High SHBG, low free T (or what else could be the culprit?)- need advice and help, please

[Jdoe32]

Hi all.

Context:
- 43 male from Europe (44 this mounth), with life long depression, anxiety (started in a period of intense stress), lack of energy, no motivation, low to no libido, ED, premature ejaculation, brain fog, poor concentration and memory;
- i didn't checked hormones, because every doctor said i am to young and it must be psychological, so they've sent me to therapy;
- years and years on different SSRI's and other drugs, also therapy without any succes;
- in the last year, year and a half, started some urinary issues (could be an inflamed prostate);
- was put on 2 months HCG 3000 ui/week for fertility issues (sperm was not ok), and in that moment all my problems went away: i had libido again after 20 years, energy, motivation, good concentration, good erections, morning wood, depression and anxiety greatly reduced, i felt normal again, and happy, with a positive outlook on life;
- after those 2 months, all the symptoms came back once the treatment was stopped (i froze some sperm maybe for future use - that was the Dr plan all along).

This made me think that maybe my problems could've been hormonal all along and started testing hormones (still not sure that the problem is hormone ralated, but the feeling of normality on HCG was shocking for me). On every blood test i've done (and for the last 8-10 months or so i have done quite a few), SHBG was high with low T (but this is my opinion and i'm still learning). I will post for reference 2 (two) blood test sets:

Blood test set, was done one month ago:
- Total T: 24.1 nmol/L [8.64 - 29];
- Free T: 7.4629 pg/mL [5.01 - 27.78];
- SHBG: 62.7 nmol/L [18.3 - 54.1] - high;
- Estradiol: 26.6 pg/mL [11.3 - 43.2];
- LH: 6.52 mIU/mL [1.7 - 8.6];
- FSH: 5.39 mIU/mL [1.5 - 12.4];
- Prolactin: 172 µUI/mL [86 - 324];
- Albumin: 4.27 g/dL [3.5 - 5.2];
- DHT: 503 pg/mL (300-850);
- DHEA: 1.68 ng/mL (1.8-12.5) - low;

I started taking:
- boron 9 mg/day;
- DHEA 25 mg/day;
- Vit D was taking already for about 2 months prior, 5000ui/day;
- zinc, Vit A,E, Selenium, B6, C, etc

Last blood test set, after 1 month with that "treatment":
- Total T: 34.8 nmol/L [8.64 - 29] - high;
- Free T: 12.2277 pg/mL [5.01 - 27.78];
- SHBG: 80.1 nmol/L [18.3 - 54.1] - high;
- Estradiol: 39.8 pg/mL [11.3 - 43.2];
- LH: 8.17 mIU/mL [1.7 - 8.6];
- FSH: 7.15 mIU/mL [1.5 - 12.4];
- Prolactin: 264 µUI/mL [86 - 324];
(didn't found a reason to test the rest)

I should mention that i took 2 doses of Albendazole for intestinal parasite infections (there was the possibility that my gf kids would've had them so all of us had to take that drug) and i've read that this could interfere with some of the liver enzymes, but i'm not sure if even higher SHBG could be one of them (even so, i mentioned that SHBG was always high in my case anyway).

About me:
- working out 5-6 days/week, fit body, not overweight;
- eating healthy;
- thyroid hormones are in limits;
- blood sugar, insulin, all other markers look ok.

So what do you guys think, could my problem be that free T? No doctor wants to touch me with my total T levels (health system it's already a joke in my country) and I barely could find an endocrinologist who is willing to give me for a short period another HCG treatment (i should see her the next days and i think she wishes to give me some symptom relief - 1500 ui/week this time), but i don't know what will i do long term. Should i use Proviron or Danazol to lower SHBG? Will SHBG rise again when i will stop taking any of those two? I'm not hasty to jump on TRT, i do have decent total T after all, but i can't live like this anymore either, it ruined my life literally. What options do i have?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Fattyone]

I'm not hasty to jump on TRT, i do have decent total T after all, but i can't live like this anymore either, it ruined my life literally.

It doesn’t matter if your total T is 2,000 if your free T is low.

If HCG made life great buy some HCG and run it. If not you’re probably gonna need to read up on everything TRT related and be your own doctor. Not gonna get a doctor over there to prescribe you based on those numbers.

Those orals will lower it some. Idk about that being a long term strategy though.

