Guest guest Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 Hi, T & free T levels are definitely low enough to cause symptoms of hypogonadism. (What are your symptoms? They vary from person to person, and severity might influence treatment methods.) If the endo is smart he'll consider the 9/2/04 levels low enough for treatment, even though they're barely " in range " , probably only that high due to the prior Androgel. FSH and LH are a little low. That could be from suppression by the Androgel, or if it was low before that, it could be a factor in your low T. A great list of tests and their interpretations is available at a s Hopkins site: http://www.hopkins-menshealth.org/ There are a few tests missing from your panel, such as DHEA, SHBG and E2 (estradiol). You should find out if you're hypogonadism is primary (testicles can't make T) or secondary (testicles can make T but aren't). That will let you know if you have a choice between " jump-starting " natural production or using supplemental T (like Androgel). Also, supplemental T can cause infertility; if you want to have children discuss that with your doc. Bruce > First blood test done by PCP on 7/8/04 showed total serum testosterone > level of 189. No other applicable (hormone) testing done. My PCP then > put me on AndroGel in mid-to-late July for about a month but then > referred me to an Endo. Endo stopped AndroGel for just over two weeks > and ran more thorough testing. That testing was on 9/2/04. > > Here are the results of that test: > > FSH = 4.1 (range of 1.4 - 18.1) > LH = 2.7 (range of 1.5 - 9.3) > TSH = 1.62 (range of 0.40 - 5.50) > Prolactin = 9.0 (range 2.0 - 18.0) > > Total Testosterone = 274 (range of 260-1000) * > Free Testosterone = 63.4 (range of 50 - 210) > > * Again note that test on 7/8/04 was 189 in a range of 241 - 827... > and that AndroGel had only been stopped for about 2 1/2 weeks when 2nd > test was performed. > > Any comments by the experts out there would be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 Bruce, Thanks for the info RE: You should find out if you're hypogonadism is primary (testicles can't make T) or secondary (testicles can make T but aren't). That will let you know if you have a choice between " jump-starting " natural production or using supplemental T (like Androgel). Also, supplemental T can cause infertility; if you want to have children discuss that with your doc. How do I found out if primary or secondary? I thought that was what the FSH, LH and Prolactin tests were for??? My Endo won't do DHEA, E2 or SHBG testing. At least at this point. I managed to get a copy of the blood work (which came in today) but still don't see my Endo until 9/23. Was kind of hoping that someone could tell by the FSH, LH and Prolactin eradings if it was primary or secondary.... I'm 53, with grown kids and 10 grandchildren so have no desire for fertility (in fact, had a vasectomy years and years ago). Yes, I agree. I think that the 7/08 reading of 189 was more accurate that the higher reading on 9/02 was due to having been on the AndroGel for a month (and while I definitely was NOT " there " yet, I most surely did feel quite a bit better for the last couple of weeks that I was on the AndroGel).... Larry S. Bruce > > First blood test done by PCP on 7/8/04 showed total serum testosterone > > level of 189. No other applicable (hormone) testing done. My PCP then > > put me on AndroGel in mid-to-late July for about a month but then > > referred me to an Endo. Endo stopped AndroGel for just over two weeks > > and ran more thorough testing. That testing was on 9/2/04. > > > > Here are the results of that test: > > > > FSH = 4.1 (range of 1.4 - 18.1) > > LH = 2.7 (range of 1.5 - 9.3) > > TSH = 1.62 (range of 0.40 - 5.50) > > Prolactin = 9.0 (range 2.0 - 18.0) > > > > Total Testosterone = 274 (range of 260-1000) * > > Free Testosterone = 63.4 (range of 50 - 210) > > > > * Again note that test on 7/8/04 was 189 in a range of 241 - 827... > > and that AndroGel had only been stopped for about 2 1/2 weeks when 2nd > > test was performed. > > > > Any comments by the experts out there would be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 I'm not qualified to distinguish between primary and secondary, from your test info. Perhaps someone else here is. Your endo should be able to tell, or run additional tests if needed. Results do show your pituitary gland is working. I don't know whether it's working well enough to tell the testicles to make T, or if your testicles will make T when they get the message to do so. IMO, because fertility is not an issue, T replacement is a good option. HCG to restart natural T might be an option, but I don't have personal experience with it. Bruce > > > First blood test done by PCP on 7/8/04 showed total serum testosterone > > > level of 189. No other applicable (hormone) testing done. My PCP then > > > put me on AndroGel in mid-to-late July for about a month but then > > > referred me to an Endo. Endo stopped AndroGel for just over two weeks > > > and ran more thorough testing. That testing was on 9/2/04. > > > > > > Here are the results of that test: > > > > > > FSH = 4.1 (range of 1.4 - 18.1) > > > LH = 2.7 (range of 1.5 - 9.3) > > > TSH = 1.62 (range of 0.40 - 5.50) > > > Prolactin = 9.0 (range 2.0 - 18.0) > > > > > > Total Testosterone = 274 (range of 260-1000) * > > > Free Testosterone = 63.4 (range of 50 - 210) > > > > > > * Again note that test on 7/8/04 was 189 in a range of 241 - 827... > > > and that AndroGel had only been stopped for about 2 1/2 weeks when 2nd > > > test was performed. > > > > > > Any comments by the experts out there would be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2006 Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 Hey Cardcr - you have to look at where you are on the range. At your previous value of 230 you were below range. Under the new value you were 6.555 on a scale o 10.7 or 70% of the range which is good. 70% of the earlier range would have been 70% of 800 or 560. My guess is your E2 is high - that's what killed my libido and caused ED issues. The other factor is how long you were low on T. I would demand an E2 test and consider trying cialis. Your uro should be able to give you a sample. Arkansas cardcr <cardcr@...> wrote: Hi, My internist usually checks my testosterone levels but when I went to my Urologist he insisted on taking over my low T problem. His first test of my levels came in the mail today and it is not in a format that I have seen before. Usually I am around 230 in a 260 to 800 scale. But I am now on a double dose of Testim and this new test says result is 6.550ng/ml on a scale of 2.700-10.700. I gues its a matter of moving the decimal point? Am I at 600 on the old scale? Its difficult to get with my Urologist to find answers and he is not interested in the other problems like testicle shrinkage and estrogen increase. If my levels are in the good range then I guess I have something else going on becuse my erections fail or are difficult to maintain. I do not have ED because Viagra does not help and I am in good health at the age of 47. No overweight issues or other problems. Whats up? High E2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.