Advice needed on increasing Testosterone naturally

[shyguava]

Hi all. Just seeking some advice on the options to give myself a boost in libido and T.

I recently had a varicocele operation and things are improving already (operation was Sept 29)

The reason mostly for that op was to improve the semen quality.

I have to return to my own country shortly for more tests but the last batch I had done pre operation had some basic information that wasnt the best:

Testosterone: 10.00 nmol/L (6.0 - 30.0)
S.H.B.G. 24 nmol/L (15 - 70) - I wouldnt know what this is
F.A.I. 41.7 & (18.0 - 210.0) - wouldnt know what this is either
Free Testost: 233 (170 - 500)
FSH: 3.9 (IU/L (1.0 - 18.0)
L H: 1.0 (1.0 - 12.0)
Prolactin 7.5 ug/L (<20.0)

I note the doctor (typical of most Australian specialists) overlooked the E side of things.

I shall make sure with info from this board I get a more thorough recheck later x 10.

I was considering Tribestan (though that apparently causes the Oestrogen levels to rise I heard hence what would I need to combat that unwanted side effect). Is there better things on the market.

I basically want a libido boost along with improvement in other areas but dont want anything that might affect an unborn baby given I and the wife have plans for a kid in future.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[jon671]

Given what you said stay away from things like 6oxo that have birth defects listed as a possible side effect. For otc supps make sure you read the fine print. I would take zma or at least zinc and magnesium before bedtime. The later is cheaper. Coconut oil before bedtime 1 tbsp.. Overall health plays a role in libido and semen quality. So check diet, exercise, supps and any activity that might defeat your attempts at improving these things. If you can get it clomid might help.

I might be wrong, but your lh and fsh levels are low. You say this bloodwork was before the operation right? I was under the impression that these would both be elevated if you had a bad enough varicocele.

Fsh is responsible for sperm production, which is more important than semen which is like a vessel only. Do you mean improve sperm quality?

 

[LeanGuy]

Nutrition is #1. Clomid would probably work but its not "natural". You might look at supplements like STOKED or Sustain Alpha... nothing hormonal and it has the added benefit of keeping estrogen down. Estradiol should have been tested.

 

[Hank Vangut]

some ways increase test naturally. make sure you do these things first before jumping on any supp.



1. cut body fat. higher bf% has proven to raise estrogen production and lower test production.

2. don't drop weight to quickly or skip meals. cortisol and test production work in a see-saw fashion. when one raises the other drops. any body stress will cause cortisol to win.

3. stick with tough excercises. hard compound lifts have proven to stimulate test output much more than isolation excercises. further heavy lifts in the lower rep range have proven to be better at boosting test production.
:dl:

4. eat fat. keep a diet that is at least 30% fat. your body needs dietary fat to produce testosterone. testesterone is synthesized from colesterol. and studies have found that people with diets high in monounsaturated fats had the highest test levels.

5. have sex. scientists found that simply having an erection causes your circulating testosterone to rise significantly.

6. get a good nights rest. test levels are higher after in the morning after a good night of sleep.

7. rest harder than you work out. same cortisol explanation as in point #2.

8. avoid binge drinking. high consumption of alochol drops test levels. :drunk:

i spewed this off the top of my head. so if anyone has corrections or additions to make please post them.
and i can probably find some of the studies i've read that support some of these claims if anyone is interested.
--hank :cheers:

 

[JanSz]

Hi all. Just seeking some advice on the options to give myself a boost in libido and T.

I recently had a varicocele operation and things are improving already (operation was Sept 29)

The reason mostly for that op was to improve the semen quality.

I have to return to my own country shortly for more tests but the last batch I had done pre operation had some basic information that wasnt the best:

Testosterone: 10.00 nmol/L (6.0 - 30.0)
S.H.B.G. 24 nmol/L (15 - 70) - I wouldnt know what this is
F.A.I. 41.7 & (18.0 - 210.0) - wouldnt know what this is either
Free Testost: 233 (170 - 500)
FSH: 3.9 (IU/L (1.0 - 18.0)
L H: 1.0 (1.0 - 12.0)
Prolactin 7.5 ug/L (<20.0)

I note the doctor (typical of most Australian specialists) overlooked the E side of things.

I shall make sure with info from this board I get a more thorough recheck later x 10.

I was considering Tribestan (though that apparently causes the Oestrogen levels to rise I heard hence what would I need to combat that unwanted side effect). Is there better things on the market.

