Gimzim's Blood Results

Member Stories Lab Tests
#1

Hey guys, I’ve finally got some blood tests back. Here are the results:

  • Testosterone came out 15.5 nmol/L (8-27 range). On American measurements, I believe this would be 442 (228-794). The Doctor marked this as ‘normal’

  • Estradiol came back as <46 pmol/L (range was up to 191 pmol/L). Again, in American measurements I believe this would be 12.5 pg/ml. Again, this was marked as normal.

  • Prolactin came back as 112 mu/L. I wasn’t given a range, but I after looking online I saw the reference range is to aim for below 400 mu/L. Again, the doctor marked this as ‘normal’.

In addition to these three, I was given a few more tests. These included Thyroid, which indicated normal (Serum TSH level 0.78 mu/L (0.3-5.5)). And Albumin, which indicated normal (Serum albumin 47 g/L (30-50)). Although I requested, and was promised, free testosterone, I was not given this after all.

So what’s the verdict? While the doctor marked all this as normal, I believe that I don’t yet know enough, and that there are indications something is wrong. In particular, the total testosterone level is in my opinion very low for my age (I’m 22). In addition, how can I know what’s going on if I don’t know the free testosterone values?

On the plus side, at least I can rule out high estradiol and prolactin as causing the problem.

What do you guys think about this? Is this normal? Should I go back to the doc and demand some more tests be done, or should I try and treat this myself? And if I need more tests, what should I get?

And another thought…could it be that my estradiol is too low? Is that possible?

Cheers,
Gim

#2

You can always get more testing done… T levels are mid-range but without Free/Bioavailable T, dunno how much of that is actually available to the body. Likewise, DHT.

There are many other tests you can try, if your doc is open to it, so it’s up to you if you want to push further.

#3

You know you have sexual dysfunction and that finasteride changed something in your body to cause it - it’s just a matter of determining what. You’re not necessarily gonna get that answer by looking at a few things; you need to view the whole picture before you exclude it. i.e., a number of victims have reported above range DHT, which is rather peculiar.

I myself at one point was recorded at a Total T level of ~600, while feeling as awful as ever. Shows me it’s probably not just this one factor that’s the source of the problem. Also, to paraphrase a journal of Andrology’s report, at least 400 serum T is preferred for nocturnal erections, 500 for intercourse and 600 for sexual desire, so your T level is unlikely optimal/ideal.

You’ve got to work at this from the P.O.V. of your symptoms, and seek treatment accordingly. Don’t just give up when one inquisition turns up benign. I would firstly complain about the absence of the free T test, and implore him to provide a snapshot of the very hormone fin affects (DHT) as well as other avenues to explore any abnormality fin could have caused peripherally (adrenals, gonadotropins, etc). And if you can’t get an erection at all these days, some Viagra might be in order to keep your penile tissue vascular.

#4

Just to be clear: This user took 1 Finasteride pill, but his issues he believes stem from use of Saw Palmetto.

propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2195

#5

Thanks Mew - I can accidentally throw everyone in the same boat sometimes. Even so, I stand by my advice - just replace fin w/ SP when reading. :stuck_out_tongue:

#6

Thanks for the responses guys. I’m certainly not going to leave things as they are and accept the Doctor’s verdict. Clearly, something is going on. I haven’t had a single morning erection in the last two months. Whether I need to test for more, or if the estradiol is the problem, I don’t know. What I do know is that something isn’t right.

It does seem that the estradiol should be higher, and in fact on many anabolic forums people report these symptoms when it’s this low. It would’ve really helped my case if the lab had a lower range for normal estradiol. As far as they’re concerned, zero estradiol would be perfectly healthy.

It’s just an uphill struggle really. I wish I could walk into the Doctor’s surgery and have him accept that there is a problem, and that we need to find out what it is. Instead I’m having to argue just to get basic bloods done while I’m offered viagra left right and centre.

Still, I’m going to persevere with this. Even if it takes me the next six months to find out what’s going on, and even if I end up having to take a cocktail of hormone replacements, I will solve this eventually.

#7

T converts to Estradiol as well as DHT…having low levels of T can cause low levels of Estradiol as well.

#8

Hey everyone,

It’s been a while since I’ve given you an update, and that’s because it’s taken a long time for me to get my blood results back.

I’ve now at long last got them back, and in full. The only problem is…I’m suspicious that my doctor and/or his lab don’t know what they’re doing - based on some strange range estimates. Essentially my problems are twofold:

  1. His lab identified my FSH as abnormal, but the range he’s got for his sample is different to any I’ve seen before. Under most ranges, mine seems normal.
  2. His lab identified my estradiol as normal, but in this case I think the problem is the opposite. Most ranges would indicate mine is too low.

I’d appreciate any other thoughts on the panel as a whole. I believe my overall T levels are OK based on this, but I suspect low estradiol may be causing my problems, and is potentially the reason behind my feeling better on Saw Palmetto (which increases the amount of T available for aromatization and apparently may directly increase aromatization also).
Why I would have low estradiol in the first place is anybody’s guess.

I’ve presented these in American units as well as the British units I was given, since I know people are more familiar with the former.

So, the results…drumroll

In fully British values

Total testosterone 21 nmol/L (10-30 nmol/L)
Free Testosterone 15.6 pg/ml (7.2-23 pg/mL)
Estradiol 19.2 pmol/L (<40 pmol/L)
SHBG 37 nmol/L (10-80 nmol/L)
Prolactin 184 IU/L (86-324)

FSH 4.1 mIU/mL (6-24 mIU/mL)
LH 4.0 mIU/mL (1-8.4 mIU/mL)

T3 2.2 nmol/L (1.3-3.1 nmol/L)
T4 87 nmol/L (59-154 nmol/L)
Glucose 5.2 nmol/L (3.9-6.4 nmol/L)

Some converted to American Units

Testosterone = 631ng/dl (288-864)
Free Testosterone = 15.6 pg/ml (7.2-23)
Estradiol = 5.2 pg/ml (range <10.8 pg/ml)
Prolactin = 184 IU/L (range 86-324)
SHBG = 37 nmol/l (10-80 nmol/L)

FSH = 4.1 mIU/mL (6-24 mIU/mL)
LH = 4.0 mIU/mL (1-8.4 mIU/mL)

T3 = 2.2 nmol/L (1.1-3.1 nmol/L)
T4 = 87 nmol/L (59 – 154 nmol/L)
Glucose = 5.2 nmol/L (3.9-6.4 nmol/L)