Understanding Free T measurement (and few other questions)

tyr_1 said:

Gents,

I couldn't find the answer to this and it left me confused. My most recent bloodwork showed a free T of 94.2 pg/ml. Everything I could find researching this indicates excellent pg/ml levels are 20-25. Obviously, looking at the reference ranges, my lab is using a different type of testing to arrive at those reference ranges. Can anyone explain this and if I need to do a conversion somehow?
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535 and 735 total t numbers pose no means for trt unless your free t was low and you need to have your blood drawn between 8-10am(or earlier if lab is open) as this is when a males testosterone levels peak early in the morning due to the natural circadian rhythm and if you have blood drawn in the late afternoon/evening testosterone levels can be 30% lower and food (simple carbs) can alter free t numbers. Anyone with total t numbers 450+ with a healthy free t should not require trt if anything symptoms may be related to thyroid/adrenal issues or lifestyle factors excess cortisol (stress/lack sleep/poor diet/over training). Do not ever get the impression that high/normal physiological levels of testosterone are required for a male to function as many men feel good overall at mid/normal test levels. If you study the literature most males usually start experiencing low t symptoms sub 500.
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Also, a little bit about my situation. 40 year old male, extensive physical training background. Never used any trt, steroids or anything else besides few OTC supplements. Showed total test of 535 in may and doc, who is pretty good integrative guy but not super aggressive, suggested 50mg of DHEA a day as my levels were 235 mcg/ml. I went on that and the retest last week raised DHEA to 485. I was under the understanding that DHEA will do little for test levels in men but mine went up almost 200 points as you can see in the labs below with a little corresponding estradiol increase too (think last test was 26).

Generally feel good, carry large muscle mass but strength gains much slower and recovery not what it used to be. Otherwise, cruising along decent. I would say next year I will have to almost certainly start trt as I will be moving to the position of night shift supervisor in a law enforcement agency but I'm not really sure what to do right now. Going back to doc for his opinion but like I said, he is less than aggressive with testosterone although he is not opposed to it.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

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