Posted by MarkinBoston on January 18, 2001, at 20:39:30
In reply to Re: My experience, posted by buffalo1 on January 17, 2001, at 16:15:46
> I tried Wellbutrin and it didn't do anything. Viagra has helped both with getting an erection and, toa lesser extent, with ejaculation. However, i recently had my testosterone levels measured and they were very low, so I have an appointment with a specialist next week -- so my results may be off off.
Make sure the endocrinologist gets levels for LH, FSH, testosterone, free testosterone, and estradiol as a minimum. He's likely to measure Prolactin and some others. If you have melancholic depression, a cortisol (8-9am) level is nice to know as it runs high with depression. Lipid levels are good to have for cardiac risk if you don't already have them (no eating >6pm previous night).
Many men under the age of 50 have too much conversion of testosterone to estradiol. This is the case if testosterone and LH are low and estradiol high. Only recently discovered is that estradiol is the primary negative feedback hormone measured to decide if more gonatropins are needed.
If LH were high, as in older men whose gonads can't generate as much testosterone, that's where the problem is, and not the feedback system.
The cure for the first case is just enough non-steroidal aromatase blocker like .25 mg EOD Arimidex, which will block some of the testosterone to estradiol conversion, increasing the former, decreasing the latter, and possibly increasing LH into a more midpoint value. The only thing you have to watch for is that estradiol doesn't go below 15 so your HDL stays in a good range. If estradiol is still above 50, try a quarter tablet daily. Suppliment with testosterone if it doesn't get up to range.
The cure for the second case is what most docs want to do for every case - give you testosterone. If they do that, when you go back for blood work to see if the dosage is right, make sure they get LH and estradiol levels in addition to testosterone.
I've been frustrated with endocrinologists because they don't know that feedback is via estradiol, not testosterone levels in men.
poster:MarkinBoston
thread:51668
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010111/msgs/51987.html