Is my SHBG considered "low" and how should I address my protocol going forward?

[joeaxa]

I've been reading this board forever and gaining a ton of valuable information, but it's my first post here - so I hope I'm posting in the right section.

I received some lab results the other day and I'm a bit confused.

Total T: 880
Free T: 21.2
Estradiol Ultrasensitive: 30
SHBG: 23

Everything else came back completely normal.

I am currently taking 70mg cyp twice a week and 400iu HCG twice a week as well, however, the week of the blood test I did not have any HCG (delivery issues from the pharmacy), so I am assuming these values are slightly higher normally.

Is my SHBG considered low at 23? It was much higher when I started, between 35-45. My estradiol does not seem to be out of control even with no AI, but I remember seeing that Dr Saya said that the lower your SHBG, the lower your E2 should be as well.

I feel my best the day of my shots, I wake up that morning and the next with libido and strong erections, and they sort of wane the next couple of days and I have a little ED. Otherwise I feel great.

I want to avoid an AI at all costs, even .125mg compounded arimidex makes me feel like death. Would my SHBG be low enough where I should try for more frequent injections?

 

[Vince]

I wouldn't consider it too low but injecting EOD definitely wouldn't hurt. I don't have low shbg but I do inject daily.

 

[joeaxa]

I wouldn't consider it too low but injecting EOD definitely wouldn't hurt. I don't have low shbg but I do inject daily.

Really appreciate the quick reply Vince. I have read some of your posts before as well as Coastwatcher's and see that you both benefit greatly from the daily injections.

I would have no issue with daily injections. Actually, I'd find it easier to make part of my routine than EOD. It's one of the options I've been considering. I was thinking of splitting up my 140 weekly total into 20mg daily, as well as 100iu HCG daily if I went that route.

Is this a good starting point, or should EOD be the first step?

 

[MarkM]

Welcome to the forum!

I also think that EOD would be a good option to try.

 

[joeaxa]

I also think that EOD would be a good option to try.

Thanks for the recommendation and the welcome! For EOD I was considering about 40mg EOD and 200iu HCG EOD, does this sound about right?

 

[MarkM]

I think 40 mg EOD would be good on the testosterone. I think I would leave the HCG 400 IU twice a week like you are doing but you change that as well if you wanted.

 

[joeaxa]

I think 40 mg EOD would be good on the testosterone. I think I would leave the HCG 400 IU twice a week like you are doing but you change that as well if you wanted.

Thanks it would just make things simpler for me to do everything at once.

 

[Vince]

Really appreciate the quick reply Vince. I have read some of your posts before as well as Coastwatcher's and see that you both benefit greatly from the daily injections.

I would have no issue with daily injections. Actually, I'd find it easier to make part of my routine than EOD. It's one of the options I've been considering. I was thinking of splitting up my 140 weekly total into 20mg daily, as well as 100iu HCG daily if I went that route.

Is this a good starting point, or should EOD be the first step?

I honestly think that 20 mg daily would be too high, I tried it and my numbers were crazy high. I finally settled on 16 mg of testosterone cypionate daily, I feel great and my numbers are great

 

[mooseman109]

Just started daily myself about 20 days ago, so too early to tell. I switched from 3 days a week. I am starting with low dose of 10 mg each morning. I dropped HCG and DHEA and strictly Test Cyp at this point.
I will post labs in a few weeks.

 

[joeaxa]

Just started daily myself about 20 days ago, so too early to tell. I switched from 3 days a week. I am starting with low dose of 10 mg each morning. I dropped HCG and DHEA and strictly Test Cyp at this point.
I will post labs in a few weeks.

What's your SHBG like and why did you switch protocols?

 

[joeaxa]

My shbg is generally right there as well. ED worked great. Went back to e3.5 days, and I think I’m gonna settle in at eod. Need longer to decide.

What did your daily and eod protocols look like?

 

[mooseman109]

What's your SHBG like and why did you switch protocols?

My SHBG runs 48 give or take. I switched to try to lower hct and E2