The following are selected hormone profiles as posted by the members of propeciahelp.com after use and discontinuation of Finasteride. Additional hormone profiles can be found here.
3-alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (3a-Diol-G) - 5AR2 enzyme activity marker
The following 3a-Diol-G results ( from various members of the propeciahelp.com website) showcase consistently low/below range 3a-diol-G levels, despite being off the drug for months or years.
3a-diol-G, a direct metabolite of DHT, reflects the peripheral formation of DHT, and has been correlated with 5AR2 enzyme activity, especially in cutaneous and genital skin.
Test Results |
||
| Username | Reference Range | 3a-Diol-G |
| postfinsufferer | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 5.5 |
| joao_brazil | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 7.2 1.01 - Nov 24, 2009 |
| correiovip | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 2.44 |
| cytochrome | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 7 |
| 40 | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 6.80 2.40 |
| solonjk | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 5.8 |
| kazman | 2.6-15.0 ng/ml | 1.5 |
| mystory | 260-1500 ng/DL | 313 |
| gcac | 260-1500 ng/DL | 643 |
| maracatu | 2.5-20.9 ng/ml | 16.6 - actively taking Arimidex for E2 control |
| jairus | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 8.07 - 27/07/2009 - before testogel treatment 9.95 - 6/11/2009 - after almost 3 months of testogel treatment |
| finsucks | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 13 |
| sufferer2001recovered2009 | 260-1500 ng/dL | 394 |
| Penguin | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 6.03 |
| to.robin | 3.4-22 ng/ml | 4.24 |
| whalen72 | 2 - 19 ng/ml | 3.4 |
| golf17331 | 340-2200 ng/DL | 456 |
Vitamin D - Deficiency
- Additionally, after Finasteride use many men have wound up with low or below range Vitamin D (25-OH) levels, as shown below.
- Vitamin D is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily - as are Androgen Receptors and Thyroid Hormone Receptors, amongst many others
| Username | Reference Range | Vitamin D |
| texas123 | 30-100 | 8 (25-Hydroxy D Total - 09/12/09 33 (25-Hydroxy D Total - 12/03/09, after supplementation) |
| martinM | 20-100 | 30 (25-Hydroxy D Total) 30 (25-OH, D3) <4 (25-OH, D2) |
| rb_dc09 | 20-100 | 14 (25-OH) |
| worried | 30-100 | 26 (25-Hydroxy D Total) |
| cdnuts | 20-100 | 36 (25-Hydroxy D Total) |
| anonn1 | 20-100 | 26 |
| PropeciaSideEffects | 32-100 | 20.2 (25-Hydroxy) |
| NotGood | 10-24 = mild to moderate deficiency | 17 (25-Hydroxy D Total) 17 (25-OH, D3) <4 (25-OH, D2) |
| gcac | 32-100 | 23 (25-Hydroxy D Total) 23 (25-OH, D3) <4 (25-OH, D2) |
| joetz | 32-100 | 23 (25-Hydroxy D Total) |
| k333 | > 32 | 34 |
| anonn1 | 20-100 | 26 |
| bostonusa2009 | 25-80 | 23 |
| Xhorndog | 32-100 | 31.8 |
| Insomnia | 19-57 | 9 |
| mikey428 | 32-100 | 21 |
| sufferer2001recovered2009 | 50-300 | 69 |
| troubledfinuser2 | 75-250 | 28 |
Hormone Tests - Hypogonadal T, LH, FSH levels
After quitting Finasteride, within a few weeks (as DHT supposedly returns to baseline) many ex-Finasteride users with permanent side effects find their endocrine systems "crash", and their endogenous Testosterone, LH & FSH levels drop to hypogonadal values (amongst other imbalances).
- Treatments designed to restore endogeneous HTP-axis functioning (Clomiphene Citrate, hCG, Tamoxifen), Testosterone levels and androgenic function at this stage typically meet with variable longterm success.
- When put on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), some ex-Finasteride users report significant longterm improvements, while others note either brief improvements followed by a return to baseline hypogonadal symptoms, or little to no improvement in their conditions.
In the below blood tests, note the many instances of:
- Low-normal / hypogonadal levels of Testosterone, both Total & Free
- Low LH & FSH, pointing to secondary hypogonadism when diagnosed in combination with Testosterone
- High or above range TSH indicating subclinical or clinical hypothyroidism
- Elevated Prolactin
- Elevated Estradiol/Estrone resulting in gynecomastia and alteration of the androgen/estrogen ratio in favor of estrogens
- Effects on DHEA-S, Cortisol, SHBG and Progesterone
- Low/below range 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (3a-Diol-G)
- Low/below range Vitamin D (25-OH / 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D)
- Various other imbalances including elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST) etc.
