Testosterone levels

I recently went to the doc for some kidney concerns (turns out my whey protein and I disagree) and he did some additional tests since I've been feeling tired, run down and my libido leaves a bit to be desired. This has been bothering me for a few years so I thought I should have it checked out while I was there.

I'm not sure what to make of the testosterone results.
Total testos 9.0 Reference 6.9 - 23.6 nmol/l
SHBG 14.3 Reference 13.3 - 89.5 nmol/l
Free test calculated 258.1 Reference 170.0 - 660.0 pmol/l

It seems a bit low to me but Googling results in a myriad of discussions of what is good or bad depending on your age but the units are usually different. According to the report everything else checks out except for creatinine which worries me a bit.

I'm 40 years old and have been training consistently for about four years. I'd appreciate some input from those in the know.

Do you have previous test results when you weren’t feeling crap? Comparison is always preferable to absolutes. Notwithstanding that your numbers look pretty low. I would go see endocrinologist.

Morrgear wrote: Do you have previous test results when you weren’t feeling crap? Comparison is always preferable to absolutes. Notwithstanding that your numbers look pretty low. I would go see endocrinologist.

They are a bit low, but possible a few weeks of Ovidrel and Arimidex would push those up.. I went on TRT when my total was 7 and free was at 154.. And the endo still believes he can correct it without permanent TRT but I'm on it now until I feel better. However if you dont plan on having anymore kids, TRT may be an option for you, like Morrgear said, check with an endo and see your options.

Unfortunately I don't have any previous results. I've never had any reason to test for test before.

I'll see about making contact with an endocrinologist. Thanks for the comments.

It's definitely low enough to see a specialist. At least you now know where to start to fix your libido and energy levels. Keep us posted.

I have an appointment with a urologist in a few weeks time because the tests also surprised me with a high creatinine reading with GFR estimated at 64. I've done a urine dipstick test a few times (every day, I know I'm paranoid) and it shows negative for protein but I've stopped creatine and whey supplements. There was some flank pain and felt like kidney swelling, but it disappeared almost immediately after I stopped supplementation. I might be worried about nothing, but it's my kidneys...

I'll do a blood test for creatinine again before the appointment and if it is better I'll hunt for an endocronologist to help (there doesn't seem to be too many of them around). It's way too expensive to pay for both out of pocket at the same time.

High creatinine levels are not always an indication of stressed kidneys as you probably know. If you do a blood test the day after a killer workout you'll have often find you have elevated creatinine levels. Increased muscle breakdown -> increased creatinine. Your GFR of 64 is fine, but if you have worrying symptoms go with your gut feeling and get more tests done.

I'm a bit calmer now that I've done a few consecutive days of dipsticks and found now measurable protein. It also helps to vent to complete strangers. Panic stations may have been a bit of an overreaction. Many moons ago when I read slightly elevated levels I assumed 5 or 10 %, not stage 2 chronic kidney disease. I now know there must be other markers as well. Live and learn.

But I do feel great after stopping with supplements, except for the fatigue, general grumpiness and lack of libido, that unfortunately seems unrelated to that specific issue.

I have my first bottles of SARMS waiting for me in the cupboard. I am so itching to try them out. Why can't we just have a convenient OBD plug and read off a list of the broken bits and replace them in an afternoon so we can get back to making gains.

I'm not sure what is going on with my body. My left nipple is on fire. Sort of like extreme tingling and itching. It sounds like gyno issues as I've read about here. I remember this feeling from when I was a teen hitting puberty. Now I'm pretty sure just having my first cycle of SARMS in the cupboard (unused) is not causing this.

To elaborate on what I've already posted.

I saw the doc about my fatigue and libido and we did some tests. Test was super low.

I found a doctor specialising in testosterone. To be sure of my results and to see if my other hormones check out we did a second round of tests and found my testosterone has increased significantly. Test up to 16 (8.0 - 30.0 nmol/L) from 9.

