Total testosterone rose substantially and free testosterone barely moved, which took a while to make sense of.
The narrow version of the question is why total and free can move differently here, and which of the two is worth tracking.
Not looking for reassurance. Looking for the part I have got wrong.
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.
PharmacoVig_BOS 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: 18 ng/mL → 14 ng/mL (improved)
- Noon: 9 ng/mL → 5 ng/mL
- Evening: 4 ng/mL → 2 ng/mL
- Night: 2 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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View ResultsNicoleRaleigh said:Total testosterone rose substantially and free testosterone barely moved, which took a while to make sense of.
This is my experience too, for whatever a second data point is worth. I had assumed I was the exception until I read this.
Adding the clinical framing, because it changes how the question reads.
Sex hormone labs after weight loss on the hormone panel — for the men in this thread:
Testosterone: 352 → 592 ng/dL (dramatic improvement!)
Free T: 6.7 → 13.2 ng/dL
Estradiol: 54 → 22 pg/mL
SHBG: 18 → 38 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.