Need advise on lowering my Test dose

madman · Oct 24, 2026

Gianluca said:
if I would look at my cFT-V of 18.9 ng/dl on the Framingham scale, it would look like I don't have that much room to lower my Test dose if I want to stay in the upper 3rd of the ref range.

As I state in my reply (post #6) the go to reference range for the official online calculator is 6.5-25 ng/dL.

Post in thread 'Feedback on test results on TRT: Patient on TRT, Thyroid Rx, and Adrenal Support'

Oct 24, 2026

alsi33 said:
I have been on TRT since August 5, 2026. I take 150 mg (0.75 ml) of Testosterone 20% Gel in am. I am looking for some feedback regarding my test results and if I should address Iron deficiency based on low Ferritin which went down significantly on TRT. I have a TRT doctor’s consult next week to discuss.

Just to give you a complete picture, I have SAI, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism, all diagnosed by doctors. I am 53 yo, weight is 215, height 180 cm (5.9 foot). My normal weight was 160 lb but I have gained a lot since starting HC for SAI 15 years ago.

Below are my test results...

Gianluca · Oct 24, 2026

madman said:
As I state in my reply (post #6) the go to reference range for the official online calculator is 6.5-25 ng/dL.

View attachment 58728

Post in thread 'Feedback on test results on TRT: Patient on TRT, Thyroid Rx, and Adrenal Support'

Oct 24, 2026

alsi33 said:

I have been on TRT since August 5, 2026. I take 150 mg (0.75 ml) of Testosterone 20% Gel in am. I am looking for some feedback regarding my test results and if I should address Iron deficiency based on low Ferritin which went down significantly on TRT. I have a TRT doctor’s consult next week to discuss.

Just to give you a complete picture, I have SAI, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism, all diagnosed by doctors. I am 53 yo, weight is 215, height 180 cm (5.9 foot). My normal weight was 160 lb but I have gained a lot since starting HC for SAI 15 years ago.

Below are my test results...

Click to expand...

madman

this means that my cFT-V of 18.9ng/dl is even lower in range compared with the Labcorp ED at 24.8ng/dl ( 5.2 - 280) with the cFT-V result at 67% of the range vs 86% in the Labcorp scale. With ED being more accurate, actually cFT-V underestimated my FT by about 20%, at least this is the way I see it.

I read the thread you attached. I'm assuming every time you mention a range for FT you are using the cFT-V? what would you recommend then as a healthy FT range target for men on daily injectable since peak and trough is basically close to 0 with ester like CYP or EN?

madman · Oct 25, 2026

Gianluca said:
this means that my cFT-V of 18.9ng/dl is even lower in range compared with the Labcorp ED at 24.8ng/dl ( 5.2 - 280) with the cFT-V result at 67% of the range vs 86% in the Labcorp scale. With ED being more accurate, actually cFT-V underestimated my FT by about 20%, at least this is the way I see it.

I read the thread you attached. I'm assuming every time you mention a range for FT you are using the cFT-V? what would you recommend then as a healthy FT range target for men on daily injectable since peak and trough is basically close to 0 with ester like CYP or EN?

Forget getting caught up on trying to compare ED vs cFTV.

Again cFTV was never validated against Labcorp’s ED assay (device/procedure) or any of the commercial labs ED assays.

As I already stated previously ED devices/procedures let alone reference ranges used by different labs are not all the same as there is no standardization (ED assay/procedure) or harmonized reference range for free testosterone as of now.

The reference ranges used by each lab only apply to that specific assay method (ED device/procedure).

Even when using the different labs for calculating FT using any of the linear binding model equations (Vermeulen, Sodergard, Mazer).

For the time being we need to wait on harmonized FT reference ranges based on a standardized FT ED assay (device/procedure).

Similar to what was done for Total Testosterone.

* Assays that are standardized are designed to provide accurate results, traceable to “true” value-assigned certified reference materials and gold-standard reference methods. Results obtained using standardized methods can be compared across assays, institutions, populations, and past and future test results, thereby improving diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of patients

* Limitations of using free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis and calculated free testosterone concentrations in practice are the lack of assay standardization, an accuracy-based quality control program, and a harmonized reference range. Until these limitations are addressed, free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis and calculated free testosterone should use reference ranges established by individual laboratories or their specific assay method

* However, several methodological criticisms of cFT deserve explicit consideration. Because cFT is mathematically derived from total T and SHBG, it is inherently subject to mathematical coupling and propagates any analytical error in its input measurements. Additionally, residual interlaboratory variation in total T and SHBG, together with the use of different formulas, can still lead to between-center differences in cFT values. These challenges do not invalidate the concept of free T but instead highlight that the path forward should involve further harmonizing different SHBG assays, transparent reporting of the cFT calculation method applied, refining specific cFT algorithms (e.g., Vermeulen), and establishing reference intervals traceable to ED-based mFT [42,43,45].