 

[Jdoe32]

It doesn’t matter if your total T is 2,000 if your free T is low.

If HCG made life great buy some HCG and run it. If not you’re probably gonna need to read up on everything TRT related and be your own doctor. Not gonna get a doctor over there to prescribe you based on those numbers.

Those orals will lower it some. Idk about that being a long term strategy though.

So do you agree that my issues could be low T related, based on my levels?
You are right about dr's here, they do say that total T is as important as free T and doesn't matter how low free T is, as long as is not under limit

 

[LawrenceofUSA]

Proviron can be used to lower shbg and theoretically raise free t, assuming there isn’t another issue. Primo or Masteron can also be used. Probably gonna depend on your specific situation and what you respond best to but those 3 things are frequently used for the very thing you’re asking about.

 

[Jdoe32]

Proviron can be used to lower shbg and theoretically raise free t, assuming there isn’t another issue. Primo or Masteron can also be used. Probably gonna depend on your specific situation and what you respond best to but those 3 things are frequently used for the very thing you’re asking about.

Thank you! I’ve read that they are used for that, yes, but they are not a long term solution and MAY suppress total T production at the same time. At least from what I’ve read. And I am looking for a long solution

 

[LawrenceofUSA]

Yeah you will definitely have to research it, because I am of the understanding that Proviron won’t suppress you, it’ll actually make your balls work harder, it’s prescribed as a fertility drug in the UK. But I am not positive about the details and I may have that somewhat twisted, again, just my understanding without looking it up myself

 

[Serdalovic]

Hi all.

Context:
- 43 male from Europe (44 this mounth), with life long depression, anxiety (started in a period of intense stress), lack of energy, no motivation, low to no libido, ED, premature ejaculation, brain fog, poor concentration and memory;
- i didn't checked hormones, because every doctor said i am to young and it must be psychological, so they've sent me to therapy;
- years and years on different SSRI's and other drugs, also therapy without any succes;
- in the last year, year and a half, started some urinary issues (could be an inflamed prostate);
- was put on 2 months HCG 3000 ui/week for fertility issues (sperm was not ok), and in that moment all my problems went away: i had libido again after 20 years, energy, motivation, good concentration, good erections, morning wood, depression and anxiety greatly reduced, i felt normal again, and happy, with a positive outlook on life;
- after those 2 months, all the symptoms came back once the treatment was stopped (i froze some sperm maybe for future use - that was the Dr plan all along).

This made me think that maybe my problems could've been hormonal all along and started testing hormones (still not sure that the problem is hormone ralated, but the feeling of normality on HCG was shocking for me). On every blood test i've done (and for the last 8-10 months or so i have done quite a few), SHBG was high with low T (but this is my opinion and i'm still learning). I will post for reference 2 (two) blood test sets:

Blood test set, was done one month ago:
- Total T: 24.1 nmol/L [8.64 - 29];
- Free T: 7.4629 pg/mL [5.01 - 27.78];
- SHBG: 62.7 nmol/L [18.3 - 54.1] - high;
- Estradiol: 26.6 pg/mL [11.3 - 43.2];
- LH: 6.52 mIU/mL [1.7 - 8.6];
- FSH: 5.39 mIU/mL [1.5 - 12.4];
- Prolactin: 172 µUI/mL [86 - 324];
- Albumin: 4.27 g/dL [3.5 - 5.2];
- DHT: 503 pg/mL (300-850);
- DHEA: 1.68 ng/mL (1.8-12.5) - low;

I started taking:
- boron 9 mg/day;
- DHEA 25 mg/day;
- Vit D was taking already for about 2 months prior, 5000ui/day;
- zinc, Vit A,E, Selenium, B6, C, etc

Last blood test set, after 1 month with that "treatment":
- Total T: 34.8 nmol/L [8.64 - 29] - high;
- Free T: 12.2277 pg/mL [5.01 - 27.78];
- SHBG: 80.1 nmol/L [18.3 - 54.1] - high;
- Estradiol: 39.8 pg/mL [11.3 - 43.2];
- LH: 8.17 mIU/mL [1.7 - 8.6];
- FSH: 7.15 mIU/mL [1.5 - 12.4];
- Prolactin: 264 µUI/mL [86 - 324];
(didn't found a reason to test the rest)

I should mention that i took 2 doses of Albendazole for intestinal parasite infections (there was the possibility that my gf kids would've had them so all of us had to take that drug) and i've read that this could interfere with some of the liver enzymes, but i'm not sure if even higher SHBG could be one of them (even so, i mentioned that SHBG was always high in my case anyway).

