Is it possible to measure the effectiveness of spiro?

[Christina308]

I was wondering about this as a result of there being the same amount of T showing up on my last three blood tests. It is my understanding that the T levels i'm seeing in the test results, ought to be considered ineffective due to the receptors being blocked by the Spiro.  I'm currently on a medium dosage of E and Spiro (for the last six months), and started on a low dosage for three months. On low dosage, my T dropped by 20%. After doubling the dosages, T has risen slightly higher than before i started HRT, and my E levels have tripled over the last eight months, so i assumed the T would be less.  I'm wondering at what point will T production be diminished? Is it a matter of increasing the dosages even more? or simply a matter of time on the current dosage? I'm a month away from my next endo appointment, so i'm a little concerned.

[Deborah]

I'm not a Dr., but I believe that the effectiveness of spiro is measured by the reduction in T.  I don't think spiro blocks the receptors but rather is supposed to directly reduce the level of T in the bloodstream. 

Something seems strange in your test results too.  I think it would be highly unusual for T levels to actually increase in response to both E and spiro.  Either one alone should reduce it.

In my experience my T was lowered substantively after three months and then marginally more after nine months on the same dose.  I then doubled the dose and it was again lowered substantively.  Since we cannot discuss specifics, this may or may not be applicable to your situation.

The goal though is to drop T below male range into the female range.  If that's not happening after this long then your current HRT mixture is not effective.

[Rachel]

HI, Spiro tells the brain you have too much T and that shuts down production.

I am on a high level of injectable E  and spiro. High E can shut down T alone. If you are on pills then SHGB may be binding with the T and making it ineffective. So total and free T is an important thing to know. Free T is the bad T.

I am on a relatively low dose of spiro and while on pills my total T was 36 ng/dl. Switching to injections my total T is less than 3 ng/dl (the test goes to 3).

Everyone is different and sometimes it takes time. Discuss your T levels with your doctor and what to do about it.

[.Christy]

Well there is an objective tool doctors to measure the effectiveness from Spiro and some have already mentioned it, but you can see it by a testosterone test. The only reason why the T rose was probably due to the time the blood was drawn I'm assuming.

The question is though are you still getting good results with the rise in T? I mean, if your E levels tripled after the spiro dosage change and you're experiencing good feminization results, I don't see the need to be so bothered by the T level.

[Christina308]

Christy,

I'm concerned that my results may be impaired by the ineffectiveness of the spiro. But how do I really know for sure? I've had some positive mental effects but very little feminization. The fact that my t levels are seemingly unaffected by the spiro, could mean that i might have done better over the last six months, if i had been prescribed something effective. My E levels increased as the dose increased, so that's not surprising. What really makes me mad is that the endo increased my dosages, told me to come back in six months, and really didn't check the efficacy of what he prescribed.