Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster today
Long story short I've been training for about 3 years now, and my diet and and training are quite on point, I've never had anything against steroids but I just never had to desire to use.
However a few days ago I had to get my bloodwork done for some stuff, and I requested a testosterone reading for curiosity sake..
It came back like this:
Testosterone 9.6 nmol/L
SHBG 15 nmol/L
Calc Free Test 0.3 nmol/L
analytical system: Roche E170
reference intervals:
adult male:
testosterone 8.0-30.0
SHBG 10-45
calc free test 0.2-0.6
**the free test calculation assumes a serum/plasma albumin value of 44 g/L the reference interval is provisional
some other factors:
I hadn't had sex or wacked off for 3-4 days when I got my bloodwork done, and it was fasted in the morning though I was dehydrated. I also currently take zinc every night (can't remember exact amount)
At the moment I'm eating at a caloric deficit, and also on Accutane (just started second cycle, first was 40mg for 8 months, now i'm currently on 20mg a day for 14 days then 40 mg for 9 months and 2 weeks)
I've never done any steroids or prohormones or anything before
................
Now the doctor herself told me I was perfectly fine, even though I repeatedly said I was concerned because even though I was over the "acceptable" range of 8.0... my test seemed pathetically low... basically borderline. When I converted it to ng/dl it was like 270 and I pretty much read on US forums that anything under 300 is already very low and eligible for TRT. However my doctor said it was fine and I was 'normal'.
The problem is I think that's very subjective and I think the range is huge for what should be normal.. however I might be wrong! I don't know but as somebody who cares about training (as opposed to somebody who is not interested at all) having this low of a total test at 24 worries me alot.
I like to do my own research but considering I've never really thought about the subject before I've only begun reading last night so I have a couple of questions to those experienced..
From what I've read it seems the SHBG being lower is better.. since mine is quite low on the range... I guess that's a good thing? And the main thing that matters is the free test, but mine seems quite low as well!
So I guess first thing is, where do I go from here? Should I get more tests done? Go to a different doctor etc.? I read something about LH levels but it doesn't appear on this test... How do I get that read?
Are my test levels pathetically low or am I misinterpreting them and my doctor is right?
And finally, if I was to choose to get on TRT or even go through an alternative source, how would this conflict with my acne? I know that steroids increases acne - I have 0 body acne but I've had problems with facial acne in the past. My first cycle of accutane was great, but it came back 3-4 months later so now I'm on my second cycle. Would I be safe to inject while on accutane or should I wait until this is done? Will my acne come back etc
To be totally honest with you guys I've never even really considered going on steroids.. until what I found out with my bloodwork and I'm quite concerned. I don't want to be a 'normal guy' that's on, I just want to have the same T levels as somebody who is the upper levels of normal I guess.
Sorry for the wall of text, and I appreciate any input ... thanks
Long story short I've been training for about 3 years now, and my diet and and training are quite on point, I've never had anything against steroids but I just never had to desire to use.
However a few days ago I had to get my bloodwork done for some stuff, and I requested a testosterone reading for curiosity sake..
It came back like this:
Testosterone 9.6 nmol/L
SHBG 15 nmol/L
Calc Free Test 0.3 nmol/L
analytical system: Roche E170
reference intervals:
adult male:
testosterone 8.0-30.0
SHBG 10-45
calc free test 0.2-0.6
**the free test calculation assumes a serum/plasma albumin value of 44 g/L the reference interval is provisional
some other factors:
I hadn't had sex or wacked off for 3-4 days when I got my bloodwork done, and it was fasted in the morning though I was dehydrated. I also currently take zinc every night (can't remember exact amount)
At the moment I'm eating at a caloric deficit, and also on Accutane (just started second cycle, first was 40mg for 8 months, now i'm currently on 20mg a day for 14 days then 40 mg for 9 months and 2 weeks)
I've never done any steroids or prohormones or anything before
................
Now the doctor herself told me I was perfectly fine, even though I repeatedly said I was concerned because even though I was over the "acceptable" range of 8.0... my test seemed pathetically low... basically borderline. When I converted it to ng/dl it was like 270 and I pretty much read on US forums that anything under 300 is already very low and eligible for TRT. However my doctor said it was fine and I was 'normal'.
The problem is I think that's very subjective and I think the range is huge for what should be normal.. however I might be wrong! I don't know but as somebody who cares about training (as opposed to somebody who is not interested at all) having this low of a total test at 24 worries me alot.
I like to do my own research but considering I've never really thought about the subject before I've only begun reading last night so I have a couple of questions to those experienced..
From what I've read it seems the SHBG being lower is better.. since mine is quite low on the range... I guess that's a good thing? And the main thing that matters is the free test, but mine seems quite low as well!
So I guess first thing is, where do I go from here? Should I get more tests done? Go to a different doctor etc.? I read something about LH levels but it doesn't appear on this test... How do I get that read?
Are my test levels pathetically low or am I misinterpreting them and my doctor is right?
And finally, if I was to choose to get on TRT or even go through an alternative source, how would this conflict with my acne? I know that steroids increases acne - I have 0 body acne but I've had problems with facial acne in the past. My first cycle of accutane was great, but it came back 3-4 months later so now I'm on my second cycle. Would I be safe to inject while on accutane or should I wait until this is done? Will my acne come back etc
To be totally honest with you guys I've never even really considered going on steroids.. until what I found out with my bloodwork and I'm quite concerned. I don't want to be a 'normal guy' that's on, I just want to have the same T levels as somebody who is the upper levels of normal I guess.
Sorry for the wall of text, and I appreciate any input ... thanks
