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I'll try to keep this long story short. For over a couple of years now

I've been having low test sides. My sex drive is now non existent and is causing relationship problems for me. So I went to the endo last summer and had blood work done. I've had 3 tests over the course of the last year to confirm the problem. I am 27yrs old.
Here are the blood results from 3 different blood tests over the year.

Total Serum Test 527-613ng

Free Test 1.0-1.4%

Free Test 23-31pg

SHBG 33-65nmol

Salivary Cortisol .9-1.7

Serum/Plasma Cortisol 7.7ug

Norepinephrine, Plasma 250pg

Epinephrine Plasma 48pg

Free Thyroxine 1.17ng

Thyroxine 11ug

Thyroid, Insulin Resistance, and Cortisol seemed to check out. I had a Pituitary MRI the checked out fine. I was however found to have very low levels of Vitamin D, so I have supplemented that for 12 months. Looking back this a almost certainly a lifelong condition as I've dealt with similar symptoms all my life. My questions why are my free test levels so low and what can I do to feel better?

Symptoms/History: My body has gone from "in shape" 10%BF, to skinny fat with a spare tire that WILL NOT go away regardless of proper diet/training. I lost some musclemass over the last 2 years in spite of heavy Main lifts and Olympic weightlifting. Morning errections are getting rare with about 3 per week max. Errections are becoming more and more of a problem, Interest in sex is non existent. I'm Generell motivation and memory are all all bad. Is hormone replacement the best option for my symptoms or should I try another route? I believe I'm too young to get Hormon replacement therapy and want to get to the root of the problem and solve this puzzle.

Thanks in advance for any useful input

sebastian

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6 Answers

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If you are eating low carbs(less than 100-150g) you probably need more carbohydrate. Thyroxine(t4) isn't active thyroid hormone so it's not the best test for thyroid function.

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Yes, I'am constantly under 100g Carbs a day. I don't tolerate them that well as I get gas from Rice, sweet potatoes and fruit. – sebastian Apr 27 2012 at 12:04
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try different fruits or honey. – cliff Apr 27 2012 at 13:03
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have you tried white potatoes? You will probably get gas at first if you haven't been eating these foods for awhile while your gut bacteria adjust. – cliff Apr 27 2012 at 13:04
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I see you take a bunch of supplements, I would drop those besides maybe the vitamin D but definitely get rid of the fish oil. – cliff Apr 27 2012 at 13:06
will try both, getting rid of the potatoes and the fishoil – sebastian Apr 27 2012 at 13:07
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Was it your doctor who told you that this was a sex hormone problem? Because your test results look normal. Testosterone levels vary widely between individuals, and high testosterone doesn't automatically mean more libido, just as lower doesn't mean less. Your total testosterone level is well within the normal range, even for your age. If you're having three morning erections a week, that too, is normal for your age. Maybe it's less often than you are accustomed to, but it's still normal.

Things like libido and athletic performance are not simply a matter of sex hormones. Other hormones and nutrients can affect them. If you stay fixed on the idea that this is a male problem, it may lead you down the wrong path and do you a lot of harm.

In short, I think going on hormone replacement therapy, at your age, with those test results, would be a huge mistake, and one you might pay for for the rest of your life. If any of your doctors is seriously considering putting you on TRT, I'd have to question their competence.

Have you ever taken anabolic steroids?

How often are you training, and how intensely?

What was your vitamin D level? What are you supplementing with, and how much? And was a follow-up test done to see if the level has come up? I think that is more likely to be connected with your symptoms than your male hormones.

If the D is normal, then I would look elsewhere. Leave your nads alone, they're doing their job just fine ;)

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I supplement with Fishoil, and VitD gelcaps (5000IU daily) and recently started taking zink/maca/tribulus/chrysin/Piperine/nettleroot extract I've never taken steroids and I'm not planning to do so nor going on HRT but my siutuation right now is unbearable for me and my girlfriend. What concerns me is my non-existent libido and the difficulty to get it up. I think no one can imagine how it feels to be constantly not interested in sex at all. It's horrible. I also noticed that my personality changed to a more passive one, friends who havent seen me in years are commenting on that as well. – sebastian Apr 27 2012 at 12:02
I'm not looking for reasons to justify taking HRT. I want to get to the root of the problem. I'm considering to get a consultation with Chris Kresser which includes a lot of labtesting but his consultations are booked out until late June. – sebastian Apr 27 2012 at 12:10
My training regime looks like this: 2-3 times heavy lifting, low reps. duration under 40 minutes. I also take reagular off weeks and I even took 2 months off completely in winter to see what happens -no difference. – sebastian Apr 27 2012 at 12:12
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Start with herbal treatments for low test (HGW/Mucuna Pruriens/Zinc.) Take it for 2 months and get bloodwork done again and see if anything improves.

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thanks! started a zink/maca/tribulus/chrysin/Piperine/nettleroot extract protocol last week – sebastian Apr 27 2012 at 11:56
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Hi there, im not sure but my testosterone are *4.5 is that normal ?

Could someone send me a email to toyota_nj@hotmail.com please

Because my doctor said that its really low and i need to go for treatment on my brain ?

If someone can help please give me some ideas

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raw meat, you'll see.

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Low testosterone levels may be caused by a number of factors. For example – there may be a problem at the level of the hypothalamus or pituitary to produce appropriate amounts of LH and FSH to stimulate testosterone production. Another possibility is that the organs that make testosterone do not function normally or are not able to respond to stimulation by the brain. Also, as mentioned, changes in SHBG can affect for the amount of testosterone that is available to exert its effects. There are many ways to increase sexual stamina & testosterone level naturally.

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