First labs 11 weeks into TRT. Should I be concerned?

[WharfRat]

I searched the posts and didn’t quite find the thing that satisfied, so apologies for risking a useless post (my first one, at that). Of course I plan to talk through with provider, but I can’t stop myself from wanting to get balls deep in research.

Took my first labs since starting TRT. Labs were drawn about 11 weeks since beginning a course of 120 Cyprionate split into two subq shots per week. Labs were taken at trough in the morning.

Prior to beginning, I was at

• 369 total,
• 6.9 free,
• SHBG 39.5,
• estradiol 9.4,
• IGF 1

These latest labs (attached) seem nuts for the amount I’m taking?

• >1500 total
• 35.7 free,
• Estradiol 24.9
• DHT 92

My blood pressure is on the high side of normal but unchanged from before therapy. The attached shows negligible movement in hematocrit (I think?). How do I feel? Fine. Felt super great for a bit, last few weeks not as super great but still better than before TRT by miles.

Is this super abnormal for the dose I’m on, and should I be concerned? I guess, all other things being equal, why not have more, if my other health markers are fine and I feel fine? But is this super excessive and risky? Would love any thoughts from folks smarter than me. I still struggle with how these numbers interact.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Phil Goodman]

I maybe used imprecise language I. The original post - I’m certainly not considering increasing!

Would love to know if you know of a clinic that operates with NC folks who I can trust to know all the shit above and direct my treatment accordingly! Thanks for all the info!

Good to hear you aren’t considering increasing.


As far as providers, I’ve been with Defy medical for over 4 years and have been happy with the care and treatment. The first year may be a little pricey due to requiring more bloodwork. But I’ve been dialed in on my protocol of HCG and trt (between 100-120/week) for years so they only require bloodwork once a year now and an annual consultation. Good price on medications and supplies… and are willing to call in prescriptions for HCG if you want it which is great. Again, I’ve been happy with them.

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Prior to beginning, I was at

• 369 total,
• 6.9 free,
• SHBG 39.5,
• estradiol 9.4,
• IGF 1

These latest labs (attached) seem nuts for the amount I’m taking?

• >1500 total
• 35.7 free,
• Estradiol 24.9
• DHT 92

I would try dropping to 100 mg personally with these labs, and retest with better quality tests next time. My main concern with a larger reduction is dropping too low with your E2 into the symptomatic zone. You might think about hCG in the future to bring up your E2 and improve your T/E2 ratio, which is currently very high (looks like an AI user). That move would probably be paired with a further dose reduction.

Make sure you're doing LC-MS for testosterone, ultra sensitive e2, and you need to see SHBG as well. Then, keep those tests and the lab you're using consistent so you're comparing apples to apples in the future.

 

[WharfRat]

I would try dropping to 100 mg personally with these labs, and retest with better quality tests next time. My main concern with a larger reduction is dropping too low with your E2 into the symptomatic zone. You might think about hCG in the future to bring up your E2 and improve your T/E2 ratio, which is currently very high (looks like an AI user).

Make sure you're doing LC-MS for testosterone, ultra sensitive e2, and you need to see SHBG as well. Then, keep those tests and the lab you're using consistent so you're comparing apples to apples in the future.

Thanks for the advice. I refuse to take the AI my clinic prescribed me, so that’s not in play. I ordered it “just in case” and because they were strong on having it on-hand, but from my reading and reasoning it seems crazy to add that in when adjusting to TRT.

I was kind of scratching my head when I realized SHBG was not in the tests they ordered, and now that I’m being educated on the types of T tests, I’ll be watchful for that in the future as well.

 

[madman]

I maybe used imprecise language I. The original post - I’m certainly not considering increasing!

Would love to know if you know of a clinic that operates with NC folks who I can trust to know all the shit above and direct my treatment accordingly! Thanks for all the info!

I would go with a urologist and avoid a majority of the T-clinics as they tend to overmedicate men from the get-go, throw in an AI to boot and more importantly are clueless when it comes to testing the most critical fraction free testosterone.

Yes there are some reputable clinics that many use but even then some of them are still clueless when it comes to testing FT.

If you are going to look into Defy pay out of pocket to test your free testosterone as they are still out to lunch!

If you are interested in a urologist Dr. Luke Machen from Greensboro Men's Health Clinic in North Carolina.

He is a member of the AUA (American Urological Association).

He specializes in testosterone therapy, male sexual health, and infertility.

Dr. Luke Machen | Men’s Health & Urology Specialist, Greensboro, NC

Dr Luke Machen is a men's health specialist with Alliance Urology Specialists in Greensboro, NC. Call to schedule your consultation today.

greensboromenshealth.com

Thread 'Largest dataset of mFT levels to date: male reference ranges spanning a wide age range, using a gold standard ED LC-MS/MS method'

Mar 14, 2026

Sit and dwell on that!

Think of all those overmedicated men on T-therapy gassed up on FT well beyond their natty genetic set-point and unfortunately many off them off the hop!

You can blame all those run of the mill T clinics, kiddie forums loaded with all those numbskulls, throw those blast n cruisers in there too and put the icing on the cake the cesspool of so called gurus polluting gootube!

Gotta love all those kiddie forums loaded with the brainwashed sheep still pushing that more T is better mentality dishing out piss poor advice!

So much misinformation littered on the net its...

• madman

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Post in thread 'Impact of TRT and Supraphysiological Testosterone Doses on Biological Aging'

Oct 8, 2025

I personally just go by the range labcorp and quest uses. I personally feel best with a free T higher than average. At least 40 on Labcorp’s range, and at least 400 on quest’s range. Which might seem really high to some, but that’s just where I’ve found that I feel best. And there’s a famous TRT doc that all of us have come across at some point. I’m blanking on his name, but I know throughout all the patients he’s treated, he said on average his patients do best with a free T between 40-60. Which is Labcorp’s range. It would be roughly 400-600 using quest’s range

STILL...

• madman

Post in thread 'How do you know when to take an AI.'

Nov 26, 2025

Little update - went back to the original endocrinologist today. He reviewed my lab work from the last year and gave me some options. Basically he said I could come off testosterone for a while and let my receptors cleanse themselves. I asked about Kyzatrex and he said he has seen good success with it, just as good if not better than injections, but I needed to be prepared for a price increase over injections.
He told me to skip this weeks dose of test cypionate to down regulate a bit and then start Kyzatrex next week whenever it came in the mail.
Kyzatrex for 12 weeks and then...

• madman

•