Thread: Tribulas blood test results:

Doc, i need your help.
I think i absolutely stuffed up what would of been really helpful results.

The first lot of results are prior to the use of tribulas:

TESTOSTERONE/SHBG

Testosterone nmol/L - 17 (10.0 - 38.0)
SHBG nmol/L - 15 (10 - 50)
FAI - 113 (40 - 170)
Free Testosterone pmol/L - 509 (240 - 970)


40 days later @ 8,000mg tribulas/day since last blood test:

Testosterone nmol/L - *10.1 (12.0 - 32.0)
SHBG nmol/L - 20 (15 - 50)
Free Androgen Index - 50.5 % (15 - 100)
DHEAS umol/L - 10.8 (2.5 - 13.0)
Free Testosterone pmol/L - *34.9 (43 - 138)

So yes, test levels were lower in the 'after' test.

Thing's to note though which may be factors on why results turned out like this:

- Most biggest one on my mind is that both times wern't done 'in the morning'.
BUT, they were done when i woke up which is after lunch time at the moment with my hours.
The doc did try to stop me from doing it in the afternoon but i argued with him saying that this was my bodies 'morning' if you know what i mean?
To someone getting up at 7am or someone getting up at midday, what's the difference in regards to this test?

- Yes, i fasted both times.

- You'll notice the test results shown a little different than the other and what is considered normal in brackets, is different too.
This is because tests were done at different labs.
I went to one medical centre for the first blood test, then to avoid them asking why i wanted another only 4 weeks later, i went to another medical centre and got a referral there.
Between the two medical centres, they use different labs for their blood tests.

I'm thinking somewhere with my 3 points above is what caused such a difference in results. This brings me to my next dilemma...

A third tribulas blood test was planned in another 30-40 days to see if an increased amount of tribulas still continued to raise test levels (12,000mg).
But now i am in a situation where the doctor is talking about 'medication' you see...
He says i will need to repeat a possible 2 more blood tests (maybe only 1 more if the next one is still significantly low) which will be one more step in qualifiying me for a prescription to help with my libido (the story i am using for wanting to check testosterone levels).
For the record - my libido is through the roof at the moment.
Go figure that one.
Prior to the tribulas, my libido was DEAD btw.
It's only since starting tribulas my libido has sky rocketed.
Perhaps an effect on libido but not testosterone when it comes to tribulas?

So i'm left thinking, stop trying with the tribulas and hope for another low test result which will be one step closer for qualifying for a prescription or continue on with 12,000mg untill 30 days later and see if a differance when test is done on a morning (recomended me 9am).

BUT THEN! if i did get the test done on a morning this time round with tribulas, the results of a high-er test level will be because of the morning i'm guessing and not the tribulas?
I would need to go yet another time after my next one to see if a difference.

Need advice.

Sorry to hit you with so much all at once.
Break apart my post and answer in bits if you wish.

Cheers BD.

that is a weird set of blood tests, i dont think the timing of the day would make much difference even considering 1pm etc is your morning.

Only thing i can think of is how long has it been since the first blood test that you completed a cycle, cause you may have had high levels in the blood test if it was shortly after the cycle or shortly after PCT, then during your tribulus trial you crashed.
it would have also been good to see LH and FSH as these are what makes the testosterone.

I agree with Mijek providing u regularly sleep in to that time.

Besides, is the AM/PM difference approx 40% of ur total testosterone?

Many report only experiencing a libido effect from trib, as opposed to T elevation.

Have u noticed any other side effects consistent with T elevation/suppression (i.e., body temp, energy, muscle recovery, etc)

If u want the third T test to be low, u could I guess experiment with a super low fat cutting diet until the next test?

Cheers for the replies, but I think i'll wait for what the Doc has to say out of respect as i did post in his section.

Could it be that a 25% SHBG increase can cause a decrease in T this much??

Could it be that Trib increases SHBG not T and that's what triggers the higher libdo?

Or possibly that the second lab that did your bloods is crap....
Go get retested from the orginal 1st lab

Originally Posted by MO

Cheers for the replies, but I think i'll wait for what the Doc has to say out of respect as i did post in his section.

agreed we need to see what doc saysw but he will need to know about when the last cycle was in relation to these blood tests.

Interesting mo.

Maybe you should of also done LH anf FSH levels.

Test secretion is regulated by LH.FSH may also augment test levels.

Originally Posted by MO

The first lot of results are prior to the use of tribulas:

TESTOSTERONE/SHBG

Testosterone nmol/L - 17 (10.0 - 38.0)
SHBG nmol/L - 15 (10 - 50)
FAI - 113 (40 - 170)
Free Testosterone pmol/L - 509 (240 - 970)


40 days later @ 8,000mg tribulas/day since last blood test:

Testosterone nmol/L - *10.1 (12.0 - 32.0)
SHBG nmol/L - 20 (15 - 50)
Free Androgen Index - 50.5 % (15 - 100)
DHEAS umol/L - 10.8 (2.5 - 13.0)
Free Testosterone pmol/L - *34.9 (43 - 138)

Two different labs?

Mo, I'd recommend getting a Doc that you can be honest with, build a relationship, you'd be surprised how far it will get you - let them in on what you want to achieve.

Thanks for the results. Always been skeptical with tribulus. What options are there to help you with ur test levels?

I watched this crap science show where they blow shit up, kind of a mythbusters rip off. They took these 3 guys blood, then put a half nekid chick in front of each of them and he just has to look at her for 10 minutes, or whatever. They took more blood and found that test levels had increased in all three.

If sexual arousal causes an increase in test, and trib causes increased libido, then indirectly trib increases your test.

That's my theory.

Originally Posted by Mark

I watched this crap science show where they blow shit up, kind of a mythbusters rip off. They took these 3 guys blood, then put a half nekid chick in front of each of them and he just has to look at her for 10 minutes, or whatever. They took more blood and found that test levels had increased in all three.

If sexual arousal causes an increase in test, and trib causes increased libido, then indirectly trib increases your test.

That's my theory.

Ah good old Brainiac the british version of myth busters even though it's aimed at kids and was around before mythbusters, not really a science show more of a kids/teens show lol...

I remember that episode.

Some good points have been raised:

- Ensure that the test is done at the same time, and best in the morning.
- SHBG has influenced the FAI and Free Test, but I note the labs have different ranges, and not sure why there's a difference in reference ranges.
- Use the same lab, if possible.
- Keep your routine the same prior to the bloods - food, alcohol, stress, exercise, sex, sleep, etc will all affect test levels. A tall order I know!
- Definitely ask for your pituitary levels - FSH, LH, but also get Liver Functions (LFT) and cholesterol.

Yes, there are conflicting studies on tribulus and testosterone, sperm count, libido, etc. The fact that it does increase libido may also be related to its effect on other things, such as dopamine or serotonin levels (research to do!). However, the proposed mechanism is it effect on LH particularly, which, if the theory then follows correctly, will increase testosterone levels and spermatogenesis.

Keep your trib at the same level for now, and go for a test in the morning to establish a new baseline. Then increase your trib to your proposed level and go for another test, keeping in mind the factors mentioned.

I'm very interested to see your results. If anyone else is using tribulus similarly, see if you can get some results. SizeMatters Research section coming up!

BD.

i wouldnt waste ur moeny and increase teh trib. There are no studies that show its worked and there has been alot of studies. It is all a mental thing.

Originally Posted by Beeto

i wouldnt waste ur moeny and increase teh trib. There are no studies that show its worked and there has been alot of studies. It is all a mental thing.

only studies i have found to be pleasing are the 7-8 benzoflavone and reversatol in that new cream from primordial.