Very Low SHBG, No Libido, 19

[PharmD518]

Hey guys. Basically, I'm 19 and have had low libido, soft erections for pretty much my whole life. I feel as if I only partially went through puberty, never fully. I went on Propecia when I was 18, for a year, because I figured my sex drive was basically non-existent anyway, so I would rather have all my hair at the very least. Well, realized that was a mistake(turned out, I wasn't balding) when I turned 19, came off without any sides whatsoever. Libido and erections were the same as before. Summer comes along, seems as if sexual function is getting worse, start doing research. Went to a urologist. Tested total T: came back at 268(250-1100). He put me on Cypionate 300mg every other week. Noticed about 10% improvement in sexual functioning. Not where I wanted it to be. So I came off, tried to do a restart with Toremifene. Worked amazing for about 3 days, and I don't know why, but I crashed. Libido same as before. Fall comes along, said F it, started to self medicate with testosterone and HCG. Very hard to find sweet spot without labs. Found it for about 2 days. Was 100%, so I know I can get there with the right medicine and knowledge. Came off everything since then. Have gotten labs 8th day after last testosterone injection. Here they is pertinent information:

Alkaline Phosphatase (L): 56 (60-270)
TSH: 3.78 (0.270-4.20)
T-4: 7.2(4.5-11.7)
Prolactin: 13 (2-17)
Estradiol, Serum: 44(0-56)
Testosterone: 1152(160-726)
SHGB: 7.2(10-57)
PSA: 0.827(0-4.0)

So I just went to my family doctor today with these labs, and he seems to think I have no libido because my SHGB is so low. He explained it as basically the transport molecule. My testosterone could be 10x what it is now, but with such a low SHGB, the testosterone has no where to go, and thus cannot do anything. Is there a reason why my SHGB is so low?

And, about how long do you think I should wait for everything to leave my system. My GP said another 4 weeks, then see an endocrinologist. It's been 12 days since last injection. I'm thinking 3 weeks total might be enough? What do you guys think.

 

[PharmD518]

I'm 5'9, 220 lbs. I'm not fat at all. I think a lot must be water weight because I definitely am not that muscular. BP taken today: 120 over 70.

 

[foreveryoung]

my personal belief is that it is impossible to maintain any kind of "sweet spot" while using HCG

 

[PharmD518]

my personal belief is that it is impossible to maintain any kind of "sweet spot" while using HCG

Why is that so?

 

[idmd]

I think your GP needs to go back to medical school. You're low SHBG means a larger proportion of your total test is free and unbound and available to be used by the body. Basically the exact opposite of what he told you.

 

[newbie23]

You were taking way too much, I have seen men with very low SHBG like yours lose their libido. It also can make them feel tired and weak. From insulin resistance.

 

[newbie23]

I think your GP needs to go back to medical school. You're low SHBG means a larger proportion of your total test is free and unbound and available to be used by the body. Basically the exact opposite of what he told you.

Actually, surprisingly his doctor is correct. Your interpretation would mean that once bound it can not be released, which is not true.

The main function of SHBG is sex-steroid transport within the blood stream and to extravascular target tissues.

http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/interpretive-guide/index.html?alpha=S&unit_code=9285

 

[idmd]

From your reference;

"The main function of SHBG is sex-steroid transport within the blood stream and to extravascular target tissues. SHBG also plays a key role in regulating bioavailable sex-steroid concentrations through competition of sex steroids for available binding sites and fluctuations in SHBG concentrations. Because of the higher affinity of SHBG for DHT and T, compared to E, SHBG also has profound effects on the balance between bioavailable androgens and estrogens. Increased SHBG levels may be associated with symptoms and signs of hypogonadism in men, while decreased levels can result in androgenization in women."

If increased levels of SHBG are associated with symptoms of hypogonadism (a larger proportion of test is tightly bound to SHBG and biologically unavailable) then isn't reasonable to think low SHBG levels would be associated with higher free test levels and NOT associated with symptoms of hypogonadism?

Doesn't a person with low SHBG require less total test to feel good because more of it is bio available?

 

[newbie23]

From your reference;

"The main function of SHBG is sex-steroid transport within the blood stream and to extravascular target tissues. SHBG also plays a key role in regulating bioavailable sex-steroid concentrations through competition of sex steroids for available binding sites and fluctuations in SHBG concentrations. Because of the higher affinity of SHBG for DHT and T, compared to E, SHBG also has profound effects on the balance between bioavailable androgens and estrogens. Increased SHBG levels may be associated with symptoms and signs of hypogonadism in men, while decreased levels can result in androgenization in women."

If increased levels of SHBG are associated with symptoms of hypogonadism (a larger proportion of test is tightly bound to SHBG and biologically unavailable) then isn't reasonable to think low SHBG levels would be associated with higher free test levels and NOT associated with symptoms of hypogonadism?

Doesn't a person with low SHBG require less total test to feel good because more of it is bio available?

