Working quite well.
FT is nice and not a problem. FT levels vary greatly after application and levels reported are greatly a function of lab timing. As your SHBG levels are good, TT is a good measure of your average T status.
Target is E2=80 pmol/L
so you are not far off, try a small dose if you want. But if libido is good and you feel good, maybe you do not need. But if you try and feel better …
DHT should be strong with that application. Some implications for hair loss in those with the genetics for that. Otherwise more DHT can be good for libido.
Progesterone is low in males and I do not know that optimal would be. In the adrenals, progesterone–>cortisol. If AM cortisol is good, then probably no concern. AM cortisol is done at 8AM or 1 hour after waking up.
I would not apply DHEA and T creams to the same location where they will compete for absorption. Inner fore arms are a good location. In USA, oral 25mg DHEA is dirt cheap. Where are you? Oral may be less expensive.
Are your testes getting smaller and/or scrotum is not hanging?
Is fertility a concern?
No one is concerned with T transfer to wife/GF? I think that USA FDA has discouraged the practice for obvious reasons. A little T can often be beneficial to women…
Big emphasis on thyroid and iodine deficiencies here.
Note that Vit-D is very important via Vit-D25 hormone.
Often transdermal T absorption does not work very well. You are an exception. There is a lot of bio-identical voodoo out there, I want to point out that injected T esters are a time release bio-identical T delivery system as the ester groups are stripped off.
Please read the stickies found here: About the T Replacement Category - #2 by KSman
- advice for new guys - need more info about you
- things that damage your hormones
- protocol for injections
- finding a TRT doc
Evaluate your overall thyroid function by checking oral body temperatures as per the thyroid basics sticky. Thyroid hormone fT3 is what gets the job done and it regulates mitochondrial activity, the source of ATP which is the universal currency of cellular energy. This is part of the body’s temperature control loop. This can get messed up if you are iodine deficient. In many countries, you need to be using iodized salt. Other countries add iodine to dairy or bread.
KSman is simply a regular member on this site. Nothing more other than highly active.
I can be a bit abrupt in my replies and recommendations. I have a lot of ground to cover as this forum has become much more active in the last two years. I can’t follow threads that go deep over time. You need to respond to all of my points and requests as soon as possible before you fall off of my radar. The worse problems are guys who ignore issues re thyroid, body temperatures, history of iodized salt. Please do not piss people off saying that lab results are normal, we need lab number and ranges.
The value that you get out of this process and forum depends on your effort and performance. The bulk of your learning is reading/studying the suggested stickies.