Chris11's Hormones
Time on drug: 7 years
Test taken: 2007
Persisting symptoms: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, no morning erections, loss of spontaneous erections, cold penis/scrotum, emotional blunting, chronic fatigue
Doctor's diagnosis: "This patient presented with hypogonadism. His free T was 11.4 (N 19-94) and bio T was 1.18 (N 2-8.6). FSH 3.3 and LH 2.1 were not increased. In view of this, to differentiate between secondary hypopituitary and tertiary hypothalamic hypogonadism the patient had LRH stimulation tests done. The baseline value of FSH was 3.8, stimulated to the value of 6.4. The baseline value of LH was 3.9, stimulated to the value of 24. There was therefore a normal response of FSH and LH to LRH stimulation and this ruled out a pituitary problem. He has tertiary hypogonadism-hypothalamic. Treatment of this condition is replacement therapy with testosterone. This could be in the form of injection of Delatestryl 200 to 400 mg every four weeks or Andriol tablets starting with 80 mg b.i.d for two to three weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of 40 to 120 mg daily."
| Hormones | Range | 2007 |
| Testosterone | 6.0-30.0 | 9.1 |
| Free Testosterone | 19.0-94.0 | 11.4 |
| Bioavailable Testosterone | 2-8.6 | 1.18 |
| DHT | 860-3406 | 1204 |
| LH | 1.1-8.8 | 2.1 |
| FSH | 1.0-13.6 | 3.3 |
| Estradiol | 0-161 | 55 |
| DHEA-S | <14 | 2.3 |
| Cortisol | 30-958 | 188 |
| SHBG | 3-71 | 50 |
| Progesterone | 0-4 | 1 |
| Prolactin | 2.6-13.1 | 7.6 |
| TSH | 0.30-4.70 |
0.87 |
| Free T3 | 2.5-5.7 | 4.3 |
| Free T4 | 9.1-23.8 | 12.5 |
3pm's Hormones
Time on drug: 2x 1 week, a year apart
Test taken: February 19, 2007
Persisting symptoms: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, genital numbness, penile/scrotal atrophy, no morning/spontaneous erections, reduced ejaculate, chronic fatigue, emotional blunting, memory impairment
Gcac Hormones
Time on drug: 5 years
Test taken: 2009
Persisting symptoms: loss of libido, penile/scrotal shrinkage & fibrotic tissue changes, erectile dysfunction, loss of morning/nocturnal/spontaneous erections, watery ejaculate, muscle atrophy, emotional blunting, memory impairment, genital numbness, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression
| Hormones | Range | 3 Feb 2009 | 27 Feb 2009 | 26 Mar 2009 | 18 May 2009 | 10 Sep 2009 | 1 Oct 2009 | 4 Nov 2009 |
| Total Testosterone | 350-1000 | 387 | 484 | 294 | 540 | 335 | ||
| Free Testosterone | 13-40 | 7.4 | ||||||
| DHT | 270-930 | 258 | ||||||
| 3a-Diol G | 260-1500 | 643 | ||||||
| SHBG | 13-71 | 40.8 | ||||||
| Estradiol | <29 | 33.9 | 26.8 | 19 | 32.6 | 34.4 | ||
| LH | 1-9 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 1.71 | ||
| FSH | 5-15 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.14 | ||
| Prolactin | <20 | 7.6 | ||||||
| Progesterone | 0.3-3.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||
| IGF-1 | 90-360 | 310 | ||||||
| 17-Ketosteroids | 4-21 | 5.8 |
Dave Fulmore's hormones
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24