I basically want a libido boost along with improvement in other areas but dont want anything that might affect an unborn baby given I and the wife have plans for a kid in future.

Any advice appreciated.

Testosterone Conversion Factor: pg/ml x 3.47 = pMol/L
Testosterone
1 ng/dL=0.0347 nmol/L

TT=10.00 nmol/L=10/0.0347=288ng/dL

that is very low TT

I have marked dr Shippen's chart for your situation.

Your FreeT~67

FreeT<100 is not acceptable
FreeT<160 is very low
FreeT> 160 is acceptable
FreeT<=300 is acceptable

We usually prefer to be in upper 1/4 range
Upper 1/4 of acceptable range (265-300)

Actually the above on FreeT is only (relatively good) approximation.
Testosterone ways we worry about
BAT=BioAvailableTestosterone

BAT is only available at Quest Diagnostics.
Only this test:
Testosterone, Free, Bio/Total (LC/MS/MS)
---------------------------------------------------
Your FreeT test that you got
is what creates confussion and missunderstanding.
The sooner your and your doctor forget about it the better for you.
---------------------------------------------------
L H: 1.0 (1.0 - 12.0)

This is very low.

You are going to live two phased life.

One phase, when you will make plans to conceive.
Second phase, the rest of your life.

Starting from second phase.
You should investigate

why your LH is low, often you will not het any good answer.
next
investigate if using HCG your testis can be stimulated enough so you will end up in acceptable range for FreeT via testicular testosterone production.

If that would fail, you should (DEFINITELY) keep HCG
and add external testosterone.

Transdermal test if you need also boost DHT
Injectable test if DHT is close to upper range
----------------

When you will try to conceive:

make sure that you do not change any thing in your routine at the time

either you will be able to conceive as is
or
you will add 75iu HMG for few months to about a year.

.

 

[darkblue1]

Since these results are pre-op and LH and FSH levels are low , this is not caused by varicoceles. Your FSH is ok. LH is low. Mine had almost same levels as yours
FSH – 3.6 LH - 0.6. and TT – 226 (yours 288) Prolactin - 7. These levels were enough to make my wife pregnant. First thing you should not worry about LH . Nobody knows the reason for low LH when prolactin is normal. Second, Don’t go for any supplements like clomid or HCG . It will spoil your natural production of testosterone.
Did you do your semen analysis?.If not, you can do that and also do latest blood test for LH,FSH,TT and Prolactin to see whether the surgery helped to raise these levels.

 

[LeanGuy]

Don’t go for any supplements like clomid or HCG.

Clomid can actually restart natural production... did for me. You are right about HCG though, it suppresses LH. Clomid might be a good option for him to talk w/ his doctor, though its not natural.

 

[darkblue1]

Clomid can actually restart natural production... did for me. You are right about HCG though, it suppresses LH. Clomid might be a good option for him to talk w/ his doctor, though its not natural.

Correct.But sometimes it causes libido issues.

 

[LeanGuy]

Correct.But sometimes it causes libido issues.

True, optimal dose for me was 12.5mg/ED minimal sides... total T went from 260 to 760 in 8 weeks.

 

[crazyfool405]

http://www.shrubmed.com/testosterone.html

this is all the things that can increase test levels, or have some effect on test levels, you have to click on them and read the studies to see whether its a positive or negative effect on your test levels.

 

[LeanGuy]

this is all the things that can increase test levels, or have some effect on test levels, you have to click on them and read the studies to see whether its a positive or negative effect on your test levels.

Word. Awesome link

 

[jon671]

FSH – 3.6 LH - 0.6. and TT – 226 (yours 288) Prolactin - 7. These levels were enough to make my wife pregnant.

Good to hear. I am trying to get on the baby train again with my wife.

 

[shyguava]

Good to hear. I am trying to get on the baby train again with my wife.

Gee jon671/JanS/Leanguy and all of you thanks a lot for the info. Awesome (I shall print and keep as part of my recovery file) My Endo is pretty conservative. So its good to have some information to confront him with. I think his range of options for me increase post conception of my wife. He is cautious about doing anything before that (which is okay) for some reason though he said there is many things he can suggest and do post baby time. I will ask if they match those I have seen suggested above and on the forum. (very curious) Melbourne Australia doesnt exactly have a wealth of Endo's (3.5 million is a small city for too many specialists to set up shop in it seems and it takes 2 months to see an Endo). So sometimes one must persist even you get frustrated. But its a quest worth pursuing as imbalance of hormone levels and T really stuff up ones buoyancy. Though everything else in life is good - work (I'd prefer to win the lottery and bypass it but if you have to go...well theres worse to clock onto. But I have to learn to clock off more as per advice above), marriage, investments (always buy land before shares philosophy saved me).

