[MonikaT]

OK, I met with my doctor to review the blood test results. He is very concerned about the low (almost non-existent) free testosterone. What he said is so troubling is that my serum testosterone is fine (normal, but at the lower end of normal) because the two numbers usually track together.

He's going to call an endocrinologist, and said he may need to refer me to be seen by him.

So, two questions...

1) Does anyone here have a similar issue (discordance between free-T and total-T), and what if anything is there to worry about?

2) Should I tell the doctor about the PM usage? I'm currently taking 1500mg/day (which from what I've read on this forum is actually a quite low dosage). Also, I had only been taking the PM for about 2 weeks before I had the tests done.

Thanks for ANY input you can give me!

Misty

I don't know if the doctor also checked SHBG, but depending on the lab, free T may be calculated incorrectly. The doctor can calculate free T from SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) and total T. Such low free T would tend to suggest a problem possibly with aromatization of T into E, but not necessarily. Unless the doc also checked estradiol, there isn't a complete picture. Furthermore, it is also important to have the right ratio of T to E. Most doctors seem lost when it comes to all of this.

Really low free T can lead to diabetes, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, weight gain, low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, muscle wasting and weakness, fatigue, depression, and probably a few more things I'm forgetting such as memory issues and gynecomastia.

It probably would have helped to know all those numbers before starting PM so you'd know if it is the cause. It would probably be wise to let the doc know about the PM. I'm not sure what other reasons there are for taking PM, other than feminization, but do a little research and find some other reasons, if admitting to gender issues is something you don't want to do.