He wanted to do some blood work for other stuff and I asked him if he could add a test for free testosterone.

He basically said that testing for free testosterone is a waste of money because lab results will vary greatly. One laboratory will give one result and another laboratory will likely give a totally different result. He said a test for TOTAL testosterone was more telling.

Does this sound like a load of chit?

Should I ask for a free test test next time?

In!

Have an appoint with the doc in a few weeks... looking to get some bloodworks done, mainly interested in vitamin levels and testosterone.

I thought free test was the more important number. I mean you could have a lot of total test but if it is bound and rendered inert, then it literally does nothing aside from floating around in your blood.

I always just read total test to not confuse things. Too many things effect free test. Either way, every lab test usually shows both.

Why do so many men have nutz that don't work anymore?

Get both.

In addition to SHBG, Estradiol (sensitive assay always), Prolactin, DHT and Progesterone. Cortisol and Thyroid panel if you can fit it in as well.

I've heard somewhere, I want to say it was a Michael Matthews podcast, that free testosterone lab tests are most useful for gauging bodybuilding potential/health/ability or whatever. Total testosterone includes bound testosterone which won't help with muscle building. I may have some of that mixed up, but that's to the best of my memory.

Maybe a misc expert can chime in.

Now that you mention it, the doc did say that free test levels can vary greatly day-to-day and even throughout the day. He also hinted that he wouldn't really even know what to do with the data...

Could you possibly explain a little about why those should be tested for?

Cortisol is part of this panel.

Big discussion answer. But...modern diet, Xenoestrogens, outside influences, Lack of competition, IEDs/ TBI (military)

i think its stupid we pay taxes and cant get the medical service we want. id look up wellness doctors if u can afford it.

Get both.

Always a lot of questions about this in the O35, but the threads get locked before any real discussion or answers come about.

Estrogen in plastics.

Feminism.

Completely agree. If I only pay a small fraction of medical costs for my insurance, I’m totally entitled to every useless and cosmetic thing I want. If I demand full body plastic surgery, I should get it. If I want a new organ, I should get it.

Reality is, unless you have symptoms of low T, there is zero reason for a healthcare professional to order it.

If you can’t justify every order you make, they assume you are frauding and rip up your license.

You can’t say to the insurance company “patient was a miscer wanting to brag on the internet”.

You think a doctor will risk 16 years of education to give you a test you don’t need? Using insurance and not cash?

Just lol.

I guess I should be happy he included the total T test then.

Although, my insurance doesn't cover very much cost - if any - of all of the blood tests he ordered.

At least you can get a test. In my state you need a referral for a testosterone check and 4 doctors refused, was practically in tears the last dr I had begging for a test and he gave me a speech about endocrine system being a thermometer.

Fuk w, they're part of the (system) designed to keep men effeminate. Avoid fake estrogens in the environment. They're everywhere.


The disappearing male

https://player.vimeo.com/video/190834543

In general, testosterone tests are kind of unreliable. Free T measurements are more unreliable than total T. Thus, repeated measurements may be warranted.

Free T is considered the bioactive fraction, but albumin-bound and transcortin-bound testosterone is weakly bound and can dissociate to exert physiological effects. SHBG-bound testosterone is tightly bound and not active.

Thus, free T alone doesn't mean **** without further context.

doctors have no clue about that for the most partt they are just there to right perscriptions for pain killers ect

Must be California

SHBG is the reason why there is a free and total testosterone blood test. It stands for sex hormone binding globulin. When it is elevated, it can render existing testosterone/estradiol hormones inert, which is why it is possible to have a high total testosterone but low free testosterone. Total testosterone is in my opinion a better predictor of leydig cell function and overall testosterone production, which is why most people test for it instead of free testosterone. You can also do certain things to lower SHBG to bring up free testosterone anyways.

Estradiol is pretty obvious. Ideally you want it between 20 - 30 on the sensitive assay. Too high and it can cause insulin sensitivity issues, fat gain and other such related side effects. Progesterone and estradiol go hand in hand. If the latter is too low it can cause existing estrogen levels to spike. You want both in range.

Prolactin and DHT generally aren't tested for, but it can give you an idea as to what issues may arise when you starts manipulating your hormones. If DHT is too high for instance (while one is natural), you might think twice about adding in exogenous androgens into the mix as it can cause prostate and hair issues.

Cortisol is an indicator of adrenal function and modulates a myriad of other hormones. Too high and you can suffer from cushingoid symptoms, too low and T3 will be less efficacious at stimulating cellular metabolism, inflammation and stress will predominate and electrolyte levels will fluctuate in addition to a significant number of other issues.

Thyroid is pretty self-explanatory.

Wouldn't surprise me if anyone with decent muscularity had a tough time getting their doc to test them appropriately. My doc isn't as bad as most, and even he thinks anyone younger than 40 asking to get their T checked is basically just looking to score some of that fountain of youth. It took a lot of convincing, but I eventually got him to agree to test me AND .. prescribe. My labs were downright awful.

I hope he can prescribe TRT if it's too low...

You can order lab tests elsewhere you know.

From what I've read you test levels need to be super low to be actively losing muscle mass.

If the guy didn't think to test for testosterone to begin with, then this guy isn't the person you want to see for TRT. Is this a GP?

Go and see a real endocrinologist, one that specializes in male fertility.

It isn't so much the test level as much as it is the testosterone:estradiol ratio.

Obviously someone with a total T of 550 and estradiol of 25 should be happy. But look at what happens when you bring estradiol up to 100. Lipogenesis will predominate and the building of lean muscle tissue will be hindered.

This is precisely why you need to have EVERYTHING tested. For all you know, adding more testosterone into the mix will just exacerbate your pre-existing issues, when in reality, something as simple as losing weight (aromatase is abundant in adipose tissue) and supplementing with Zinc will bring your levels up.

Put the bottle down, champ. Excessive alcohol raises SHBG which binds up more testosterone.

Preach.

Get a womens hormone test you can order it online for like 60 bucks and take it at a private lab.
this is for guys who have trouble with insurance/doctor approval w.e.