question for swale high LH

[peewee327]

went and had all my bloods done docs says i have testicular failure due to the fact that my test levels are in the low 300's and my LH levels are high. now this doc is into trying to raise t levels naturally with supplements and if that doesn't work he goes with HRT. my question to swale is, in the case of testicular failure (i think it's called primary hypogonadism) would supplements in anyway help the testicles to produce testosterone. i am led to believe that since my pituitary is telling my testes to turn out more testosterone and my testicles are not is it fair to say that any supplements won't turn on my testicles to produce more testosterone. is it that my ledig cells are dying and the only recourse will be HRT. in other words is his next and only step HRT. reason i ask is that i don't want him to try and tell me to try this and then try that knowing thta it won't work. reason why i went to him was because i was having all the signs of andropause and as i suspected i was right. just want to stop feeling like crap and get on with things. any info swale would be appreciated. thanks much

[mxim]

i am not swale but can tell you if you do indeed have testicular failer(primary),your testicles will not respond to lh so testosterone replacement therapy is the only alternative. tell the doc to stop wasting your time. how old are you? curious about your testicular failure/

[peewee327]

i will be 40yrs old in march. he isn't wasting my time yet it was just diagnosed. i have a couple of problems that he wants to clear up first. one being a high level of mercury in my blood,15ng/dl. wants to get that done. i am trying oral chelation right now and will be assayed again in a month. hopefully that will be down. he thinks that the heavy metal in my system might have caused the testicular failure. anything else you want to know just ask.

[peewee327]

bump

[SWALE]

You have your answer! Thanks mxim.

[peewee327]

thanks swale & maxim. i guess i am led to beleive that when leydig cells die they can't come back or am i led to believe that they can come back if you solve the problem with the cause of the testes dieing spoke to my doc today says he wants to clear up the mercury first then take it from there. but if the leydig cells can't come back once they die why is he delaying my treatment. finally found a doctor that acknowledges my problem don't want him to fall into every other doctor i went to that said yes they are low normal we'll keep an eye on it. he did say that my free test levels should be atleast 600 at my age.

[SWALE]

So he feels that your primnary tetsicular failure is due to heavy metal toxicity? There is a lot of really exciting work being done in this area now. I was not aware that you could recover testicular function thorugh chelation therapy, however. Please keep us posted.

[peewee327]

he is doing chelation therapy to get rid of the mercury not restore testicular function. he has just said that maybe once the heavy metals are gone it would restore but i think he knows it won't. i think he is playing it safe taking it step by step. get rid of mercury assay me again and then go from there. but from what i understand it will have to be HRT once primary hypogonadism sets in. i am seeing him tonight (12/11). i am going to be pretty straight foward with him as to my treatment in the future. will ask him straight out that if my test levels remain the same with high LH after i clear up the heavy metals what will be his course of treatment. since the reason why i went to him was because of my inclination that something was wrong with my test levels and felt all the symptoms of andropause. this mercury thing was just caught by happenstance and it seems he is making it his primary treatment for the time being. i will keep you guys posted on the progress

[SWALE]

I'm very much interested in hearing all about your therapy.

[peewee327]

got back from the doctor will have my mercury levels checked on the 21st of dec. that will be one month on oral chelation. i asked him what his proticol will be if my test levels don't rise after the chelation. he said maybe the leydig cells aren't dead and possibly the mercury has just desensitzed them. really won't know until the mercury is clear and then check test levels i asked him what he would do to raise my levels he talked about androstendiol to raise it and to keep estrogen low to raise it. this androsteindiol stuff swale, will it have any effect? side effects? my test levels range from the high 200's to low 300's with a higher than normal LH level. i am starting to think that maybe this doctor is afraid of true HRT. if the leydig cells are dying would androstendiol do anything. i mean this so far has cost me over $800.00 and hasn't yet moved on raising my test levels. i know my mercury is high and he wants to clear that up. but this androstendiol to raise test levels prohormones i could do myself without paying him so much money. why is it so hard for someone with a legitimate medical problem to get treated with true HRT. this has been going on for years now and i am getting a little fed up. SWALE would it be ok to PM you with some of my concerns?

regards

[mxim]

that fact that he even mentioned an over the counter would have me bolting for the exits.you summed it up by saying how much tou have already spent.go to an endocrinologist who specializes in anrology.this guy is a used car salesman.

[peewee327]

maxim why is mentioning over the counter stuff so bad. should i be worrying about wht is going on. i mean is my only recourse true HRT. he also mentioned DHEA as a way of having my body produce more testosterone.

[mxim]

believe it or not,both these over the counter substances can still cause inhibition.you need real hrt.like i said,go to an endocrinologist who specializes in andrology before this doctor sends you to the poorhouse.

[peewee327]

thats easier said then done. i am hypothyroid and was seeing an endo took my testosterone levels and wouldn't do much else. said it was normal. yes it is in the normal range but you and no doctor can tell me that high 200 low 300 with a abnormal high LH is normal especially for a 39 yr old male.

[SWALE]

Well, your doctor just lost me. NO ONE who knows anything about TRT uses androstenediol for TRT.