This is the version of the explanation I wish somebody had given me, written down before I forget what confused me. It is about the hormone panel, and it is deliberately narrow — everything I am not confident about is marked as such.
What is actually established
Most of the hormonal change here is a consequence of adiposity falling rather than a drug effect. Less adipose tissue means less aromatase activity, so in men testosterone commonly rises and estradiol falls, and SHBG rises as insulin resistance improves — which means total testosterone can rise while free testosterone moves less than expected. In PCOS, improved insulin sensitivity frequently restores ovulation, which is a fertility change people are not always expecting.
The condition it depends on
This is a case where measuring the free fraction rather than the total matters, because SHBG is moving at the same time.
What I am not sure about
What would genuinely help is knowing why total and free can move differently here, and which of the two is worth tracking. Happy to be told the question itself is wrong.
BenResearch_OR said:Most of the hormonal change here is a consequence of adiposity falling rather than a drug effect.
Hormone panel changes on the hormone panel — relevant for anyone curious about endocrine effects:
- Testosterone: increased 28% (weight loss reduces aromatase in adipose tissue)
- Estradiol: normalized from elevated baseline
- SHBG: increased appropriately
- Free testosterone: increased 31%
- Cortisol AM: within normal limits, no significant change
My reproductive endocrinologist says the testosterone improvement alone could explain the energy and mood benefits I've experienced.
BenResearch_OR said:Most of the hormonal change here is a consequence of adiposity falling rather than a drug effect.
Sex hormone labs after weight loss on the hormone panel — for the men in this thread:
Testosterone: 309 → 629 ng/dL (dramatic improvement!)
Free T: 6.4 → 13.9 ng/dL
Estradiol: 46 → 27 pg/mL
SHBG: 23 → 39 nmol/L
Visceral fat contains aromatase which converts testosterone to estrogen. As you lose visceral fat, this conversion decreases and testosterone naturally rises. I feel 10 years younger.
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Shop Reference StandardsRetaRick_CA said:Sex hormone labs after weight loss on the hormone panel — for the men in this thread: Testosterone: 309 → 629 ng/dL (dramatic improvement!) Free T:…
HPA axis assessment on the hormone panel: rarely ordered but informative for understanding the stress-metabolism connection:
4-point salivary cortisol:
- Morning: 15 ng/mL → 15 ng/mL (improved)
- Noon: 9 ng/mL → 6 ng/mL
- Evening: 5 ng/mL → 2 ng/mL
- Night: 3 ng/mL → 1 ng/mL
The cortisol curve is normalizing — less flat, better diurnal variation. Reduced visceral fat = reduced cortisol overproduction. The metabolic benefits cascade into stress hormone regulation.
Dr.AddMedPHL said:Hormone panel changes on the hormone panel — relevant for anyone curious about endocrine effects: Testosterone: increased 28% (weight loss reduces…
This matches mine closely enough to be worth saying so out loud. Posting only so the count is not one.