Bloodwork complete - Possibly Low T

A men’s clinic did a free blood work screening at work that included looking at T levels as well as other health markers.

My total T was 393 with a free of 60.5. They noted that while this is considered in the “normal” range that most of their patients feel better with a total over 500 and free over 100. Several sites I read put the average total T for a 35 year old male around 650.

When I review the symptoms of Low T, the only ones that stick out to me are energy, focus, and the struggle to lose fat.

Based on these numbers, should this be something I consider treatment for? Would losing 10-15 pounds of fat have a significant impact?

Can never hurt to lose 10-15 lbs.

Here is most comprehensive list of Low Test symptoms I’ve found.

Low T here, the symptoms that >mentally< bothered me most was fatigued, tiredness, feelings of burn-out, lack of mental focus and clarity, memory function, loss of interest in things that used to enjoy, difficulty starting and finishing tasks.

“The Testosterone Syndrome: The Critical Factor for Energy, Health, and Sexuality ” by Eugene Shippen, MD

Questions for Treatment:

Do you currently have or ever had any of the following symptoms?

Sex Function
Decrease in spontaneous early morning erections.
Decrease libido or desire for sex.
Decrease in fullness of erections.
Decrease in volume of ejaculate or semen.
Decrease in strength of climax or force of muscular pulsations.
Difficulty in maintaining full erection.
Difficulty in starting erection‐or no erection.

Mental Functions
Spells of mental fatigue or inability to concentrate; feeling burned out.
Tiredness or sleepiness in the afternoon or early evening.
Decrease in mental sharpness, attention, wit.
Change in creativity or spontaneous new ideas.
Decrease in initiative or desire to start new projects.
Decreased interest in past hobbies or new work‐related activities.
Decrease in competitiveness.
Change in memory function; increased forgetfulness.
Feelings of depression.

Musculoskeletal Condition
“Sore‐body syndrome”‐aches, joint and muscle pain.
Decline in flexibility and mobility; increased stiffness.
Decrease in muscle size, tone, strength.
Decrease in physical stamina.
Decrease in athletic performance.
Back pain; neck pain.
Tendency to pull muscles or get leg cramps.
Development of osteoporosis or inflammatory arthritis.

Metabolic or Physical/Disease Problems
Increase in total cholesterol or triglycerides.
Decrease in HDL cholesterol.
Rise in blood sugar level diabetes onset.
Rise in blood pressure/ diagnosis of hypertension.
Unexplained weight gain, particularly in the midsection; “beer belly”.
Increased fat distribution in breast area or hips.
Development of chest pain, or diagnosis of heart disease or blockage of arteries.
Shortness of breath with activities; worsening of asthma or emphysema.
Lightheadedness, dizzy spells, ringing of the ears; new onset of headaches.
Poor circulation in legs, swelling of ankles, varicose veins or hemorrhoids.
Changes in visual acuity focus reading fine print.

Long post here. Decided to take your list of symptoms and document.

Sex Function
Decrease in spontaneous early morning erections. - Occassionally I’ll wake up without one. With this one supplement I’m taking I have them every day.
Decrease libido or desire for sex. - Only when fully physically exhausted or sick.
Decrease in fullness of erections. - Sometimes, mainly when tired/stressed.
Decrease in volume of ejaculate or semen. - I’ve noticed this at times. Seems like sometimes I have a lot, and other times not so much.
Decrease in strength of climax or force of muscular pulsations. - Rarely.
Difficulty in maintaining full erection. - Rarely
Difficulty in starting erection‐or no erection. - Rarely.

Overall, if I was basing a diagnosis of Low T on just sexual function, I’d say no. I will say that this supplement I’ve been taking really seems to kick this up when I’m resting well, eating well, and not sick. Towards the end of my first bottle (and the one week after) I remember always being horny, having spontaneous erections like I was 18 again, etc.

Mental Functions
Spells of mental fatigue or inability to concentrate; feeling burned out. - Frequently.
Tiredness or sleepiness in the afternoon or early evening. - Frequently.
Decrease in mental sharpness, attention, wit. - Frequently.
Change in creativity or spontaneous new ideas. - Sometimes
Decrease in initiative or desire to start new projects. - Sometimes
Decreased interest in past hobbies or new work‐related activities. - More often than not around work.
Decrease in competitiveness. - Sometimes
Change in memory function; increased forgetfulness. - Sometimes, sometimes more often than not.
Feelings of depression. - Sometimes, usually around work and/or career.

Based on this list, I would think my 396 total T is having a major effect. But, there are times when I don’t feel like this as well.