* There is a need to enhance the measurement of free T, as cFT values are only approximations. There is also a pressing requirement to reassess current freeT calculators to improve their accuracy and alignment with direct measurement methods. Moreover, additional research is necessary to optimize existing commercially available assays for SHBG, as well as studying SHBG-binding affinity in specific patient groups (e.g. obesity and diabetic individuals) to accurately reflect the true binding environment. Standardizing and validating cFT calculators is also crucial to establish harmonized reference ranges and achieve consensus on cutoff values between low and normal cFT levels. Promising recent developments include the establishment of age-stratified reference ranges for free T in healthy nonobese adult men using the gold standard equilibrium dialysis coupled to LC-MS/MS, showing the expected age-related decline in serum-free T concentrations [26,27]. These efforts represent a significant step towards improving the accuracy of free T measurements and calculations in clinical practice.

If you prefer to use/rely on the calculated method (next best) then you would need to use the linear law-of-mass-action cFTV which will give a good approximation keeping in mind that it tends to overestimate slightly.

Key words here being approximation/tends.

Even then to avoid any confusion as the reference ranges for the calculated methods varies between laboratories you should be using the official online calculator for cFTV which uses a reference range 6.5-25 ng/dL.

Free & Bioavailable Testosterone calculator

Again the majority of men on T-therapy will easily do well with a trough FT 15-25 ng/dL.

Point that needs to be stressed here is once you get your trough FT high enough you are not going to see a big improvement in symptoms going from a high trough 25--->30 ng/dL.

T is a threshold hormone.

Many men are overmedicated on T especially from the get go.

Caught up on that more T is better nonsense being pushed by all those half-wits polluting those so called men's health/HRT forums. and you can throw in all that nonsense being spewed on goo tube by those so called GURUs!

What trough FT you choose to run comes down to the individual and where they need to be in order to experience relief/improvement of symptoms and overall well-being while at the same time minimizing any potential sides (cosmetic/blood markers) and keeping blood markers healthy long-term.

Always need to keep injection frequency in mind as there is going to be a big difference between peak--->trough injecting daily vs twice-weekly vs once weekly.

Big difference between one hitting a high trough FT 25 ng/dL injecting daily vs twice-weekly vs. once weekly.

THE BODY WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE AMPED UP ON T 24/7!

Thread 'Largest dataset of mFT levels to date: male reference ranges spanning a wide age range, using a gold standard Equilibrium Dialysis LC-MS/MS method'

Mar 14, 2026

Sit and dwell on that!

Think of all those overmedicated men on T-therapy gassed up on FT well beyond their natty genetic set-point and unfortunately many off them off the hop!

You can blame all those run of the mill T clinics, kiddie forums loaded with all those numbskulls, throw those blast n cruisers in there too and put the icing on the cake the cesspool of so called gurus polluting gootube!

Gotta love all those kiddie forums loaded with the brainwashed sheep still pushing that more T is better mentality dishing out piss poor advice!

So much misinformation littered on the net its...

Gianluca · Tuesday at 6:57 PM

@FunkOdyssey @madman what do you guys recommend for my HCG protocol in lite of T dose reduction? I was thinking after a couple of weeks or so after reducing my daily Test dose if I feel that bad to perhaps going to 250IU 2-3 per week or even EOD, or just live the HCG untouched before the 6 weeks T levels check?

My understanding is that Test levels increase from HCG does not increase Hemoglobin as much as exogenous T, perhaps it can boost a bit my FT.

I have been doing 125IU daily, and I see the difference when not doing it.

After 4 weeks with no HCG my TT decrease a little, 620 to 534, unfortunately the 2nd TT was not a LC/MS like the first one, however, I felt the drop.
No FT to report after 4 weeks off HCG. I also saw my Hemoglobin dropping from 18 down to 17.6, which I'm sure it increased again since resuming HCG.

This amount of HCG I believe do not cause me side effects I can notice. Once or twice I injected accidentally 250IU and I thought it felt good and slept better for a couple of days.

FunkOdyssey · Tuesday at 8:28 PM

Gianluca said:
@FunkOdyssey @madman what do you guys recommend for my HCG protocol in lite of T dose reduction? I was thinking after a couple of weeks or so after reducing my daily Test dose if I feel that bad to perhaps going to 250IU 2-3 per week or even EOD, or just live the HCG untouched before the 6 weeks T levels check?

If you compensate for the reduced dose of testosterone with increased hCG and prevent any reduction in serum levels of testosterone, I can't imagine you will make any progress with your hematocrit. In order to reduce hematocrit by reducing your serum testosterone, you have to actually allow the level of T to drop.

I would just leave the hCG alone for now.