Low testosterone

[RandyD]

Hello everyone, looking for some advice/input..

I’m 30 years old, law enforcement the last 5 years. I’ve been going to the gym for 15 years and have been in great shape for the most part, until the last year to two. I have minimal motivation, low libido, always tired and fatigued, mood swings, depressed etc. I’m slowly getting more out of shape, although I did have shoulder surgery a few months ago so my workouts obviously aren’t the same.

I had some blood work done but according to the doctor everything is “normal”. My levels concern me as I’ve heard they’re low for my age.

Testosterone, total - 301ng/dL
Sex hormone binding Globulin - 20nmol/L
Testosterone, free - 55.1pg/mL
Testosterone, bioavaoalble - 115.7ng/dL
Albumin - 4.6g/dL

Please advise your thoughts and opinion... should I see a specialist or go to a numale type clinic?

Thank you!

 

[Systemlord]

You're definitely hypogonadal and should spend time figuring out why before you look to TRT. Also you should have your thyroid check out, low function thyroids would lower your SHBG which yours is low. A lot of doctors fall short of ordering enough tests, a full thyroid panel is probably a good idea. There's a lot of guys out there who come to these forums complaining of low T symptoms and go on TRT and receive little to no benefit because they also have underactive thyroids that were never even looked at or doctor only ran TSH which is just the signaling hormone and not the actually thyroid hormones. A lot of guys start getting symptoms in the 400 range so it's no surprise you're here. With your low SHBG you're going to need injections twice a week or even better every other day (EOD) since you'll be excreting most of your T in your urine.

 

[FeelingLost]

Hi RandyD,
For a 30 year old that is too low. Get a full blood test to try and figure out of you are primary or secondary hypogonadal.
There are other things to try before you go straight to weekly shots of T.
The discountlabs.com on this site is a great place to get info and the proper blood tests.

 

[Vince]

At age 30 you're too young for TRT, try to find the cause for your low T, like others have said. Also any meds that you may be on that's causing your low levels.

 

[RandyD]

Thank you all for the advice and information. I will be getting further blood tests before going any further or considering anything else !

 

[Vince]

Kind of a broad statement. Either you can recover to normal T levels or can't. Not sure how an adult can be too young. I was 33. Wish I would have started at 21. Tooo me that long to figure it out unfortunately.

To the OP. Most good advice has been covered. As a heads up you have almost no chance of licking into a doctor that even has a clue. Read up and maybe get a referral on here. Save yourself some headaches.

When you're young, you may someday wish to start a family. I do know some men with low T and avoid starting TRT, because they're still working on having more children. It can be hard to get your sweetie pregnant when you're on TRT. So I always say, when you're young try everything possible before TRT. "just my two cents"