Total testosterone of 290 at 21 years old. Options?

[TungstenMan]

Story: Back in 2013 I had a blood test done which showed total testosterone at a level of 410 and because I was 19 at the time I trusted the doctor when he said it was normal. In January 2015 I had another blood test which showed a level of 422. I was looking up testosterone levels on the internet and realized a level of 422 is low for a 21 year old male so I wanted to get another test to make sure. Just a few days ago I tested at a level of 290 on a third test. I've never done AAS.

Feels: To be honest my libido kind of sucks and it’s sucked since high school. I can still force myself to get a hard on that does get very hard but I’m unable to get one without stimulation. Also if I don’t force myself to get a hard on I won’t have one period (for weeks at a time). My morning wood isn’t great either because it’s more like a semi hard on at 50% and it’s been that way for years. I still find women very pretty but I don’t really have any sexual thoughts. During the day I feel tired and fatigued while at night I have trouble falling asleep as well as waking up too early. I still get around 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night but feel tired in the morning.

Concerns: I’m just wondering what my options are at this point. I’ve read a number of threads in this subforum and I realize just how difficult it can be to get a prescription for testosterone injections. My level is also above the bottom end of the reference range which is 250. My other concern is when I go see the doctor he will want to do another blood test and if that blood test shows up higher than 300 he might say I’m “normal” which is completely wrong for a 21 year old. Or he might even say a level of 290 is normal because it’s above 250….. I’m also wondering if I find a doctor who will treat it if he’ll just prescribe the gel so I get my level into the 400s again. Since I have a low level and it needs to be treated I’d rather have my level be at the upper limits of normal with injections.

Anyways sorry this was so long but I’m just wondering what exactly are my options and what is your advice?

 

[PrinceDianabol]

I understand where your coming from, having had similar levels at the same age. Your not wrong in saying that it's going to be difficult to get a doctor to treat you - especially at your age. There is just too much ignorance in the medical field atm.

That being said, your getting way ahead of yourself. You should not be looking at TRT yet. That's a long way off, and should only turned to as a last resort. What you really should be doing first of all is looking into your lifestyle patterns. When I got my blood drawn I did everything I could to make sure it was the best value my body could possibly produce. This means:

*Being in a caloric surplus for at least two weeks (high carbs are essential)
*Ensuring good quality sleep at least 8hours a night for two weeks
*Very healthy diet, 6 cups of veggies a day, varied protein, plenty carb, predominatly polyunsaturated fats and 10-15g of saturated animal fats (assists with fat soluble vitamins which help test production.)
*Regular excercise 4-5 times per week

Do all that before having your next blood drawn. Then get it drawn as early in the morning as you can. That's important. You will also want LH (luetinizing hormone,) FSH (follice stimulating hormone,) Total testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol and prolactin.

THEN, you can look into which kind of restart you should attempt - if you need one. Once you've exhausted all your restart options including a proper restart and monotherapies, then, and only THEN should you consider TRT. It's a lifetime commitment and a decision you can never go back on. If you really need it it will be a god send, but I assure you it's 100% better to avoid it if you possibly can.

Good luck, feel free to ask as many questions & learn as much as you can.. and when you get your bloodwork done, post it up here for more advice.

Prince

 

[TungstenMan]

Thank you very much for your reply. All three tests were on a caloric surplus, I had good sleep, I only eat complex carbs, mean and vegetables then I get exercise from the gym and walking. I forgot to include LH which was at 1.0 on a range of 1.5 to 9.3, FSH which is 2.3 on a 1.6 to 8.0 scale, prolactin is at 3.9 on a 2.0 to 18.0 scale and the test for estrogen hasn***8217;t come back yet but from a previous test it was under 15 pg/mL with the reference range being < OR = 39 pg/mL. I realize the LH is low but I am not sure what***8217;s causing it. My LH in the January test was 2.5 with a 422 testosterone level.

 

[PrinceDianabol]

Thank you very much for your reply. All three tests were on a caloric surplus, I had good sleep, I only eat complex carbs, mean and vegetables then I get exercise from the gym and walking. I forgot to include LH which was at 1.0 on a range of 1.5 to 9.3, FSH which is 2.3 on a 1.6 to 8.0 scale, prolactin is at 3.9 on a 2.0 to 18.0 scale and the test for estrogen hasn***8217;t come back yet but from a previous test it was under 15 pg/mL with the reference range being < OR = 39 pg/mL. I realize the LH is low but I am not sure what***8217;s causing it. My LH in the January test was 2.5 with a 422 testosterone level.

Okay, I'll take your word for it. LH is really low. You might be lucky in benefiting from a SERM therapy.

Try Clomid (clomiphene) at 25mg daily for three months. Wait six full weeks after your last dose of clomid and get the same blood test (lh, fsh, TT, free T, e2, etc.) Your brain isn't telling your testes to produce much testosterone & the clomid will stimulate it into action. Whether or not it stays stimulated after you come off... we will have to wait and see. Most people see a decent increase, and given how low your LH is I'd say you have a good chance.

Your not taking any other medications atm? Or whenever the blood was drawn? Have you ever cycled steroids before?

 

[TungstenMan]

Not taking any medications, it was drawn at 11:30 am and I haven't done AAS yet. I will ask the doctor about the clomid once I go see him in a few weeks. I'm fine with the idea of pining myself and I really just want to feel how I'm supposed to feel I guess. Ive gotten more into weight lifting over the past year and I read an article about testosterone levels by chance and I checked my old blood tests and I saw they were 400 which is half what they should be. Then I got it tested because I was concerned and it came back at the 290. I just want a higher level.

 

[PrinceDianabol]

Not taking any medications, it was drawn at 11:30 am and I haven't done AAS yet. I will ask the doctor about the clomid once I go see him in a few weeks. I'm fine with the idea of pining myself and I really just want to feel how I'm supposed to feel I guess. Ive gotten more into weight lifting over the past year and I read an article about testosterone levels by chance and I checked my old blood tests and I saw they were 400 which is half what they should be. Then I got it tested because I was concerned and it came back at the 290. I just want a higher level.

11.30am is way too late. You should get it drawn around 7 or 8am - preferably within an hour or two of when you usually wake up. Test levels can decline by 40% over the day. It's entirely possible your testosterone levels are in fact fine, and there is another reason for your symptoms. I'm not saying this is correct, but it's definitely possible, and is exactly why you need unbiased blood work before considering self treating. You could end up doing more harm than good.

Get your blood drawn again and post up, let's go from there..

 

[TungstenMan]

Ok, I will get it drawn earlier and see.