What do you consider low test levels?

[mace123]

The last few years I've been getting more and more lethargic, and my libido has been shit. No ED problems, just a lack of desire.

Haven't been "on" in at least a couple years, and I have just KNOWN my test levels were low.

Well, I finally got some labs done and my total test is 424ng and my free test is 60pg. Blood was taken at about 8:45am.

Now I know that you can still have low test problems and be in the "normal range", but to me I seem to be well within the normal range, but I literally fit the low t bill to a T and have all of the typical sides.

I have been considering going on trt very seriously lately, as my lethargy and libido are problematic to say the least, but I wanted to get some input.

On one hand I feel that a total T level of 424 is adequate, but on the other I feel that my levels have diminished drastically. According to a couple of studies my free and total levels are about the average for a 75 year old man. Here is a link to those charts. Male Normal Testosterone Levels - Average Ranges by Age in Men | Free Blood Table and Chart

So I'm just wondering if anyone here has had strong symptoms of low T, while having levels that aren't all that bad.

Look forward to some input.

 

[saps]

Based on input from MD's like alpha6164 and Dr G I'd say you can and should at least speak with your own MD about TRT or self administer whatever. Both aforementioned docs say for TRT a candidate with less than about 400-500 test they will seeks to get over the 600 meridian. You might be borderline but I think if you have a reasonable story which it seems you do they might accommodate. Test levels are 100% of the issue of course though

 

[MaineGuy]

You have to understand how they come up with the "normal" ranges for Testosterone. It is basically the range for 18 to 90 year old men, healthy or sick! So to be honest, if you are feeling the way you do and with those numbers, you are probably low for yourself. Everyone is different. My numbers were 429 ng/dl, I was told to think of it like a D+ if it were a grade, not good. But, you have to take into account your symptoms, if you were feeling great, then that range might be good for you.
The problem is you probably don't have a baseline of your bloods when they were at there best, probably early 20's. If you were in the 900 range then, you are now below half of that so that would be crap. If your baseline at that age was 600 and felt good, then you would have only fallen about 25%, which would not be that bad. The studies show everyone is different, that is the problem with those ranges on the blood test for Testosterone.

 

[Shadman05]

Anything below 500 deserves trt

 

[matt1164]

Depends on age sometimes, when I was thirty I had a test level of 320 and the docs wouldn't prescribe anything cause I was too young.

 

[Shadman05]

Depends on age sometimes, when I was thirty I had a test level of 320 and the docs wouldn't prescribe anything cause I was too young.

yes also depends on the doc

 

[disciple2012]

Personal Experience

I was in the same boat as far as had to make decisions about HRT and I deal with other men all the time going through this as well at the bussiness I own(nutrition store). My experience with doctors was that I found many more who were very uneducated about hormones. A few of my doctor visits turned into me explaining hormones to them and I am not an expert. I kept hearing things like HRT will give you cancer, 300 isnt low its in the range, how about some Viagra?You wont feel any different, or I dont write prescriptions for steroids blah blah. I am not talking about a muscle bound guy sitting in the doctors office asking for some test. My TOTAL test levels were 27 which is suppose to be a 3 digit number. I didnt care of myself for a LONG time(recovering addict 6 years clean) so my body was shut down. Many of the guys I suggested to go see doctors that I was training or doing meal plans etc for were 35-65 yrs old and got the same runaround. Seems like older doctors don't want to learn updated info and are anti HRT. Many endocrinologists seemed to focus on seniors with diabeeetuss where the insurance money is.

Sorry for the long post. Short version, everyone is different, you may still feel crappy at 500 and may need to go higher or adjust some other things a good doc will see in your labs. Normal is not the same for everyone. You need a doctor who specializes in HRT. Most GP's or others who dont know anything about HRT are a waste of time. Doctors that WILL give you ANYTHING(They exist) will get you want you want from the pharmacy but wont Help the real issues. Spend the extra bucks to go to someone who focuses on this stuff. You should be able to tell 2 minutes into the conversation if they are educated. When you find a good Doc, he will send you for a full blood workup. Test, Est, Prog, Prolac,HGH, DHEA, Lipids, Liver enzymes etc..They will be thorough. Hang in there!!

The next question will be Creams, Gels, Patches, Pellets, Pills, or Injections? I can help with that if you have questions.

 

[disciple2012]

You have to understand how they come up with the "normal" ranges for Testosterone. It is basically the range for 18 to 90 year old men, healthy or sick! So to be honest, if you are feeling the way you do and with those numbers, you are probably low for yourself. Everyone is different. My numbers were 429 ng/dl, I was told to think of it like a D+ if it were a grade, not good. But, you have to take into account your symptoms, if you were feeling great, then that range might be good for you.
The problem is you probably don't have a baseline of your bloods when they were at there best, probably early 20's. If you were in the 900 range then, you are now below half of that so that would be crap. If your baseline at that age was 600 and felt good, then you would have only fallen about 25%, which would not be that bad. The studies show everyone is different, that is the problem with those ranges on the blood test for Testosterone.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[buck]

i consider low to be in the bottom 1/3 of the normal range. there is less cancer disease etc. for men in the upper levels according to studies.

 

[ManoftheWorld]

I believe once your feeling the way you are then you should seek getting some HRT supplementation.. either search until you found an empathetic dr that pro-male health or go about it your own way starting at 100/wk for a month+, get labs to see where you're at and go from there modifying dose to find your sweet spot...

Just off the cuff I think men should treat their T levels like a batting avg and try their best to bat .1000 to be the best they can be without over doing it... for example you can feel great at 850 but at 950+ you may still be in range but have added edge/aggression your not comfy with etc...

 

[Chode Logan]

Mine was 212 at the age of 23 and my doctor wouldn't even discuss it because it was in the "normal" range of 200-800, even though it was the average level of a 70+ year old. Go to a Hormone clinic.

 

[Kaladryn]

Mine was 212 at the age of 23 and my doctor wouldn't even discuss it because it was in the "normal" range of 200-800, even though it was the average level of a 70+ year old. Go to a Hormone clinic.

That is the old normal range, the new normal range for LabCorp is 350-1100

 

[pesty4077]

That is the old normal range, the new normal range for LabCorp is 350-1100

Exactly, that chart by the way comes for a clinic that prescribes Testosterone.

 

[Chode Logan]

That is the old normal range, the new normal range for LabCorp is 350-1100

I believe it, I was miserable. I was quite angry they wouldn't even LOOK at it and be open to discuss it as an issue or possibility for why I felt like garbage. I just became my own doctor after that.

 

[mace123]

Exactly, that chart by the way comes for a clinic that prescribes Testosterone.

Well it is two different charts from two different scientific studies that corroborate one another. While I'll be the first to admit that website will have a pro hrt bias, that doesn't mean that their references aren't any good.


I do appreciate all of the input. Going to see about seeing a doctor or two and see if we can't get me to optimal test levels.

 

[buck]

labs have different reference ranges but they should all be proportional to each other. i find Urologists are quicker at writing a script for T then most other Dr's.

 

[turbobusa]

Any that are less than my levels cuz i'm such a stud!. Ok now my real answer.
Levels under mid sixes. Under that and I feel "low".. Thanks, T

 

[Gunsmith]

anything below 1000 is low!!!

 

[nothuman]

For me, anything less than 500 should be considered low my medical standards, even though technically it's under 300, which is ridiculous

 

[Kaladryn]

Everyone has a different sensitivity to test, some people make less but utilize it more efficiently and are healthier because of it. I think this is a very individual thing that has to take into account physiological and psychological factors.