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What Does High Testosterone Levels And Low Libido Indicate?
Question: Hello. I'm a 29 yo male and Ive been experiencing libido and erection issue for many years. 9 times out if 10, I am simply not in the mood. Additionally 6 times out of 10 have trouble getting or maintaining an erection.
I recently had a blood test expecting low T but to my XXXXXXX it was the exact opposite. Not only was it high, it was well above the normal range or "extremely abnormaly high" as the dr put it.
The Dr seemed quite confused by the results and didn't provide any input on the results (good or bad). The Dr told me to take the test again in a month. Are those results anything to be concerned about. It's ironic that I've been experiencing sexul issues and while high, my sexual hormone is "abnormal". Could this be the cause?
I recently had a blood test expecting low T but to my XXXXXXX it was the exact opposite. Not only was it high, it was well above the normal range or "extremely abnormaly high" as the dr put it.
The Dr seemed quite confused by the results and didn't provide any input on the results (good or bad). The Dr told me to take the test again in a month. Are those results anything to be concerned about. It's ironic that I've been experiencing sexul issues and while high, my sexual hormone is "abnormal". Could this be the cause?
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
good day.
I would like to tell you a bit about testosterone first. Testosterone is a hormone which exists in free form ( Free T) and bound form ( bound to testerosterone binding globulin (tbg) and albumin). So total testosterone which we measure is a combination of all these.
Free testosterone is the active form and when it's level go down, one may lose libido and erection. A person can have low free testosterone level, however, his total testosterone may be normal or high if his testosterone bnding globulin (TBG) is high for some reason. In your case, this may explan things. Your total testosterone is normal or high normal, but free testrosterone may be low. But it is difficult to measure free testosterone and it is available only in few centres.
Another thing is that, testosterone has to be converted to dihydrotestosterine (DHT) for final action. THis is by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. Some people dont have enough of this enzyme. Hence DHT levels can be low, but with a high or high normal testosterone level. In this case, one may have a high or above normal levels of testosterone, but no libido and erection. You may find the levels of DHT low in this case.
I hope you are not confused. The more i explain, you may get confused. This particular thing need a bit of understanding of testosterone physiology to understand things. your GP or internist may not be able to grasp this result for the same reason and you may need an endocrinologist to help you further.
How is your shaving frequency?,How is facial and body hair growth? Do you get any morning erections? Any noctural emissions?
More over, do you think you are depressed for any reason? How is yoyr alcohol and smoking status? Any use of cannabis or other recreatinal drugs? Any history of thyroid disease or diabetes?
Please feel free to mail me so that we can discuss further.
Kind regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
good day.
I would like to tell you a bit about testosterone first. Testosterone is a hormone which exists in free form ( Free T) and bound form ( bound to testerosterone binding globulin (tbg) and albumin). So total testosterone which we measure is a combination of all these.
Free testosterone is the active form and when it's level go down, one may lose libido and erection. A person can have low free testosterone level, however, his total testosterone may be normal or high if his testosterone bnding globulin (TBG) is high for some reason. In your case, this may explan things. Your total testosterone is normal or high normal, but free testrosterone may be low. But it is difficult to measure free testosterone and it is available only in few centres.
Another thing is that, testosterone has to be converted to dihydrotestosterine (DHT) for final action. THis is by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. Some people dont have enough of this enzyme. Hence DHT levels can be low, but with a high or high normal testosterone level. In this case, one may have a high or above normal levels of testosterone, but no libido and erection. You may find the levels of DHT low in this case.
I hope you are not confused. The more i explain, you may get confused. This particular thing need a bit of understanding of testosterone physiology to understand things. your GP or internist may not be able to grasp this result for the same reason and you may need an endocrinologist to help you further.
How is your shaving frequency?,How is facial and body hair growth? Do you get any morning erections? Any noctural emissions?
More over, do you think you are depressed for any reason? How is yoyr alcohol and smoking status? Any use of cannabis or other recreatinal drugs? Any history of thyroid disease or diabetes?
