Re: DHEA, free testosterone, and RT3

[Guest guest]

No, t3 raises SHBG, but it is supposed to. Sex hormones (testosterone and

estrogen, but not progesterone) also raise SHBG. So if you raise t3, your free

tesosterone can go lower, as well as free estrogen, due to the increase in SHBG.

The answer is to raise the sex hormones.

DHEA does not raise testosterone in everyone. For me, it raises it only SLIGHTLY

and I mean very slightly, but it REALLY raises my estrogen! So it depends on the

person. This doesn't have anything to do with rt3. Different people's bodies

will convert DHEA differently. I have met numerous other woman who convert DHEA

to estrogen and not testosterone. Now my husband converts DHEA to testosterone,

which is good because he needed both!

If you need testosterone, the best thing is to get a script for it. You can't

buy it online as it's a controlled substance. You may be able to get an open

minded OBGYN to give you this and not have to get into the whole thyroid thing

with him/her. An anti-aging doctor can help you out here, too. Again, don't even

get into the thyroid/adrenal thing! Just talk about the sex hormones and you

will hopefully be able to get a script.

I HAVE seen androgel for sale on line. It's a script but bodybuilders use it.

Unfortunately, it's expensive and probably way too strong for women, but I guess

if you could try to buy this is you absolutely couldn't get a script. It seems a

lot of women here are able to get scripts, though, for testosterone so I would

at least try.

Kathleen

>

> I have a question relating to the free testosterone/high SHBG thread of

conversation--I'm getting confused.

>

> Does high RT3 'cause' high SHBG?

>

> Also, I have tried taking DHEA but thought it would convert to free

testosterone.  It did not.  I got a high DHEA blood result and my free

testosterone was bottomed out.  This has been going on for a while.  Could high

RT3 be preventing DHEA from converting to testosterone?

> or is there another enzyme or something involved in that conversion I could be

lacking?

>

> Thank you so much!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathleen & ,

" No, t3 raises SHBG, but it is supposed to. Sex hormones (testosterone and

estrogen, but not progesterone) also raise SHBG. So if you raise t3, your free

tesosterone can go lower, as well as free estrogen, due to the increase in SHBG.

The answer is to raise the sex hormones. "

Actually Testosterone/DHEA both LOWER SHBG as I already posted in this thread.

Estrogen, Thyroid Hormones & Progesterone (as long as it is bioidentical

Progesterone) all RAISE SHBG.

It's true than individual's differ in their ability to convert to various

hormones. I believe it is various aromatases that do conversions. Also certain

nutrients are required (such as Zinc for Testosterone). probable that a persons

genetics, as well as age, metabolism etc would influence all this too.

For example I am hopeless at converting Thyroid Hormones (which requires

deiodonases) but really good at converting DHEA to Testosterone (note I'm

Female). So all I need to do to raise BOTH DHEA-s (note the DHEA level doesn't

matter so much) & Testosterone is take 40mg DHEA daily.

Hubby takes DHEA too unfortunately although it does raise his Testosterone some

it also converts to Estradial. So he takes 50mg DHEA, 100mg Testosterone &

Arimadex to lower Estradial.

I don't like the proprietory Testosterone Gels, They have undesirable

ingredients such as alcohol & preservatives. Also are expensive.

I prefer to get compounded Testosterone Liposomal Gel (Lecithin/Soy free) &

with no undesirable ingredients. You can get it in the strength you want which

makes it very cost effective. Assuming you can get a script that is. In fact I

get my Estradiol made up the same way.

Lethal Lee

> >

> > I have a question relating to the free testosterone/high SHBG thread of

conversation--I'm getting confused.

> >

> > Does high RT3 'cause' high SHBG?

> >

> > Also, I have tried taking DHEA but thought it would convert to free

testosterone.  It did not.  I got a high DHEA blood result and my free

testosterone was bottomed out.  This has been going on for a while.  Could high

RT3 be preventing DHEA from converting to testosterone?

> > or is there another enzyme or something involved in that conversion I could

be lacking?

> >

> > Thank you so much!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Actually Testosterone/DHEA both LOWER SHBG as I already posted in this thread.

Estrogen, Thyroid Hormones & Progesterone (as long as it is bioidentical

Progesterone) all RAISE SHBG.

Hi Lee,

I higly regard your posts, so I am truly confused on this one! Please see post I

just made. Hertoghe also says testosterone can raise SHBG and I know for a fact

it did so with me. Or, if that wasn't it, then what made my SHBG shoot up when I

was on only zero to 18.75 t3 and no estrogen. My SHBG was 54 on pg cream and

I've been using it for 5 years and hadn't raised it one bit when my SHBG shot

up.

When I went onto testo gel, my total testo went from 25 to 99, but my % free

went low (although free testo is 4.4) and SHBG went up to 99 as well!

Notably, my estrogen did NOT go up from taking testosteron (and I wasn't on

DHEA, either, so no estrogen coming from that), so that's not causing the high

SHBG. Actually, my estrogen is way too low and I have had to start estrogen 2

days ago.

So it certainly appears the testo raised the SHBG. And I have read elsewhere

that it can do so.

If that didn't raise my SHBG, do you know what else could have raised it?

