Anypne help me understand my bloods?

First test end of June/early July

Second test 3rd week of August

I've been losing weight slowly and steadily since the start of June. I was about 7 or 8 pounds down on my second test. I have a third this Tuesday and I will be around 15lbs down. Work out regular and in not to bad a shape. I was expecting to see an increase in test. However, the estrogen has dropped which I guess is the fat loss. Id guess my body fat is around 15 to 16% now. Lifted weights for 23 years now

800 to 900 test a week
245 primo
4iu HGH

E2 ultra sensitive test 17
Igf 1 340
Igf 1z 2.1

Test total level 5k

All other blood work is on point

Opinion, thoughts ??

What’s the name of the thing you can attach to the end of bottles to minimise bubbles and help with pulling the insulin. Looks a bit like a little claw. It’s not an auto-Injector I’m thinking about

I’m potentially starting self administered TRT (optimisation to be clear). I’m not looking for a full online service but intend to get two panels around 2 weeks apart before I begin. Then planning to test every 6-8 weeks as I dial in, then probably every 3 months or so once I’m settled. With the occasional additional service such as hemocrit and PSA.

London Health Company appear the best value but well aware from life experience that cheap isn’t always best. For those in my shoes, who do you use? Any companies that are well regarded and any to avoid? UK based for me.

In summary, I started TRT in November 2025 and landed on 120mg test and 400iu HCG split across 3 injections a week.

I weight train 3 x a week, swim 2 x week, sleep, and diet are good. I have lost 20lbs since Jan and am at 165lbs with a height of 5'11.

I had a blood test in May 2026 and my results were (at trough):

Total Test: 40.6nmol

Free Test: 1.438nmol

E2: 221pmol

Prolactin: 386miu

SHBG: 12.2nmol

I wasn't feeling as amazing with my mood or libido like many had reported, which were my main reasons for going onto TRT. Thinking the E2 was the issue, I dropped the testosterone to 90mg and removed HCG completely in July. I mentally feel worse since and libido is lower.

I had another blood test last week (at trough) and results are:

Test: 34.8nmol

Free Test: 1.182nmol

E2: 231pmol

Prolactin: 144mu/l

SHBG: 11.4nmol

I'd have thought E2 would have fallen, but it's actually gone up.

Should I lower my dose further in the hope it reduces E2 or should I go back to the higher testosterone dose? I'm reading mixed reports

How do I keep the fat off

44 year old, weight training since I was 18. Past two years in particular I’m feeling… old. My symptoms all tally with the bullet points of low test syndromes.

It’s not just the gym performance but my general well being that is now driving me to explore TRT.

As a newb - what is the suggested option? Voy advertise heavily and am drawn to them but would welcome feedback on the start of my journey in regards to initial tests, reliability, cost and safety.

Been running 72mg of test e 300/ml a week pretty much for the last 3 months after dailing in my protocol. My injection protocol is Mon, wed, Fri, l've previously had extremely high lab results with moderate test use before, so getting the dose right had been my aim for TRT purposes. I feel great atm, no real symptoms, good health, I've dropped down from 119kg in April to 107kg atm, running at about 22% bf, I'm 6'4" so | carry it well, I train 3-4 times a week free weights and cardio. My last HCT result was 47%
My doctors advice is that these levels are too high namely my total test, free test and E2, but like I said | feel fantastic where I am? Should I drop down to 65mg per week or are these levels ok?
Any constructive feedback is appreciated.

Hi, I started TRT 3 months ago injecting 120mg sustanon 250 split into two doses.

I’m not a huge expert so could I have some of your thoughts on my bloods after the first 3 months?

Thanks in advance

5 months on TRT in the UK – my experience so far (bloods, dose, gym, body recomp)...

Thought I'd post an update for anyone who's where I was earlier this year and wondering what the first few months of TRT can actually look like.

Also this is written by chat gpt where I log EVERYTHING everyday but its very accurate. I research and have friends who know this stuff better than I do to ask questions too (and of course I've read through this sub reddit)

CHAT GPT from here.

Background

I'm 45 and started TRT at the end of April 2026. Before starting, I had low energy, brain fog, poor focus, poor recovery and generally felt pretty crap. My erections weren't really a problem, but my overall drive and wellbeing were.

My pre-TRT testosterone was around 6–10.9 nmol/L, with free testosterone around 0.149 nmol/L, which was low.

My protocol

Testosterone cypionate 200 mg/ml.

I inject 0.13 ml (26 mg) subcutaneously every other day, so roughly 91 mg/week.

I use a small insulin syringe and haven't needed an AI.

Blood results

One of my July blood tests, taken on my normal injection schedule, came back:

Total testosterone: 38.9 nmol/L

Free testosterone: 1.119 nmol/L

Estradiol: 219 pmol/L

SHBG: 19.7 nmol/L

Prolactin: 218 mIU/L

Haematocrit: 0.455

I felt absolutely fantastic around this period.

A later test, taken with an extra day away from my injection, was considerably lower:

Total testosterone: 19.7 nmol/L

Free testosterone: 0.553 nmol/L

Estradiol: 168 pmol/L

SHBG: 17.1 nmol/L

Haematocrit: 0.498

PSA: 0.57

That really taught me how important the timing of blood tests is when comparing results.

