levels:

Testosterone, Serum - 134
Free Testosterone - 4.7
SHBG - 11.7
Estradiol - 11.1

Not sure what this means. Can you help?

 

[halfwit]

Damn, it means you must be feeling like crap. What were your LH/FSH numbers? FYI: 134ng/dL total test is *barely* more testosterone than what a pubertal female makes.

 

[beagle187]

Not sure what LH/FSH is. I didn't ask for that to be tested.

You think 134 is bad? 2 years ago when I first started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), my level was 24ng/dL.
Endo doc ordered CAT scan of pituitary gland, etc....
Finally put me on 100mg/wk shot. But never tested levels.
Then I started having ED problems in the bedroom. So I would have to stop testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for a week or so to fix that issue. Finally about 6 months ago, i stopped completely because of the ED problems and I seemed to be getting man boobs. LOL

 

[halfwit]

Not sure what LH/FSH is. I didn't ask for that to be tested.

You think 134 is bad? 2 years ago when I first started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), my level was 24ng/dL.
Endo doc ordered CAT scan of pituitary gland, etc....
Finally put me on 100mg/wk shot. But never tested levels.
Then I started having ED problems in the bedroom. So I would have to stop testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for a week or so to fix that issue. Finally about 6 months ago, i stopped completely because of the ED problems and I seemed to be getting man boobs. LOL

beagle187, I STRONGLY suggest you start reading as much as you can regarding male hormone replacement and seek a new doctor/contact IMT here as you are flirting with disaster having hormone levels those low. 24ng/dL is LIFE-THREATENING and I'm truly surprised that your doctors didn't take the time to explain to you how this entire process works...okay, I'm not really surprised as most testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) docs today are glorified diabetes specialists that think they can approach male hormones in the same fashion - which they cannot.

LH/FSH are hormones made by your pituitary gland that act as signals to your testes to start the creation of testosterone and other vital hormones as well as the genesis of sperm cells. It's IRRESPONSIBLE of your doctor to place you on testosterone shots and not monitor your blood levels as it is VITAL (as you've seen first hand) to dial in the appropriate levels of testosterone to estrogen ratio. Stopping testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is not an option in your case as you can see you have started to come back down to levels that I have personally been at and remember as being comparable to living hell.

ED can be caused by either a high E2 (estradiol) level or a low one. I think you had a very high level of E2 while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), causing issues for you - followed by low levels that you're seeing now combined with a lack of testosterone. 134 is VERY low and you would likely feel MUCH better at 500-900ng/dL, provided you maintain control over the amount of E2 your body wants to make as it tries to seek homeostasis. This is where an aromatase inhibitor (AI) comes into play and seems to be necessary in your case.

 

[ws2006]

Not sure what this means. Can you help?

It means you probably should not have stopped TRT!

 

[ws2006]

I periodically think "Wouldn't it be nice if I could stop TRT" and then think about a T level like I had when I started and remember why I started. I agree with finding a new doc and trying again to get dialed in. Good luck whichever way you go!

 

[Jaxxin]

If you've seen my other posts, you will know my history. So I quit testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) back in Nov 2012. Been off for 6 months.
Just got my blood test back, here are levels:

Testosterone, Serum - 134
Free Testosterone - 4.7
SHBG - 11.7
Estradiol - 11.1

Not sure what this means. Can you help?

It means you made the wrong decision.

 

[beagle187]

Right now my family doc has put me on axiron until July, that's when I go to the endocrinologist. So I will get another test done right before I see him. At least it's better than nothing. Lol

 

[Megatron28]

Watch the estradiol on that stuff. It has a strong tendency to convert (aromatize) into estrogen. More so than injections. Get your estradiol checked after you have been on it for a month.

I am glad to hear that you are doing something to raise your T levels. You were dangerously low.

 

[Daniel_IMT_Staff]

Comprehensive labs, those values show you that you have low t and low e. Why? Nobody can tell you that based on those labs