Men's Health Forum: This is a discussion on Low libido, DHEA, Wellbutrin? within the Anabolic Steroids forums, part of the extensive steroid information at MESO-Rx; Hello,
I've been searching for solution to improve my condition: I've been suffering from low libido and low genital sensivity.
...
Leydig cells are still producing testosterone, although free testosterone is low-normal. So according to the tests, I should be okay, but I'm not. The last good period when I felt sexually well was on the Christmas holiday.
I'm seeing a doctor next week, so I would be grateful to hear your advices before that.
I guess the high prolactin is caused by high LH.. because if I had a prolactinoma, the LH should be then low, right? And what about this adrenal fatigue issue.. could that be a reason for my symptoms? When a person has adrenal fatigue, does he have low or high LH?
Nevertheless, I'm wondering that could DHEA help me total/free testosterone levels? DHEA is intermediate hormone, a raw material for testosterone production.. could increase of DHEA help Leydig cells to produce more easily T and increase sexual desire?
Other approach would be to increase dopamine levels, which increases sexual desire. Would Wellbutrin (bupropion) be a solution for me?
I am assuming that the best testosterone test is from Quest Diagnostics.
This test (they have other tests):
Testosterone, Free, Bio/Total (LC/MS/MS) Quest Diagnostics: Test Menu
In this test the
FreeTestosterone
and
bioAvailable testosterone
are calculated values, that is they are not assayed.
On numerous occasions I compared results of this Quest test posted by board members to values received from that calculator.
I have found consistent results and they are:
For BAT Quest results always are different than calculated by the calculator.
For FreeT Quest results are always same or very close as in calculator.
On post #43 there I made a note about BAT.
In a thread
age-associated Bio-T age-associated Bio-T
I posted a reference to some research on a resons why BAT may vary.
I would welcome any new insights on BAT and related topics.
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I am using (ONLY) BAT values (from Quest) to adjust my T injections.
I am aiming at top of range, that is BAT~575
.
.
have you looked into dostinex/cabaser to lower the prolactin?
i'm not 100% sure but i think elevated prolactin would result in an elevation of progesterone & estrogen and a decrease in libido (this is one of the causes of deca-d*ck / low impotence & desire when on nandrolone based AS)
Since I live in Scandinavia, I cannot get Dostinex etc. medicine legally without prescription, so I'm "at doctor's mercy", "what's best for me". Since my prolactin is not above range, I'm not sure if I will get (expensive) Dostinex. Wellbutrin would be easier to get, because I'm also experiencing some mood problems (caused by sexual problems or independent of them): lack of motivation, some depression. And it should increase dopamine levels.. although it doesn't decrease prolactin much.
I'm not sure if high prolactin is caused by progesterone/estrogen, because I'm read somewhere, that when hypothalamus increases LH levels, it also increases prolactin.. I'm not sure, though.
btw, last autumn I discussed my symptoms with another doctor, and he reluctantly gave a prescription for Panteston (=Andriol) for trial, which I tried 40 mg a day for a couple of weeks, but it didn't help me. Should I start to use ět again?
How do you see this DHEA issue? I have read that it can increase testosterone and sexual desire according to some studies.
Does someone have ideas, what kind of vitamins/trace elements would be most helpful for supporting natural testosterone production (and keeping estrogen levels low)?
just so we don't confuse Hippii, Janz, we are both recommending that he get a measure of bioavailable testosterone.
The calculator was recommended to me by Dr. Ron Rothenberg. However, I am prepared to accept a better calculation of BAT.
I just think that Hippii can make better use of measures and perhaps medications he already has before starting out on some other course.
Unless available from Quest using the test I mentioned above, I have given up on BAT from that calculator.
I have found values obtained from calulator erratic, not following any pattern, and most importantly I do not have a measure of what would be the desired value. Those values are never similar to values given by test from Quest.
But
either calculator or the chart can be used to figure out FreeTestosterone.
When supplying external testosterone one would aim at
FreeT (250-300)
when evaluating natural condition FreeT~160 would be a cut off point.
If after all kind of efforts to increase it naturally one find himself at
FreeT below 160, T suplementation may rightfully be considered.
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The value of 250 I got from exchanges with few people who deal with dr Shippen
The value of 300 was mentioned by Dr Delgado
From my blood tests I found that 250-300 would be rather similar requirement to
BAT~575 when using Quest's test.
the problem is that I don't know (yet) what is my SHBG concentration, so I can't use the calculator properly.. I can use in a way that I know total T = 22 mol/l and I iterate SHBG by getting my free testosterone to 0,238 nmol/l.. which would mean that SHBG would be 87 nmol/l. but if freeT value is inaccurate, so is SHBG..
So what's the consensus regarding the DHEA issue..?
Low libido, DHEA, Wellbutrin? 
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