| Test Result | 11/31/2000 | 2/15/2001 | 2/27/2001 | 4/27/2001 | 5/25/2001 | 7/5/2001 | 8/30/2001 | 11/25/2001 | 3/26/2002 | |
| Hormones |
2 months after stopping Propecia | 1 week of 100mg of Clomid | Bromomcriptine 0.3mg a day | Ten days on CG, M, W, F, | Cream: Selgeline1, Clomid10, Chrys50LSP | 14 Days on Clomid/CG 100mg for 3 days and CG on the 4th day | 10 days on 25mg of clomid | 4 Weeks on CG, 10,000 cut with 5ml of water, .5cc M, W, F and 25G/GM of DHT gel | No medications. Last med taken one week before was CG | |
| Total Testosterone |
248
|
791
|
761
|
No Blood Tests
|
1111
|
1219
|
829
|
377
|
||
| LH |
17.8
|
2.3
|
17.2
|
20.06
|
1
|
4.5
|
||||
| FSH |
18.2
|
1.11
|
17.8
|
15.5
|
0.3
|
5.5
|
||||
| Estradiol |
40
|
45
|
62
|
86
|
63
|
26
|
||||
| Total Estrogen |
155
|
|||||||||
| Progesterone |
1.04
|
1.43
|
1.19
|
|||||||
| DHT |
14
|
54
|
50
|
55
|
26
|
|||||
| Prolactin |
3.6
|
9.4
|
8.5
|
5.3
|
||||||
| IGF-1 |
211
|
|||||||||
| TSH |
2.06
|
|||||||||
| T4 |
4.8
|
|||||||||
| DHEA-S |
3118
|
Worried's Hormones
Time on drug: 3 years
Test taken: 2007-2008 (1-16 months after quitting)
Persisting symptoms: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of morning/spontaneous/nocturnal erections, genital numbness
| Hormones | Jul 2007 (1 month off) |
Feb 2008 (7 months off) |
Oct 2008 (15 months off) |
Nov 2008 (16 months off) |
|
| Testosterone | 329 (250-1100) | 287 (241-827) | 440 (>245) | ||
| Free Testosterone | 77.9 (35-155) | ||||
| DHT | 20 (30-85) | 46 (25-75) | |||
| SHBG | 14 (7-44) | ||||
| LH | 4.3 (1.5-9.3) | 2.5 (1.5-9.3) | 3.1 (1.0-12.0) | ||
| FSH | 1.9 (1.6-8) | 1.6 (1.4-18.1) | 1.6 (1.4-18.1) | ||
| Estradiol | 38 (13-54) | 44 (<56) | |||
| Prolactin | 5.9 (2-18) | 8.1 (2.1-17.7) | 29 (2-18) | 19 (2-18) | |
| Cortisol | 16.3 (3-17, pm) | ||||
| DHEA-S | 349 (110-510) | ||||
| DHEA | 830 (180-1250) | ||||
| ACTH | 20 (7-50) | ||||
| TSH | 7.6 (0.2-5.5) | 5.6 (0.2-5.5) | |||
| T4 Free | 1.7 (0.8-1.7) | 1.4 (0.8-1.7) | |||
| Parathyroid Hormone, Intact | 20 (10-65) | ||||
| Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy | 26 (30-100) | ||||
| 17-Hydroxyprogesterone | 79 (32-307) | ||||
| Glucose (Fasting) | 99 (60-99) | ||||
| Bilirubin, Total | 3.0 (0.2-1.2) | ||||
| Bilirubin, Direct | 0.5 (0.0-0.3) | ||||
| Albumin | 4.9 (3.3-4.7) |
Insomnia's Hormones
Time on drug: 7.5 years
Test taken: 2001 - 2009; quit drug in December 2006
Persisting symptoms: osteoporosis (diagnosed), weakness, chronic fatigue, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, no morning erections, cold penis/scrotum, cognitive impairment
|
TESTS |
Range |
03/07 |
08/07 |
03/08 |
04/08 |
06//08 |
09/08 |
03/09 |
|
Testosterone (Total) |
1,9-10,6 ng/ml |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,77 |
|
Free T |
8,8-27 ng/L |
3 / 11,1 |
4,3 |
3,1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Free T (another laboratory) |
5,6/27 pg/ml |
5,88 |
2,9 |
|
|
2,4 |
6,24 |
3,28 |
|
DHT |
0,25-1 ng/ml |
|
|
|
0,42 |
|
|
|
|
FSH |
0,7-11,1 U/L |
13,7/13,3 |
11,1 |
|
10,1 |
