Test. levels for a 21 year old

[aaron12]

Hi guys. About six months ago, I started having a number of things happen that prompted me to get my testosterone levels checked (not with my regular doctor). The total serum came out to be 597 ng/dl, free testosterone of 10.8 pg/dl. From my research (and I'm not very knowledgable on this), these seem to be numbers more suited for a 40-50 year old. I am wondering if these numbers may be contributing to the symptoms I've been having. More specifically, I no longer experience morning tumescence, and, while I can get an erection, I have a very difficult time maintaining it when having sex. My gains in the gym and with body fat reductions are also far less spectacular than I have been hoping for, although I'm sure a number of confounding factors can attribute to this. I think I should also note that I try to live a fairly "fit" lifestyle... I sleep well, try to eat well, etc.

So, my question is: with these numbers and symptoms, is it worth going to the doctor, or should I try to just wait it out... and if I should go to the doctor, how should I approach him to try to get the most out of it?

Thanks

[mkretz]

def. just wait it out, make srue you are eating plenty of helathy fats lifting hard but also resting and not overtraining, you are fine, those numbers arent even low.

[triceptor]

597 is low.. most assays use just under 400 as full blown hypogonadism so you're not far away from that.. when did these symptoms occur? How long ago?

[aaron12]

I started having problems with my gf about six months ago, and started noticing the absence of morning wood around then too. Haven't been messing around with any supplements I shouldn't be, so I can't identify if something changed...

[Big Tav]

Sub to this thread.

[WerdUp]

597 is low.. most assays use just under 400 as full blown hypogonadism so you're not far away from that.. when did these symptoms occur? How long ago?

597 is NOT low. It is well within physiological range for a 21 year old male.

[kingdong]

597 is NOT low. It is well within physiological range for a 21 year old male.

Seriously, I think any doctor who says thats low is more concerned with selling steroids than boosting health. Ive never even heard of 400 being low as far as health is concerned.

[nattydisaster]

597 is not low at all. In fact that is pretty normal.

[triceptor]

hardly a good level for age 21 year old.. many MD's would agree with you.. not me.. 597 is something I would expect to see in a 40+ year old.. 900+ is what I would expect to see in a 21 year old and i know physicians like Morgantaller, Shippen, Crisler and Gordon who would agree with me..

[triceptor]

OK.. maybe they assays we are referencing are different but in a standard lab like Quest total test ranges are 380 to 1100 ng some labs use 280 to 800 so it depends upon teh bottom of the range.. these are not age adjusted also.. for older men teh age adjusted ranges will be lower because its expected that older men have lower testosterone... I'll get someone to come on teh show and discuss this topic.. testosterone levels in younger men -vs- older men and what is "healthy" and sub optimal...

[triceptor]

I stand corrected.. I just found out Quest has lowered the "bottom" of their reference range to 250ng in light of the ever growing number of young men presenting lowered testosterone levels..

[bdcc]

The classic scenario that allows the average standards to slip further and further downhill.

[Big Tav]

So they have lowered the range because more young men are showing signs of low test levels (from being "soyed?) that's like moving the obesity ranges because more people are getting fat. We need to know what is optimal if we are trying to be our best.

[kyoryoko]

Unfortunately that's what is happening... So that ppl are "normal" not "optimal"

[aaron12]

I'm not so much concerned about my T levels as I am the things that are coming as a product of them. If 597 is considered a "normal" level for a 21 year old, that's fine, but I hardly think the sexual dysfunction is... So either the symptoms aren't a product of my T levels, or my present T levels aren't healthy for me...

And with respect to the first scenario, I live what I consider to be a fairly healthy lifestyle (taking what I can from SHR and nutrition books), and I'm not trying anything unhealthy that might be messing with my sexual function, so what confounding factor besides my hormone levels would contribute towards a six-month+ bout of sexual dysfunction for a 21 year old? Honest question... I am fully prepared to deal with erectile issues when I'm in my 40's or 50's, but I really wasn't expecting it this early...

Thank you for all the contributions so far

[bdcc]

Get a more comprehensive panel. Testosterone is not the only factor that effects sexual behaviour. It isn't even the only hormone.

[aaron12]

Get a more comprehensive panel. Testosterone is not the only factor that effects sexual behaviour. It isn't even the only hormone.

Estradiol: 33.4 pg/mL (reference interval of the lab is 7.6-42.6)
SHBG: 36.5 nmol/L (reference interval 14.5-48.4)

Not sure which other ones would be relevant... in any case, everything else was within the reference interval (normal), and it was a fairly comprehensive panel.... except I had very slightly elevated LDL cholesterol and BUN/creatinine ratio, although the former was barely high and the BUN/creatinine I guess I attribute to high protein diet...

[iron fists]

A lot of it can be simply environmental factors as well as increased stress related. I mean 20 years ago a normal level for a 40+ man was in the 700s.

[BURNT DICE]

Relax bro...those levels are normal test levels. Get a full panel and discuss your problems with a doctor as it is probably unrelated to your testosterone numbers. As for putting on bulk, if the number are a bit higher or a bit lower I don't think you'll notice much of a difference. For example I bench ~300lbs with a test level of 382 (I'm 40 to be fair, but still). It's not until you get way up in test levels that you are really gonna notice a big difference in what you pack on/lift and that usually requires drugs.

Couple things to think about:

1. Your brain can be the biggest reason you have trouble getting wood or keeping it up. Sometimes you can psyche yourself out. Just relax and enjoy sex and don't over think it.

2. For packing on muscle eat lots of food and protein. Eat slightly above maintenance and work out hard

3. For natural proven ways to boost your test (not that you really need it based on those numbers) See this
http://www.timinvermont.com/fitness/boosttes.htm

If you're really worried something is going on there, than definitely talk to your doctor and investigate, but as for test levels alone, you are normal. Check the following chart:

http://www.mens-hormonal-health.com/...ne-levels.html

[JeremyT]

I am also afflicted with low test, my dad is on TRT, and even my AUNT has to take some test because her levels are SO LOW. So i know how you are feeling bro. Im also 21.

I know this is going to sound crazy man, but aside from hormones, you need to ask yourself what your diet is like as well. Roughly about 6 months ago now, I was dealing with almost EXACTLY the same thing that you were dealing with. I did a few main things that really helped me get out of that funk. The first was to cut out all the stimulants that I was taking, especially jack3d, tea, coffee and the like. I found that on days when I took them (after i was burnt out from the effects and the gym) I had a much more difficult time getting, and staying hard, even during sex, but if I didn't I could get excited, and stay excited.

At the time I was a semi-vegetarian. I mainly ate only chicken, fish, and some seafood. Since then I have done a complete 180, and now I mainly only eat beef, pork, and some fish. I got REALLY sick of chicken haha. I found this really helped me as well for some reason, maybe the fattyness of it, i dunno.

Thirdly bro, and something that also helped me turn **** around, get a good test booster, ( I used Animal Test, worked insanely good) and remember what it feels like to be ****ing horny, and to be hard alot more. Try and burn into some good 'routines' if you know what I mean. When i finished up the 6 weeks, I came off, but I never came down, and it has seemed to just carry me on for the past 4 months without any of these issues.

Lastly, chillout, watch some good porn, and try to keep enjoying ****. I know it can be a SHOTGUN blast to the ego when this kind of stuff happens, but shrug it and keep on going!