TRT and high Free Testostrerone

[1959er]

Hey Guys,

Rarely post here, but love this site and visit pretty much every day. Thank you Dylan for being such a class act and such a help to so many.

About me: 57 yr/old
Heavy weight lifter, almost 40 years (still squatting 495 weekly)
5' 11" / 225 lbs (BF estimate 15%)
Never did a steroid (until now) or pro-hormone in my life. (Just Sarms from SamrsX!)

Couple questions for the resident experts. My Urologist put me on TRT about 18 weeks ago. (Total Test was: 250 ng/Dl. Had all the classic symptoms.)

Let me say, my Urologist is a top doc in the Philly area, but is definitely 'old school' when it comes to TRT. Of course, he wanted to start me on Androgel, but I requested the Cypionate route, and he obliged.

Starting dose: 100 MG Test Cyp IM per wk. My total test would peak to >500 but would trough to 300 by week's end. Little improvement in symptoms.

Surprisingly, he doubled my dose for the next 8 weeks to 200 mg/Wk.

Felt tons better, and before my follow up visit with him, he requested blood work done the day after my 8th wk injection of 200 mg (Peak), and again, six days later (the day before seeing him -Trough).

Up till then, he had only requested 'Total Test' levels. (old school) along with other bloods...Prostate, Hepatic, LFT etc...all normal. But, he hadn't tested my 'Free Testosterone."

Well, after my 8 weeks at 200 Mg Cyp, the blood tests showed my peak total test: 972, and my trough total test: 743. Nice. Felt great.

HOWEVER, my "Free Testosterone (Direct)" = 40.9! Labcorp's normal reference range: 7.2 - 24.0 pg/mL!

Of course that was a massive red flag for him (which I guess it should be) so we've dropped the dose to 150Mg/wk and we'll take it from there.

That was a long round-about explanation to get to my questions:

1) What are some likely/possible causes for this High Free Test reading?

2) Are there things I should be doing/taking to control that besides lowering the dose of the Cyp> (Which of course we are doing)

3) I have been running LGD & S-4 alongside of my TRT. (Wonderful), but would they in any way contribute to a high free test reading? Asking out of ignorance there.

Thanks guys. Greatly appreciate any insights.

 

[RickRock]

The sarms aren't affecting your numbers at all.

Are you taking any Ai? Do you know where your estrogen levels Are? Lowering shbg can increase free test which happens if you are taking aromasin


I'd see where the 150mg per week puts you. That may be perfect to keep everything where it needs to be

 

[Saiyan]

I don't have the knowledge that can give you a complete answer for these. But I don't see too much of an issue of having free test. That's basically what's free for your body to utilize where it sees fit. Mine was also high last blood draw and the doc didn't even feel the need to mention it!


Robolics Representative. PM for details.

 

[1959er]

Rick, I don't know where my estrogen levels are. And I am not taking an AI. I've not felt any gyno effects at 200mg/wk.

That idea of low shbg has me curious though. My Doc doesn't test for any of that. Perhaps I should request it next go-around if free test is still high? Thx Rick

 

[RedMorkai]

The SARMs I don't believe will affect free test. Are you using an AI along with your TRT? An AI can lower your SBHG which in turn gives a high free test. SBHG acts as a carrier protein for test, having too low levels can be problematic.

 

[RedMorkai]

Just read you're not taking an AI, not sure what to make of all that. The information on SHBG is very limited unfortunately.

 

[Wesley Sniper]

Rick, I don't know where my estrogen levels are. And I am not taking an AI. I've not felt any gyno effects at 200mg/wk.

That idea of low shbg has me curious though. My Doc doesn't test for any of that. Perhaps I should request it next go-around if free test is still high? Thx Rick

Just because you're not feeling the effects of elevated estrogen, doesn't necessarily mean your estrogen isn't high. I am currently on a TRT dose of 100mg per week and like yourself, my doctor never bothered checking my estrogen levels. I had them checked on my own through Privatemdlabs and turns out my E2 level was at 160.


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[DylanGemelli]

Just because you're not feeling the effects of elevated estrogen, doesn't necessarily mean your estrogen isn't high. I am currently on a TRT dose of 100mg per week and like yourself, my doctor never bothered checking my estrogen levels. I had them checked on my own through Privatemdlabs and turns out my E2 level was at 160.


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exactly bro... i had the same thing going on, granted i was using tren but i generally stay elevated with estrogen levels... if you look at sarms bloodwork over and over again... it shows to raise lh and fsh every single time but has a slight drop in total test... on trt, that would NEVER happen... NEVER... it literally has not one thing to do with them

 

[1959er]

Just because you're not feeling the effects of elevated estrogen, doesn't necessarily mean your estrogen isn't high. I am currently on a TRT dose of 100mg per week and like yourself, my doctor never bothered checking my estrogen levels. I had them checked on my own through Privatemdlabs and turns out my E2 level was at 160.


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Good word from experience there bro Thank you.