Now at the time I saw the bad creatinine reading after the first test I stopped drinking almost completely. I used to enjoy my drink quite a lot every day for the last almost 20 years, so cutting back from so much alcohol might be responsible for everything going out of whack, but it seems a bit of a stretch.

I feel great, I can focus, I'm like a different person. Tons of energy, libido reminds me of my 20s, actually, probably like the peak in my teens.

Doc thinks I should wait it out, but I don't like the puffiness forming above the left nipple.

I'm seeing my Urologist this year, it seems they're very popular, so there is a wait. I haven't found an Endocronologist yet, they also seem super busy. Probably a good thing because medical was tapped out months ago.

Any suggestions?

Hi Bud.

Alchohol most certainly can play a huge role. Especialy in the amounts that you describe.

Give it time your hormones take 8 to 12 weekz to normalize some guys even longer. The puffyness and pain like you decribe sounds like psuedo gyno most likely due the the hormonal imbalnce that your body is trying to sort out adding something now will only complicate. Give it time and patience.

Thanks Rooi Bul. Lets see how this plays out. After a week of torment I'm feeling a bit better.

Hi Bud.

Keep your weight training sessions heavy and strict but short. Same with Cardio. 30 to 40% of your daily calories from healthy fats to help hormone regulation.

Rooi Bul, the advice and support is appreciated. I think my hormones have pretty much settled and I'm feeling back to my rock solid stable, non estrogenic, self. Not sure what happened but my emotions were all over the place. I have gained some respect for the fairer sex with this experience...

Your doc is right. Your total T increase is excellent and could well increase more if you keep on the track you are now. Puffy nipples after prolonged low T don't disappear in a few weeks, and although it should improve, you're often going to be stuck with some gyno. Give it some time.

It has been a few weeks since my last update, and you the reader can judg by the tone of this post I am feeling less hormonal and much more positive than before. I have some interesting and contradictory information in this update.

Firstly, I feel much better. I switched to the Keto diet to help me rid my belly of some of the fatty goodness I accumulated last year in trying to reach my strength goals. A consequence of cleaning up my diet, and mostly cutting out the drink, is that I feel better than I can recall. I added a hydration protocol with electrolytes to help my kidneys as the last two tests were somewhat worrying.

I had my creatinine checked again recently and the numbers are not where I want them to be but there is a definite improvement over the last test. At the very least, there is no worrying trend.

I don't think I felt this energized even in my 20s. Now two decades later I have more energy than I can recall. Since November last year I've dropped 7% body fat without a noticeable loss of strength.

However, what intrigues me, especially considering how good I feel is the testosterone results. It is worse than the previous tests. Total test is less than 4 nmol/L (should be 8.0-30.0) and free test less than 100 pmol/l (180-739).

This is not what I expected at all...

The urologist still needs to discuss my results, but probably will only be able to comment on the kidney function. I'll need to find another doctor who can dig a bit deeper. One said my previous results were fine, another wanted to treat me for depression and another wanted to bankrupt me with very expensive TRT. The search for a good doc is under way.

Thank you for sharing your story Vojago. I am going through the same thing.

When I joined this forum, guys also suggested a good specialist, and TRT. I am on Nebido now, but 4 years later, and we still battle to get my levels stable.

The Urologist says he doesn't understand why my body uses so much Testosterone.

Your comment about "understanding the fairer sex better" is so true. With my levels going up and down, up and down, ..... I go through various emotional phases, ranging from wanting to cry for a few days, to being just ok for a week or 2, to feeling irritated (levels start to drop again), to depression and waking up tired (levels are low again, and I get my next injection ..... and the cycle repeats).

I am also trying a different doctor now. Thank you for sharing.

Colt wrote: Thank you for sharing your story Vojago. I am going through the same thing.

When I joined this forum, guys also suggested a good specialist, and TRT. I am on Nebido now, but 4 years later, and we still battle to get my levels stable.

