Aging and Testosterone dose

[MOMAN]

How common is it to have to adjust testosterone dose as you age? I've been on TRT for around 12-13 years. I've always used 100mg a week and my total testosterone has run around mid 900's. My E2 has been around mid to lower 40's and I've not been using anastrozole. My last 2 blood draws have shown me with total testosterone around mid 600's and my E2 in the lower 50's. I haven't gained weight or changed my diet or training routine. Is this something that is common as a man ages? My doctor wants me to start anastrozole at 1 tablet per week.

 

[Melody68]

How common is it to have to adjust testosterone dose as you age? I've been on TRT for around 12-13 years. I've always used 100mg a week and my total testosterone has run around mid 900's. My E2 has been around mid to lower 40's and I've not been using anastrozole. My last 2 blood draws have shown me with total testosterone around mid 600's and my E2 in the lower 50's. I haven't gained weight or changed my diet or training routine. Is this something that is common as a man ages? My doctor wants me to start anastrozole at 1 tablet per week.

Excellent question! I'm not sure of the answer but I'm sure somebody will come along that does. In the mean time you should include your age - you could be anywhere from 32 to 82 years old . . .

 

[Cataceous]

How common is it to have to adjust testosterone dose as you age? I've been on TRT for around 12-13 years. I've always used 100mg a week and my total testosterone has run around mid 900's. My E2 has been around mid to lower 40's and I've not been using anastrozole. My last 2 blood draws have shown me with total testosterone around mid 600's and my E2 in the lower 50's. I haven't gained weight or changed my diet or training routine. Is this something that is common as a man ages? My doctor wants me to start anastrozole at 1 tablet per week.

If one is looking to maintain free testosterone at a particular level then it's typical to need dose reductions over time. This is because the metabolic clearance rate of testosterone tends to decrease with age, which in turn increases free testosterone, as mentioned here.

It's harder to explain a drop in free testosterone at the same dose. However, total testosterone can decrease if SHBG drops. But in this situation total estradiol is also expected to drop. Estradiol can increase if body fat increases, which possibly would happen without gaining weight—but this seems like a stretch. Many other factors go into aromatase expression, so variations in estradiol are not always readily explained.

Any changes with respect to injection sites or the character of the receiving tissue? A change in the rate of absorption could potentially contribute to the variations you're seeing.

In any case, if you don't have an accurate value for free testosterone then obtain one or at least estimate it by measuring SHBG along with total testosterone. If free testosterone is actually decreasing then your top-of-range HCT should also be retreating.

 

[Vince]

How common is it to have to adjust testosterone dose as you age? I've been on TRT for around 12-13 years. I've always used 100mg a week and my total testosterone has run around mid 900's. My E2 has been around mid to lower 40's and I've not been using anastrozole. My last 2 blood draws have shown me with total testosterone around mid 600's and my E2 in the lower 50's. I haven't gained weight or changed my diet or training routine. Is this something that is common as a man ages? My doctor wants me to start anastrozole at 1 tablet per week.

Also, the vials do vary in strength. If you wish to increase your dose I definitely would. I'm not a fan of AI, I've never used one. I would try to avoid it.