Musculoskeletal Condition
“Sore‐body syndrome”‐aches, joint and muscle pain. - Yes. I attributed this to being overweight though.
Decline in flexibility and mobility; increased stiffness. - Yes. Very much so.
Decrease in muscle size, tone, strength. - No. Last year I gained muscle mass.
Decrease in physical stamina. - Sometimes
Decrease in athletic performance. - Sometimes
Back pain; neck pain. - Yes. Often.
Tendency to pull muscles or get leg cramps. - Yes
Development of osteoporosis or inflammatory arthritis. - No

Mixed bag here.

Metabolic or Physical/Disease Problems
Increase in total cholesterol or triglycerides. - My numbers came in slightly high. Diet has not been good for about 4 weeks though.
Decrease in HDL cholesterol. - No
Rise in blood sugar level diabetes onset. - No
Rise in blood pressure/ diagnosis of hypertension. - No
Unexplained weight gain, particularly in the midsection; “beer belly”. - Nothing unexplained, but found it hard to get rid of fat, even with good diet and exercise.
Increased fat distribution in breast area or hips. - Yes. Very much so.
Development of chest pain, or diagnosis of heart disease or blockage of arteries. - No
Shortness of breath with activities; worsening of asthma or emphysema. - Sometimes
Lightheadedness, dizzy spells, ringing of the ears; new onset of headaches. - Rarely
Poor circulation in legs, swelling of ankles, varicose veins or hemorrhoids. - No
Changes in visual acuity focus reading fine print. - No

Again, a mixed bag.

Thorough list, thanks for sharing. What I’m trying to figure out now is can I increase this “baseline” number to something above 500 with improved diet, more rest, and keeping with my exercise routine. They may think this is my max. I think I can increase that number. I’ve read the normal healthy range for someone my age should be around 600-650, and I’d love to be at that or above. Not sure if that number can really increase though.

Definitely worth a try; I don’t see any downside to any what you’re planning. I need to get myself going with that routine too.

This article is not too bad.

http://www.timi nvermont.com/fi … ss/boosttes.htm

13 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Testosterone Levels

By Ron Geraci, Men's Health, December 25, 2000

The normal level of testosterone in your bloodstream is between 350 and 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl). Like combable hair, those quantities silently start to wane around age 40. You lose about 1 percent a year — a harmless decline in the short term, but a cause of obesity, brittle bones, muscle loss and impotence by the time you reach your 60s — if you live that long. Testosterone levels in the low range (a blood serum score below 350 ng/dl) may increase your chances of dying of a heart attack.

It’s not just an old man’s problem, either. Men in their 30s and 40s also fall prey to low testosterone counts. It’s a disorder called hypogonadism, and it can be caused by an undescended testicle, a testicular injury, a pituitary gland disorder or even prescription drugs. It usually goes undiagnosed until a man hits his doctor with a telltale complaint: "I can’t get an erection."

"If you have reduced levels of sexual desire, have your testosterone level checked immediately," says Dr. Allen Seftel, a urologist at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals of Cleveland. You can replenish your testosterone stores with injections, gels, pills or patches, but these medical treatments are no panacea: Side effects include acne, high cholesterol, shrunken testicles and liver damage. Further, don’t take supplements like DHEA or androstenedione to boost testosterone; they might increase your risks of prostate cancer and heart disease.

"For men with borderline testosterone scores, I advise them to try to raise their levels through exercise and weight loss before going on testosterone therapy," says Dr. Goldberg. And it might pay to start young. "Since your testosterone declines at a steady rate, it’s conceivable that raising your hormone levels naturally in your 20s and 30s could help you maintain higher levels later on," he says. Either way, the reward can be a stronger physique and better bedroom sessions than you’d otherwise deserve. Below are 13 tips designed to get your juice up — safely.

Get Rid of the Flopping Belly

Or you’ll grow a pair of fetching breasts to complement it. Carrying excess body fat elevates your estrogen levels, and that may cause your testosterone levels to sink, says Joseph Zmuda, an epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh. Louie Anderson is proof enough of this. Two or three extra pounds won’t cause this hormonal shift; it really occurs once you’re 30 percent over your ideal body weight. "Unfortunately, that’s pretty common now," says Dr. Dobs.

But Lose Only One Pound a Week

When you want to trim down quickly, you probably starve yourself while exercising like a madman. One of the many reasons this stops working in your 30s, when your natural testosterone levels start dropping, is pretty simple: Cutting your calorie intake by more than 15 percent makes your brain think you’re starving, so it shuts down testosterone production to wait out the famine. "There’s no need to reproduce if you’re starving," explains Thomas Incledon of Human Performance Specialists in Plantation, Fla. Ironically, this dive in circulating testosterone stops you from burning body fat efficiently, so you’re actually thwarting your hard efforts to melt that tire off your gut.