The Urologist says he doesn't understand why my body uses so much Testosterone.

Your comment about "understanding the fairer sex better" is so true. With my levels going up and down, up and down, ..... I go through various emotional phases, ranging from wanting to cry for a few days, to being just ok for a week or 2, to feeling irritated (levels start to drop again), to depression and waking up tired (levels are low again, and I get my next injection ..... and the cycle repeats).

I am also trying a different doctor now. Thank you for sharing.

Just a note on 'using allot of testosterone'.. I have something similar, but it's not 'using lots of testosterone', the half life is not being listened too in my body, so my injection protocol has been brought down from the typical 2 weeks, to 1 weeks to now every 5 days, using Testosterone Cyp.. Maybe you have something similar and need more frequent shots as the rest is not sticking around to be absorbed.

Good luck

vojago wrote: It has been a few weeks since my last update, and you the reader can judg by the tone of this post I am feeling less hormonal and much more positive than before. I have some interesting and contradictory information in this update.

Firstly, I feel much better. I switched to the Keto diet to help me rid my belly of some of the fatty goodness I accumulated last year in trying to reach my strength goals. A consequence of cleaning up my diet, and mostly cutting out the drink, is that I feel better than I can recall. I added a hydration protocol with electrolytes to help my kidneys as the last two tests were somewhat worrying.

I had my creatinine checked again recently and the numbers are not where I want them to be but there is a definite improvement over the last test. At the very least, there is no worrying trend.

I don't think I felt this energized even in my 20s. Now two decades later I have more energy than I can recall. Since November last year I've dropped 7% body fat without a noticeable loss of strength.

However, what intrigues me, especially considering how good I feel is the testosterone results. It is worse than the previous tests. Total test is less than 4 nmol/L (should be 8.0-30.0) and free test less than 100 pmol/l (180-739).

This is not what I expected at all...

The urologist still needs to discuss my results, but probably will only be able to comment on the kidney function. I'll need to find another doctor who can dig a bit deeper. One said my previous results were fine, another wanted to treat me for depression and another wanted to bankrupt me with very expensive TRT. The search for a good doc is under way.

hmm, that doesn't add up.. re-check your bloods, maybe the lab guy/girl was high when testing..

00pump wrote:

Colt wrote: Thank you for sharing your story Vojago. I am going through the same thing.

When I joined this forum, guys also suggested a good specialist, and TRT. I am on Nebido now, but 4 years later, and we still battle to get my levels stable.

The Urologist says he doesn't understand why my body uses so much Testosterone.

Your comment about "understanding the fairer sex better" is so true. With my levels going up and down, up and down, ..... I go through various emotional phases, ranging from wanting to cry for a few days, to being just ok for a week or 2, to feeling irritated (levels start to drop again), to depression and waking up tired (levels are low again, and I get my next injection ..... and the cycle repeats).

I am also trying a different doctor now. Thank you for sharing.

Just a note on 'using allot of testosterone'.. I have something similar, but it's not 'using lots of testosterone', the half life is not being listened too in my body, so my injection protocol has been brought down from the typical 2 weeks, to 1 weeks to now every 5 days, using Testosterone Cyp.. Maybe you have something similar and need more frequent shots as the rest is not sticking around to be absorbed.

Good luck

Wow, thank you for mentioning this. I did not know. But now that you mention it, it makes logical sense, our bodies are all different.

Wow, I never thought of this.

00pump wrote: hmm, that doesn't add up.. re-check your bloods, maybe the lab guy/girl was high when testing..

Pump, that is a fair point. Let me counter it with the following. My wife pointed out I have once again been neglecting my husbandly duties. It seem this has been the case for weeks now I'm just a typical man who doesn't notice... I (cough) assessed my situation and it seems the boys have closed shop.

It is strange that I feel ok and that my energy levels are better than last year. Perhaps the very clean diet, and no alcohol is helping.

