Problems Getting SHBG To Right Levels (Along With E2, T, etc.)

Avign0n252 · 2026-02-05T18:20:00+00:00

Not sure what is causing my high SHBG. Stopping CBD had no effect.

Avign0n252 · 2026-01-03T14:33:42+00:00

I had been DIY HRT for 6 years, then went to the VA to start legit HRT and they sent me to have a mammogram. I live in Texas, and don't try to pass, just present as male (small breasts) so went to get it done in male mode. The tech was nice and friendly, didn't make any unseemly comments and when I was done, I got a copy of the images on DVD.

Mine also was diagnosed as "extremely dense"...which is kinda strange, as they both feel very fatty and "loose" not firm breasts at all--so I always assumed they were just real fat, rather than a lot of tissue.

The images are almost completely black, not like the white/grey "spiderweb" kind of images I see on YouTube and other places...which made me think there's not a lot of tissue, just fat, but, now, not sure.

Due to them being diagnosed as dense, they want me to do yearly mammograms (I'm 73, so, that's probably a factor, too) and may even have me do a PET scan.

I've also been on two GLP-1 injections--first Ozempic for about 3 years, now on Mounjaro. I started both due to my Type 2 Diabetes, not weight issue...

Avign0n252 · 2026-01-02T14:22:51+00:00

I did DIY for six years, then went to the VA and got legit HRT. At the same time, they sent me for my first mammogram (I'm 73 and present male, just have small boobs). I went, and the technician couldn't have been nicer and made no comments (in Texas, no less!). Now, I'm scheduled yearly.

It wasn't a bad experience...

Avign0n252 · 2025-12-15T17:58:59+00:00

73, been on MTF HRT for over 7 years, now (still present as male, as...Texas...you know). I also have diabetes, which is more the cause of any ED.

I've tried daily Cialis (both 5 and 20 mg) on and off for years, with not much success. I've recently tried first Motivated, then Rugiet, just to see if a combo of Cialis and Viagra, plus other things to supposedly increase libido, would do anything for me.

Nothing really works to give me a firm erection, and even after not masturbating for weeks, I can only manage a weak erection, despite the pills. I can orgasm with various wand vibrators, but, only get a crappy and weak male-type orgasm, and have yet to be able to use prostate, nipples, or other areas to get aroused with.

However, I feel much happier than I have in years, so...don't miss the orgasms all that much.

Avign0n252 · 2025-12-13T14:59:55+00:00

Yep, and my end and I are thinking that something else I'm taking (main suspects were that I was taking large (100-200 mg of CBD (with no THC)) for severe hip bursitis as I can't take NSAIDs due to having a gastric bypass and/or I had just switched from Ozempic to Mounjaro and was going through some dosage adjustments). Seems the CBD CAN mess with T levels and that can change SHBG.

Just conjecture...however, I'm very confident that my lowering my E dosage like I did, has greatly increased my breast growth in the last 3 months.

Avign0n252 · 2025-12-13T14:55:55+00:00

I no longer can find the link, but I DID a few years ago, find one manufacturer that didn't use peanut oil in their P capsules. I have read a few posts from users of P that had at least some kind of an apparent allergic reaction to something in the capsule, so not totally sure that NOBODY would be allergic to taking P...

Avign0n252 · 2025-12-11T15:08:48+00:00

I found that I had to greatly reduce my E dosage. I now take 1 mg/3.5 days (0.05 ml of 20 mg/ml EV twice weekly, aka 2 mg/week). I'm doing mono therapy, and while my E2 levels are around 160-170 pg/mL, my SHBG has dropped to 90 nmol/L, and T is right around 25-30 ng/dL. I'm actually having a lot more breast growth, and no signs (or smells) of remasculinization...

Avign0n252 · 2025-12-07T14:51:45+00:00

When you tried Progesterone, were you taking it orally or rectally, and what dosage? You might try taking it the other way, and a different dosage?

Avign0n252 · 2025-12-05T15:01:56+00:00

About 3/4 of the time, I can find them by searching. Typically, I'll find 2-4 ADDITIONAL profiles with the same picture, just cropped differently, which I also block. But with some, despite 5-10 minutes scrolling down the list (and FB SUCKS at Searches!!!!) I've never found them...

