RBC levels

[Mattfromengland]

Hi everyone,

I am assuming that on T our RBC levels should go up a little, is that right?

I just had a blood test and am 9 months on T, my level was ever so slightly higher than last time, around 4 months ago. It's still well within range, but it has gone up.

I'm just wondering (as you know it's easy to worry!!!) whether that's a sign that it may just slowly keep creeping up and lead to problems like polycythemia, or whether, as I suspect, that's just a normal and expected elevation that won't necessarily just keep going up and up but will eventually settle at a level slightly higher than pre T.

Any thoughts?

I guess I'm interested in hearing how people's levels went who have been on T longer than me. Especially those who did have problems with an elevated RBC and at what stage after starting hormones did that start to show itself?

Thanks

[SWNID]

Mine increased steadily at the beginning and my hemoglobin exceeded the male upper limit at one point. But my 1 year on T blood test showed that the levels dropped back to normal male range. I had a few more blood tests during the past a few months because of surgery. I did not see the results but not told my levels abnormal, so I guess they were still good.

Another thing is that my diet shifted from plant based to meat based after I started T. So that might have contributed to the increase a little.

[Nygeel]

It could be a potential problem, it could not be. It all depends. One of the things I did that seemed to work in lowering my count was drinking more water. If your hydrated your RBC is lower than when you're not (it also makes finding your veins easier for the person drawing blood).

[Mattfromengland]

Great thanks. So no point at all worrying about it at this stage   So I wont

[Kreuzfidel]

I think that in the first year or two you may find that your body is still adjusting to the hormone - so what you're experiencing now may just disappear completely in a few weeks or months.  If your doctor is monitoring your bloods, then you'll at least know that you're in good hands.  If it is polycythemia, which it might not be, it isn't the end of the world and doesn't necessarily mean going off T, either.