management of E2 and Ferritin

Shanem

New Member
Due to recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and low ferritin level, I need to get off anastrozole and blood donations. I had been doing IM test 60 mg /3.5 days. Dropped it to 50 mg and still needed anastrozole and blood donations. I am thinking of trying SQ and maybe 25 mg / 2 days.
Thoughts?
 
I think it would be useful to have your lab results to get a sense of what dose reductions would work for you. In particular, what's total testosterone at these doses—are these trough values?—and what is your SHBG? What is estradiol like without the anastrozole?

Chances are you have a lot of leeway to lower your dose. For one thing, your new proposed dose is still averaging 8.8 mg of testosterone per day, which is at the high end of natural production. 6-7 mg is typical for healthy young men. For another thing, testosterone metabolism slows with age. I'm about your age and I use the equivalent of 44 mg T cypionate per week, half of what you're proposing.

In any case, if you can get some reasonable estimates of your free testosterone as a function of dose then you can predict what will happen when you reduce your intake. It's possible that some of your symptoms are partly driven by peak hormone levels, in which case injecting more frequently and injecting subcutaneously can each help to smooth out serum levels, reducing peaks and raising troughs.

If you're unable to reduce your dose enough to resolve the side effects without giving up some benefits then you could be a candidate to use an ester blend, which typically includes testosterone propionate. A blend like this is injected daily and lets one tune the amount of variation in serum levels. It's partly why I can use such a low dose and still achieve daily peak testosterone of about 700 ng/dL.
 

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TRT Hormone Predictor Widget

TRT Hormone Predictor

Predict estradiol, DHT, and free testosterone levels based on total testosterone

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This tool provides predictions based on statistical models and should NOT replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your TRT protocol.

ℹ️ Input Parameters

Normal range: 300-1000 ng/dL

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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

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