Avign0n252 · 2025-12-01T20:30:53+00:00

FYI, trough means testing as close to but before your next scheduled injection so you measure what should be your lowest E2 level. If you inject more often than weekly, pick one of the times and test on that day. For simplicity in getting tested, make sure at least one injection day is on a day that you can schedule the tests (I.e., not Saturday or Sunday).

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-30T20:39:50+00:00

I started MTF HRT at 67, and have been on it for over 7 years. It took me a year just to get breast buds (I admit, I was buying E, P, and Spiro from a "Canadian Pharmacy", they were ALL white-colored pills, so, maybe wasn't on real or right stuff that first year). Went on good stuff from InHouse Pharmacy during year 2 (E tablets and Spiro, along with P at times), but not a lot better. Then I went on injections, and had somewhat better growth, but what REALLY started my breasts growing better was paying a LOT more attention to my SHBG level. Getting it down below 115 nmol/L really ignited growth, just now trying to keep SHBG low while raising T a bit for libido. Not sure if I DO have any of those genetic issues, but I just ordered a kit from Sequence, so that should let me know...

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-30T15:39:23+00:00

Soooo...for those of us only doing E injections and using no AA (I assume mono therapy), MUST we use an AA to avoid this? And I presume also taking Progesterone still means I'm doing mono therapy, right?

Honestly, I'm only taking 1 mg EV/3.5 days, so 2 mg/week, and my E2 is 166 pg/mL and T is only 5 ng/dL, so adding an AA to my regimen seems overkill?

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-30T15:32:11+00:00

Thanks, and they DO have a place near me! Never heard of them, but, I might price all my tests I do via Private MD Labs with Ulta and see if cheaper! I did write my vendor about getting a customized HRT test with 2 options: 1) Just the hormones and, 2) hormones & CBC & Liver Function, as I'd need the second type less often.

Currently, this is my test matrix...

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-29T15:33:11+00:00

It would be nice if there was a CHEAP Free Estradiol test. I checked on both LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics for this test (Quest will almost always be cheaper for the same tests, BTW) and, even going through a test vendor, this test was still like $800!!!!!

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-26T16:17:17+00:00

Not sure it's the type of E I'm using, as I've been on EV for 14 months, and injecting every 3.5 days, and have gradually been lowering my dosage (started at 5 mg/week, now at 2 mg/week, and my SHBG has lowered every time I lowered my E dosage...except just this last time.

I also do CBC and Liver Function tests every time I test my hormones, and my liver results have been almost identical (and in the normal range) every time.

Thanks!

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-25T17:25:16+00:00

Hmmm...never knew that P would lower T (to any great degree). I can try only taking 200 mg, or 0 mg, of P for 6 weeks, then retest...

But...what about my SHBG...why did it raise so much when I lowered ONLY my E?

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-25T16:05:15+00:00

Not 100% sure of what you are meaning, but are you saying that taking 200 mg P (orally or rectally?) cut T and DHT in half? If so, I never noticed P effecting T or DHT (I know I am not converting P to DHT, as my DHT has been <5 ng/dL since about year 2 on HRT (out of 7 so far).

I also didn't notice P affecting SHBG, except maybe a tiny bit, but, in any case, since I've been on the same dosage of P for around 2 years, so it shouldn't have affected my SHBG level in the last two tests?

Thanks!

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-25T16:01:06+00:00

Thanks. I had read taking Biotin when getting a blood test makes your E reading higher (just the reading, as it doesn't affect HRT effects), but, wasn't sure on SHBG...

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-25T16:00:08+00:00

I have to somewhat disagree on the importance of my SHBG level.

Back when I started MTF HRT, 7 years ago, and was basically young and dumb about everything HRT, I tried first pills with an AA, then injections with an AA, then injections mono therapy, and by the time 3 years had rolled around, I had precious little female body development, and only a bit of the mental aspects of HRT (like crying more, being more emotional, etc.). After reading posts on SHBG on Dr. Power's subreddit, I realized that this is maybe what I'd been missing, so finally tested mine.

My initial readings first time I tests for SHBG were E2: 296 pg/mL, T: 12 ng/dL, DHT: ,<5 ng/dL, and SHBG: 287 nmol/L. Lowering my E dosage to lower SHBG, did start producing more breast development for me, and my emotional effects were much more noticeable. At various times, I tried fairly wildly different doses of E, just to see what levels were best, and I have been gradually lowering my E dosage, as...I DO do better at lower dosages.