Skip the Atkins Fad

Research suggests that eating a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet can cramp your testosterone levels. High amounts of dietary protein in your blood can eventually lower the amount of testosterone produced in your testes, says Incledon, who observed this relationship in a Penn State study of 12 healthy, athletic men.

Your protein intake should be about 16 percent of your daily calories, Incledon says. So, if you’re the average 170-pound man who eats 2,900 calories a day, you should eat about 140 grams of protein daily, which is about the amount in two chicken breasts and a 6-ounce can of tuna.

Have Morning Sex

German scientists found that simply having an erection causes your circulating testosterone to rise significantly — and having one in the morning can goose your natural post-dawn testosterone surge. It’s a sure bet you’ll burn a little fat, too.

Stick With Tough Exercises

To beef up your testosterone levels, the bulk of your workout should involve "compound" weight-lifting exercises that train several large muscle groups, and not just one or two smaller muscles. For example, studies have shown that doing squats, bench presses or back rows increases testosterone more than doing biceps curls or triceps pushdowns, even though the effort may seem the same. This is why doing squats could help you build bigger biceps.

Make Nuts Your Midnight Snack

Nuts are good for your nuts. Research has found that men who ate diets rich in monounsaturated fat — the kind found in peanuts — had the highest testosterone levels. "It’s not known why this occurs, but some scientists believe that monounsaturated fats have a direct effect on the testes," says Incledon. Nuts, olive oil, canola oil and peanut butter are good sources of monounsaturated fat.

Squeeze Out Five Repetitions per Set

Throwing around 5-pound dumbbells won’t help you effect a rise in testosterone. Start off by using a heavy weight that you can lift only five times. That weight is about 85 percent of your one-repetition maximum. A Finnish study found that this workload produced the greatest boosts in testosterone.

Do Three Sets of Each Weight-Lifting Movement

Researchers at Penn State determined that this fosters greater increases in testosterone than just one or two sets. Rest a full minute between sets, so you can regain enough strength to continue lifting at least 70 percent of your one-rep maximum during the second and third sets.

Rest Harder Than You Work Out

If you overtrain — meaning you don’t allow your body to recuperate adequately between training sessions — your circulating testosterone levels can plunge by as much as 40 percent, according to a study at the University of North Carolina. The symptoms of overtraining are hard to miss: irritability, insomnia, muscle shrinkage, joining the Reform Party. To avoid overtraining, make sure you sleep a full eight hours at night, and never stress the same muscles with weight-lifting movements two days in a row.

Drive Home Sober

To maintain a healthy testosterone count — and titanium erections — cut yourself off after three drinks. "Binge drinking will kill your testosterone levels," warns Incledon. Alcohol affects the endocrine system, causing your testes to stop producing the male hormone. That’s one reason drinking often causes you to go limp at the moment of truth.

Have a Sandwich at 3 p.m.

As any sensible woman knows, the way to put hair on a man’s chest is to fill his stomach. Your body needs a ready supply of calories to make testosterone, so regularly skipping meals or going for long stretches without eating can cause your levels of the hormone to plummet. Then again, that’s probably the warden’s plan.

Buy the Fried Tortilla Chips

If you want to raise your testosterone score, eat a diet that includes about 30 percent fat, and not much less. Your body needs dietary fat to produce testosterone, so eating like a vegetarian aerobics instructor will cause your testosterone levels to sink drastically. This is bad, unless you actually are a vegetarian aerobics instructor.

Stop Surfing for Porn at 2 a.m.

Sleeping less than seven to eight hours a night can screw up your circadian rhythm. That’s why it’s no wonder your testosterone levels are higher in the morning after a good night’s sleep. So if your work or social schedule keeps you stooped in perpetual jet lag, don’t be surprised if you stop craving sex. At least that’ll make it easier to stay out of bed.

I am a senior so it may not be applicable to your situation. However, my recent blood test revealed a total T of 240 and my endocrinologist said it is still in normal range and nothing to be concerned about..

I’m no doctor, but if treatment means exercising (squats… HIIT should help from what I saw) , healthy diet, sunlight, and proper sleep, then yes.

I was doing all of those things, yet still had low T. Sadly sometimes medicine is the only solution.