Well yes to an extent, and honestly for years I just assumed that as well. Then I saw tons of guys with high free T ( like REALLY high ) and they felt like shit. Low SHBG is associated with insulin resistance.

In that excerpt you will see that SHBG carries the testosterone to its target tissues. So as his doc was saying it def makes sense that a very low SHBG ( High Free T ) would leave your free T useless if there was nothing to carry it to its target tissues in order to activate the androgen receptor, since testosterone is merely the messenger.

I am not sure on this but I do know when free T gets too high and you titrate down, most guys will feel better.

There are not many other ways, at least proven, to my knowledge, to increase SHBG.

or thyroid has problem.

 

[idmd]

So too much SHBG = symptoms of hypogonadism because too much is bound.

Too little SHBG = symptoms of hypogonadism because not enough is being transported to the target tissues.

Low E2 is associated with low SHBG....correct? Could this partly explain why guys on too much AI feel shitty?

 

[newbie23]

So too much SHBG = symptoms of hypogonadism because too much is bound.

Too little SHBG = symptoms of hypogonadism because not enough is being transported to the target tissues.

Low E2 is associated with low SHBG....correct? Could this partly explain why guys on too much AI feel shitty?

well thats why, because AI's show correlation with free T, when it goes down so does SHBG, but it doesn't always happen to that extent.

Most guys don't need an AI, some won't have it any other way cause they are terrified of gyno.

HH will have same symptoms, and thats probably why hemo would be high, cause free T is too high.

 

[idmd]

Interesting...

My tT = 625 (350-1200)
fT = 20 (9-25)
E2 is 10 (7-42) on AI
SHBG = 14 (16-56)

Normal TSH but T3 in lower 3rd. Feeling better but not great.

What would you tackle first?

What about for the OP who has relatively high E2?

Are us low SHBG guys screwed?

 

[newbie23]

Interesting...

My tT = 625 (350-1200)
fT = 20 (9-25)
E2 is 10 (7-42) on AI
SHBG = 14 (16-56)

Normal TSH but T3 in lower 3rd. Feeling better but not great.

What would you tackle first?

What about for the OP who has relatively high E2?

Are us low SHBG guys screwed?

You E is way too low, I would come off AI first, if it were me that is

 

[newbie23]

His E is too high cause he took too much test.

 

[PharmD518]

So out of whack thyroid can cause low SHGB? Do you think my high-ish TSH levels warrant a full thyroid panel? If I correct thyroid, then SHGB will rise? And when should I see endo you think? 3 weeks after last injection is fine? I want everything to be out of my system.

 

[Effeminate_builder]

Well yes to an extent, and honestly for years I just assumed that as well. Then I saw tons of guys with high free T ( like REALLY high ) and they felt like shit. Low SHBG is associated with insulin resistance.

In that excerpt you will see that SHBG carries the testosterone to its target tissues. So as his doc was saying it def makes sense that a very low SHBG ( High Free T ) would leave your free T useless if there was nothing to carry it to its target tissues in order to activate the androgen receptor, since testosterone is merely the messenger.

I am not sure on this but I do know when free T gets too high and you titrate down, most guys will feel better.

There are not many other ways, at least proven, to my knowledge, to increase SHBG.

or thyroid has problem.

I have noticed that Most diabetics/Metabolic syndrome guys are bald and very hairy and have stocky powlifter type physiques,so the free test is surely hitting the androgen receptors in these guys.
No idea about libido in these guys,but libido is multifactorial i guess.

 

[James23]

I've had the same problem since I was 19. After 11 years of research, I have not discovered a way to correct low SHBG. Endocrinologists are no help. There are no known methods to increase low SHBG to normal levels.

Please ask your GP what he thinks you should do to correct your subnormal SHBG value.

Sent from my mobile device.

 

[newbie23]

So every diabetic is a big hairy powerlifter? I don't think your reasoning here is entirely accurate.

 

[James23]

Diabetics are often bald, but this has much more to do with the inflammatory effects of uncontrolled sugar and/or the inflammatory effects of excess insulin speeding up the balding process in a genetically susceptible individual.

I wonder if we have even one case of cured low-SHBG out there in board-land? Anybody out there?

 

[Effeminate_builder]

Diabetics are often bald, but this has much more to do with the inflammatory effects of uncontrolled sugar and/or the inflammatory effects of excess insulin speeding up the balding process in a genetically susceptible individual.

I wonder if we have even one case of cured low-SHBG out there in board-land? Anybody out there?

Could it not be just the excess free T that is responsible for balding?
Syndrome X guys have very high risk of prostate cancer,so does that mean insulin is responsible for prostate cancer

Around 70-90 % f individuals have syndrome X from north India.
Also north India has the highest incidence of rapes in the world.

So there is quite likely a relation between diabeties/syndrome X and Androgens even in men.*

* In women the Androgen--Diabeties link is well known.