Latest Blood Work, Your Thoughts?

[XJL]

53 years old, on TRT for the past 15 years and feel fantastic! I have labs every year or sooner. Prescribed 100 mg Test Cyp., no AI and using weekly subq. injections. If I raise my T even by .25 mg, my DHT, E2 and SHBG rise significantly, so Iv'e been resigned to maintain the course. DHT has been on the high side the past 3 years.

Testosterone, Total (range 250-827 ng/dl) 888
Testosterone, Free (range 46-224 pg/ml) 91.9
Testosterone, Bioavailable (range 110-575 ng/dl) 177
SHBG (range 10-50 nmol) 51
E2 (range 21-30) 34
PSA (range 4.0 or <) 0.5
DHT (range 16-79 ng/dl) 111

Is there anything OTC that is effective in reducing DHT? Is it even a concern? My hair is already gone....

 

[Systemlord]

Blocking a natural hormone such as DHT is a bad idea, are we treating symptoms or a lab number?

I would gladly shave my head before blocking a natural hormone, if you are considering finasteride or propecia stay clear of that poison. Post Finasteride Syndrome can cause serious irreversible side effects.

The Post-Finasteride Syndrome is a serious state of permanent sexual, mental, and physical side effects which do not resolve after quitting the drug, most often accompanied by an acquired form of secondary hypogonadism and post-drug loss of androgenic action, which remains highly resistant to hormonal treatments aimed at restoring Testosterone/DHT’s effects in the male body to pre-drug virility levels. It is also surmised by the few specialists in the medical field that a type of receptor or “brain damage” has occurred. As often seen with such damage, recovery is very slow or now questioned whether possible at all. Needless to say, men suffering from PFS are plagued with any physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that have led to long term depression, marital problems and divorce, and now several reports cases of suicide.

 

[madman]

53 years old, on TRT for the past 15 years and feel fantastic! I have labs every year or sooner. Prescribed 100 mg Test Cyp., no AI and using weekly subq. injections. If I raise my T even by .25 mg, my DHT, E2 and SHBG rise significantly, so Iv'e been resigned to maintain the course. DHT has been on the high side the past 3 years.

Testosterone, Total (range 250-827 ng/dl) 888
Testosterone, Free (range 46-224 pg/ml) 91.9
Testosterone, Bioavailable (range 110-575 ng/dl) 177
SHBG (range 10-50 nmol) 51
E2 (range 21-30) 34
PSA (range 4.0 or <) 0.5
DHT (range 16-79 ng/dl) 111

Is there anything OTC that is effective in reducing DHT? Is it even a concern? My hair is already gone....

Seeing as your SHBG is high it is surprising you feel so well with such a low FT as your levels are under the mid range and if you take your TT/SHBG and use the Free & Bioavailable Testosterone calculator your FT is only 1.79% and your BT is 41.9%.

Most men need to have their FT levels in the 2-3% range of TT.

You feel great overall and that is what matters!

As far as worrying about your DHT levels I would just leave it be as excess levels are not necessarily problematic.

Testosterone's metabolites estradiol and DHT (dihydrotestosterone) are important and needed as they play a role regarding the beneficial effects of testosterone on mood/libido/erectile function/immune system/bone health.


https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/38/3/220/3788611

Something one needs to understand regarding DHT as stated in the first paragraph:

Key Conclusions and Recommendations For Future Clinical Research

We are reminded of Horton’s admonition some 25 years ago when he concluded that blood levels of DHT provide only a hint of tissue levels and that DHT should be regarded as a paracrine hormone formed and acting primarily within target tissues (39).

 

[XJL]

Blocking a natural hormone such as DHT is a bad idea, are we treating symptoms or a lab number?

I would gladly shave my head before blocking a natural hormone, if you are considering finasteride or propecia stay clear of that poison. Post Finasteride Syndrome can cause serious irreversible side effects.

No symptoms at all just concerned about the high DHT blood level. I totally agree about finasteride and propecia! Thanks for the information Systemlord.

 

[XJL]

Seeing as your SHBG is high it is surprising you feel so well with such a low FT as your levels are under the mid range and if you take your TT/SHBG and use the Free & Bioavailable Testosterone calculator your FT is only 1.79% and your BT is 41.9%.

Most men need to have their FT levels in the 2-3% range of TT.

You feel great overall and that is what matters!

