Optimal Total Testosterone Levels

October 21, 2010

I've been thinking about this and wanted to think out loud here. In women, some

are naturally high estrogen and some low. The high estrogen ones are busty with

hourglass figures. The low estrogen ones are like Olympic volleyball players,

tall, lean, fairly flat. This is genetic and many of the women from the same

family will have the same body type. I'm guessing if you were to measure their

estradiol levels, one type would be high, and the other low, but this is NORMAL

for them. Both types can be healthy and reproduce.

I would expect the same thing for men. Some men are big, brawny, and muscular.

Others are just not as muscular. And this is whether either type works out or

not. In fact, some men who work out just never get big, while others bulk up.

I'm assuming this has to do with natural testosterone levels.

Well, if your body type upon graduating high school was lean, and all the men in

your family are built that way, that seems to me to point to a naturally lower

testosterone level. I believe how deep your voice is, is another indicator. DH

is one of 4 boys, all average height and weight, not bulked up, with alto as

opposed to bass voices. 3/4 have biological kids (1 married too late). So now

I'm wondering if this ideal goal to have total testosterone around 850+ is just

an overdose for some, and that's why it's all turning to estradiol. Dr. no

says 650 is adequate, and I've found other sites that say 500+.

Well, you guys won't believe this, but DH is now taking .1 ml (20 mg) of TC

every 5 days. His total T tested at 862 on day 3 on 32 mg, so I figured he had

room to lower. He hasn't crashed yet and actually seems to be doing better. We

also added 25 mcg levothyroxine to his Erfa thyroid dose to raise his T4 into

range, and that might be helping him use less TC too.

Apparently thyroid raises SHBG, and adequate SHBG is necessary to make

testosterone last. I believe Dr. no said SHBG should be between 30-40.

The lower your SHBG, the more often you'll have to dose the testosterone. It

seems to me that quite a few of you could use thyroid meds too.

He does use a dab of my progesterone on his balls every night, so that may be

another source of T, don't know. I'd read somewhere that was a good way to

counter estrogen. It does help him sleep and may also be a source of cortisol

for him.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Barb

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