Can someone be low T with natural levels in the low 600's?

[LetsGoHokies]

Hey guys, I'm only one week into my treatment, but I'm wondering what your thoughts are given I started with natural total T in the low 600's. I had okay free T and E levels too. Is it possible that my body needs more than the 'normal' levels to feel good. I suffer from low libido, weight gain, difficulty putting on muscle, foggy headedness.

 

[Vince Carter]

What were those Free T values and the lab ranges...saying they were OK doesn't mean anything. better yet post your labs; screenshot/attachment if you can.

 

[ScottM]

Yes, this.

What were those Free T values and the lab ranges...saying they were OK doesn't mean anything. better yet post your labs; screenshot/attachment if you can.

 

[LetsGoHokies]

Sorry about that. My Free T was 7.35 with a range of 4.7 - 24.4.

 

[ratbag]

Do you have lab results for SHBG?

 

[LetsGoHokies]

SHBG was 58 with a range of 10-80

 

[ratbag]

Well your only a week into this. You'll have to be patient and maybe you'll end up on HCG as well. Nothing happens in a week. It'll take time to see the results and effects of your program. It's possible you'll need more but the MD has to start somewhere and tweak it as you progress. Not many MD's look at your results before 10 weeks.

 

[Vince Carter]

SHBG was 58 with a range of 10-80

As said by ratbag 1 week is too early and even 10 is iffy for a new guy in treatment, its more like 90 days, takes the body a fair amount of time on a steady protocol to reach Homeostasis where you can do labs and be confident in the results. What I see there is your SHBG is really high and creates a Free T problem, notice your FT is near the bottom of the lab range because your T is all bound up and unusable in the body. That's more likely where your Low T symptoms come from given what you've told us.
Stay on your protocol for 90 days and do labs then, be sure to include SHBG. You may indeed need higher TT if your SHBG remains as it is in order to get your Free T to move. Thing with SHBG is that it is what is, you have to just work around it...it can't really be affected up or down.

 

[LetsGoHokies]

Thanks guys. I'll chill out and let the treatment do its thing. This forum is invaluable. Very appreciative here!

 

[James]

600's for TT isn't bad. Most guys here have baseline levels far lower. FT is within range, but hardly optimal. Shbg is always the wildcard. How old are you? Your symptoms are consistemt with your lower FT and higher shbg.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Testosterone blood level is only one factor that affect what we call "low testosterone symptoms".

Here are more (sleep is the main one).

 

[Systemlord]

Interesting, I knew there were a few things that could cause low testosterone (depression, meds, thyroid), but had no idea there could be so many cause for low testosterone. It helps explain why TRT doesn't fix everyone's problems. There's a lot of people out there who would never even consider that fact that they might actually be suffering from depression, instead they chase their own tail trying to figure out why their having no libido and poor erections.

 

[doutee]

Interesting, I knew there were a few things that could cause low testosterone (depression, meds, thyroid), but had no idea there could be so many cause for low testosterone. It helps explain why TRT doesn't fix everyone's problems. There's a lot of people out there who would never even consider that fact that they might actually be suffering from depression, instead they chase their own tail trying to figure out why their having no libido and poor erections.

surprising that depression itself could effect a core hormone like testosterone.

 

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Did your doctor address a target free testosterone value with you? I feel like that is something that should have been discussed. If you are lucky, the exogenous testosterone will push your shbg down and free up some testosterone. You'd want to aim for at least 20pg/mL or higher.

 

[MarkLA]

IMO - I think it would be better to try to fix someone with a TT of 600 without replacement first.

Parts of your system are working OK. Maybe dealing with lifestyle and/or thyroid would fix SHGB and even bring up TT a little more. Replacement is a long-term commitment and requires some tinkering from a good doctor to get dialed-in. If that could be delayed another x years of being natural, that would have been my preference.