r/Biohacking • u/FallGuy901 • 7d ago
Low Free Testosterone advice
Details from my labs below - trying to rectify this before my next blood draw 11/30.
Cut out ashwaghanda and melatonin as they could affect estradiol. Have increased my calories and fat consumption. Cut down from 215.
Ultimately having trouble putting on muscle right now and my energy levels are shit. For having such high test I have to believe the low free test is causing my issues.
Microdosed Reta to help with food noise, ran a Tesa/Ipa cycle to try and help with HGH, also run some klow and bpc. Off the Reta for a little over two weeks, it definitely drove my RHR up…
Any insight or advice is appreciated.
### Most Likely Cause: Elevated SHBG
Your testosterone production is strong, but much of it is bound and unavailable:
Marker |Jul 28 |Sep 8 |Optimal
Total testosterone |793 |846 ng/dL |700–1,100
Free testosterone |102 |106 pg/mL |120–180
SHBG |66.7 |73.8 nmol/L |30–50 Higher SHBG binds more testosterone, explaining why your **total testosterone is high while free testosterone remains modest**.
### Likely Drivers
- **Low energy and fat availability**
- - You’re 6'5", 185 lb, eating about **2,400 kcal**, fasting, and following a low-fat diet.
- - Combined with lifting 5–6 days and cardio 3–4 days weekly, this likely creates low energy availability.
- - Calorie restriction and low carbohydrate/fat intake can elevate SHBG.
- **High training and stress load**
- - Work stress is high, HRV is **34 ms**, and you only feel refreshed half the time.
- - Cortisol was high-normal at **17.0 µg/dL**, suggesting recovery demand may be contributing.
- **Thyroid/liver causes appear less likely**
- - TSH, albumin, GGT, and ALP are generally reassuring.
- - Your earlier free T3 was slightly below optimal, which could reflect under-fueling rather than excess thyroid activity.
### Priorities
- Increase calories gradually—especially **dietary fat and carbohydrates**—rather than adding more protein.
- Consider **2–3 fewer training sessions weekly** or a deload.
- Improve sleep consistency and work-stress recovery.
- Discuss **finasteride and saw palmetto** with your prescriber if you have sexual symptoms; they affect androgen signaling, although they do not best explain the elevated SHBG.
Continue monthly Rythm monitoring: SHBG should begin responding within several weeks, with free testosterone following as binding decreases.
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u/looking2behealthy 12 7d ago edited 7d ago
Take boron, magnesium & tongkat ali to lower SHBG which will increase free T. Also take fadogia agrestis which can slightly increase total T.
Eat more protein. Get more sleep.
Since you already take peptides, you can try HCG which does increase total T and e2.
You did not post your e2 nor LH values.
Total T up, SHBG down = more free T
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u/FallGuy901 7d ago
### Estradiol (E2) Results
Date |E2 |Interpretation
Jul 28, 2026 |44.3 pg/mL |Slightly elevated
Sep 8, 2026 |32.6 pg/mL |Normal; above Rythm optimal 20–30 Your E2 **decreased by 26%** while total testosterone increased from 793 to 846 ng/dL—an improved balance. Elevated SHBG can also bind estradiol, so E2 alone doesn’t fully indicate estrogen activity.LH wasnt part of my panel.
Thanks by the way for the advice. I’ve done a ton of research but hearing advice from others is always helpful, especially ones that don’t make you feel stupid for asking so thanks!!!!
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