Vince Carter
Banned
Same. I've done it all with HCG from 100iu daily to 500iu EOD and it's all a waste as far as I'm concerned.
What was your HCT before? Have you been donating blood?From 16 to 12mg quite a difference in my FT and TT and E has come down a little bit more:
E LC/MS/MS = 14
Estradiol, Free = .44 (<=0.45)
Estradiol 20 (<=29)
TT 590
FT 160.7 (46-224)
SHBG 14
DHT 46 (16-79)
Body acne has calmed down, a lot, so has the being hot in bed overnight/sweats, libido and interest is still very good, still requires PDE5i, I think sensitivity has improved a little bit. All around sexual function minor to negligible improvements. HCT is 53 but should have been higher so I think it's starting to come down or at least slow down.
Currently using 10mg/D as an experiment but given my FT I think 13-14mg/D is where I need to be.
I haven't donated in about 10 weeks. By my history my HCT would have been higher right now than 53, RBC and HGB all were high on this set of labs. Would take more time at these reduced dosages to see that start to move down or slow down.
Ive been using 10mg/D since that set of blood was drawn and it's been ~12 days and I think Ive done better on ~14mg/D so I returned to that this morning.
Noticed too that I'm getting differing Free T lab ranges though it's all thru Quest Diagnostics, one range is 155, and another is 224. The 224 is an LC/MS/MS test.
From 16 to 12mg quite a difference in my FT and TT and E has come down a little bit more:
E LC/MS/MS = 14
Estradiol, Free = .44 (<=0.45)
Estradiol 20 (<=29)
TT 590
FT 160.7 (46-224)
SHBG 14
DHT 46 (16-79)
Body acne has calmed down, a lot, so has the being hot in bed overnight/sweats, libido and interest is still very good, still requires PDE5i, I think sensitivity has improved a little bit. All around sexual function minor to negligible improvements. HCT is 53 but should have been higher so I think it's starting to come down or at least slow down.
Currently using 10mg/D as an experiment but given my FT I think 13-14mg/D is where I need to be.
E LC/MS/MS = 14
Estradiol, Free = .44 (<=0.45)
Estradiol 20 (<=29)
TT 590
FT 160.7 (46-224)
SHBG 14
DHT 46 (16-79)
bumping this some of you need to read through it before dispensing E advice to the low SHBG guys that are showing up...great learning opportunity for you. Of note read thru and look that "estradiol, Free" labs I've posted and understand that part of the equation...low SHBG=Free T= Free Estrogen.
Vince:
Just found this thread and was in awe. We could be brothers! I have identical issues. But my SHBG is even lower than yours which means my Free E is killing me. I cannot make it without AI. I tried lowering dosage (EOD) .125 and feel terrible. My sweet spot for AI is .25 ED - I know, a normal SHBG guy doesn’t understand, but us low guys are polar opposite from the normal strata.
My SHBG is 8 : Range 10-50 (Quest Test)
Any updates you could share?
Predict estradiol, DHT, and free testosterone levels based on total testosterone
This tool provides predictions based on statistical models and should NOT replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your TRT protocol.
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A form of estrogen produced from testosterone. Important for bone health, mood, and libido. Too high can cause side effects; too low can affect well-being.
Dihydrotestosterone is a potent androgen derived from testosterone. Affects hair growth, prostate health, and masculinization effects.
The biologically active form of testosterone not bound to proteins. Directly available for cellular uptake and biological effects.
Lakshman KM, Kaplan B, Travison TG, Basaria S, Knapp PE, Singh AB, LaValley MP, Mazer NA, Bhasin S. The effects of injected testosterone dose and age on the conversion of testosterone to estradiol and dihydrotestosterone in young and older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Aug;95(8):3955-64.
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-0102 | PMID: 20534765 | PMCID: PMC2913038