Recently got some blood work done and got results around 322ng/dL total and 78.6 free testosterone. This is much lower than expected for someone of my age, but I am not surprised by the results as I’ve been very sedentary, eating like crap most days, and not getting adequate sleep. I know I could naturally raise it up by sleeping better, exercising more, and eating more whole foods. I’m not in terrible shape, but I could probably lose a good 50 pounds to be at a better body fat percentage for someone my size (5’10" 218lbs.) Basically I am wondering if I should hold off on starting finasteride 1mg and minoxidil 2.5mg until I develop a healthier lifestyle? I am currently about a norwood 3 with noticeable recession on the corners and noticeable diffuse thinning. I know the clock is ticking and I need to take action, but with my T levels on the lower end, I am anxious about more imbalance in my hormones…
fin can be effective even with low-normal testosterone levels because it mostly targets DHT, not testosterone itself. If you’re worried about hormone balance, you could start min, which doesn’t affect hormones, and monitor your response. It’s reasonable to consider lifestyle changes to naturally increase testosterone, but with noticeable thinning, sooner treatment usually yields better outcomes. If side effects are a concern, starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing might be an approach, but always monitor your body’s response.
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