New Labs After DHEA and Pregnenolone Cream

[Vince Carter]

Unexplainably high Sens Estradiol and low DHEA and Pregnenolone suggest that I'm not absorbing the TD cream, and/or it's aromatizing. I see the lab didn't run "DHEA-Sulfate", but a different DHEA test this time, it's low nonetheless. Will discuss with Dr Saya a switch to a micronized capsule.

Protocol:
50mg TCyp EOD
250iu HCG e3.5d
no Anastrozole (i have o/h .15mg capsules)
25mg Test cream daily to the scrotum (for DHT)

T:E Ratio of 16.5

Complaints: libido/ED, back acne, some irritability/low tolerance for BS

I use a modified form of the NO Stack (no HGW or Pine Bark). I find I need 10-20mg Tadalafil for a reliable erection.

Other areas of concern:
Hypoprolactinemia (low Prolactin)
--Previous test was 5.3 (2-18ng/dL)
--Have never used Cabergoline

Hematocrit: 49.4
Hemoglobin: 15.2
RBC 6.16
(will donate blood in about three weeks)

Progesterone 0.8 <1.4ng/mL
Prolactin 4.7 (2.0-18.0 ng/mL)
TSH 1.64
PSA 0.6
SHBG 12
Estradiol Ultra/LC/MS/MS 60
TT 990 (51hrs post injection)
FT 332.9 (35-155 pg/mL)
DHEA LC/MS/MS 197 (61-1636) (cream applied 2.5hrs prior to test)
DHT LC/MS/MS 73 (16-79)
Pregnenolone <5 (13-208 ng/dL) (cream applied 2.5hrs prior to test)

 

[ERO]

Interesting...FWIW I know some guys (and docs) swear by the DHEA creams and say the capsules/pills are not absorbed but I have had the opposite effect. I have taken inexpensive DHEA capsules or pills and easily got my DHEA-S to the upper part of the normal range with no issues or side effects. Maybe I am the odd man out where that works just for me and a few others...

 

[Vince]

I wonder if we need to supplement with dhea? I do use dhea 25mg a day, but I do wonder if it causes more problems then good. I had my blood draw for my labs yesterday, I will post them when available. For some reason, I do not have any problem feeling good on TRT, so for I'm very happy with my progress.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Vince Carter

Can you remind us what you transdermal cream has?

 

[Vince Carter]

It's from Defy/APS, it's a 100mg/100mg DHEA/Pregnenolone, I use two "clicks" of that once per day in the AM, so 50mg each DHEA/Preg

 

[ERO]

That is a good point. I use it to counteract my cortisol spiking at night instead of the morning when it is supposed to. I take a DHEA capsule with dinner and then I sleep great instead of waking at 3:00am. But if you already feel great without it, that would seem to be a strong case for not messing around with it at all. I know that healthy DHEA levels are important, but some folks seem to have a good level without supplementing.

 

[Vince Carter]

That is a good point. I use it to counteract my cortisol spiking at night instead of the morning when it is supposed to. I take a DHEA capsule with dinner and then I sleep great instead of waking at 3:00am. But if you already feel great without it, that would seem to be a strong case for not messing around with it at all. I know that healthy DHEA levels are important, but some folks seem to have a good level without supplementing.

I don't have a good level of DHEA/Preg even with supplementing and I can't/didn't say I feel good without it. I still have "issues" in my TRT regimen, this may be one, an inneffective delivery method for those 2 hormones.

 

[DxHypo]

I raised my DHEA from 95 to the low 200s by taking 2 x 10mg Pure encapsulations over about 3 months. However it did raise my estradiol sensitive by 4 points too so I quit taking it. PSA moved up from 1 to 1.1 too. So the capsules do work if you can tolerate those issues. I was scared by the estradiol more than anything.

 

[Vince Carter]

I *think* based on testing that I did best, had the best test #s for DHEA alone, when using a Micronized capsule sublingual.

 

[Vince]

I raised my DHEA from 95 to the low 200s by taking 2 x 10mg Pure encapsulations over about 3 months. However it did raise my estradiol sensitive by 4 points too so I quit taking it. PSA moved up from 1 to 1.1 too. So the capsules do work if you can tolerate those issues. I was scared by the estradiol more than anything.

When you raised your dhea did it have any effect on how you were feeling?

 

[DxHypo]

When you raised your dhea did it have any effect on how you were feeling?

I had a sense of more calmness and well being than normal at first but that seemed to fade over time. Possibly related to estradiol rising I guess.

 

[Vince Carter]

Stopped using the DHEA/Preg cream today, will consult with Dr Saya on the 31st.