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Please help me understand where I am off base. I happen to be a clinician, so while my understanding may not be optimal, I've looked at enough labs (both my own and others) to see patterns.

The estradiol listed above is the (inaccurate) Roche ECLIA method that Life Extension uses. I have followed up with "sensitive assays" (LabCorp and Quest), and they all show numbers below 10. Tendonitis and muscle pain are some of the symptoms of low estradiol -- not to go off on a tangent, but here's a good introduction to this subject:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076017301590

I have gotten into this problem by using DIM, aromatase inhibitors, and lately -- androsterone. It lowers my already low estradiol, causing the aforementioned issues.

So let's make this conversation useful, if possible, and guide each other. I'm not holding onto any dogma here. I just haven't found anyone that understands these pathways very well and is able to navigate this problem. Yes, I get it: using TRT is going to overcome the high SHBG and resolve the problems of functionally low T. It's low hanging fruit. As I have mentioned above, I want to explore other options before making that leap.

If none are available, simply state so. I'm open to ideas one way or the other.

<blockquote data-quote="Castaneda" data-source="post: 130479" data-attributes="member: 36807">Please help me understand where I am off base. I happen to be a clinician, so while my understanding may not be optimal, I&#039;ve looked at enough labs (both my own and others) to see patterns.The estradiol listed above is the (inaccurate) Roche ECLIA method that Life Extension uses. I have followed up with &quot;sensitive assays&quot; (LabCorp and Quest), and they all show numbers below 10. Tendonitis and muscle pain are some of the symptoms of low estradiol -- not to go off on a tangent, but here&#039;s a good introduction to this subject:<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076017301590" target="_blank">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076017301590</a>I have gotten into this problem by using DIM, aromatase inhibitors, and lately -- androsterone. It lowers my already low estradiol, causing the aforementioned issues.So let&#039;s make this conversation useful, if possible, and guide each other. I&#039;m not holding onto any dogma here. I just haven&#039;t found anyone that understands these pathways very well and is able to navigate this problem. Yes, I get it: using TRT is going to overcome the high SHBG and resolve the problems of functionally low T. It&#039;s low hanging fruit. As I have mentioned above, I want to explore other options before making that leap. If none are available, simply state so. I&#039;m open to ideas one way or the other.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Castaneda, post: 130479, member: 36807"] Please help me understand where I am off base. I happen to be a clinician, so while my understanding may not be optimal, I've looked at enough labs (both my own and others) to see patterns. The estradiol listed above is the (inaccurate) Roche ECLIA method that Life Extension uses. I have followed up with "sensitive assays" (LabCorp and Quest), and they all show numbers below 10. Tendonitis and muscle pain are some of the symptoms of low estradiol -- not to go off on a tangent, but here's a good introduction to this subject: [URL]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076017301590[/URL] I have gotten into this problem by using DIM, aromatase inhibitors, and lately -- androsterone. It lowers my already low estradiol, causing the aforementioned issues. So let's make this conversation useful, if possible, and guide each other. I'm not holding onto any dogma here. I just haven't found anyone that understands these pathways very well and is able to navigate this problem. Yes, I get it: using TRT is going to overcome the high SHBG and resolve the problems of functionally low T. It's low hanging fruit. As I have mentioned above, I want to explore other options before making that leap. If none are available, simply state so. I'm open to ideas one way or the other. [/QUOTE]

Verification

TRT Hormone Predictor Widget

Understanding Your Hormones

Estradiol (E2)

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.

DHT

Dihydrotestosterone is a potent androgen derived from testosterone. Affects hair growth, prostate health, and masculinization effects.

Free Testosterone

The biologically active form of testosterone not bound to proteins. Directly available for cellular uptake and biological effects.

Scientific Reference

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