I'm 71yo and have concerns about HCT levels.I currently using testosterone cream on the scrotum. It is 200mg/gm strength. I was using 1/2gm twice a day for 2 months. They just increased the dosage to 3/4gm twice a day. I had 2 times over the past few years used 2x a week injectables, but quit over concerns of high blood pressure, cholesterol and HCT.
I had whole donated blood in August, my HCT was 50. I went to donate yesterday, they first asked if I wanted to donate platelets, I knew this doesn't lower HCT so I said no. Then was asked about double red donation, I accepted.
When the technician began the procedure he said it was good that I did this because my number was high (didn't get #). I guess they take quite a bit since you can't donate anything for 4 months.I have a regular check up scheduled in Nov. I'm hoping the results show the HCT is lower. Anyone here has done or heard of this?
I'm 71yo and have concerns about HCT levels.I currently using testosterone cream on the scrotum. It is 200mg/gm strength. I was using 1/2gm twice a day for 2 months.They just increased the dosage to 3/4gm twice a day
Should have posted your labs with reference ranges/assays used for TT, FT, estradiol, SHBG let alone CBC which includes (RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit).
SHBG is critical to know as it will have a significant impact on TT/FT.
Although TT is important to know FT is what truly matters as it is the active unbound fraction of testosterone responsible for the positive effects.
Critical to know where your trough FT level sits on such protocol.
Many doctors let alone men on trt make the mistake of using/relying upon the piss poor direct immunoassay which is known to be inaccurate let alone are using the older outdated cFTV.
I would not rely upon such especially in cases of altered SHBG.
How did you feel overall on 100 mg T applied scrotal 2X/day?
Why are they increasing your dose.....lacking improvement in low-t symptoms, free T not high enough?
Again need to see your labs.
I had 2 times over the past few years used 2x a week injectables, but quit over concerns of high blood pressure, cholesterol and HCT.
I had whole donated blood in August, my HCT was 50. I went to donate yesterday, they first asked if I wanted to donate platelets, I knew this doesn't lower HCT so I said no. Then was asked about double red donation, I accepted. When the technician began the procedure he said it was good that I did this because my number was high (didn't get #). I guess they take quite a bit since you can't donate anything for 4 months.I have a regular check up scheduled in Nov. I'm hoping the results show the HCT is lower. Anyone here has done or heard of this?
When it comes to donating it is critical to know where your iron/ferritin levels sit.
You last donated in August when your hematocrit was 50% which I would not consider too high.
You just recently donated (DRBC) and the technician told you at the time it was high but you do not know the #.
Big mistake as you should have just done your regular donation.
Every time you donate blood especially when it is too often as in more than 2-3 times/year you will increase the chance of crashing your iron/ferritin which can open up a can of worms.
Although double red will have a bigger impact on lowering hematocrit it will also drive down your ferritin more.
Regarding those struggling with
high hematocrit here is my reply from another thread:
When using exogenous T RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit will increase within the 1st month and can take up to 9-12 months to reach peak levels.
T formulation, the dose of T, genetics (polymorphism of the AR), age all play a role in the impact a trt protocol will have on blood markers (RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit).
Other factors such as sleep apnea, smoking can have a negative impact on hematocrit.
Injectable T has been shown to have a greater impact on increasing HCT compared to transdermal T.
3–18% with transdermal administration and up to 44% with injection.
In most cases when using injectable T
high supra-physiological peaks post-injection and overall T levels (running too high TT/FT level) will have a big impact on increasing HCT.
Manipulating injection frequency by injecting more frequently using lower doses of T resulting in minimizing the peak--->trough and maintaining more stable levels may lessen the impact on HCT but it is not a given.
As again running very high TT/FT levels will have a stronger impact on driving up HCT.
Although injectables have been shown to have a greater impact on HCT you can see even when using a transdermal formulation that maintains stable serum concentrations that
the impact it has on HCT is DEPENDANT ON THE DOSE AND SERUM LEVEL OF T.
Using higher doses of transdermal T and achieving higher TT/FT levels will have a great impact on HCT levels.
How high an FT level you are running is critical.
It is a given that most men on trt struggling with elevated RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit are running too high an FT level.
Sure some men are more sensitive than others as they may still struggle with elevated blood markers when running lower T levels but it is far from common and many may already have an underlying health issue contributing to such.
If you are struggling with such blood markers then in most cases finding the lowest FT level you can run while still maintaining the beneficial effects may very well be the solution.
Easier said than done as many men on trt tend to do better running higher-end FT levels within reason.
Mind you some are lucky and never have an issue or levels tend to stabilize over time.
Others will continue to struggle until the cows come home.
Unfortunately too many are caught up in running absurdly high trough FT levels due to the herd mentality spewed on the bro forums and gootube!
