Total testosterone rose substantially and free testosterone barely moved, which took a while to make sense of.
The bit I cannot resolve on my own is why total and free can move differently here, and which of the two is worth tracking.
Tell me what I have not thought of.
NicoleRaleigh said:Total testosterone rose substantially and free testosterone barely moved, which took a while to make sense of.
Hormone panel changes on the hormone panel — relevant for anyone curious about endocrine effects:
- Testosterone: increased 35% (weight loss reduces aromatase in adipose tissue)
- Estradiol: normalized from elevated baseline
- SHBG: increased appropriately
- Free testosterone: increased 22%
- 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.
LibrarianMeg said:Hormone panel changes on the hormone panel — relevant for anyone curious about endocrine effects: Testosterone: increased 35% (weight loss reduces…
HPA axis assessment on the hormone panel: rarely ordered but informative for understanding the stress-metabolism connection:
4-point salivary cortisol:
- Morning: 19 ng/mL → 13 ng/mL (improved)
- Noon: 7 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.
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Shop Reference StandardsNicoleRaleigh said:Total testosterone rose substantially and free testosterone barely moved, which took a while to make sense of.
Second this. The detail I would add is minor and it is already implied above.
Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.
Sex hormone labs after weight loss on the hormone panel — for the men in this thread:
Testosterone: 359 → 639 ng/dL (dramatic improvement!)
Free T: 7.4 → 14.9 ng/dL
Estradiol: 56 → 29 pg/mL
SHBG: 25 → 49 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.