What is the current explanation for our consistent low LH levels despite low T. We all know that a lack of T or any other sex hormone causes a big increase in LH. So why do we have low/mid LH levels despite having low T?
Thanks
No one has any explanation for this? That is very weird! I
I am really waiting for some explanations on this. With all the theories flying around here they should all have an explanation for this phenomenon. If they do not then the theories are probably invalid.
Wikipedia has a list of reasons for low LH here. I’m sure you’ve already seen this. I would think the PFSF would be looking at this in their tests. Sure will be nice to have some real science on our condition.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luteinizing_hormone
Deficient LH activity[edit source]
Diminished secretion of LH can result in failure of gonadal function (hypogonadism). This condition is typically manifest in males as failure in production of normal numbers of sperm. In females, amenorrhea is commonly observed. Conditions with very low LH secretions are:
Kallmann syndrome
Hypothalamic suppression
Hypopituitarism
Eating disorder
Female athlete triad
Hyperprolactinemia
Hypogonadism
Gonadal suppression therapy
GnRH antagonist
GnRH agonist (downregulation)
Availability[edit source]
With all these things you should be able to bypass the pituritary by using HCG, HMG or testosterone. So ultimately if for some reason your LH was deficient simply cause the pituitary could not produce enough you would be fixed by taking any of the 3 things mentioned. The problem is that pretty much every PFSer is not fixed by these things. Many do report short term benefits on T.
I think it important to look at these 2 things together:
- Low LH with low Test
- Short term benefits on T
The only conclusion I can come up with is that a metabolite of testosterone is causing LH suppression when I inject test I feel great for a week. But that metabolite builds up even more and after a week I feel bad and most of the benefits of T are gone.
So to me it seems like the pituitary knows that our hormonal system is broken and if it increases LH to increase testosterone a metabolite of testosterone will go high and more problems will occur. So that metabolite is suppressing LH and that is why we have low LH despite low T.
Which metabolite is it? For me the best explanation I can give is that when I am on a low dose of trt, test e 28.5mg e3d my free test gets to the middle of the range but my free e2 and e3 measured by siliva are over range. But estrone is still low in the range.
That is in my case anyway. But I think determining why we have low LH at the same time as LOW T is the key to this PFS issue. And with all the theories flying around on this board here I do no see any explanations for this phenomenon.
I’m seeing the foremost expert in the USA for Sexual Medicine. Dr. Irwin Goldstein in San Diego.
Took Propecia and Proscar for 7 years. Been on HRT for quite a few months.
Testosterone injections (recently increased dose again: .60 twice a week), Clomid, Anastrazole, HCG.
Have 4 sets of lab tests which include LH, FSH etc…
What I can confirm from my labs: (not saying this would be the case for everyone)
- LH will go even lower while using HCG which is the same as LH, and FSH is derived from LH so it will also be lower.
- Boosting Testosterone should increase the level of DHT and be a 1 to 1 ratio increase, but my results show DHT is not rising at the same pace as T, not even close. My doc said it’s due to permanent damage to 5ar from finasteride by blocking DHT, and that I’ll have to be on HRT for life. He said T has to be boosted to around 1300 to 1400 in order to get DHT levels up.
Disclosure: for the past 4 or 5 months, I had been drinking Vodka in the evenings, every day in an attempt to induce some level of happiness. I recently quit drinking entirely about 10 days ago and began to start working out, walking the dog and doing sprints to get exercise. Also investing in a Vitamix Blender and will be making green smoothies with lots of Veggies/Protein/Creatine. And the list of supplements/vitamins I take is huge.
I can’t wait to see if there are any differences in my next set of labs.
Ok so you have been on propecia for 7 years. If anyone knows what low DHT feels like it should be you. How did you feel over that 7 years? You cant have felt too terrible or you would have probably quit much sooner. So you can pretty safely say that during your time on propecia your T:DHT ratio was VERY out of balance. How exactly did you feel?
I doubt HCG itself suppress LH. It is much more likely that the subsequent effects of HCG that cause it. A rise in estrogens and androgens.
I do not know if boosting TRT should increase in a 1 to 1 ratio. That is the first I have heard. I did some tests on transdermal T + HCG and a tiny but of arimidex and my T and DHT were both just over the top of the range. But yeah it seems we all respond differently. I have not tested DHT on injectable T. But on 200mg a week of injectable T my body hair grows like crazy and my hair falls out on my head so I assume my dht conversion is pretty good considering that when I was on FIN my hair started to regrow at the temples. This is not the case since I had PFS. My free T is very low so that explains it.
Your not taking all those things at the same time are you? Clomid, Arimidex, T and HCG are you? Did you start on them at the same time? What changes Have you noticed?
kisspeptin supposedly boosts the Luteinizing Hormone and is easily attainable…
dannyfc : I do not think we want to boost LH. We need to find out what is suppressing LH production and solve that. Once we do LH will rise by itself. Apart from that adding T or LH just seems to be adding more fuel to the fire. It does not correct the underlying problem. And our body has decided LOW T is the best option for us now otherwise it would be pumping out more LH.