About me:
- working out 5-6 days/week, fit body, not overweight;
- eating healthy;
- thyroid hormones are in limits;
- blood sugar, insulin, all other markers look ok.

So what do you guys think, could my problem be that free T? No doctor wants to touch me with my total T levels (health system it's already a joke in my country) and I barely could find an endocrinologist who is willing to give me for a short period another HCG treatment (i should see her the next days and i think she wishes to give me some symptom relief - 1500 ui/week this time), but i don't know what will i do long term. Should i use Proviron or Danazol to lower SHBG? Will SHBG rise again when i will stop taking any of those two? I'm not hasty to jump on TRT, i do have decent total T after all, but i can't live like this anymore either, it ruined my life literally. What options do i have?

Thanks a bunch!

Obviously yes your shbg is high but it isn’t high that much to be of really clinical significance. They only use the shbg to guess your free testosterone in your blood. Your free testosterone seems to be also within the normal values needed. If something is within the normal values you cannot say for sure it’s because of that.

Most likely hcg made you produce more testosterone and thus yielding more free testosterone which masked a lot of your symptoms because testosterone does make you feel good mentally also.

I see your situation to be a complex situation which needs a good look over by a specialist most probably a doctor of internal medicine preferably an endocrinologist.

Also you said you already go to an endocrinologist and that she subscribed you hcg before and that you could ask her again. You see this as a temporary solution while getting hcg is not a temporary solution but a treatment which obviously works for you. So you not view this as some kind of temporary solution. You should also state this to your current endocrinologist that hcg was working for you and that you had relaps of symptoms when you stopped. So she should certainly consider subscribing it again to you and this time on a chronically basis or at least on an intermittent basis

Last I want to say that you should not feel like you have ruined your life. A lot of people have same problems like you. Trt replacement is an option you should consider, even though you say that your testosterone levels are ok. For this something with different working esters of testosterone might be useful, something like Sustanon every 3-4 weeks one injection. Please mention this to your endocrinologist, it could give you the relief you need, because it seems to me your endocrinological levels need to be more stabilised

 

[LawrenceofUSA]

Obviously yes your shbg is high but it isn’t high that much to be of really clinical significance. They only use the shbg to guess your free testosterone in your blood. Your free testosterone seems to be also within the normal values needed. If something is within the normal values you cannot say for sure it’s because of that.

Most likely hcg made you produce more testosterone and thus yielding more free testosterone which masked a lot of your symptoms because testosterone does make you feel good mentally also.

I see your situation to be a complex situation which needs a good look over by a specialist most probably a doctor of internal medicine preferably an endocrinologist.

Also you said you already go to an endocrinologist and that she subscribed you hcg before and that you could ask her again. You see this as a temporary solution while getting hcg is not a temporary solution but a treatment which obviously works for you. So you not view this as some kind of temporary solution. You should also state this to your current endocrinologist that hcg was working for you and that you had relaps of symptoms when you stopped. So she should certainly consider subscribing it again to you and this time on a chronically basis or at least on an intermittent basis

Last I want to say that you should not feel like you have ruined your life. A lot of people have same problems like you. Trt replacement is an option you should consider, even though you say that your testosterone levels are ok. For this something with different working esters of testosterone might be useful, something like Sustanon every 3-4 weeks one injection. Please mention this to your endocrinologist, it could give you the relief you need, because it seems to me your endocrinological levels need to be more stabilised

It seems we are replying to the same threads, sir. Take no offense on the other thread, I am only asking the questions I ask for both the educational purposes of everyone involved including myself as well as in the name of information sharing staying pure.

 

[Jdoe32]

Obviously yes your shbg is high but it isn’t high that much to be of really clinical significance. They only use the shbg to guess your free testosterone in your blood. Your free testosterone seems to be also within the normal values needed. If something is within the normal values you cannot say for sure it’s because of that.

Most likely hcg made you produce more testosterone and thus yielding more free testosterone which masked a lot of your symptoms because testosterone does make you feel good mentally also.

I see your situation to be a complex situation which needs a good look over by a specialist most probably a doctor of internal medicine preferably an endocrinologist.

