Low Testosterone

[donnie85]

My wife and I have been trying for a baby for around 18 months with little success. Had a bloodtest which has found I have very low testosterone...I'm mid 30's, work out maybe twice a week doing Boxing so not massively overweight or anything....I'm waiting for a follow up consultation with a private doctor in a few weeks to talk it through.

In the mean time anyone else been told they have low levels and any tips on boosting it? I've read Vitamin D and Zinc is essential so I've bought those supplements but keen to hear anyone else who has had this...weight lifting I've heard is another method of increasing testostrone but not to sure if that's 'bro science' as can't find any actual research articles saying this is the case.

[Scrump]

Fairly long thread on the subject here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[montymoo]

Without seeing your bloods cant advise to much.
However the meeting with a private doc is good news.
Low T trying for a baby, generic answer Clomid 50mg eod

The other post linked has very good info too.

[LaterLosers]

I prefer natural rather than supplements. A few oysters a couple of times a week will give you all the zinc you will ever need and if you’ve been making the most of the nice weather we’ve had of late you won’t need any vitamin d.

I’d also recommend eating healthily, home cooked food, drink full fat milk, knock any alcohol on the head and keep doing the exercise plus some strength training like pull ups and stuff.

[WY86]

I always understood test replacement therapy was advised against if you where planning a baby?

Vitamin D, oysters and shellfish apparently good and also lifting weights.

[montymoo]

WY86 said:

I always understood test replacement therapy was advised against if you where planning a baby?
.

A few beers in so not the best detailed reply.
Exogenous test will certainly decrease sperm production, by suppressing gonadotropins FSH and LH, unless you supplement with something like Hcg.

However it could be op is hypogonadal, Low t and unsuccessful attempts conceiving.
Supplementing with something that will actually work, unlike eating oysters and hitting legs. Clomiphene citrate/Clomid or Hcg will increase FSH and LH levels increasing sperm count and test levels.

[donnie85]

The letter from the doctor said I had low testosterone of 7.29....however it's doesn't say what exactly the 7.29 measurement is. Anyone in the know what it should be?

Also said I have low folicule stimulating hormone and low luteinising hormone. Presume they are both testostrone related. I hope these can be resolved by the doctor as would be devasted if me and my wife are unable to have a baby.

To top it off I have 2 small testes related to when I had mumps about 15 years ago. Awaiting the semen analysis to come back before the follow up appointment.

Thanks for the shouts on the shellfish, I'll try and include those in my diet going forward. Also read pumpkin seeds and bananas to increase potassium is supposed to help also.

[WY86]

donnie85 said:

The letter from the doctor said I had low testosterone of 7.29....however it's doesn't say what exactly the 7.29 measurement is. Anyone in the know what it should be?

Also said I have low folicule stimulating hormone and low luteinising hormone. Presume they are both testostrone related. I hope these can be resolved by the doctor as would be devasted if me and my wife are unable to have a baby.

To top it off I have 2 small testes related to when I had mumps about 15 years ago. Awaiting the semen analysis to come back before the follow up appointment.

Thanks for the shouts on the shellfish, I'll try and include those in my diet going forward. Also read pumpkin seeds and bananas to increase potassium is supposed to help also.

You may also want to look into private treatment as NHS doctors seem very reluctant to prescribe any sort of TRT if you do want to go down the pharma route.

[montymoo]

donnie85 said:

The letter from the doctor said I had low testosterone of 7.29....however it's doesn't say what exactly the 7.29 measurement is. Anyone in the know what it should be?

Also said I have low folicule stimulating hormone and low luteinising hormone. Presume they are both testostrone related. I hope these can be resolved by the doctor as would be devasted if me and my wife are unable to have a baby.

To top it off I have 2 small testes related to when I had mumps about 15 years ago. Awaiting the semen analysis to come back before the follow up appointment.

Thanks for the shouts on the shellfish, I'll try and include those in my diet going forward. Also read pumpkin seeds and bananas to increase potassium is supposed to help also.

Probable acquired hypogonadism and you want to eat shellfish...Right.

What is the point in actually providing you with info, when your just going to ignore it and think something as stupid as that is a good idea?


Anyway, to answer your questions.
Every Lab will have differant baseline averages, ie 7.29 low in one lab might be adequate in another. You need to know your lab averages.

However 7.29 what? kg mg? grams. If your lab hasnt provided it, it is piss poor.tbh i have never seen a lab not provide that info, is it really not on your letter.
Whatever, It looks like it is nmol as if it was ngml it would be fine by most labs, where as nmol, the average is about 8 to 30.
So yes its low and its very low for a man late 30s.

Low FSH and LH can be corrected.
See my 2 posts above that you obviously didnt bother reading,
Clomid and or hcg its why i mentioned it above but your thanking the shout out for shellfish.
If your worried about low Zinc, take some Zinc supplements an do it every day! Up your Vitamin E while your at it.


When estrogen interacts and fks with the pituitary gland, less LH and FSH are produced, Yours are obviously low hence the low T and trying 18 months to conceive. And i just read even your bloods showing it!

This leads to a decrease in test and therefore decreased sperm production. So medication such as clomiphene citrate will inhibit the negative feedback of estrogen and, promote endogenous testosterone production.
Higher lh fsh, higher test more sperm higher chance conceiving.

WY86 said:

You may also want to look into private treatment as NHS doctors seem very reluctant to prescribe any sort of TRT if you do want to go down the pharma route.

Jesus christ, the last thing he needs is TRT right now.

However yeah, the NHS sucks at anything related to Andrology. Honestly i wouldnt be surprised if your prescribed sustonen injections every 3 months.
Anyway
Enjoy the oysters..

[donnie85]

montymoo said:

Jesus christ, the last thing he needs is TRT right now.

However yeah, the NHS sucks at anything related to Andrology. Honestly i wouldnt be surprised if your prescribed sustonen injections every 3 months.
Anyway
Enjoy the oysters..

Thanks for the reply pal. Much appreciated.

Yeah on the letter doesnt mention what the measurement is just says 7.29. Agree this is really poor.

So in your opinion the most likely result will be injections every 3 months to boost testorone. Are they expensive in your experience? Did you take any supplements also or change your diet / fitness regime?

[xx99xx]

The British Society of Sexual Medicine has guidelines for Dr's in what they should consider treating:

https://www.guidelines.co.uk/mens-health/bssm-guid...

Basically they say:

- lower than 8 recommend treatment
- between 8-12 trial treatment based on symptoms
- over 12 no treatment

However, most NHS GPs will not be aware of these guidelines, nor do they have to follow them. But it gives you an idea of what 'low' is.

Some more recent research/guidance from the society of endocrinology:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/c...

[oddman]

Some helpful replies on the TRT issue but your complaint is about difficulty conceiving. You've been to somebody who has done blood tests but no semen analysis????

Suspect given the mumps history and low testicular volume you will have poor sperm count/quality. The degree to which hormone manipulation can resolve this may be limited. If your partner is mid thirties then she her fertility is on borrowed time too. You may be better taking the advice of the fertility specialists about making the most of what you've got with methods of assisted conception.

Unfortunately the budget for this will be significant and dwarf what you might spend on advice/treatment of hypogonadism. Even more so if you are successful

TRT can/should be pursued as an independent health issue. Should be addressed through the NHS and the guidelines linked to should be a decent starting point for a discussion with GP and, at least, get fasting levels done on the NHS and take it from there.

Edited by oddman on Wednesday 24th August 08:49