SHBG: who has successfully lowered their levels?

[DHM]

Feedback please from individuals that have lowered SHBG and what their protocol is/was.

I've searched and found: estrogen/AI medication, danazol, stinging nettle and milk thistle quoted, but I would like to see more applied examples to avoid unnecessary supplements and medication.

Thanks!

 

[Gene Devine]

SHBG is very difficult to manage serum levels.

One can increase their weekly Testosterone injections to lower SHBG.

For guys who have higher levels of SHBG one weekly injection will help lower SHBG serum levels where guys who have lower SHBG levels twice weekly injections will help increase SHBG.

SHBG is one of those hormones where it finds its own level.

It's not one to really worry about to be totally honest as long as Free and Bio Available Testosterone are in good healthy levels.

 

[DHM]

Thanks Gene.

My specific concern is that I have total test levels undulating between 380 and 600 coupled with failing free T with every draw.

With the Clomid stim test, I doubled FSH, LH, TT, FT as well as raising SHBG another 15 units to 55.

I suspect it's NAFLD, possibly low insulin, and that I am a preferential aromatizer.

Im on long term Clomid to start and trying the figure out how to reduce the negative attributes that come from the estrogen agonist configuration of clomiphene.

Ive vey seen the use of proviron suggested, never been on gear. Danazol and arimidex as well.

Please keep the feedback and experiences coming!

 

[Bass]

lowering SHBG is easy, simply supplement with vitamin D. with drugs anavar or winny, but I doubt any doc will prescribe it. so vitamin is the way to go, and you need to take allot, maybe 10,000-20,000 iu ED. raising SHBG is nearly impossible without drugs (not sure if there are any!) unless you lower T dose.

 

[Vettester Chris]

OP, would be curious where your SHBG is at? Also, as mentioned from Bass, vitamin D is 'crucial' with SHBG and management thereof. Just to cover the bases, run your metabolic, CBC's and lipids. It would be good to see your current numbers, and get an idea how the liver, kidneys and other areas look. This IMO would be essential before considering any oral treatment(s) to manage SHBG.

 

[txmx]

Bass, Chris, others, question on the Vit. D. All my numbers are ok except for Tot T (523) low Free T (8.4) due to high SHBG (55). I currently take 6,000 iu Vit D ED and my level is at 69. If I were to bump up to say 10,000 iu Vit D ED, would that significantly help lower SHBG? Will that cause any probs with blood level of Vit D getting too high (if I remember, I think limit is 100?). Thanks.

 

[DHM]

VC, always above 40. I hit the mid 50s on the 5 day stim. E2 has always been mid 20s. Already on 6000IU d3 plus D-boron. Kidney levels are fine, ALT has been high the last 4 draws (55-75) with no excercise. Glucose has been high normal.

 

[Vettester Chris]

DHM, yeah, the ALT might be an indicator that your liver is seeing some stress. Are you taking any medications or drinking a fair amount? Is your AST also elevated? Look at getting plenty of Omegas in your diet, keep an eye of the carbs, and possibly add some Nettle Root if your physician signs off on it. I would think some nettle root in conjunction with a little more vitamin D3 (maybe 10,000iu) 'might' help get your SHBG going the right way if your physician signs off on it.

 

[Vettester Chris]

You will also find hypothyroidism can be a factor in that department. Have you have a comprehensive thyroid panel taken?

 

[DHM]

No medication and no drinking, I've had normal ALT in the past, AST is in normal range.

I have another draw in about a month. Upping d3 and adding nettle, any suggestions for good nettle?

 

[txmx]

I have tried NOW brand Nettle Root and did not really see any response.

 

[Bass]

I have tried NOW brand Nettle Root and did not really see any response.

not sure if they have it but try LEF.org

 

[DHM]

Yup, this is what I'm afraid of. Verbal diarrhea of supplement use where the only change is a lighter wallet, who out there has seen a change with significant change with nettle?

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I agree with the first post that Bass posted above.

SHBG is hard to manage. Anabolic steroids, higher doses of Vitamin D, and danazol have been shown to decrease SHBG. Diabetes can also decrease SHBG.
https://www.excelmale.com/forum/sho...d-T-cream-or-gel-Cabergoline-and-Danazol-dose

 

[DHM]

Thanks Nelson.

I was told in the consultation danazol would shutdown the Axis. Opted out for now.

10k D3 is the current protocol, I'll report back in a month.

 

[sergey]

Thanks Nelson.

I was told in the consultation danazol would shutdown the Axis. Opted out for now.

10k D3 is the current protocol, I'll report back in a month.

DHT, did you get any results from high doses of Vitamin D or smth else?

 

[Joe Sixpack]

@DHT, I'm interested in your status. I have off the chart SHBG. 92 (Range 10-50)

 

[johnnyfit]

If you would like to know what off the charts is. When tested in February my total testosterone was 900 and change my free was 4.9. The culprit was high shbg in the 170's. After 6 weekly injections 4@ 160,1@200 and 1@180. My through was 1248 with free @ 10.4 or so and shbg was in the 130s. These numbers are from memory. Just started taking nettle sourced by a pharmacy. So we shall see what happens.

 

[txmx]

Any published studies on Vit D lowering SHBG? I have tried up to 10k units (Vit D level 69), now doing 4k units (Vit D level 58), SHBG is at 55-65. Anything published on how much lower SHBG would go at Vit D levels between 10k and 20k. Thanks.

 

[DHM]

Sorry I'm late to the party. Just had my first SHBG panel in about a year.

Update: Managing my TAT symptoms with 4mg of Anastrazol a week, 12.5g clomid every 10 days, and 75-150mg of armadofinil daily if needed.

Armadofinil keeps me normal, exactly how I want to feel but I grind my teeth like a coke addict. The AI keeps the bloat down for me. Not sure if the Clomid works, I've gone
Cold turkey and get a mean tension headache when I'm off SERMs for about 2 weeks.

My last panel measured 2.5 weeks without Clomid.

- E2sensitive was at the lower threshold (8.2)
- FT at 6.2 (Low flag labcorp)
- Total T at 490
- SHBG at 55
- LH flagged high as well(??)
- glucose 94

I'm going to explore two options moving forward. (1) Danazol prescription (2) Low dose daily Metformin.

I'm willing to try Danazol in order to lower the count and observe any differences. I realize I might crash the HPAX with it but I've been on Clomid going on 4 years with no significant difference in life quality.

I think I've been running a fairly high resting glucose. I'd like to lower that with metformin supplementation and observe any changes.