|
|
|
|
LH |
0,9 - 8 U/L |
5,6 / 4,29 |
2,54 |
|
3,8 |
|
|
|
|
Estradiol 17-Beta |
2/62 pg/ml |
16,14 |
|
|
|
12,31 |
|
|
|
DHEA-S |
80/560μg/dL |
92,1 |
61,5 |
52,3 |
63,2 |
|
|
|
|
Androstendione |
08-2,8μg/L |
1,2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACTH |
10-46ng/L |
|
36,3 |
|
38,4 |
|
|
|
|
Prolactin |
2,1-13 μg/l |
4,33 |
|
|
4,93 |
|
|
|
|
Cortisol |
5-25μg/dL |
|
18,6 |
|
17,8 |
|
|
|
|
Progesterone |
0-1,2 μg/L |
|
|
|
0,256 |
|
|
|
|
IGF |
115-307 μg/L |
102 |
118 |
|
116 |
|
|
|
|
Creatinine |
0,6-1,2mg/dL |
|
0,9 |
0,9 |
|
|
0,92 |
|
|
Folic Acid |
5-11 |
|
|
15,9 |
|
|
|
|
|
B12 |
>150ng/l |
|
|
739 |
|
|
|
|
|
PSA |
0-4 μg/L |
|
|
|
0,147 |
|
|
|
|
THYROID |
Valor ref. |
09/01 |
02/04 |
10/04 |
10/05 |
02/06 |
11/06 |
08/07 |
11/07 |
03/08 |
04/08 |
10/08 |
|
TSH |
0,37-4 mU/L* |
4,65 |
3,01 |
3,63 |
2,78 |
4,88 |
3,33 |
3 |
3,44 |
2,17 |
1,65 |
2,36 |
|
T4-Free |
08-2 ng/dL |
1,1 |
1,2 |
|
1,19 |
1,66 |
1,3 |
1,14 |
1,28 |
|
1,25 |
|
|
T3-Free |
1,8 – 4,2 nmol/L |
|
|
|
1,73 |
3,19 |
2,15 |
|
|
|
1,63 |
|
*(0,3-2,5mU/L) according to 2002 AACE reference range guidelines update
Matis' Hormones
Time on drug: 2004-2005
Test taken: 2004-2007
Persisting symptoms: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of morning/nocturnal/spontanoues erections, depression, chronic fatigue, memory impairment
| Hormones | May 25 2004 | Oct 19 2006 | Oct 26 2006 | Jan 19 2007 | Apr 18 2007 | Jun 14 2007 | Aug 30 2007 |
| Testosterone | 303 (241,0-827,0) | 4,2 (3,0 - 10,0) | 4,6 (3,0 - 10,0) | 337 (132 - 813) | 253 (132 - 813) | 293 (132 - 813) | |
| Free Testosterone | 16,5 (18,0 - 36,0) | 21,6 (8,8 - 36,0) | 18,1 (8,8 - 36,0) | ||||
| LH | 6,0 (1 - 12) | 5,0 (1,4 - 7,7) | |||||
| FSH | 3,3 (1,4 - 18) | 3,0 (2,0 - 17,5) | |||||
| SHBG | 14 (13 - 71) | ||||||
| Prolactin | 14 (<15) | ||||||
| TSH | 4.00 (0,4-7,0) | 1,36 (0,3 - 6,0) | 1,09 (0,3 - 4,5) | 2,40 (0,3 - 4,5) | |||
| T3 | 119,70 (75,00 - 220,00) | ||||||
| T4 | 6,30 (5,4 - 13,7) | 6,9 (4,8 - 12,5) | |||||
| DHEA-S | 222 (125 - 620) |
Amsch's Hormones
Time on drug: 3.5 years
Tests taken: 1 week after quitting (2007)
Persisting Symptoms: loss of libido, urination problems, gynecomastia
Brainfogged's Hormones
Time on drug: 3.5 years
Tests taken: 1 week after quitting (2007)
Persisting Symptoms:
| Hormones | Range | March 2007 1 week off |
| Total Testosterone | (241 - 827) | 400 |
| Free (Bioavailable) Testosterone | (9.3 - 26.5) | 10.7 |
| SHBG | (13 - 71) | 30 |
| Cortisol | (3.1 - 22.4) | 23.7 |
| DHT | (30 - 85) | 21 |
| LH | (1.5 - 9.3) | 2.7 |
| FSH | (1.4 - 18.9) | 2.9 |
| TSH | (.350 - 5.500) | 3.367 |
| Albumin | (3.1 - 5.5) | 5.1 |
| AST | (0 - 40) | 45 |
| Total Estrogens | (40 - 115) | 213 |
| T3 | (1.2 - 4.9) | 2.8 |
| T4 | (4.5 - 12.0) | 8.4 |
Grail's Hormones
Time on drug: 2 months
Test taken: 6 & 8 months after quitting (2007)
Persisting Symptoms:
| Hormones | Range | March 2007 6 months off |
May 2007 8 months off |
| Total Testosterone | (280-800) | 260 | 311 |
| Free Testosterone | (4.0-16.0) | 6.53 | |
