Got my blood tests back

[worker1]

Total Testosterone: 642
Free Testosterone 15.3


I'm 30, never taken hormones or steroids. My Total Testosterone is reasonable, but my free is low, isn't it? Is having a low free testosterone level reason for seeking hrt?
Also, I have only 1 testicle; had the other removed when I was 3 yrs old.

Thanks for any opinions.

[1cc]

please post lab ranges.

[Vforcer2]

If your lab ranges start out around 241 for Total and 8.7 for free, I would say you are near perfect and wouldn't mess with it, unless of course you have high Estradiol levels, then you might want to consider some strategies for that.

You don't want to do HRT unless it is absolutely a neccesity.

[worker1]

It's actually:

Testosterone Total: 642 ng/dL range: 241-827
Testosterone Free: 15.3 pg/mL range: 9.3-26.5


I've read elsewhere that 20 is considered low for Free Test so I was a little confused. Thanks for the help.

[1cc]

Originally Posted by worker1

It's actually:

Testosterone Total: 642 ng/dL range: 241-827
Testosterone Free: 15.3 pg/mL range: 9.3-26.5


I've read elsewhere that 20 is considered low for Free Test so I was a little confused. Thanks for the help.

Your numbers look great. Unless you have some symptoms that are bothering you, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Vforcer2]

Originally Posted by worker1

It's actually:

Testosterone Total: 642 ng/dL range: 241-827
Testosterone Free: 15.3 pg/mL range: 9.3-26.5


I've read elsewhere that 20 is considered low for Free Test so I was a little confused. Thanks for the help.

Your Free T is fine. You are middle of the range, and that is good. Do you know what your Estradiol is? There are strategies you can do that do not involve actual Rx therapy. Things you can do to bump your levels up even more would be:

Eating a diet that is 30%-40% good fats.
HIT weight training.
Supplementing with Zinc morning and evening.

What you don't want to do is mess with your endocrine system by trying HRT.
The guys here will tell you, it is not an easy road, and it has MANY POTHOLES.

How do you feel?, What is your physical condition(overweight?), what made you think you might need HRT to being with?

Maybe if you give us some additional info, we can help.

[worker1]

Well, initially I started looking into it becuase of missing a testicle.
I've also been a little depressed, don't feel fulfilled, etc.

Honestly, in order to fix these things I workout a lot. I feel that if I was bigger and felt healthier that I'd be happy. I realize these things are mental and not physical.
Based on your recomendations, I don't think I'll pursue hormone therapy.
Thanks for the help.

[Vforcer2]

Originally Posted by worker1

Well, initially I started looking into it becuase of missing a testicle.
I've also been a little depressed, don't feel fulfilled, etc.

Honestly, in order to fix these things I workout a lot. I feel that if I was bigger and felt healthier that I'd be happy. I realize these things are mental and not physical.
Based on your recomendations, I don't think I'll pursue hormone therapy.
Thanks for the help.

The things you are talking about are not always just mental, but also spiritual. I have no idea what your sprititual focus is, but if you would like to hear about my personal testimony, please email me at bruce2004 at swissinfo.org and I will be happy to share.

[gregxy]

The units on free test never seem to make sense to me.

Free is supposed to be 1 to 2% of total so if we assume a midrange
total of 500 ng/dl gives 5 - 10 ng/dl Now to convert to pg/ml you
should just multiply by 10 giving 50 - 100 pg/ml (or 50-100 ng/L)
The link below which looks pretty reputable quotes 50-210 ng/L

so where does 15-26 pg/ml come from?


http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2004/01_04/tan.htm

My stupid lab quotes a percentage number and one time they had the
units as ng/dl the next as pg/ml (a percentage is unitless)

Of course using statistical ranges for something like testosteone doesn't
make much sense since many of those referred for tesing will be
hypogonadal thus messing up the concept of what is normal.