TRT in men with low SHBG

[Tyler81]

Have you noticed any DHT spikes within lab results with this method?

My primary concern with topicals is MPB due to a higher 5-AR concentration in the skin. If it weren't for this detail, I would stick with transdermal administration.

I'm sure my DHT was higher on the gels. I never cared and still dont care if I lost all my hair if the treatment would still work. The gels stopped absorbing for me after a few years and I have not been able to figure out why or how to get them to absorb again.

The transdermal twice daily application was BY FAR the best TRT for me though.

 

[Firedog]

This is an interesting topic.

I initially responded well to TRT, but the results faded quickly and I was worse than ever.
A friend recommended that I check E2. Since my doc wouldn't test it, I went to a low-T clinic and found out that my E2 was high at 50 (7.6-43), my SHBG was low at 6.3 (16-55) and my TT was at 500 (350-1200) but with a free T over the top end at 180 (35-155). The doc told me I was LUCKY to have such low SHBG because it drove up my fT.

Once I got E2 fixed and started lifting hard, I felt great and got great results. I put on 15 lbs. More than one person pulled me aside to ask me if I was taking anything "extra." All I was (and still am) taking was 140 mg test cyp a week and 0.75 mg Liquidex.

Interestingly though, I have had high A1C and high glucose for over 10 years. I also love whiskey. I wonder if that affects my SHBG.

I know this is just one person's experience, but I thought maybe it would help.

 

[James23]

This is an interesting topic.

I initially responded well to TRT, but the results faded quickly and I was worse than ever.
A friend recommended that I check E2. Since my doc wouldn't test it, I went to a low-T clinic and found out that my E2 was high at 50 (7.6-43), my SHBG was low at 6.3 (16-55) and my TT was at 500 (350-1200) but with a free T over the top end at 180 (35-155). The doc told me I was LUCKY to have such low SHBG because it drove up my fT.

Once I got E2 fixed and started lifting hard, I felt great and got great results. I put on 15 lbs. More than one person pulled me aside to ask me if I was taking anything "extra." All I was (and still am) taking was 140 mg test cyp a week and 0.75 mg Liquidex.

Interestingly though, I have had high A1C and high glucose for over 10 years. I also love whiskey. I wonder if that affects my SHBG.

I know this is just one person's experience, but I thought maybe it would help.

Thanks for the story! It certainly is a help, offering hope to some that suffer with symptoms of low SHBG that they can at least build muscle.

I'd like to ask, however, how has your libido been?

What was your final E2? Many with low SHBG require lower E2 than would be considered normal due to the higher fraction of FE2 that comes along with low SHBG.

Now, that's 0.75mg per week of Liquidex, right? How is that spread over the week?

I don't know if this is a warning or not but I also put on 15 lbs. I went from 185 in April to 197 today (September.) Thing is, I didn't get into the gym even once. I feel like some extra fat come out of nowhere, or I'm experiencing some serious water retention from the E2.

 

[Firedog]

My libido was minimal with high E2. I had very little drive as well as ED.

I got my E2 down to 32 with 0.5 mg Adex per week. (Down from 58 at peak)
Since then, increased to 0.75 mg per week and I feel even better, but I haven't rechecked bloodwork. Libido is good now. Not out of control, but regular-good. Which is fine, because my wife doesn't want much more than that anyway.

I spread the dose over 4 times over the week. For me, that's 8 drops of Liquidex with each bi-weekly shot and 8 more in between shots.

I definitely retained water when my E2 was high. I had edema on my calf just from wearing socks and my wedding ring wouldn't go back on at all. I have lost most of that water weight now with E2 in check, but I still have more swelling and edema than I did pre-TRT.

I hope that helps!