Please feel free to mail me so that we can discuss further.
Kind regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for the response. I would like to clarify about my testosterone level. It is my understanding that the normal range is 348 – 1197 ng/dl. My GP informed me that my level was well above the high normal of 1197 ng/dl although she did not provide an exact figure. She mentioned if I received that number again that she would refer me to an endocrinologist.
How is your shaving frequency?
I shave what i would consider to be normal - about twice a week. I do not have a full beard so shaving is not required very often
How is facial and body hair growth?
Other than the expected areas (underarms, genital area) i do not have much hair growth at all.
Do you get any morning erections?
I almost never wake up with a morning erection and have not in many years. Every so many months I may wake up with a small faint erection. The last normal one I remember was in September of last year.
Any noctural emissions?
I have never experienced a nocturnal emission that i'm aware of.
I'm not worrying or down about anything so I do not think I am depressed. More over, i've been dealing with this issue for many years - through ups and downs, and I have never noticed a fluctuation in my libido/erections. Its always low. do not think that i'm depressed. I only drink socially maybe once every 2 weeks and i do not smoke. I've never used recreational drugs, not even marijuana.
I only have a history of High blood pressure. I was diagnosed at 24 but I do not take the medicine because of the side effects make my sexual issues worse.
Overall, should I be concerned?
Thank you for the response. I would like to clarify about my testosterone level. It is my understanding that the normal range is 348 – 1197 ng/dl. My GP informed me that my level was well above the high normal of 1197 ng/dl although she did not provide an exact figure. She mentioned if I received that number again that she would refer me to an endocrinologist.
How is your shaving frequency?
I shave what i would consider to be normal - about twice a week. I do not have a full beard so shaving is not required very often
How is facial and body hair growth?
Other than the expected areas (underarms, genital area) i do not have much hair growth at all.
Do you get any morning erections?
I almost never wake up with a morning erection and have not in many years. Every so many months I may wake up with a small faint erection. The last normal one I remember was in September of last year.
Any noctural emissions?
I have never experienced a nocturnal emission that i'm aware of.
I'm not worrying or down about anything so I do not think I am depressed. More over, i've been dealing with this issue for many years - through ups and downs, and I have never noticed a fluctuation in my libido/erections. Its always low. do not think that i'm depressed. I only drink socially maybe once every 2 weeks and i do not smoke. I've never used recreational drugs, not even marijuana.
I only have a history of High blood pressure. I was diagnosed at 24 but I do not take the medicine because of the side effects make my sexual issues worse.
Overall, should I be concerned?
Brief Answer:
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you.
hmm, that is a pretty impressive level of testosterone and with that level i expect anyone to have a rocking sexual function. The fact that you have a low libido, no nocturnal emissions or morning erections with a high testosterone level, i strongly would suspect one of the conditions which i explained previously. In addition, sometimes, one may have testosterone insensitivity. In this case, you may have a high level of testosterone, but body tissues are not sensitive to it's actions. This is another possibility indeed.
Yes, your GP is right and this defenitly need an endocrine evaluation. In fact, one single endocrinologist defenitely has to scratch his head to get an answer for this rather rare situation and need to discuss this with his colleagues and sometimes we discuss in a group and take a decision.
Kind regards
Binu
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you.
hmm, that is a pretty impressive level of testosterone and with that level i expect anyone to have a rocking sexual function. The fact that you have a low libido, no nocturnal emissions or morning erections with a high testosterone level, i strongly would suspect one of the conditions which i explained previously. In addition, sometimes, one may have testosterone insensitivity. In this case, you may have a high level of testosterone, but body tissues are not sensitive to it's actions. This is another possibility indeed.
Yes, your GP is right and this defenitly need an endocrine evaluation. In fact, one single endocrinologist defenitely has to scratch his head to get an answer for this rather rare situation and need to discuss this with his colleagues and sometimes we discuss in a group and take a decision.
Kind regards
Binu
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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