Thank you,

Kathleen

>

> It's true than individual's differ in their ability to convert to various

hormones. I believe it is various aromatases that do conversions. Also certain

nutrients are required (such as Zinc for Testosterone). probable that a persons

genetics, as well as age, metabolism etc would influence all this too.

>

> For example I am hopeless at converting Thyroid Hormones (which requires

deiodonases) but really good at converting DHEA to Testosterone (note I'm

Female). So all I need to do to raise BOTH DHEA-s (note the DHEA level doesn't

matter so much) & Testosterone is take 40mg DHEA daily.

>

> Hubby takes DHEA too unfortunately although it does raise his Testosterone

some it also converts to Estradial. So he takes 50mg DHEA, 100mg Testosterone &

Arimadex to lower Estradial.

>

> I don't like the proprietory Testosterone Gels, They have undesirable

ingredients such as alcohol & preservatives. Also are expensive.

> I prefer to get compounded Testosterone Liposomal Gel (Lecithin/Soy free) &

with no undesirable ingredients. You can get it in the strength you want which

makes it very cost effective. Assuming you can get a script that is. In fact I

get my Estradiol made up the same way.

>

> Lethal Lee

>

>

> > >

> > > I have a question relating to the free testosterone/high SHBG thread of

conversation--I'm getting confused.

> > >

> > > Does high RT3 'cause' high SHBG?

> > >

> > > Also, I have tried taking DHEA but thought it would convert to free

testosterone.  It did not.  I got a high DHEA blood result and my free

testosterone was bottomed out.  This has been going on for a while.  Could high

RT3 be preventing DHEA from converting to testosterone?

> > > or is there another enzyme or something involved in that conversion I

could be lacking?

> > >

> > > Thank you so much!

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The full list of what affects SHBG is..

as detailed in this post

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/message/39082

SHBG Explained as per Dr Romeo no

Increases SHBG:

Estrogens (particularly Estradiol)

Progesterone (by increasing Estrogen receptors)

Thyroid Hormone (particularly Hyperthyroidism)

Liver Disease

Anorexia, Starvation

Hypoglycemia (low Insulin)

Reduces SHBG:

Insulin (and Insulin resistance)

Testosterone

Growth Hormone

DHEA

Other Androgens

Obesity

Hypothyroidism

Excessive Cortisol (Cushing's Syndrome or Disease)

Progestins i.e. synthetic non bio-identical progesterone (by blocking

Progesterone's effects)

I notice that excessive Cortisol is listed as decreasing SHBG.

I would have thought then that LOW Cortisol would increase SHBG although that's

not listed.

Have a read of the full article I posted on that link.

It points out that it is not necessarily one thing (hormones, nutrients,

genetics) but the influence/balance of them all.

Without knowing more specifics I would conjecture ...

-perhaps Progesterone never raised yours BECAUSE your Estrogen is also low? Note

Progesterone increases SHBG only because it " sensitises " Estrogen receptors

-were your Cortisol levels good or Cortisol HRt adequate?

-Did you have any Hypoglycemia (low Insulin)?

-Liver Function? Fast metaboliser maybe?

-underlying nutrient levels suboptimal/deficienciecies/imbalances

from the article...

HIGH or LOW SHBG indicates something is wrong but does not tell you WHAT is

wrong. Thus, ALONE, it is not a useful measure. SHBG WITHIN the reference range

also doesn't tell if something is wrong. Factors that influence SHBG can cancel

each other out, thus SHBG will be in the reference range. Thus, one still has to

optimize each factor that influences SHBG separately.

Lethal Lee

> > > >

> > > > I have a question relating to the free testosterone/high SHBG thread of

conversation--I'm getting confused.

> > > >

> > > > Does high RT3 'cause' high SHBG?

> > > >

> > > > Also, I have tried taking DHEA but thought it would convert to free

testosterone.  It did not.  I got a high DHEA blood result and my free

testosterone was bottomed out.  This has been going on for a while.  Could high

RT3 be preventing DHEA from converting to testosterone?

> > > > or is there another enzyme or something involved in that conversion I

could be lacking?

> > > >

> > > > Thank you so much!

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Lethal Lee.

I will read that link.

I suspect I have low insulin. Fasting insulin is <2 but sometimes my BG goes a

bit over optimal. Note I said optimal, not into prediabetic range or anything.

But still, seems to point to low insulin. I plan to test BG and insulin 2 hours

after eating carbs in the near future.

The others (liver disease, starving) don't apply to me.

I've had tons of issues with low cortisol, so that could have raised the SHBG.

I hope increasing my estrogen will not mean I have to again adjust my t3 meds as

I know SHBG also binds t3. Always something!!

Kathleen

> > > > >

> > > > > I have a question relating to the free testosterone/high SHBG thread

of conversation--I'm getting confused.

> > > > >

> > > > > Does high RT3 'cause' high SHBG?

> > > > >

> > > > > Also, I have tried taking DHEA but thought it would convert to free

testosterone.  It did not.  I got a high DHEA blood result and my free

testosterone was bottomed out.  This has been going on for a while.  Could high

RT3 be preventing DHEA from converting to testosterone?

> > > > > or is there another enzyme or something involved in that conversion I

could be lacking?

> > > > >

> > > > > Thank you so much!

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>