As far as worrying about your DHT levels I would just leave it be as excess levels are not necessarily problematic.

Testosterone's metabolites estradiol and DHT (dihydrotestosterone) are important and needed as they play a role regarding the beneficial effects of testosterone on mood/libido/erectile function/immune system/bone health.


https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/38/3/220/3788611

Agree on the somewhat low FT level but each time I've raised T, E and SHBG go too high so I'm out of options.

 

[Systemlord]

No symptoms at all just concerned about the high DHT blood level. I totally agree about finasteride and propecia! Thanks for the information Systemlord.

You're welcome

Forgot to add serum DHT could be higher than the DHT levels in your tissues, similar to how serum magnesium can be appear normal while cell magnesium is depleted.

 

[Gman86]

Are those your labs at trough right before your weekly injection?

 

[XJL]

Are those your labs at trough right before your weekly injection?

Yes

 

[Gman86]

That’s what I figured. Just wondering because we have about the same SHBG, so I think I’m gonna try getting my E2 down to around where yours is, which is probably between 40-50 during the rest of the week. Is that the standard E2 test you had done or the sensitive E2 test?

As far as your original question, I wouldn’t be concerned about your DHT level where it’s at. I also run on the high end, and mine was 121 on my last labs. From what I’ve read, and what most doctors say is that these DHT numbers as high as ours should be of no concern. Your PSA is a little higher than most, but not high enough to be concerned with I don’t think. I would just research all the ways to get PSA down naturally. But I wouldn’t be worried about the high DHT, and I ABSOLUTELY would NEVER take anything to lower it.

 

[MarkM]

............ Your PSA is a little higher than most, but not high enough to be concerned with I don’t think. I would just research all the ways to get PSA down naturally. But I wouldn’t be worried about the high DHT, and I ABSOLUTELY would NEVER take anything to lower it.

Do you really think his PSA of 0.5 is higher than most for a 53 year old?

 

[XJL]

That’s what I figured. Just wondering because we have about the same SHBG, so I think I’m gonna try getting my E2 down to around where yours is, which is probably between 40-50 during the rest of the week. Is that the standard E2 test you had done or the sensitive E2 test?

It's the E2 sensitive.

As far as your original question, I wouldn’t be concerned about your DHT level where it’s at. I also run on the high end, and mine was 121 on my last labs. From what I’ve read, and what most doctors say is that these DHT numbers as high as ours should be of no concern. Your PSA is a little higher than most, but not high enough to be concerned with I don’t think. I would just research all the ways to get PSA down naturally. But I wouldn’t be worried about the high DHT, and I ABSOLUTELY would NEVER take anything to lower it.

The PSA came in at 0.5, the range is 4.0 or <). So 0.5 is really low and has been at that level for over 10 years.

 

[Vince]

The PSA came in at 0.5, the range is 4.0 or <). So 0.5 is really low and has been at that level for over 10 years.

I agree your PSA is at a very good level. There are many benefits to DHT good for building muscles and good-for-your libido. I wouldn't lower your dose of testosterone especially since you're feeling so good.

 

[Vince Carter]

The PSA of 0.5 was misread by GMan that's all.

 

[MarkM]

I agree your PSA is at a very good level. There are many benefits to DHT good for building muscles and good-for-your libido. I wouldn't lower your dose of testosterone especially since you're feeling so good.

I agree that the PSA at 0.5 is really good. My PSA bounces around between 0.8 and 1.3 and docs have never been concerned about it with blood work or digital exam.

My DHT is over range sitting at 92 and I am not concerned about it either. The potential side effects of trying to block it aren't worth the risk to me.

 

[Gman86]

Omg sorry, it was late at night before I went to sleep and I totally misread your DHT level. Ya 0.5 is basically perfect. Nothing to worry about obviously. Mine always comes back at 0.2-0.3.

 

[XJL]

Thank you so much everyone for the solid information. This is such an outstanding community and forum. You guys are the best!!

 

[Gman86]

I agree that the PSA at 0.5 is really good. My PSA bounces around between 0.8 and 1.3 and docs have never been concerned about it with blood work or digital exam.

My DHT is over range sitting at 92 and I am not concerned about it either. The potential side effects of trying to block it aren't worth the risk to me.

Exactly. Blocking DHT is just not an option, in my opinion. Just not worth the negatives that can go with the medications used to block it. I would only ever lower my DHT by lowering my dosages on testosterone and HCG.