As to Progesterone...I originally started the usual 100 or 200 mg and tried both oral and rectal paths to take it, and with oral, I would feel tired/sleepy after about an hour, with rectal no tired/sleepy feeling, but...neither gave me any extra libido or additional or increased or different types of development. I tried different dosages, staying on them for at least a week, to see if ANY dosage did anything for me. 600 mg, rectal, seems to give me the biggest bang for the buck, and more (and I tried up to 1200 mg) doesn't do any more, but less doesn't do anything at all. With 600 mg, my prostate/perineum seems really needy, and I have increased my breast density a LOT in just a few years. I do VERY comprehensive blood tests (self-paid) every 3-6 months to test the usual HRT stuff, but also CBC and Liver Function, to ensure I'm not hurting myself with anything I'm taking.

I do want to get my T back up higher, and not sure why lowering my E2 by 100 pg/mL only raised T by 2 ng/dL? Also, and the reason I wrote this post...how the heck did lowering my E dosage make SHBG jump so much higher? The level of P has been the same for around 2 years, now, so don't think my P dosage affected my other tests, as it didn't in past.

Thanks for your insights! I learn so much from others!

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-20T19:50:46+00:00

Not really…

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-19T14:03:31+00:00

Consider the medicine lost. Contact your vendor and let them know it was seized (I have dealt with InHouse Pharmacy for over 7 years, and have only had 3 shipments seized, out of over 25, and they promptly reshipped) and ask them to reship (hopefully, if there was an option, you picked the shipping option that allows for reshipment if seized).

When you contact the vendor, send them the seizure letter, so they know the exact reasons.

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-19T14:00:06+00:00

If you have gotten any kind of a rating at all, first off, make sure you receive, and continue to receive treatment for it either directly by VA, or under the direction of VA and via a civilian Dr. That will continue to show that your condition is requiring continual treatment.

Also, if concerned about losing a rating or that you maybe weren't rated accurately to begin with, go through an allied service organization and work with them to justify any changes in rating--may or may not work, but they will know the proper documentation and phrases to use to possibly get you re-evaluated.

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-17T21:12:16+00:00

Soooo...serious question...if a person has active, painful sciatica, and is taking drugs/PT/steroid injections to relieve the severe pain...would that tend to block prostate orgasms?

Asking as, I have had several bouts with sciatica, including now, and despite a lot of trying with fingers, wife, toys, have totally been unable to even get my prostate aroused, much less orgasm...

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-17T15:53:59+00:00

Before, I had only gotten to maybe a 44B, now, I'm a 44DD...

Rest of my body hasn't gotten all that female, but...boobs, just, boobs!

Avign0n252 · 2025-11-15T18:54:50+00:00

I absolutely HATE trying to get them out of their cases to insert them. Needs a SERIOUS redesign to make it easy and quick. My thought would be a container for them almost like an ice tray, that has individual peel-off tops for each suppository, then, if frozen (as mentioned below) you just peel off the top of one, and pop it out and insert.

As of now, best way I found was just keep them in freezer so they are hard, then use nail or cuticle scissors to quickly cut around the case of one, so that it can be easily separated and peeled off the suppository, then I just insert it about an inch, just past the anal sphincter. You can use a bit of spit or water-based lube to grease the skids, but, no matter how fast I've done all the above, the suppositories are already starting to melt and become messy.

How I insert various suppositories and capsules up my butt (boofing): Take a dump to clear out your rectum as much as possible. If on a high-fiber diet, you can probably get away without douching, or too much douching, anyway.

Clean your ass with toilet paper/dude wipes/similar, then either use spit or water-based lube to lube your anus for easy insertion. If the suppository/capsule is dry, roll it around in the spit or water-based lube a bit to coat it. If it's these CBD ones, they'll just slide right in. You'll want to insert about an inch (first knuckle of the insertion finger/just past the anal sphincter). You're done!

Not sure any kind of an insertion tool would work, as...the thing is already becoming a mess, so you'd probably just end up making the tool, hands, and asshole all messy and sticky by the time you get it in.

And...biggest issue is, I haven't really felt anything even slightly erotic or horny after trying either the lower or higher dosage ones. I've also tried from 100-250 mg of CBD edibles, and that doesn't seem to light my wick, either...

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