Low T, Low E2, High SHBG=high prolactin?

Hey guys,

I’ve had a lot of success in the past with my TRT protocol due to your advice on this forum, but I am coming to you all again in dire help. I’ve got several different things going on with my latest bloodwork. I have attached below. To reference I will also include prior bloodwork form oct 2017.

current protocol
Test Cyp 50mg eod (200mg/wk)
hcg 250 iu e3d ( has been on back order for two months have not been able to take it)
arimidex .25mg approximately once per month when symptoms arise

OCT2017 bloods
Total T 934 (264-916)
free T 37 (5-21)
DHT 93 (<85)
E2 sensitive 23.5
SHBG 21

In the the past month and a half I have been experiencing some unfortunate symptoms. Severe bloating, weight gain, low sex drive, muscle loss, decrease in mood, erection quality and spontaneous erections. Due to these symptoms I took my arimidex .25mg followed by two weeks later another .25mg. Now my symptoms of sex drive and erectile dysfunction have increased severely. Obviously thinking I tanked E2 right? So I got bloodwork done. But there are other alarming things with my bloowork. Total T has decreased, free T has plummeted, SHGB has increased, E2 crashed, DHT lowered.

I understand my E2 is very low and would produce these negative symptoms. I will let my E2 rise as I have dealt with low E2 before but this time it feels different and the bloodwork shows this. My SHBG has increased resulting in lowered T and extremely low free T but why? Could it be from my EOD injections? Or could high prolactin levels be the culprit? I have not had my prolactin checked but I’ve ordered the test prior to writing this. I have taken cabergoline before to combat high prolactin from nandrolone.

I am lost on what to do in this situation.

Thank you

There's such a drastic and unnaccounted for change in the labs that my only suggestion is to get retested, stay on your protocol but retest to verify. Your protocol was unchanged from Oct 17 to now?

Vince Carter said:

There's such a drastic and unnaccounted for change in the labs that my only suggestion is to get retested, stay on your protocol but retest to verify. Your protocol was unchanged from Oct 17 to now?

Click to expand...

And...you tested at the same time? Apples to apples?.

Quick update: my prolactin levels came back at 4.2 (4-15 reference range)

Tests were done at trough and equally.

My plan of action is to switch back to E3D injections at 100mg E3D for a total of 200/wk in hopes to raise my total T, Free T, E2 and lower SHBG. I know there is a lot of conflicting info on bigger doses at once and the effect on SHBG. Thoughts?

I will note I am starting to slowly feel better. Libido has been spotty. One day it’s good. The next it’s gone. Nocturnal erections also very spotty

so basically after you increased arimidex your symptoms got worse?
these are quite low T numbers for 200mg a week... your shbg went up like 2 times for some reason usually doctors deal with high shbg by bringing total T high but in your case you are already using 200mg weekly + hcg I would worry about hematocrit and possible high e2 on dose above 200mg

its normal to feel bad and have different symptoms if you crash e2 and I think you were already lowish because as you increased your AI some of your symptoms got worse. make sure you let your e2 raise to normal and not take any AI until it stabilizes

Yes, my symptoms definitely got worse after taking AI and tanking E2. I get that part. I won’t be taking an AI.

BUT...what I don’t understand is why my T levels have lowered and SHBG has doubled.

I’m going to stick with my total weekly dose of 200mg but try E3D injections to increase T and lower SHBG

I wouldn't be too concerned about your shbg. Maybe you're too concerned about numbers, go by how you feel.

My free T is a 10 on a 9-26.5 reference range and I feel the effects of that. I have negative symptoms which is why I pulled bloodwork. My numbers are off and that confirms my symptoms. Which is why the concern with numbers. The concern with SHBG is so I can increase my free T. I have always been a low SHBG guy in the low 20’s until now

Hello all,

I wanted to give an update on my situation. It’s been 4 weeks since I’ve switched from EOD to E3D injections. I got bloodwork done in hopes of seeing some improvement in numbers from the previous bloodwork. I will compare both below.

4/26/18 bloodwork
Total T 586 (264-914)
Free T 10.6 (9.3-26.5)
DHT 65 (30-85)
E2 sensitive 9.9 (8-35)
SHBG 46 (16.5-55.9)
Prolactin 4.7 (4-15)

6/6/18 Bloodwork
Total T 1228 (264-914)
Free T 25.9 (9.3-26.5)
DHT 105 (30-85)
E2 sensitive 13.3 (8-35)
SHBG 35.6 (16.5-55.9)
Prolactin 9.3 (4-15)

These tests were both done fasted and at trough. My protocol was EOD cyp injections totaling 200/wk as well as HCG 500iu/ wk. I had a number of negative symptoms so I got bloods done and you see the result. Switched to E3D injections still at 200/wk and 500iu/wk. all in all I feel better than I did. Libido increasing, erections better, not as lethargic however I do still get bouts of it, less foggy.

I would like to see my E2 continue to increase to about the 20ish mark as well as my SHBG continue to lower. If those numbers can get in the sweet spot I believe I’ll be feeling 100%.

As always, thanks for the input and advice.

DRay said:

Hello all,

I wanted to give an update on my situation. It’s been 4 weeks since I’ve switched from EOD to E3D injections. I got bloodwork done in hopes of seeing some improvement in numbers from the previous bloodwork. I will compare both below.

4/26/18 bloodwork
Total T 586 (264-914)
Free T 10.6 (9.3-26.5)
DHT 65 (30-85)
E2 sensitive 9.9 (8-35)
SHBG 46 (16.5-55.9)
Prolactin 4.7 (4-15)

6/6/18 Bloodwork
Total T 1228 (264-914)
Free T 25.9 (9.3-26.5)
DHT 105 (30-85)
E2 sensitive 13.3 (8-35)
SHBG 35.6 (16.5-55.9)
Prolactin 9.3 (4-15)

These tests were both done fasted and at trough. My protocol was EOD cyp injections totaling 200/wk as well as HCG 500iu/ wk. I had a number of negative symptoms so I got bloods done and you see the result. Switched to E3D injections still at 200/wk and 500iu/wk. all in all I feel better than I did. Libido increasing, erections better, not as lethargic however I do still get bouts of it, less foggy.

I would like to see my E2 continue to increase to about the 20ish mark as well as my SHBG continue to lower. If those numbers can get in the sweet spot I believe I’ll be feeling 100%.

As always, thanks for the input and advice.

Click to expand...

Your shbg is good where it is mid-range.....no need to have it lower and you should have waited 6 weeks to retest bloods after protocol change.