Elevated Hematocrit (erythrocytosis)
People are asking...
Men living at high altitudes often have raised hematocrit levels and this is deemed normal/safe/ok. Men on TRT who get above 50% PCV are usually giv...
This is an excellent question, which requires a pretty complex answer. But the basics lie in the differences between chronic hypoxia induced erythrocytosis and exogenous testosterone induced erythrocy... See Full Answer
What is your opinion about high hematocrit, including high RBC and high hemoglobin? There seems to be some debate about whether high values on TRT a...
There certainly is debate regarding how relevant high hematocrit from TRT is as a risk factor. So far, there is no evidence to suggest it is as concerning as high hematocrit from other causes (ie COPD... See Full Answer
Hypoxia only effects erythropoietin levels to raise hematocrit. Testosterone raises hematocrit through multiple mechanisms. Since DHT was on your lis...
I have not personally seen any patients have a drop in hematocrit while using a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, nor have I seen any studies on the matter, so I cannot speak to it. What I meant regarding... See Full Answer
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The most frequently reported adverse reaction to testosterone replacement therapy is erythrocytosis, an abnormal elevation of hemoglobin (greater than 18.5 g/dL) or hematocrit (greater than 52%). However, no studies to date have demonstrated a link between testosterone replacement therapy-induced erythrocytosis and cardiovascular (CV) events or venous thromboembolism (VTE or “blood clots”).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9346330/
Testosterone therapy is the cornerstone in the care of men with hypogonadism and transgender males. Gel and intramuscular injections are most frequently used and are registered and included in the international guidelines. The specific preparation should be selected according to the patient’s preference, cost, availability, and formulation-specific properties. As the majority of men with hypogonadism and transgender males require lifelong treatment with testosterone, it is important to utilize a regimen that is effective, safe, inexpensive, and convenient to use with optimal mimicking of the physiological situation. This systematic review reviews current literature on differences between the three most used testosterone preparations in adult men with hypogonadism and transgender males. Although it appeared hardly any comparative studies have been carried out, there are indications of differences between the preparations, for example, on the stability of testosterone levels, hematocrit, bone mineral density, and patient satisfaction. However, there are no studies on the effects of testosterone replacement on endpoints such as cardiovascular disease in relation to hematocrit or osteoporotic fractures in relation to bone mineral density. The effect of testosterone therapy on health-related quality of life is strongly underexposed in the reviewed studies, while this is a highly relevant outcome measure from a patient perspective. In conclusion, current recommendations on testosterone treatment appear to be based on data primarily from non-randomized clinical studies and observational studies. The availability of reliable comparative data between the different preparations will assist in the process of individual decision-making to choose the most suitable formula.
Have a question? Ask us.
At AlphaMD, we're here to help. Feel free to ask us any question you would like about TRT, medical weightloss, ED, or other topics related to men's health. Or take a moment to browse through our past questions.
People are asking...
Men living at high altitudes often have raised hematocrit levels and this is deemed normal/safe/ok. Men on TRT who get above 50% PCV are usually giv...
This is an excellent question, which requires a pretty complex answer. But the basics lie in the differences between chronic hypoxia induced erythrocytosis and exogenous testosterone induced erythrocy... See Full Answer
What is your opinion about high hematocrit, including high RBC and high hemoglobin? There seems to be some debate about whether high values on TRT a...
There certainly is debate regarding how relevant high hematocrit from TRT is as a risk factor. So far, there is no evidence to suggest it is as concerning as high hematocrit from other causes (ie COPD... See Full Answer
Hypoxia only effects erythropoietin levels to raise hematocrit. Testosterone raises hematocrit through multiple mechanisms. Since DHT was on your lis...
I have not personally seen any patients have a drop in hematocrit while using a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, nor have I seen any studies on the matter, so I cannot speak to it. What I meant regarding... See Full Answer
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