What's Normal

[Guest guest]

Here is a good write-up I found on the internet for what is a normal T range and

where it came from. My discussion question is at the end:

Arkansas

The “normal range” usually reported on a laboratory report runs from about

290 to 900 ng/dl. The problem with this “normal range” is that it is determined

by using a standard Gaussian distribution (bell-shaped curve) of all of the

patients who, at one time or another, for various reasons have had their blood

tested for testosterone. The lower number is equal to two standard deviations

below the average and the higher number two above it. Two standard deviations

means that if you are below the 290, then your testosterone level is in the

bottom 2.5 percent of all male testosterone levels. Unfortunately, most doctors

think that if the test value falls in the “normal” range, then there is no

problem. What they don’t understand is that the groups of men that form the

basis of this normal range at most laboratories are not homogeneous. They can

be 80 years old, or 20 years old; they can be chronically ill, or very healthy;

they can be obese or thin; and they can be under

a great deal of stress or stress free. All of these conditions can profoundly

alter a man’s testosterone level.

The medical definition of hypogonadism generally uses a level below 300

ng/dl because virtually all men below this range exhibit the signs and symptoms

discussed above. But what about a level of 350 or 450 ng/dl? The difference

between a man with this level and a man who meets the cut off for “hypogonadism”

is less than between him and a man with a level of 800 ng/dl. And what about

the average level of about 600; is it adequate or does a man with a level of 900

feel better, have denser bones, stronger muscles, and greater sexual potency? A

clue to the answer is thinking back to how you felt when you were 18 years old,

a time when testosterone levels run between about 800 and 1500. A more

scientific clue is the number of studies that have shown improvements in

strength, muscle, and libido when middle aged men with “normal” testosterone

levels have those levels boosted with TRT to the high end of normal or even

above that. Why then should a man be denied treatment

if his testosterone level is 500 ng/dl and has only a mild degree of decreased

libido and only slightly reduced musculature? This gets us to the heart of the

issue when debating the use of testosterone as an anti-aging therapy.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

There really have been no long term scientific studies to address TRT for men.

This is a drug that is easily found to be (well I feel this good at say 600

ng/dl what about 800 or 1000 or 1200 - more is better). Once we get above the

average (600) we are in an area that has not been evaluated long term. Is it OK

to keep your body functioning on a 18 year old level long term? Or is the more

appropriate thing to do is keep it average or slightly above (600-800)? Since

most of us are giving ourselves shots and control what we shoot to some degree,

what is the right message to send out to people on this forum? Or, if you are

more mature (I didn't want to say old) - just kidding - are higher levels

appropriate to address joint pain?

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