I am going to work on all of this. The entire issue is that this is a point-in-time measurement. I remember having had a really stressful night due to work, up late, back up early, and all of those things can reduce that number at that point in time. I may go in for a consultation with them, but not sure I want to commit to treatment until I give myself 6 months to correct it myself. If I cannot at that point, then I’d consider the injections.

I had low T. I’m a regular in the gym too. I fixed it by taking zinc on an empty stomach before bed and increasing fat intake. I’m 25 and now my levels are back in the youthful test range. I was about to be put on TRT so I decided to take my life in my own hands. Lose fat first by lifting weights and diet control. Limit sugar because if you are over weight you are insulin resistant. Losing 10 to 15lbs won’t help if you are 40 lbs overweight so that depends on your current weight. Once you get your weight in check your test will shoot back up. Make sure to eat about tag of healthy fats per day because us men need it to make test. I overcame it without drugs and you can too. It only took me 2 months to fix mine but I attribute it to the zinc at night and healthy fats.

sed, did you take straight zinc or something like ZMA?

Specifically zinc “citrate” capsules. Do not take any other form citrate is the most absorbed by our body and it must be in capsule form. What do you weigh and what is your height?

By the way I told my friend about this when his test got low at 21 and his levels are high again now too. You would be surprised at how being deficient in ONE mineral can cause you to have low T. For good measure try adding vitamin d3 capsules and magnesium as well. You do not want to be a lifetime patient on testosterone when it can easily be cured naturally with a ton of money saved.

I’ve heard too much zinc is unhealthy, and so is zma. I think you should have a look at what you can do by yourself first, and then reassess .

Men need zinc it is something some men are deficient in especially weight lifters but even regular people to. Don’t go by what you’ve “heard” because people hear a lot of things that aren’t true.

Thanks, I’ll look it up.

I have not weighed often, but after a weekend of gluttony, I weighed 209 Sunday Monday morning. I figure that may be 1-2 pounds high due to bloat from the weekend. I’m around 5’10”.

I’m having a lot of debates over this. In 2011, I weighed 160 pounds. I exercised 6 days a week. I ate really, really healthy overall (one cheat meal a week). And then I hurt my shoulders. I had my first shoulder surgery in 2013 and I weighed 179. Now, it seems like no matter how clean I eat, how much I exercise, I have yet to drop below 19% body fat (in 2011 I was still 13% body fat, just not as much muscle). In January I dropped from 215 to 204, but then could not drop below that. I’m wondering if my T levels are just at that point to where most everything else functions well, but I struggle to lose fat.

I think I may take the free consultation with them and just see their thoughts. Right now I’m not sleeping as well (getting to bed too late) and on an antibiotic so all function seems diminished, but I know outside factors are playing into things.

I am thankful to find this post..

I had my blood work done recently and seem low.

A little back story a several years ago I had a testicle removed age 27ish .. The doctor wouldn’t give me an implant so I was kind of pissed off and didn’t go see him for anything but the initial post surgey check up. Over the next year I had weight gain like a bitch.. I found another doctor that was more sensitive to my needs and asked about the weight gain.. He did a surgery for an implant and told me my weight gain wasn’t good.. He wanted to do a blood test. I had it tested.. Very low to no testosterone. I remember it being less than 100 total test. Aged 28ish Went on HRT for a few years.. Test slowly started elevating. After a year or more with monthly checks it kept elevating all the way to around 1300 mark. He asked me to start tapering off more and more HRT until it was such a low does my doctor recommended not using it any longer.. I was cool with that..

Few years later started feeling sluggish.. Had concerns about my levels again and decided to check. That 2nd doctor said I should try an endocrinologist..
Went to a specialist and my numbers were 460 Total and 82.6 free. I was told for my age that number was fine and I really don’t need anything.

The female doctor seem unconcerned and I guess I was relieved not to have to do HRT.. But I still feel sluggish.. Still am over weight which I was NEVER growing up or just before having my testicle removed.. I was a freaking bean pole.. Now I’m 6’1 and weigh 224 with the majority of it in my stomach.. None on the rest of my body. I am very pot bellied and can’t seem to lose it. Before I weight 170.. I gained all the weight in just two months or so.

I’m horny alot.. I have sex alot.. I have no issues getting a boner.. And wake up with morning wood a fair amount. So I am functioning. I feel as though my erection isn’t quiet as big as it once was.. But the quality over all if stimulated is pretty good.

Not sure If I should press this issue.. Or not.. The bad thing is the doctor before removing one of my testicles didn’t have a base T levels for me to compare to. It was removed in an emergency situation.

Not sure where I am going with this.. But it is cool to read some of the stuff.. I am going to revisit the issue once again.. I think I am moderately low.