I am not overweight. 80kg (176 pounds) for 181 cm. I can definately see some things I need to improve/try daily though from the list above and as per Hanks list. Many thanks again.

My wife will be happy with that info too Darkblue.

 

[shyguava]

some ways increase test naturally. make sure you do these things first before jumping on any supp.



1. cut body fat. higher bf% has proven to raise estrogen production and lower test production.

2. don't drop weight to quickly or skip meals. cortisol and test production work in a see-saw fashion. when one raises the other drops. any body stress will cause cortisol to win.

3. stick with tough excercises. hard compound lifts have proven to stimulate test output much more than isolation excercises. further heavy lifts in the lower rep range have proven to be better at boosting test production.
:dl:

4. eat fat. keep a diet that is at least 30% fat. your body needs dietary fat to produce testosterone. testesterone is synthesized from colesterol. and studies have found that people with diets high in monounsaturated fats had the highest test levels.

5. have sex. scientists found that simply having an erection causes your circulating testosterone to rise significantly.

6. get a good nights rest. test levels are higher after in the morning after a good night of sleep.

7. rest harder than you work out. same cortisol explanation as in point #2.

8. avoid binge drinking. high consumption of alochol drops test levels. :drunk:

i spewed this off the top of my head. so if anyone has corrections or additions to make please post them.
and i can probably find some of the studies i've read that support some of these claims if anyone is interested.
--hank :cheers:

Hank I can definately see some of those things as things I need to improve on. I have a diet with practically no fat (high in cereals, bread with no butter, vegetables, some fish but not much and rice being dominant fare.

Monunsaturated Fat I believe I can get from coconut oil, cold pressed olive oil, peanuts, more fish (fresh) fillets, butter, (dairy?), lean steak (I am guessing).

I tend to skip meals too. Breakfast and supper only (skipping lunch). So I will get back to being normal in that area.

 

[suncloud]

hank is dead on. compound moves release more testosterone. specifically, squats, deads, bench press.

belly fat has been proven to not only lower test, but lower growth hormone levels as well, so getting in shape, through compound exercises is paramount.

look into the supplement ZMA as well.


mono fats - avacados, nuts, olive/canola oil. thats all i can remember.

 

[shyguava]

Given what you said stay away from things like 6oxo that have birth defects listed as a possible side effect. For otc supps make sure you read the fine print. I would take zma or at least zinc and magnesium before bedtime. The later is cheaper. Coconut oil before bedtime 1 tbsp.. Overall health plays a role in libido and semen quality. So check diet, exercise, supps and any activity that might defeat your attempts at improving these things. If you can get it clomid might help.

I might be wrong, but your lh and fsh levels are low. You say this bloodwork was before the operation right? I was under the impression that these would both be elevated if you had a bad enough varicocele.

Fsh is responsible for sperm production, which is more important than semen which is like a vessel only. Do you mean improve sperm quality?

Yes I meant Sperm quality Jon. The varicocele op was performed so as to improve sperm quality. Thats mostly why I underwent it. I think I had normal volumen pre op but the motility rates and the normal morphology were 35% (those with acceptable motility) and 11% (normal morphology). Thats pretty ordinary. Amazingly the Endo and Urologist tried to talk me out of the op by saying volume wise I was doing well (which to me is like telling someone with lots of worthless shares that they have a lot of investments). But I went to Vietnam and had the operation and things are improving already. So I am happy to have done this. They will be surprised when I return and see the results.

I will be trying your suggestion definately too. As to me phase two after improving the chances of conception are to improve libido/T and normal relations with partner.

 

[shyguava]

Nutrition is #1. Clomid would probably work but its not "natural". You might look at supplements like STOKED or Sustain Alpha... nothing hormonal and it has the added benefit of keeping estrogen down. Estradiol should have been tested.

Hey Leanguy - Sustain Alpha looks very good. Got to find some info on Stoked too. These products would not have any affect if taken while trying to conceive a child by virtue of them being "natural" I take it. I will consult the Endo but like I said in an earlier post. Sometimes you dont know with Endo's if they are against something because they want to market their product.
But this look promising. Thanks.

Sustain Alpha
4.0

Characteristics:

Fast drying creamy lotion, possessing musky herbaceous scent.

