Hey guys, new here. I'm hoping to get a sanity check before I move any further into TRT.
I'm 53 and fighting classic low T symptoms the last 3-4 years. I've put a lot of effort into improving diet, cardio, and resistance training but not seeing changes in these symptoms. Seven years ago I was diagnosed with ED (which Silldenafil helps somewhat), but in the last 3 noticed a big shift in body composition from muscle to abdominal fat. Increased resistance/core training at that point but haven't seen results but has progressively gotten worse. I've also had other classic symptoms of lower libido and losing motivation in hobbies and socializing.
A few weeks ago I had a physical and blood work with my primary care doc who did a hormone panel. Even though my numbers were all in range, he is recommending TRT as an option based on an above average SHBG value (120mg/week test cypionate administered twice weekly).
He's seen this in other patients and it has helped. He also mentioned the LH/FSH are high which tells him the body is signalling it needs more T but is not producing.
Here are my labs (Labcorp):
Total T: 564 ng/dL
SHBG: 55.8 nmol/L
Free T (calc): 81.7 pg/mL
LH: 7.0 mIU/L
FSH: 10.8 mIU/L
Estradiol: 23.0 pg/mL
PSA: 0.3 ng/mL
Hematocrit: 40.2%
Based on this, a couple of questions:
I'm 53 and fighting classic low T symptoms the last 3-4 years. I've put a lot of effort into improving diet, cardio, and resistance training but not seeing changes in these symptoms. Seven years ago I was diagnosed with ED (which Silldenafil helps somewhat), but in the last 3 noticed a big shift in body composition from muscle to abdominal fat. Increased resistance/core training at that point but haven't seen results but has progressively gotten worse. I've also had other classic symptoms of lower libido and losing motivation in hobbies and socializing.
A few weeks ago I had a physical and blood work with my primary care doc who did a hormone panel. Even though my numbers were all in range, he is recommending TRT as an option based on an above average SHBG value (120mg/week test cypionate administered twice weekly).
He's seen this in other patients and it has helped. He also mentioned the LH/FSH are high which tells him the body is signalling it needs more T but is not producing.
Here are my labs (Labcorp):
Total T: 564 ng/dL
SHBG: 55.8 nmol/L
Free T (calc): 81.7 pg/mL
LH: 7.0 mIU/L
FSH: 10.8 mIU/L
Estradiol: 23.0 pg/mL
PSA: 0.3 ng/mL
Hematocrit: 40.2%
Based on this, a couple of questions:
- Does this course of treatment make sense for me with his notion of high SHBG?
- Would it be wise to get a second opinion?
- Would a 3 month trial allow me to determine if this is working and would it also be reversible if not?
