[❇ Abby ❇]

Thank you Lotus and Clara,

So far as calculating free T is concerned, it seems that 'less than' figures would be useless for any further calculation, so that if a calculated figure was requested, it probably was not provided. And if the SHBG figure really was <1, then this seems extraordinarily low. What could cause it to fall so low? Indeed how did the total T get that low, even assuming no testicular output. I know that Sammie reported a very low figure, but at the time she was taking substantial AA doses, whereas I have taken none for some considerable time - there didn't seem any point.

While there is endless material on line about the effects of low testosterone, I have not found any discussion of the effects of levels as low as I have. Have you?

The NP was taking the position that the low testosterone and severe testicular and penile atrophy (no, she didn't examine them) were just normal manifestations of andropause and something to be expected at my age, which I reckon is nonsense. Nor has anyone, including the stand-in urologist I eventually saw, who also didn't examine me, explained why my PSA count, after being stable at around 4 for years, has now dropped effectively to zero in my last two tests. I'm inclined to think that it could have something to do with PM, which is supposed to be prostate friendly.

As to SHBG, does it only bind to natural or bio-identical human sex hormones, or can it bind also to phytoestrogens? Could a low level simply result from there being nothing for it to bind to?

Hi Annabel,

Just done some research and yes some phytoestrogens do bind to SHBG but not all. Phytoestrogens also increase SHBG because they act like estrogens.

Source:
Dietary Isoflavones Affect Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Levels in Postmenopausal Women
Xenoestrogen interaction with human sex hormone-binding globulin (hSHBG)

Denita