Testosterone levels keep dropping

[HealthMan]

I have been using the same protocol for a while and my testosterone levels keep dropping but my RBC, Hemoglobin and hematocrit going up (i used to donate blood every 2-3 months but stopped to see if hematocrit would stabilize - i wasnt expecting raising lvls with testosterone dropping)
I am using 56mg testosterone cypionate every 3.5D, HCG 500 IU 3x a week and 0.25mg anastrozole E4D. Blood drawn at the same day and around same time (on the day of T-shot but BEFORE the shot).

Any idea why testosterone keeps dropping? And can a tiny change in testosterone dosage (from 60mg to 54mg E3.5D) be responsible for such a difference in testosterone levels in the labs below?

Lab Results:
May/19/17

RBC 6 (range 4.14-5.8)
Hemoglobin 17.8 (range 12.6-17.7)
Hematocrit 52.4 (range 37.5-51)
Total Testosterone 770 (range 348-1197)
Free testosterone 21.8 (range 8.7-25.1)
SHBG 26.2 (range 16.5-55.9)
Estradiol sensitive 17.5 (range 8-35)

Jan/18/17

RBC 5.64 (range 4.14-5.8)
Hemoglobin 16.6 (range 12.6-17.7)
Hematocrit 49.4 (range 37.5-51)
Total Testosterone 892 (range 348-1197)
Free testosterone 30.3 (range 8.7-25.1)
SHBG 21.7 (range 16.5-55.9)
Estradiol sensitive 18.4 (range 8-35)

Dec/19/16 (cypionate dosage here was 60mg E3.5D and anastrozole 0.25mg three time a week)

RBC 5.89 (range 4.14-5.8)
Hemoglobin 17.2 (range 12.6-17.7)
Hematocrit 51.7 (range 37.5-51)
Total Testosterone 1298 (range 348-1197)
Free testosterone 36.1 (range 8.7-25.1)
SHBG 36.5 (range 16.5-55.9)
Estradiol sensitive 11.3 (range 8-35)

 

[HealthMan]

Forgot to mention on january 2017 i started metformin 500mg twice a day. I heard metformin can reduce testosterone levels (but i dont know of same applies for someone on TRT)

 

[Vince]

That's strange that would change so much, do you feel that your estradiol levels are too low.

 

[HealthMan]

Yes. Estradio has been a challenge to get it right. And i had gynecomastia because of that so playing safe. But have been reducing dosage from 3 a week to E3D to E4D. I am wondering if metformin is the culprit of lowering T-levels or it is my body metabolizing testosterone quicker. But that doesnt seem to make sense too because i started metforming on jan/14/17 and had blood work done jan/18/17 so only 4 days

 

[Vince Carter]

Just to cover the bases and a dose change aside, if you're not pulling labs very consistently from one-time to the next you'll get varied results, obviously. For instance I only pull labs between 8 and 830 and +/- 1 hour difference from my last injection. If one set of labs is 4hours off from the last set, it's enough to skew a result. And ayour 1298 is obviously not a trough number, that's my point here....you're testing times and strategy are questionable.

 

[HealthMan]

Just to cover the bases and a dose change aside, if you're not pulling labs very consistently from one-time to the next you'll get varied results, obviously. For instance I only pull labs between 8 and 830 and +/- 1 hour difference from my last injection. If one set of labs is 4hours off from the last set, it's enough to skew a result. And ayour 1298 is obviously not a trough number, that's my point here....you're testing times and strategy are questionable.

Hi Vince. I am testing evey Tuesday morning (from 7-8am every single time). I inject testosterone tuesday night and Saturday morning. hCG i take M W F night. So i have been very consistent im regards to blood drawing timing. The 1298 result my dosage was a bit high (60mg 2x week vs 56mg 2x week). So that i can guarantee you i am doing right. Injection time varies a bit because sometimes i get home later because of my job. But usually within 2 hours.

 

[Vince Carter]

It's something and 6mg is almost a neglible amount, 1298 could have been a lab error...same lab for each of those three tests?

 

[Vince]

Yes. Estradio has been a challenge to get it right. And i had gynecomastia because of that so playing safe. But have been reducing dosage from 3 a week to E3D to E4D. I am wondering if metformin is the culprit of lowering T-levels or it is my body metabolizing testosterone quicker. But that doesnt seem to make sense too because i started metforming on jan/14/17 and had blood work done jan/18/17 so only 4 days

Are you using Tamoxifen for your gynecomastia.

 

[HealthMan]

It's something and 6mg is almost a neglible amount, 1298 could have been a lab error...same lab for each of those three tests?

All done at labcorp. Prior result to the 1298 reading was 1331 but cypionate dosage was 70mg E3.5D. So I don't think it is a lab error.

 

[HealthMan]

I was. It cleared the gyno so no longer taking it

 

[madman]

shbg range 16.5-55.9 so mid point would be 36.2 on 12/9/16 your shbg was 36.5 and 1/18/17 was 21.7 quite a drop and 5/19/17 was 26.2 slightly up but still below mid range if your numbers are accurate maybe you are metabolizing test quicker.

 

[HealthMan]

shbg range 16.5-55.9 so mid point would be 36.2 on 12/9/16 your shbg was 36.5 and 1/18/17 was 21.7 quite a drop and 5/19/17 was 26.2 slightly up but still below mid range if your numbers are accurate maybe you are metabolizing test quicker.

Forgot to mention but when my SHBG was 36.2 i was taking tamoxifen (which has shown to increase SHBG). On the labwork before that without tamoxifen and 70mg testosterone cypionate E3.5D my SHBG was 25.3 and total testosterone 1331 so i dont think this is the problem. I dont know.
When i felt my best was when my total T was 1200-1300 area but I was worried about hematocrit. Now with total T around 700-800 i dont feel as nearly as good and still have hematocrit issues. I think the best thing would be to go back to old protocol using 70mg E3.5D

 

[HealthMan]

Aug/29/16 bloodwork results (70mg testosterone cypionate E3.5D and 0.25mg anastrozole E3.5D)

RBC 5.76 (range 4.14-5.8)
Hemoglobin 17 (range 12.6-17.7)
Hematocrit 51.7 (range 37.5-51)
Total Testosterone 1331 (range 348-1197)
Free testosterone 35.6 (range 8.7-25.1)
SHBG 25.3 (range 16.5-55.9)
Estradiol sensitive 37.5 (range 8-35)

 

[Vince Carter]

so 1331 was 3.5 days after a 70mg injection? That's nuts. Your SHBG shouldn't be able to produce a 1331 like that.

 

[HealthMan]

so 1331 was 3.5 days after a 70mg injection? That's nuts. Your SHBG shouldn't be able to produce a 1331 like that.

To be more precise after 3 days. I had the injection Saturday morning and i tested Tuesday morning (and inject again at night).

 

[Vince Carter]

To be more precise after 3 days. I had the injection Saturday morning and i tested Tuesday morning (and inject again at night).

see...i knew it smelled fishy.

 

[HealthMan]

see...i knew it smelled fishy.

Why fishy? I inject every 3.5 days. On saturday am and tuesday pm. I have bloodwork done every tuesday am on ALL occasions

 

[HealthMan]

Anyone here that is taking metformin noticed any significant drop in total testosterone levels?

 

[Vince]

Anyone here that is taking metformin noticed any significant drop in total testosterone levels?

I've been taking Metformin for many years now, as far as I know its never affected my testosterone levels.

 

[johndoesmith]

SHBG decreased. That's pretty much the answer here.