Active Ingredients:

9ml for an average dose

Resveratrol (99%) – 15mg/ml
7,8 Benzoflavone (99%) – 8mg/ml
Aromatic oil blend - 2mg/ml

Aromatic Oil Blend:

Sandalwood essential oil (santalum spicatum), lime essential oil* (citrus aurantifolia), ginger essential oil* (zingiber officinale), palmarosa essential oil* (cymbopogon martini), clary sage essential oil (salvia sclarea), carrot seed (daucus carota), diallyl disulfide.

Other Ingredients:

Distilled water, grape spirits*, aloe vera*, dimethyl isosorbide, propylene glycol, emu oil, squalene, tocopherol acetate, almond oil, hazelnut oil, cucumber extract* (cucumis sativus), chamomile extract* (matricaria recutita), isopropyl myristate, witch hazel extract, green tea extract* (camellia sinensis), cetyl palmitate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan olivate, glyceryl stearate, PEG 100 stearate, glycerin, dimethicone, strontium nitrate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, d-Limonene, tetrahydropiperine†, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium PCA, sodium hydroxide.

* Certified Organic
† US Patent 6,849,645

What sort of results should I expect?

As testosterone climbs to its maximum potential, the following results become noticeable -

*
Improved libido
*
More frequent & harder erections
*
Increased ejaculatory volume
*
Improved sense of well-being & social confidence (wow I could do with this at the moment)
*
More prominent gains in the gym

 

[The Matrix]

Hey Leanguy - Sustain Alpha looks very good. Got to find some info on Stoked too. These products would not have any affect if taken while trying to conceive a child by virtue of them being "natural" I take it. I will consult the Endo but like I said in an earlier post. Sometimes you dont know with Endo's if they are against something because they want to market their product.
But this look promising. Thanks.

Sustain Alpha
4.0

Characteristics:

Fast drying creamy lotion, possessing musky herbaceous scent.

Active Ingredients:

9ml for an average dose

Resveratrol (99%) – 15mg/ml
7,8 Benzoflavone (99%) – 8mg/ml
Aromatic oil blend - 2mg/ml

Aromatic Oil Blend:

Sandalwood essential oil (santalum spicatum), lime essential oil* (citrus aurantifolia), ginger essential oil* (zingiber officinale), palmarosa essential oil* (cymbopogon martini), clary sage essential oil (salvia sclarea), carrot seed (daucus carota), diallyl disulfide.

Other Ingredients:

Distilled water, grape spirits*, aloe vera*, dimethyl isosorbide, propylene glycol, emu oil, squalene, tocopherol acetate, almond oil, hazelnut oil, cucumber extract* (cucumis sativus), chamomile extract* (matricaria recutita), isopropyl myristate, witch hazel extract, green tea extract* (camellia sinensis), cetyl palmitate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan olivate, glyceryl stearate, PEG 100 stearate, glycerin, dimethicone, strontium nitrate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, d-Limonene, tetrahydropiperine†, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium PCA, sodium hydroxide.

* Certified Organic
† US Patent 6,849,645

What sort of results should I expect?

As testosterone climbs to its maximum potential, the following results become noticeable -

*
Improved libido
*
More frequent & harder erections
*
Increased ejaculatory volume
*
Improved sense of well-being & social confidence (wow I could do with this at the moment)
*
More prominent gains in the gym

So far I have had a high success rate of jumpstarting people with out drugs, but instead finding and giving the body what it needs to rebalance it self.

 

[shyguava]

So far I have had a high success rate of jumpstarting people with out drugs, but instead finding and giving the body what it needs to rebalance it self.

You dont think Sustain Alpha is "natural" Matrix?

 

[shyguava]

What are these by the way (as usual I look like I am at the low end again of whatever they are)?

S.H.B.G. 24 nmol/L (15 - 70) - I wouldnt know what this is
F.A.I. 41.7 & (18.0 - 210.0) - wouldnt know what this is either

 

[jon671]

What are these by the way (as usual I look like I am at the low end again of whatever they are)?

S.H.B.G. 24 nmol/L (15 - 70) - I wouldnt know what this is
F.A.I. 41.7 & (18.0 - 210.0) - wouldnt know what this is either

Easy finds:

FAI http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_androgen_index

SHBG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHBG

 

[shyguava]

Easy finds:

FAI http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_androgen_index

SHBG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHBG

Thanks Jon. Seems I am at the extreme low end of everything that matters.

No doubt the Endo will tell me "Dont worry...you are still within normal range". Like thats making me feel great. :think: