Does Testosterone Replacement Affect the Thyroid?

[Powerdome]

TSH 8.25 mu/l
Free T4 13.83 pmol/l
T3 Total 1.30 nmol/l

 

[Gianluca]

I feel TRT did increase my T3, but it would be difficult to prove.

I think it did that because I was taking 0.75 grains of NDT, (45mg), and my T3 went up from 2.8 > 4.2 ng/dl. That is a pretty large gain for a small dose.

I stopped taking NDT for a while, and will retest at some point in the near future.

Of course, even if my T3 is higher than 2.8 ng/dl, it could have been some other factor than the testosterone.

I switched from SubQ to IM injection of test, and I really think TRT effected my Thyroid, or maybe I should say it is normalizing everything again. After several months being on NP 60mg with my FT3 at 4.5 and still hypo symptomatic, going IM made me having hyperthyroidism symptoms, mixed with hypo. I had to cut in half my NP thyroid last week, and things seems to normalize again. It would have been curious to check on t3 levels then. I will keep the 30mg NP daily and check levels in 10 days and see how I feel

 

[Vais5]

I think the opposite is happening. Hypothyroidism helps reduce shbg and when corrected with T4 shbg falls and consequently testosterone drops.

 

[Vince]

SHBG levels are increased in hyper- and decreased in hypothyroid.

 

[Gianluca]

I switched from SubQ to IM injection of test, and I really think TRT effected my Thyroid, or maybe I should say it is normalizing everything again. After several months being on NP 60mg with my FT3 at 4.5 and still hypo symptomatic, going IM made me having hyperthyroidism symptoms, mixed with hypo. I had to cut in half my NP thyroid last week, and things seems to normalize again. It would have been curious to check on t3 levels then. I will keep the 30mg NP daily and check levels in 10 days and see how I feel

to comment on this, that was I believe my cortisol going up, not Hyperthyroid symptoms

 

[Hormetheus]

Testosterone decreases TBG while E2 will increase TBG so it does affect levels of free thyroid hormones slightly

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Increased T using hCG decreases TBG, which increases conversion of T4 into T3.

The effect of testosterone supplementation on the hpt axis in euthyroid hypogonadal adult men: a prospective observational study | ETA2022 | 44th Annual Meeting of the European Thyroid Association (ETA) 2022 | Endocrine Abstracts

www.endocrine-abstracts.org

 

[Vince]

Increased T using hCG decreases TBG, which increases conversion of T4 into T3.

The effect of testosterone supplementation on the hpt axis in euthyroid hypogonadal adult men: a prospective observational study | ETA2022 | 44th Annual Meeting of the European Thyroid Association (ETA) 2022 | Endocrine Abstracts

www.endocrine-abstracts.org

Conclusion: In euthyroid hypogonadal cis-males, testosterone replacement did not alter TSH, decreased total T4 and free T4, but not total T3. The increased T3/T4 ratio suggests increased conversion and/or or differential binding to TBG.

 

[tareload]

Conclusion: In euthyroid hypogonadal cis-males, testosterone replacement did not alter TSH, decreased total T4 and free T4, but not total T3. The increased T3/T4 ratio suggests increased conversion and/or or differential binding to TBG.

Well done guys. Dudes need to understand these important points especially if they are on thyroid treatment!

@Nelson Vergel thank you.

 

[glob]

Yes, testosterone replacement therapy does most definitely cause hypothyroidism in the long term.
We have done over 8 years of intensive research on this topic and this is definitely the case.

Most guys receiving TRT won't notice that their thyroid is slowing down because it is a very slow process.

The main reason that this is happening is because your testosterone levels are constantly high. In normal guys not receiving TRT, your testosterone levels cycle daily in response to waking up, excercise, eating, etc, which allows your thyroid to respond correctly.

There are a few ways for you to naturaly treat your trt induced hypothyroidism. Ice cold showers twice a day. Swimming in a ice cold sea. Holding onto ice packs when you go to bed. Getting plenty of sun.(without sunscreen) Lots of excercise.

Treating your hypothyroidism with T3 or T4 medication does not work. We are busy researching why this is the case.

