T Nation

Advice on Blood Results?

T Replacement
#1

Hi all, I’m 25 from the UK and have suspected I have low testosterone levels for a while. I just recently got my blood checked and here are the results:

IMG_20190124_205746

The ranges say “normal - no action required” but I think that’s generalised over the male population and since I’m at the low end of the range at my age it does seem low and it would make sense. My symptoms are depression with anxiety for which I take an SSRI, low sex drive, low motivation, low appetite.

I’ve been looking into alternatives to TRT, something less of a commitment and have read about SERMs which would be ideal if they would work for me as a long-term solution.

Any help interpreting these results would be greatly appreciated.

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TRT - Do I Need an AI?
#2

378 ng/dl is pretty low for your age and could very well be the cause for your symptoms.

#3

I think that the low T, low drive, low libido, and appetite problems COULD all be related to the SSRI. But, I’m no expert and I did not stay at a holiday inn express last night…

Someone with more expertise can chime in and affirm or correct my assessment.

#4

Thanks for the responses guys, the SSRI is a fairly recent thing (past few months) and I have had these symptoms for a long time.

Does anyone have an idea about my LH/FSH levels? Is the ratio between these significant in any way? I haven’t seen numbers around much where the LH is less than half the FSH like mine.

I do need to keep doing a lot more research about this stuff, I’m very new to it and it’s overwhelming but the NHS in the UK doesn’t seem the best to deal with these problems.

#5

The NHS is a joke when it comes to hormones, I felt like death at 300-400 ranges (Free T 15 pg/mL range 6.8-21.5) and the study below more than explains why. TRT is your only option and should avoid going down a path that has no long term chance of actually working.

Testosterone Threshold for Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men:

These data showed that a testosterone threshold of 440 ng/dL was associated with increased Framingham 10-year CVD risk in middle-aged and elderly men. Poor sexual performance, decreased morning erection, and loss of libido had an impact on the testosterone threshold for CVD risk. The threshold level was higher in men with sexual dysfunction. Further study is required to evaluate the validity of these testosterone thresholds for CVD risk.

#6

Thanks for the response, I know TRT alternatives wouldn’t work forever but perhaps something like Clomid would work to boost my natural T production while I’m still fairly young? It would be a lot cheaper and I don’t have much money to spare right now.

#7

The majority of people feel like death on clomid, a very tiny percentage of men feel good on clomid. Your odds feeling great on clomid are not good, so don’t get your hopes up.

Sure clomid will raise testosterone, but you’ll feel like crap.

#8

What about Enclomiphene Citrate? Any experience of this? It doesn’t have the estrogenic isomer that Clomid does.

Or other possible SERMs?

#9

I’ll just give this one bump (maybe one more later in US timezone) before committing to trying out a SERM or if that doesn’t work TRT, to see if anyone with knowledge can help with my blood results?

#10

I take hcg. It boosts your natural production of test, rather than just giving your body outside test. However, it only boosts it while you use it so if you were to stop then you would go back to your normal low levels.

My test levels were at 15 when I started.

#11

I noticed you said you started to take SSRI’s a bit over a month ago? Man a month on SSRIs that’s kinda normal. I have been on alot of SSRIs and I REFUSE to take them. Part of the protocol for it is you will feel horrible for quite some time during the initial stage because the medicine is trying to change a chemical imbalance with your mind so your gonna react kinda weird on it. I won’t do them anymore because I go into a dark place when I touch SSRIs. TRT has been WAYYY more beneficial them any anti depressant out there for me!

#12

I’ve decided to try Enclomiphene before committing to TRT, the only place I could find it is from receptorchem as a research chemical and it’s in DMSO.

Anyone had experience with DMSO?

#13

The SSRI has made me feel a lot worse and I’m hoping it will level out in the next few weeks, I would want to do the same as you and not rely on an SSRI long term but am fine with relying on it until I can hopefully get my hormones balanced.

#14

Been on enclomifene around a month now, noticed small strength gains and maybe a slight mood increase but nothing close to what I was hoping.

I’ve decided to start TRT, does anyone have advice about subq injecting frequently? Frequently as in EOD or E3D to keep the injection amounts low and to be able to use an easy insulin syringe.

What would be a good test ester for this? Also, what’s a good starting dose?

Thanks for any advice.

#15

Just been reading about hcg monotherapy to preserve fertility, is this a good idea? Could always add T to this later on.

#16

Oh yeah, and if anyone is interested in DMSO - I took the enclomifene in DMSO orally, tastes like shit and releases a lot of heat in your mouth but doesn’t make your BO smell like garlic like a lot of people say.

#17

After doing some research I’ve decided on the following:

20mg test prop + 250IU HCG ED.

Dosages low enough so that I can mix together and inject with an insulin syringe subq.

Will I need an AI for this? Which would be the best to use if so? Thanks for any advice.

EDIT: thanks for merging posts

#18

Definitely not to start unless you are obese. Give this a listen.

#19

That’s too much HCG for daily dosing, try 100-150 daily. Test and HCG can be injected together if injecting SQ.

If that cypionate or ethanate I would tell you 20mg daily is too high, I don’t know how to dose propionate.

#20

The t-nation guide to hcg suggests “If using TRT, then the approach recommended is 250IU of HCG taken as an intramuscular injection (IM) daily”. Any reason to use less?

I’ll probably go with 15-20mg prop depending on how I feel, 15 would work out to around 100mg/week which seems normal and I wouldn’t mind a bit above, don’t think 20 is absurd.