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What Causes Irritation, Low Sex Drive Along With Foggy Mind?

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Posted on Mon, 16 Mar 2015
Question: I'm a 32 year old fit, active male, non-smoker, vegan, 5'10", 165lbs. Libido was almost nonexistent, low drive for anything (work, life, etc) depression, irritability, foggy mind, inability to put on muscle mass, etc. So I went and had blood work done. Have suffered from low T (WAS in the low 200's), have been taking 50mg of Clomiphene Citrate for the last couple of years and my T level is now in the high 700's, which is great. However, the other symptoms still persist. Libido is still nonexistent - being one of the main problems. Had been seeing an endocrinologist before I moved, and he was stumped as to why my libido was still low, given the rise in my numbers. I took it upon myself to go and get a full hormonal blood work done, got the results back, and they seem alarming. The cortisol level was very high. Want help deciphering the lab report and the best course of action to take.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Hormones

Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to note your challenges in getting to the bottom of your main symptom of low libido.

I see you have healthy habits and body weight.

I have reviewed your attached laboratory results.

1 Your Testosterone, estrogens, DHEAS, Prolactin, vitamin D, A1c, Progesterone, Insulin and IGF1 are all normal.

This is very good news

2 Your elevated cortisol of 33 or so is considered robust. It says on the lab report that this sample was drawn close to 8 am. If this is true, it makes the result meaningful in interpreting.
What this means is that you do not have adrenal insufficiency.

When non-experts see the high cortisol in the morning they get worried when actually this test is not meant to be interpreted for detecting excess. As logical as it may seem to many, a higher than normal cortisol level in the morning still does not imply cortisol excess in the body. It is one of the many complex facts of endocrinology.

To diagnose cortisol excess there are other tests such as Midnight Salivary cortisol levels but these are typically ordered only when the endocrinologist suspects the condition to be present. Simply ordering such tests for detecting excess leads to unnecessary further testing

3 Random low Growth hormone (GH) levels also have little meaning if any. So I tell my adult patients to not be concerned about it. Again, if GH deficiency is suspected, an endocrinologist goes about it in a very systematic fashion that starts with a thorough physical examination and ends with complicated 'Dynamic tests' such as Insulin Tolerance test (to name one example)

4 The FSH and LH are expected to be high because that is how clomiphene acts and raises blood testosterone levels. So that is not abnormal in the context of things either.

5 The only true abnormality I see on this lab is the slightly high TSH with a low normal Free T4. It raises the possibility of an under active thyroid, called 'Subclinical Primary Acquired Hypothyroidism'.
This requires detailed assessment too.
To start with, when I see someone like you in my practice, in addition to a physical examination I tend to order
TPO antibodies
Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies

If either of these are positive then there is a chance that long term permanent under activity of the thyroid may occur. Treatment with medication typically provides benefit.
Another alternative is to recheck TSH and Free T4 in 6 weeks and see if it normalizes spontaneously.

Regardless such a mild abnormality cannot explain such significant libido problems that you are experiencing .
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
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Answered by
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Dr. Shehzad Topiwala

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1663 Questions

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What Causes Irritation, Low Sex Drive Along With Foggy Mind?

Brief Answer: Hormones Detailed Answer: I am sorry to note your challenges in getting to the bottom of your main symptom of low libido. I see you have healthy habits and body weight. I have reviewed your attached laboratory results. 1 Your Testosterone, estrogens, DHEAS, Prolactin, vitamin D, A1c, Progesterone, Insulin and IGF1 are all normal. This is very good news 2 Your elevated cortisol of 33 or so is considered robust. It says on the lab report that this sample was drawn close to 8 am. If this is true, it makes the result meaningful in interpreting. What this means is that you do not have adrenal insufficiency. When non-experts see the high cortisol in the morning they get worried when actually this test is not meant to be interpreted for detecting excess. As logical as it may seem to many, a higher than normal cortisol level in the morning still does not imply cortisol excess in the body. It is one of the many complex facts of endocrinology. To diagnose cortisol excess there are other tests such as Midnight Salivary cortisol levels but these are typically ordered only when the endocrinologist suspects the condition to be present. Simply ordering such tests for detecting excess leads to unnecessary further testing 3 Random low Growth hormone (GH) levels also have little meaning if any. So I tell my adult patients to not be concerned about it. Again, if GH deficiency is suspected, an endocrinologist goes about it in a very systematic fashion that starts with a thorough physical examination and ends with complicated 'Dynamic tests' such as Insulin Tolerance test (to name one example) 4 The FSH and LH are expected to be high because that is how clomiphene acts and raises blood testosterone levels. So that is not abnormal in the context of things either. 5 The only true abnormality I see on this lab is the slightly high TSH with a low normal Free T4. It raises the possibility of an under active thyroid, called 'Subclinical Primary Acquired Hypothyroidism'. This requires detailed assessment too. To start with, when I see someone like you in my practice, in addition to a physical examination I tend to order TPO antibodies Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies If either of these are positive then there is a chance that long term permanent under activity of the thyroid may occur. Treatment with medication typically provides benefit. Another alternative is to recheck TSH and Free T4 in 6 weeks and see if it normalizes spontaneously. Regardless such a mild abnormality cannot explain such significant libido problems that you are experiencing .