I'm part of a team of researchers at a big university. I'm not allowed to disclose any other information right now.

Hope this helps a few guys.

I know it's an old post but I was curious to know if you have any news on these studies

 

[WhatSayYou89]

I don't know how I missed this thread, but I have notice everytime I increase my test dosage I become hyperthyroid for 3-4 weeks (98.8-99 degrees) after starting a new protocol and my extremities are cold on and off during these first few weeks while maintaining those higher body temperatures. Once I reach a stable state injecting EOD, I'm not as affected by cold temperatures.

Dr Crisler has stated testosterone affects blood circulation in the extremities but that doesn't account for my elevated body temperatures.

TSH is on the bottom end of normal at .580, any thoughts as to the elevated body temperatures?

Is it your hands and feet getting cold?

This has been driving me crazy lately. About 24 hour post injection I’ve been noticing by hands and feet are extremely cold.

 

[CASD57]

67 year old male:
Well..I've been on Synthroid and Armour since my thyroid was removed in 97' and the normal ups and downs..winter-Summer adjustments , Started TRT last Oct 2023 in the last few weeks been tired, taking naps etc., Thought my Test was low...(Started TRT 239 last test was 569 in May) So I had my Doctor check my levels and he also went a head and checked TSH-T3-T4 ..Test was 750..YEA! but the TSH 10.70(high)..T4 150 and T3 221(high) ...So I was hypo... Other than moody and naps the 750 TESt was off setting the Hypo effects.. alittle, So we upped my Synthroid dose from .75mcg to 88mcg I can's wait left the Armour at 120
So I believe TRT does effect your TSH, Its been years since I've been hypo.

 

[maliksab]

That was the case with me since i stopped my AI. I do think in some sensitive individual extra E2 on trt blocks thyroid hormones.
I noticed my tsh and t4 was further dropped below. T3 was okay. I did try different thyroid hormone for almost a year with no success until i figured out i was severely zinc deficient.
I now take higher dose of iodine according to dr. Brownstein
Zinc, selenium, magnesium and vitamin d. Definitely feels better than i was on thyroid hormone.

 

[Gman86]

That was the case with me since i stopped my AI. I do think in some sensitive individual extra E2 on trt blocks thyroid hormones.
I noticed my tsh and t4 was further dropped below. T3 was okay. I did try different thyroid hormone for almost a year with no success until i figured out i was severely zinc deficient.
I now take higher dose of iodine according to dr. Brownstein
Zinc, selenium, magnesium and vitamin d. Definitely feels better than i was on thyroid hormone.

Ya I remember when I was researching iodine pretty intensely, there was a doctor that talked about how high estrogen levels can inhibit thyroid function. It always stuck with me. Not 100% sure if it’s true or not, but even a quick google search shows that it at least has the potential to be. Obv google isn’t the end all be all, but between what the doctor was explaining, and what google says, there’s again at least the possibility that too high of estrogen levels can have some negative effects on thyroid levels. The doctor was explaining that since estrogen dominance is more common in women, this is one of the factors that result in hypothyroidism being much more prevalent in women

 

[Gman86]

Whoops, forgot to post the snapshot of what google said when I looked it up real quick

 

[Vince]

Whoops, forgot to post the snapshot of what google said when I looked it up real quick

Yes, a lot more women have hypothyroidism than men.

 

[Seagal]

I believe there is another link between TRT and thyroid function. That is changes in iron/ferritin metabolism.

Some experts say that TRT can expose underlying hypothyroidism. I think that it is false and a hypothesis because of lack of understanding.

 

[Seagal]

Whoops, forgot to post the snapshot of what google said when I looked it up real quick

That might be one reason why guys feel better when using an AI. So did I.

 

[Vince]

I believe there is another link between TRT and thyroid function. That is changes in iron/ferritin metabolism.

Some experts say that TRT can expose underlying hypothyroidism. I think that it is false and a hypothesis because of lack of understanding.

Relationship between Iron Deficiency and Thyroid Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide. Low levels of serum ferritin (SF) could affect the thyroid gland and its functioning. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the main ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[CASD57]

Newbie question.... What is Ai ?