Pre HRT T level, what does it mean?

[kelseygal]

So, I got my labs back today from the docs office. Looks like I am in the dead center of just about every range of testing they did, except (of course :rollseyes:) Testosterone. The test said anywhere between 240-870 is in in the normal range - I'm at 850. Will this be a problem? Not freaking out, just a little unsure of what this means. My doctor is awesome, but she does seem a little bit on the conservative side. We are starting with spiro (should be prescribed next week given that I pass a physical) for 1 month, then adding Estradiol patches into the mix. Very anxious to get rockin' and rolling here, ready to nuke the testosterone levels FTW.

J

[Meghan]

So, I got my labs back today from the docs office. Looks like I am in the dead center of just about every range of testing they did, except (of course :rollseyes:) Testosterone. The test said anywhere between 240-870 is in in the normal range - I'm at 850. Will this be a problem? Not freaking out, just a little unsure of what this means. My doctor is awesome, but she does seem a little bit on the conservative side. We are starting with spiro (should be prescribed next week given that I pass a physical) for 1 month, then adding Estradiol patches into the mix. Very anxious to get rockin' and rolling here, ready to nuke the testosterone levels FTW.

J

Congrats on your beginning of your transition.

Sent from my Z970 using Tapatalk

[KayXo]

It only means T is high and it *might* take more Spiro and/or E to reduce T. Time will tell.

I personally don't like (and don't understand) the idea of taking an anti-androgen without E as it can compromise well-being in the short-term BUT, do as doctor says. I first started E and then added an anti-androgen.

[Adchop]

So, I got my labs back today from the docs office. Looks like I am in the dead center of just about every range of testing they did, except (of course :rollseyes:) Testosterone. The test said anywhere between 240-870 is in in the normal range - I'm at 850. Will this be a problem? Not freaking out, just a little unsure of what this means. My doctor is awesome, but she does seem a little bit on the conservative side. We are starting with spiro (should be prescribed next week given that I pass a physical) for 1 month, then adding Estradiol patches into the mix. Very anxious to get rockin' and rolling here, ready to nuke the testosterone levels FTW.

J

I guess I'm lucky. My doctor checked me in December & my T level was 195, which is nice considering I'm on no medications.

[Ⓥ]

I'm at 850. Will this be a problem?

My own initial labs in the very beginning were 1100 and change (in the red).  It took about 4-5 months of Spiro in conjunction with low-dose E to start (I can't post dosages, but it was slowly ramped up to a full dose during that 4-5 month span) to get the T down below 40 or so.

It shouldn't be a problem, don't worry

HRT is magically delicious; very congrats on getting "rockin' and rolling" haha!

[Endless Rain]

Hormone levels can vary a lot. I was at 250 IIRC. I definitely remember that I had very low testosterone when I started. It should go down to zero around a month after you start anti-androgens.

[kelseygal]

Ok, so it should be no biggy given time, and I am being anxious over nothing! I guess I'll talk it through with the doctor and see what we can do from a dosage perspective. The T needs to go away stat. In the meantime, I have convinced my laser removal peeps to crank the machine up a little more - the way my face feels right now tells me it worked better this time

J

[Deborah]

Mine started at 826 and was only to 120 after 9 months.  That was on what I think was a fairly standard spiro dose plus estrogen and progesterone.  At that point we doubled the spiro.  I'll know if that worked next month.


Sapere Aude

[KayXo]

Mine started at 826 and was only to 120 after 9 months.  That was on what I think was a fairly standard spiro dose plus estrogen and progesterone.  At that point we doubled the spiro.  I'll know if that worked next month.

Can't you just tell by how you feel, your overall physical response, body hair growth, breasts, etc? Spiro also blocks T; test can't tell you how much. Of that 120, some of it is blocked by Spiro. Of that 120, some is bound to SHBG, better to measure free or bio-available T. More accurate.

[Deborah]

I think it is lower now.  Body hair growth is virtually stopped.  Breasts are changing but very slowly.  The biggest change is my body's response to diet and exercise.  That has definitely shifted.  I'm still figuring out exactly what it has shifted to.

On the other hand I am not feeling run down and weak as some report.  I'm actually feeling pretty good and sleep great.


Sapere Aude

[michelle666]

Mine was at 110 with the initial test and steadily went down. Now the results say <10. The doc says that when it gets down to that, they cant accurately read it and it's considered suppressed.