Also you said you already go to an endocrinologist and that she subscribed you hcg before and that you could ask her again. You see this as a temporary solution while getting hcg is not a temporary solution but a treatment which obviously works for you. So you not view this as some kind of temporary solution. You should also state this to your current endocrinologist that hcg was working for you and that you had relaps of symptoms when you stopped. So she should certainly consider subscribing it again to you and this time on a chronically basis or at least on an intermittent basis

Last I want to say that you should not feel like you have ruined your life. A lot of people have same problems like you. Trt replacement is an option you should consider, even though you say that your testosterone levels are ok. For this something with different working esters of testosterone might be useful, something like Sustanon every 3-4 weeks one injection. Please mention this to your endocrinologist, it could give you the relief you need, because it seems to me your endocrinological levels need to be more stabilised

Thank you for your reply. I started HCG this week, 3000 UI/ week (as last I time) and see from here. I’m 2 shots in, but don’t feel anything yet, I hope things will change like they did last time. If my problem is not hormonal related (you say that elevated testosterone levels just “masked” some issues and not resolve them), then I don’t know what else could be. I’ve done extensive blood test and other investigations, if you can think of something else please don’t hesitate to tell me in a message. I’m doing this over with an endocrinologist, after visiting a lot of other doctors, so I don’t know where else to go to look over my problem regarding my complex situation.

 

[AlexDavis43]

Thank you for your reply. I started HCG this week, 3000 UI/ week (as last I time) and see from here. I’m 2 shots in, but don’t feel anything yet, I hope things will change like they did last time. If my problem is not hormonal related (you say that elevated testosterone levels just “masked” some issues and not resolve them), then I don’t know what else could be. I’ve done extensive blood test and other investigations, if you can think of something else please don’t hesitate to tell me in a message. I’m doing this over with an endocrinologist, after visiting a lot of other doctors, so I don’t know where else to go to look over my problem regarding my complex situation.

Are you trying to conceive?

Did you have a sperm analysis or get the hcg tested analytically? Those are the suggestions.

 

[Jdoe32]

Are you trying to conceive?

Did you have a sperm analysis or get the hcg tested analytically? Those are the suggestions.

I didn’t test the hcg, was bought directly from the pharmacy. Is powder form with a vial of liquid package per dose. Is it weird that I don’t feel anything from 3000 UI yet? I kept the HCG room temperature for a couple of months after I purchased it, maybe something happened to it despite saying it’s ok to pe kept at 25 Celsius? Also I think last time I started feeling better after I used it for like 1 month, so could also be that…

 

[HUGE McBIGLARGE]

How you feeling now?

 

[Jdoe32]

How you feeling now?

6 weeks into HCG 3000/week. Waiting for blood test. Starting to feel a bit of libido back, more energy, focus, overall starting to slowly feel better. Not night/day difference yet, but there is some

 

[Supertrain]

I had a similar issue with high SHBG, low free test, low DHEA.

The DHEA has resolved to normal range after a month and the SHBG is nearly back to normal range. But Free test decreased from 6.3 to 5.5. Total test was 655 then 620, normal range.

I’m looking to address this with more sleep, more protein, less stress. But also by supplementing with:

DHEA 50mg/day
Boron 10mg/day
DDA 1500mg/day
Ashwagandha 600mg/day
Was already taking and testing in good range for Vitamin D.

What do you all think of that approach? Any other suggestions other than starting TRT or HCG?

 

[Jdoe32]

I had a similar issue with high SHBG, low free test, low DHEA.

The DHEA has resolved to normal range after a month and the SHBG is nearly back to normal range. But Free test decreased from 6.3 to 5.5. Total test was 655 then 620, normal range.

I’m looking to address this with more sleep, more protein, less stress. But also by supplementing with:

DHEA 50mg/day
Boron 10mg/day
DDA 1500mg/day
Ashwagandha 600mg/day
Was already taking and testing in good range for Vitamin D.

What do you all think of that approach? Any other suggestions other than starting TRT or HCG?

SHBG nearly back to normal is worlds apart from being optimal. From what I’ve seen around, optimal SHBG is slightly under mid range or less ( not to much though). I don’t know if there’s something that can help except TRT, but your protocol worth a shot, some guys claimed that boron help them. Did nothing for me. Anyway I’m not an expert, this is my opinion and still thinking if I should start or not the TRT.