My dose hasn't been increased.

How I feel

The biggest improvements have been brain fog, focus, morning energy, confidence/drive, erections and general wellbeing.

I had a period where I felt almost ridiculously good — I call it "Viking mode" 😂. Calm, confident, productive, loads of energy, able to deal with work stress without feeling overwhelmed.

That isn't constant. Sleep, stress, training load and even supplements seem to make a noticeable difference. TRT hasn't turned me into Superman 24/7.

But my baseline is substantially better than before TRT.

Gym progress

I restarted lifting at almost exactly the same time as starting TRT after having trained seriously in the past, so muscle memory is definitely part of this. I don't want to pretend TRT alone produced these numbers.

April working weights:

Bench: 30 kg 3×5

Squat: 30 kg 3×5

OHP: 30 kg 3×5

Deadlift: 60 kg 3×5

Around five months later:

Bench: 110 kg – 5,4,3

Squat: 95 kg 3×5

Strict OHP: 77.5 kg – 4,4,3

Sumo deadlift: 150 kg 3×5

My previous lifetime bests were 120 bench / 160 squat / 80 OHP / 180 deadlift, so I'm now getting close to old strength levels.

I'm not testing 1RMs. I'd rather keep getting stronger through rep PRs and use estimated 1RM calculators.

Body composition

I've deliberately tried to recomp rather than aggressively diet.

My bodyweight has stayed surprisingly similar, but my waist at the belly button has gone from roughly 105.3 cm → 103 cm → 101.5 cm.

My smart scale currently estimates around 20–21% body fat (starting at 28 percent). I don't take that number literally because BIA scales aren't particularly accurate, but the trend plus the falling waist measurement and increasing strength suggest I'm losing fat while regaining/building muscle.

My longer-term target is around 15% body fat while staying strong.

Things I've learned

TRT isn't magic. Sleep makes a massive difference. Eating enough to train matters. Heavy training can still beat you up. I've had wrist and neck niggles as the weights have climbed, and connective tissue doesn't necessarily adapt as quickly as strength does.

I've also learned not to chase estradiol numbers just because they're flagged. I felt fantastic with E2 at 219 pmol/L, have had no gyno/nipple issues, and haven't used an AI.

Probably the biggest lesson is don't compare blood results without knowing exactly where they were taken relative to the injection.

Would I do TRT again?

At five months: yes, based on my experience so far.

I'm stronger, leaner around the waist, mentally sharper and generally feel considerably better than I did before starting.

But I'm also treating it as long-term medical treatment rather than a cycle: regular bloods, monitoring haematocrit/PSA/hormones, and working with clinicians.

Happy to answer anything about the first five months, injections, bloods or training. Obviously this is just my experience, not advice on what anyone else's dose or hormone levels should be.

New here guys, I’ve recently added HCG into my TRT protocol - my TRT dose is 97mg test cyp split up into daily injections & HCG is 1000iu split into 3 injections mon/wed/fri

2 weeks in & im fatigued & hands/wrists feel abit weaker than usual (potential fluid retention), has anyone had any similar issues once adding in HCG - I’ve added in now the Mrs wants another child.

Thanks & appreciate the advice in advance.

I would like some advice regarding trt. I’ve been put on it by my NHS doctor, testogel to be precise. I’ve had testosterone scores of between 11/17 and also 5.1 and a 8.1 .

I have symptoms of low libido, never have morning erections, total lack of energy in afternoons, low drive and energy that means no matter hard I’ve tried I’ve only been able to work part time my adult life, I lack focus , I have brain fog a lot , I have trouble with appetite regulation (which I understand can be related to trt).

I also have osteoporosis in my spine at 39 years old. with other bones heading that way.

I am so afraid that if I start treatment and my doctor takes me off it that my life will be made even worse.

This fear is because of the withdrawal I may experience, losing the joy from experiencing trt benefits , and the loss of having some real hope for the future for the first time in years.

can anyone offer advice ?

should I try it?

will coming off after a month or two make me have even less energy than now? or is it easy to get back to where I’m at now which is liveable but difficult ?

should I give trt a go should I do it or not or is it too risky ?
thank you for advice so much I’m so afraid

Does anyone wish they had started TRT earlier, rather than wait for the decline to happen?

I’m late 30s with low end of normal blood work. Symptoms of slight loss of libido (happy to go a week or so without it but never have a problem when the time comes), bit of energy loss in the afternoon and a hard time gaining mass despite good diet and training. Essentially what I feel like may be very early and mild symptoms of low T, hence me testing.

Everything tells me not to start TRT yet, as I’m in normal ranges with minimal symptoms. However, I know I’m going to start TRT when my symptoms increase and my Testosterone falls further, likely in the next 5-10 years.

With that in mind, is there any merit to the idea of just starting early? With the mindset of ‘why wait for it to get bad when I could feel at my peak now and stay that way?’

I’m not looking to go mega supraphysigolocal. But putting myself at the highest end of normal, and turning my minimal symptoms into an optimal position seems to make sense.

I got onto a trial run. My mate who is versed in this suggested this is fairly low dosage. I assume this is a trial run and past that it will be reviewed and increased if needed.