| SHBG | (13.9-48.6) | 17.8 | |
| DHEA | (100-400) | 99 | 78 |
| DHT | (30-85) | 24 | 21 |
| Estradiol | (8-43) | 16 | |
| FSH | (1.5-12.4) | 2.8 | |
| LH | (1.7-8.6) | 2.8 | |
| Prolactin | (4.0-15.2) | 10.4 | |
| TSH | (.4-4.0) | 2.93 | |
| Albumin | (3.4-4.8) | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| WBC | (4.0-11.0) | 4.6 | |
| RBC | (9.4-12.4) | 5.44 | |
| T3 | (2.3-5.0) | 2.7 | |
| T4 | (.70 - 1.7) | 1.01 |
Cepo's Hormones
Time on drug: Unknown
Test taken: 2007
Persisting symptoms: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, no morning erections, cold penis/scrotum
| Hormones | Range | January 2007 |
May 2007 |
July 2007 |
| Testosterone | (3-10) | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.64 |
| Free Testosterone | (9.0-47.0) | 12.5 | 15.5 | |
| DHT | (0.25-1) | 0.80 | ||
| FAI (Free Androgen Index) |
(50-140) | 84.4 | 75.1 | |
| LH | (1.5-7.5) | 6.8 | 5.6 | 5.35 |
| FSH | (1.5-7.0) | 4.5 | 3.3 | 2.48 |
| Estradiol | (<40) | 30 | 23 | 39.37 |
| Estrone | (30.0-90.0) | 91.0 | ||
| DHEA-S | (1.5-6.5) | 2.3 | 1.5 | |
| Cortisol | (5.0-25) | 16.8 | 19 | |
| SHBG | (12.0-75) | 11.5 | 15.7 | 14.9 |
| Albumin | (3.5-5.5) | 4.6 | ||
| Progesterone | (0.3-0.7) | 0.7 | ||
| 17-Hydroxyprogesterone | (0.50-2.40) | 1.62 | ||
| Prolactin | (2.0-11.0) | 16.6 | 15.8 | 16.27 |
| TSH | (0.1-3.5) | 1.6 | 2.5 | |
| Free T3 | (1.5-5.0) | 2.5 | ||
| Free T4 | (0.7-2.2) | 1.3 | ||
| Triglicerides | (30-170) | 377 | ||
| Cholesterol | (120-200) | 205 | ||
| HDL Cholesterol | (>45) | 26.7 | ||
| LDL Cholestrol | (<130) | 103 | ||
| Glucose | (70-100) | 103 | ||
| Uric Acid | (3.40-7) | 7.56 | ||
| G.P.T./A.L.T | (0-41) | 51 | ||
| Gamma GT | (11-49) | 24 |
PAC's Hormones
Time on drug: 2 months
Test taken: 2006-2008
Persisting symptoms: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of morning/nocturnal/spontanoues erections, reduced ejaculate, gynecomastia
| Hormones | Range | February 2006 3 months off |
Nov 2007 21 months off |
March 2008 25 months off |
| Total Testosterone | 259-1152 | 550 | 489 | 389 |
| SHBG | 10-80 | 18.6 | ||
| Estradiol | 10-150 | 143 | ||
| LH | 1.5-9.3 | 6.0 | ||
| Prolactin | 88-442 | 141 | ||
| Progesterone | 0.5-1.5 | 6.9 |
Texas123's Hormones
Time on drug: 2 months (2007)
Test taken: 2009 (3 years after quitting)
Persisting symptoms: erectile dysfunction, loss of morning/spontaneous/nocturnal erections, penile shrinkage/curving, watery/reduced ejaculate
| Hormones | Range | Sep 9 2009 | Dec 3 2009 |
| Testosterone | 241-827 | 260 | 368 |
| Free Testosterone | 6 - 27 | 7.3 | 10.7 |
| DHT | 106-718 | 327 | |
| SHBG | 13-71 | 15 | 15 |
| LH | 1-9 | 3.3 | |
| Estradiol | <56 | 26 | |
| Prolactin | 3-30 | 10.6 | |
| DHEA-S | 80-560 | 583 | |
| AST | 5-35 | 14 | |
| ALT | 7-56 | 13 | |
| TSH | .3 - 5.1 | 2.5 | |
| T3 Free | 2.3 - 4.2 | 4.0 | |
| T3 Uptake | 20-38.5 | 36.3% | |
| T4 | 4.4-12.4 | 9.9 | |
| Thyroide peroxidase AB | <35 | <10 | |
| Vitamin D | 30-60 | 8 | 33 (after supplementation) |
| HDL Cholestrol | >39 | 41 | |
| LDL Cholestrol | <100 | 117 |
