Testosterone Level Concerns

[loren1]

Hey guys,

So I've been on testosterone gel daily for 11 months now, and it's been going well. However, it seemed that my T levels dropped significantly. I got blood work done in January, and my T levels were in the 600s, which I was really happy with. I again got done blood work in July, and my T levels were in the 200s. In the voicemail where this information was given to me, my doctor said everything was fine, as she wanted my levels between 200 and 800.

However, I think it's really concerning that my levels dropped like that, even though my dosage has been the same this whole time? I feel like having levels in the 200s is super low and I'm not going to transition anymore and I'm going to get a period again. My levels were that low my first month on T, so this is very scary to me. Should I call my doctor even though she said it was fine? Is it possible that the person doing the blood work made a mistake?

I'm just really scared that I'm either not absorbing it anymore, or maybe there's something wrong with my reproductive system? I do get cramps occasionally, as if I'm going to get a period, but my doctor said it was normal. If anyone has had testosterone level fluctuations like this, what was going on? Has anyone had these types of problems on testosterone gel? I'm feeling so dysphoric about this, like I'm a 20 year old guy, my levels should not be that low, and shouldn't be dropping as we speak.

[FTMax]

Couple of thoughts for you:

(1a) What time of day did you have your labs done in January? When did you apply your gel that day?
(1b) What time of day did you have your labs done in July? When did you apply your gel that day?

With T levels you really want to be comparing apples to apples. So we can really only say that there is a significant difference in the levels IF you were tested both times the same amount of hours before/after your last gel application.

Think of gel as having a 24 hour life span. Over the course of the 24 hours between applications, your levels are getting lower and lower and lower until you apply again. So if the January test was 2 hours after applying but the July test was 8 hours after applying, you should expect to see a difference. So that could be one thing to think about.

Now, if the tests were done at the exact or close to same time interval between applications, then there are a few other ideas. One could be your metabolism. Have you gained or lost weight? Metabolic changes have an impact on hormones.

Where are you applying the gel? Is it possible that the application site was less than ideal on the day you applied in July? Maybe it was wet, or you got sweaty before it had a chance to absorb completely?

I have seen a few (rare) occasions when for whatever reason, the method a guy is using isn't producing the same results anymore. I've known two guys - one switched from gel to injections, the other from injections to gel. Both had been on T for several years and for whatever reason the method they had been using was peaking around 300 - 400. After switching they were both back in the 600+ range. No idea as to what exactly was causing that to occur, but if you can't figure it out and are willing to do some experimenting, switching your T delivery method might help you narrow down what was going wrong or at least maybe bump your levels back up.

[loren1]

Thanks so much for the reply.

I haven't really changed weight other than a couple of pounds difference. From what I recall, the recent lab I had done was done right after putting my gel on. Either that, or it was done a full 24 hours after putting gel on, but I doubt it. The lab in January was a couple of hours after putting it on, I think. So if I did wait the 24 hours to put the gel on in July, that may make sense.

I also had a few other ideas, I don't know if they make logical sense though? I usually put my gel on in the morning after I take a shower. In June, I started using another type of acne wash/soap in the shower, but I rinse it off, so I don't think that would affect my gel absorption? Also, 12 hours after applying the gel, I wash one of my shoulders and apply a leave-on acne cream, but I feel like after 12 hours the gel all absorbed? I also started applying more gel to one shoulder than to the other shoulder due to acne, since I apply it to both shoulders each day. Maybe I'm putting on too much gel on one shoulder and it can't absorb properly? I do sometimes go to the gym within several hours of putting the gel on, but I've done this months ago as well, and my shoulders don't sweat that much, but I don't know, maybe that's an issue.

Also one other thing I forgot to add. I took finasteride due to the fact that I thought I was balding in April and May, and a little bit into June. I stopped it in June because it was making my facial hair and body hair fall out, and I figured I would just deal with balding. I don't know how drastically that would affect my T levels in the beginning of July.

[loren1]

I just wanted to add that I also probably can't switch to injections, even though I really want to. The place that takes my insurance and gives me hormones requires I go three times to learn how to self inject, but they are spread out over months, and I go back to college in 3 weeks... so I'd have to continue with gel. But yeah, I am concerned that maybe I'm one of the rare cases where something isn't producing the same results for me anymore.

Is it possible that this could be a health issue, that my T levels are so low? Like something estrogen related maybe affecting it? I really don't want to go for one of THOSE types of visits though ugh.