I'm 70 and been on TRT since January. .3cc 2x a week. My HCT went from 48 to 54. I have donated blood twice during this time. I let the clinic know I was concerned about this. I was told to cut the dose to .25cc 2x a week. I really didn't see much different since I began using TRT. I don't think my T levels were ever that low around 750, I believe the went up to the 800's, I believe my binding hormone is high. I am thinking of stopping TRT, getting tired of having to worry about HCT, my feritin level was low on the last lab test. The clinic suggested eating more red meat. My primary Dr. ( doesn't know I'm on TRT) has been after me to eat less meat to lower my CHL,. Any suggestion on getting off the TRT. Does it need to be tapered off, or can it just be stopped? Thanks for any advice.
I am a Pharmacist & Biochemist Certified in Advanced Hormone Optimization through WorldLink Medical (Dr Neal Rouzier MD). Doctors (and Google) confuse Polycythemia Vera( a medical condition)with Erythrocytosis (harmless). Testosterone by injection is likely to raise hematocrit but it is HARMLESS erythrocytosis. It happens via the same exact mechanism that raises HCT when a person lives at high altitude. Do doctors tell the Himalayan Sherpas or guys who live in Denver who have HIGH HCT's to donate blood. No! Why? Because erythrocytosis is not harmful! Polycythemia Vera is different ...you will get high HCT but also high blood cells and platelets. That is dangerous.
To solve your issue, you could change to a topical testosterone...ask the doctor to order testosterone powder to be put into a hydrogel base called "Atrevis". This base outperforms all others. Absorption of testosterone is optimal and levels of well over 1000 can be reached depending on dose. The topical doesn't affect HCT. Iron levels will usually drop when men have regular phlebotomies then they wonder why they are tired...
Your doctor is many years behind if he thinks a high cholesterol number means you are at risk of a cardiovascular event but that's another topic for another day. The sex hormones are all MADE of cholesterol along with Vitamin D and some adrenal hormones. If cholesterol is too low you will not have enough starting ingredient to MAKE all these hormones!
Testosterone is very health protective and should be replaced when it is low. Optimal levels as per the medical literature are higher than traditional doctors with no or not much hormone experience or training know. Most use doses that are too low and not effective for lowering health risks which is the whole point of using it in the 1st place. It was not in your best interest for the clinic to have "cut" your dose.