Colt, thanks for chiming in. I never realised test could be such an issue. The more I Google it the more men seem to have this kind of problem. That in itself is a relief.

I've had three tests done since November. The first one was concerning, second seemed ok, and now this one is bad again. I'm sure whatever doc evaluates this situation will want to run more tests to be sure.

Also ask your doctor to test your Vit D level.

Vit D is very important in regulating good hormone levels, including testosterone.

I see your scale varies from my scale.

My testosterone was 6.3 (should be between 13 - 27)

And my vit D was 23 (should be 60 - according to which doctor you listen, but you can Google it). Doctors vary about this one. I watched a UK documentary (lack of sun there, so lack of vit D), and that doctor prefers a vit D level of 60.

Once again, back to finding a good doctor. My GP look at vit D, 23, and said, good.
My endocrinologist looked at the same number, 23, and said, sjoe, this is too low.

vojago wrote:

00pump wrote: hmm, that doesn't add up.. re-check your bloods, maybe the lab guy/girl was high when testing..

Colt, thanks for chiming in. I never realised test could be such an issue. The more I Google it the more men seem to have this kind of problem. That in itself is a relief.

quote]


I was also shy to talk about it, even to my doctor. And in the last 4 years, I realised it is quite a common thing today, with our unhealthy modern lifestyles - much more common than we think.

Since then, family and friends heard about this, and some of their male friends went for these tests, and had the same problem. I was surprised, and also happy that my results were able to help other people ask their doctors for answers.

Colt wrote: Also ask your doctor to test your Vit D level.

Vit D is very important in regulating good hormone levels, including testosterone.

I see your scale varies from my scale.

My testosterone was 6.3 (should be between 13 - 27)

And my vit D was 23 (should be 60 - according to which doctor you listen, but you can Google it). Doctors vary about this one. I watched a UK documentary (lack of sun there, so lack of vit D), and that doctor prefers a vit D level of 60.

Once again, back to finding a good doctor. My GP look at vit D, 23, and said, good.
My endocrinologist looked at the same number, 23, and said, sjoe, this is too low.

Very true, and most of us sit around the 20s... The problem is being able to absorb the iron, that rubbish they sell at the pharmacies (cholecalciferol) doesn't work well without some sun light exposure. There is a vitamin D that compounding pharma make and I had to take 2x 5000iu eod for 2 months for mine to raise to 70, I am now on 3x per week and will do more bloods in a month to find the maintenance dose..

vojago wrote:

00pump wrote: hmm, that doesn't add up.. re-check your bloods, maybe the lab guy/girl was high when testing..

Pump, that is a fair point. Let me counter it with the following. My wife pointed out I have once again been neglecting my husbandly duties. It seem this has been the case for weeks now I'm just a typical man who doesn't notice... I (cough) assessed my situation and it seems the boys have closed shop.

It is strange that I feel ok and that my energy levels are better than last year. Perhaps the very clean diet, and no alcohol is helping.

Colt, thanks for chiming in. I never realised test could be such an issue. The more I Google it the more men seem to have this kind of problem. That in itself is a relief.

I've had three tests done since November. The first one was concerning, second seemed ok, and now this one is bad again. I'm sure whatever doc evaluates this situation will want to run more tests to be sure.

Sounds like you do have chronic low testosterone that may very well need medical treatment.. Unless you trying to have a kid or even if you are I would take the easy route and go on TRT and use Ovidrel until such a time as I brave another attempt at kickstarting my own testosterone production. Everything was looking better but if you have no drive then I'm thinking that blood result may be fairly accurate.

Did some more bloods and testosterone came back lower, very low. Many tests and scans later, this doc is thorough it seems, I have been diagnosed with hypogonadism.

My question is, with such low testosterone, and as a result, pretty much non existent estrogen, what is this doing to my joints? How serious is low estrogen when training? I'll be starting treatment soon, but till then, am I harming my joints if I lift heavy, or even moderate weights? How much damage could this have done if I've had low test for a while?