Modesto's Test Test

I recently had blood drawn to check cholesterol and I asked the nurse if she wouldn’t mind checking the box for testosterone on the lab request. She did it (and got my doctor’s approval). I got the results back a few days ago.

As prelude, I am a very solid guy—a former weightlifter. I still have lots of muscle and am fairly lean. Sex is still good, but sometimes a little Cialis can make it much better. I go days without really thinking about sex, and then suddenly I need it desperately. This has been my pattern for the last several years. Generally I feel fine, but I sometimes complain about not being really excited about life. I have trouble pushing myself to do things and often feel kind of “gray.” Intense exercise helps, but I can’t do that all the time.

So I was only slightly floored to see my total T number come back at 320 ng/dL. That’s lower than my dad’s!

Now I have to wonder. Even though I’m doing okay, could I be feeling and functioning much better?

The next step is to get more data. My PCP doesn’t want to test me further (He says I’m “normal”), but I can always go back to my father’s MD. I’m not ready to be treated yet, but I want to stay on top of this. Also, it’s kind of encouraging to think that maybe there’s a cure out there for “the blahs.”

Remember my list of 13 natural ways to boost your T that I made in post #77 of this thread? How many of those ideas are part of your lifestyle?

Had you trained some days before taking the test checked, MM?

Gprent: I do several already, but I’ll be going back to check the list again. Thanks!

Marinera: Not much training, no. I do elliptical about 4x per week and weight train (light) about 2x. The only thing unusual about the week preceding my test was that I was dieting and lost a couple of pounds.

I just checked that list and I do every single one of those things. :D

Turns out I do everything on that list too, but I don’t have a clue what my testosterone levels are, although I do feel very healthy. :)

I feel pretty healthy, too, Gprent. That’s why I was surprised at my numbers. Could it be that my body just doesn’t need that much T to do well? One thing I have going for me is low fat—especially low abdominal fat.

I think I want to go for a retest, and maybe have E and SHBG tested while I’m there. It would be good to know my free T.

Sorry to hear that your dad’s problems weren’t helped by the T, MM :(

A huge calorie deficit and/or very low levels of bodyfat can mess with the production of many hormones.

Very low body fat levels cannot be maintained for more than few hours/days anyway so that can hardly be the case. Maintaining reasonably low body fat level (i.e. ~9% instead of something that you could see on bodybuilding contest stage) can’t be bad for health, I think. But I agree about huge calorie deficit being bad for hormones.

(Note: Whatever you may think, 7-8% body fat is probably the lowest reasonable level that can be maintained for prolonged amount of time, anything below that is extreme. Don’t fool yourself, 7-8% is ripped like hell.)

Anecdotally, some guys seem to start feeling like shit (e.g., hungry and exhausted all the time) even at 8-9%. I don’t know whether or how this relates to hormones, though.

LOL. My body fat isn’t THAT low. I can see my six pack, but there’s still something to grab. Also, while I was losing weight the week of my test, I wasn’t starving by any means. I was just cutting back and eating a few vegetarian meals.

Remember to get your LH and FSH levels checked as well.

An alternative to the typical HRT protocol is SERM therapy. While HRT therapy shuts down your body`s production of testosterone, SERM therapy actually encourages your body to produce more testosterone by stimulating the pituitary gland to produce more LH and FSH hormone which again signals your testicles to produce more testosterone.

There are very promising studies available on this and I`m a little surprised that this method seems to be less known than regular HRT.

One study in particular compared testosterone injections and clomiphene treatment and the subjects on clomiphene actually experienced higher increases in testosterone with fewer side-effects (none reported in some studies). It is also much cheaper.

Some studies also show permanent improvement after such treatment, but that is probably more likely to happen when the subjects have done damage to themselves by extended steroid use or other physical abuse of the body. In other words, permanently raised levels are not likely to happen if you are already healthy.

If I sound excited it is because I am. I will be starting this treatment next week on my own volition. 25 mg clomiphene per day for at least three months :)

I can dig up some studies later if anyone is interested, but it can be found easily by entering clomiphene on pubmed ;)

When my dad was receiving treatment, I asked about HCG injections for him. The doctor seemed to think that it would do little for him (I think because his testes weren’t going to produce any more T). He also said that while people’s T increases with HCG alone, for some reason they don’t experience the same symptomatic relief that guys get when they take T directly.

I’m not sure what to make of that.

I will say that one of the principle “symptoms” I experience now is lack of any real “drive” for sex. I still like sex a lot, but I don’t feel that visceral tug and yearning that I used to. In some ways it’s a relief.

My real concern is that my energy and desire for life in general aren’t what they used to be. I’d like some of that back.

Modesto I think that gusto is tied to the sex drive. Sometimes to get things going you have to do things. Chasing poon agressively may be a good start.