Hello, I am a 31 year old male. I was hoping someone could help me with my lab results (maybe hayfarmer). I have all the symptoms of low test. My Testosterone has always tested low. After reading some of the stuff on this board I asked for some more detailed testing. It apears that my free/weakly bound testosterone is normal but my total is still way low. Also I am wondering if my LH and FSH are normal or a bit low. ANy help is greatly appreciated.

Serum Test 263
Test % Free+weakly bound 29.2
Test F+W bound 76.8
Dihydrotestosterone 18
LH 4.6
fsh 3.8
IGF-1 219
Estradiol 33
T4 7.6
T3 151
Prolactin 5.3
24 hour urine cortisol 22

I have gotten differing opinions on weather i should have treatment or not
from my doctors. WOuld I be considered primary or secondary? What are your thoughts in regards to if further testing is warranted? Thanks again!

Hello, I am a 31 year old male. I was hoping someone could help me with my lab results (maybe hayfarmer). I have all the symptoms of low test. My Testosterone has always tested low. After reading some of the stuff on this board I asked for some more detailed testing. It apears that my free/weakly bound testosterone is normal but my total is still way low. Also I am wondering if my LH and FSH are normal or a bit low. ANy help is greatly appreciated.

Serum Test 263
Test % Free+weakly bound 29.2
Test F+W bound 76.8
Dihydrotestosterone 18
LH 4.6
fsh 3.8
IGF-1 219
Estradiol 33
T4 7.6
T3 151
Prolactin 5.3
24 hour urine cortisol 22

I have gotten differing opinions on weather i should have treatment or not
from my doctors. WOuld I be considered primary or secondary? What are your thoughts in regards to if further testing is warranted? Thanks again!

With Total T in the 200's, being 31 and with symptoms, you need treatment. Don't any doctor tell you otherwise. The question is what kind of treatment.

Your LH should be sky high for your T being that low. So most likely you are Secondary. Do you have ranges by chance with those levels?

Now you need to find out WHY you have low T. Have you had a Pituitary MRI? If not get one. That will tell you if you have a tumor. If you have no tumor, then the reason for your low T may never be found. (like me) Then you have two choices. You can try a Restart, or start TRT.

In any event you need to find a good doctor. Otherwise you'll be wasting time and money.

I agree with Lewis. ALso, your estradiol seems kind of high for such a low T level. Free T may be in range on % but it is also fairly low. You do appear to be secondary. In addition to an MRI I would check total estrogen and estradiol again. Or, you could try a few weeks on clomid (25 to 50 mg/day) and then retest total T, and LH and see if it has a big effect. The clomid can block the excess estrogen from binding to receptors in the hypothalmus. If that is the problem then you should see LH and T go up significantly.

I would also check iron to rule out hemochromatosis (iron, feriritin, TIBC, saturation %).

If you care about fertility then be careful as to what treatment you end up on. T replacement without HCG will make you fairly infertile. Unfotunately you need a doctor who is knowledgeable and/or cooperative for all this. You may have to travel if you can't find one. Where do you live?

Also, the cortisol is a little high. I suspect it will come down when T goes up once you resolve the low T. But check it again once you get the T issue resolved. I had the same issue and mine came down as T went up.

Thank you very much for your responses. You dont know how much it means because I am so frustrated with my docotrs. My normal doctor is ready to start T replacement. I dont want to start it until we have ruled out all possible causes. He sent me to a endo and the endo says I am fine and no need for anything which just blows me away.

In regards to the hemochromatosis, is that caused by high iron? I have had my iron checked not too long agao and it was actually on the low side. I believe the saturation was high but the doc says that was consistant with the low iron number. Beccause all my other blood counts were fine he was not worried about the low iron.

I live in Atlanta, GA. Does anyone know a doctor in this area that treats this or would work with Dr. Chrisler? I have talked to Dr. Chrisler's ofice but there is no way I could go up there currently. I havent found a doctor here that really was interested in consulting with him.

I posted the lab reference ranges next to the numbers below if that is of any further help. Thanks again.





Serum Test 263 241- 827
Test % Free+weakly bound 29.2 9.0 - 46.0
Test F+W bound 76.8 40- 250
Dihydrotestosterone 18
LH 4.6 1.5 - 9.3
fsh 3.8 1.4 - 18.1
IGF-1 219 115 - 307
Estradiol 33 0 - 53
T4 7.6
T3 151 85-205
Prolactin 5.3 2.1 - 17.7
24 hour urine cortisol 22 0 - 50

What were your iron numbers? Can you get them? My wife has hemochromatosis so she is very knowledgeable on it. Her doctor told her that her iron numbers looked fine too but he was wrong. She says having high saturation is a bad sign.....but how high is it? Post all 4 numbers if you have them. It is possible to have HH and your iron number be low at the same time. For example if you were a vegetarian you might have low iron but still have HH and high saturation.

I don't know a doctor in Atlanta. There was a good one there but he retired. One guy on this board liked Dr. James Biddle in Asheville NC if you could drive there. I know nothing about him personally though.