I am looking for advice about raising my very low testosterone level. I was hoping that some of the seasoned members who I look up to like @haidut could reply if possible.
I have been interested in Ray Peat's work for several years, but I haven't had any luck increasing my testosterone above the bottom of the range. Typically, my testosterone is 250 out of a 250 to 1000 range (nnmol/l or whatever the units are) -- it's always at the bottom of the range.
Before I took thyroid, several years ago, my cholesterol was 280. After I took thyroid, my cholesterol predictably dropped to 180. So I thought the cholesterol would be converting to the steroid hormones, but my DHEA and testosterone were still low. So then I thought I might be missing another precursor, like vitamin A or zinc, etc.
But despite eating a good diet with plenty of protein, liver, and oysters, my testosterone is still low. Even supplementing DHEA at 5 mg a day, bringing my low DHEA blood level up to the top of the range, did not increase my testosterone. Because of this, it makes me think that cortisol or something is keeping the testosterone low. Estradiol measured in the blood was in the middle of the range. I heard Peat in an interview with Jodelle say that there was a relationship between testosterone and cortisol.
I believe that Ray Peat typically says to take thyroid and vitamin A to increase testosterone. But do you know if there are other cases in which something else is going on, like an excess of cortisol that's keeping the testosterone down? The other issue I have, that I feel may be connected to this, is that taking a thyroid supplement no longer makes me feel warm. In fact, my feet often become freezing cold after taking a thyroid supplement, and this seems like it could be related to a lack of steroid hormone synthesis, due to some kind of hormonal blockage or precursor material deficiency.
Anyway, if you happened to have any insights, I'd be greatly appreciative.
I have been interested in Ray Peat's work for several years, but I haven't had any luck increasing my testosterone above the bottom of the range. Typically, my testosterone is 250 out of a 250 to 1000 range (nnmol/l or whatever the units are) -- it's always at the bottom of the range.
Before I took thyroid, several years ago, my cholesterol was 280. After I took thyroid, my cholesterol predictably dropped to 180. So I thought the cholesterol would be converting to the steroid hormones, but my DHEA and testosterone were still low. So then I thought I might be missing another precursor, like vitamin A or zinc, etc.
But despite eating a good diet with plenty of protein, liver, and oysters, my testosterone is still low. Even supplementing DHEA at 5 mg a day, bringing my low DHEA blood level up to the top of the range, did not increase my testosterone. Because of this, it makes me think that cortisol or something is keeping the testosterone low. Estradiol measured in the blood was in the middle of the range. I heard Peat in an interview with Jodelle say that there was a relationship between testosterone and cortisol.
I believe that Ray Peat typically says to take thyroid and vitamin A to increase testosterone. But do you know if there are other cases in which something else is going on, like an excess of cortisol that's keeping the testosterone down? The other issue I have, that I feel may be connected to this, is that taking a thyroid supplement no longer makes me feel warm. In fact, my feet often become freezing cold after taking a thyroid supplement, and this seems like it could be related to a lack of steroid hormone synthesis, due to some kind of hormonal blockage or precursor material deficiency.
Anyway, if you happened to have any insights, I'd be greatly appreciative.