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Reading Bloodwork Before and While on Cycle
By: Road2HardCoreIron Date: January 18, 2023, 5:08 pm
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Anabolics and Understanding Blood Tests
Anabolics and Understanding Blood Tests, what to look for, and
how to do it.
WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN A BLOOD WORK?
Blood Work Categories
Hormone
Lipids (Cardiovascular)
Liver Function
Muscle Enzyme
Blood
Kidney
Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose
Prostate
Anabolics and Understanding Blood Tests, what to look for, and
how to do it.
When people ask me about starting steroids/cycling, I always
tell them to get blood work done.
Unfortunately this is met with a lot of resistance, and some
people just dont see the value in doing this.
I promised a blog response, and Ill give it to you here.
This is what Ive learned over the years through trial and
error, good individual knowledge, and reading
a ton of reading.
Most people understand that steroids come with risks. This is
why its so important to get a base, or starting point of where
you are BEFORE you begin. Then you can find out if you have
healthy blood levels, see where they are at your starting point,
and see if you have any warning signs BEFORE you begin so you
can address them correctly.
Then we have something to compare it to when we do our later
comparison. It is far easier to see what the cycle is doing to
your body when re testing blood work during the cycle.
The last Blood work will be done post cycle, again to test and
monitor health and regeneration of normal blood levels.
******Some people are using Roid test kits, See out new Video
Series HERE
testosterone-roidtest-product
That is a great option to test a Lab (UGL) out of the gate. That
being said, I have always gone on feel and blood work. I go on
the reputation of a brand, then I monitor my results and my
bloodwork. You will be able to see differentials in your blood
results and monitor that instead of trying to test every vial.
What I do think is that some of the vials may be / are off
does or incorrectly dosed. Some may be higher, some may be
lower. Im personally not going to test every vial. Once Im using
a brand (lab) for some period of time Im certainly not going to
test everything. I just continue to go off my blood test results
and how Im feeling, my progress etc. If I feel like the brand
(lab) is not performing I switch. Its that simple.*******
WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN A BLOOD WORK?
testosterone-lab-test
PRE CYCLE
This is where we start first to make sure there are no pre
existing health conditions that will make the matter worse by
use of substances. This also gives us a base to compare our on
cycle / off cycle results.
Below Is THE MINIMUM Results We Will Want To Check And See
Results For:
Hormone (Steroid
Lipids (Standard Full Set)
Full Liver Panel
Blood
Kidney
Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose
Prostate
ON CYCLE
This testing is usually conducted 3 to 4 weeks after the steroid
cycle has started.
It is with these tests that will most reflect the changes made
by the steroid cycle.
It is important to note any adverse side effects and take into
account that if used over time how that will impact overall
health.
Below Is THE MINIMUM Results We Will Want To Check And See
Results For:
Lipids (Standard Full Set)
Full Liver Panel (if taking hepatotoxic steroids)
Blood
Kidney
Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose
POST CYCLE
The Post Cycle Test will determine is your male steroid hormone
has returned to pre cycle levels. There will always be some
variation on this test and an exact match will be almost
impossible. It is also recommended to look at the LH and FSH
pituitary in the case of the blood coming back low, it is easier
to determine the cause. High LH/FSH and low testosterone
(primary hypogonadism) may simply indicate that your testicles
have not yet fully restored their mass. Alternatively, low
LH/FSH can indicate secondary hypogonadism, which is often cause
to initiate corrective therapy with an endocrinologist. Other
general indicators of health are also conducted here including
lipids, liver, blood, kidney, electrolytes, minerals, glucose,
and prostate.
Below Is THE MINIMUM Results We Will Want To Check And See
Results For:
Hormone (Steroid, LH/FSH)
Lipids (Standard Full Set)
Full Liver Panel (if taking hepatotoxic steroids)
Blood
Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose
Prostate
CREDIT** Below is an abbreviated version of William
Llewellyns ANABOLICS 9th ed.
There are many versions of this book available. I highly
recommend you picking yourself up a copy. If you are dedicated
enough to start using Anabolics, then you should be dedicated
enough to read a book about what you are about to do.
Blood Work Categories
Hormone
hand with pen drawing the chemical formula of testosterone
Steroid (male)
Test Name
Testosterone, Total
Reference Range 241 827 ng/dl
Testosterone, Free
Reference Range 8.7 25.1 pg/ml
Estradiol
Reference Range 10-53 pg/ml
LH/FSH Panel (male)
Test Name
LH
Reference Range 2.5 9.8 IU/L
FSH
Reference Range 1.2 5.0 IU/L
Steroid (male)
Test Name
Testosterone, Total
Reference Range 241 827 ng/dl
Testosterone, Free
Reference Range 8.7 25.1 pg/ml
Estradiol
Reference Range 10-53 pg/ml
Steroid: This testing will look at both total and free
testosterone. The former measurement is used by physicians to
identify the androgen level and determine if there is a need for
therapy. The latter measure actually represents the fraction of
bioavailable (immediately active) testosterone in the body, and
is consequently regarded as more important for assessing the
present state of androgenicity. Estradiol is the principle
active form of estrogen in the body, and has roles both in
potential side effects (gynecomastia, water/fat retention) and
hormone balance. This is the estrogen marker most often
recommended during hormone profiling.
LH/FSH Panel: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) are responsible for stimulating testosterone
production and spermatogenesis in the testes. These measures are
most relevant when evaluating the cause and potential treatment
options for hypogonadism, not the short-term health impact of
anabolic-steroid use. The short-term suppression of LH/FSH is
expected with anabolic/androgenic steroid administration.
Thyroid: It is regarded as important to get a baseline measure
of thyroid activity, usually once per year. Follow up tests
during and after steroid use may be an expense some view as
unnecessary. Anabolic/androgenic steroid use is unlikely to
permanently affect thyroid function, but may slightly elevate
thyroid levels during therapy. A misdiagnosis of hyperthyroidism
(overactive thyroid) is sometimes made in light of these
elevated numbers. The effect of anabolic/androgenic steroid use
on thyroid levels should be taken into account before treatment
for hyperthyroid is ordered.
Lipids (Cardiovascular)
Lipids Image2
Anabolic/androgenic steroids can have strong adverse effects on
lipids. The abuse of anabolic/androgenic steroids (particularly
long-term abuse) can, likewise, increase the risk for developing
cardiovascular disease as assessed by these variables.
Mitigating these risks with the careful examination of the lipid
profile is regarded as one of the most fundamental of all
steroid-related blood tests. While far from comprehensive with
regard to assessing total heart disease risk, a full panel
examining the variables below (and comparing them to your
baseline values) can provide a good snapshot of the
cardiovascular impact of anabolic/androgenic steroid use. It is
important to measure your blood lipids only after 12 hours of
fasting, as food intake can skew the outcome of some measures
(particularly triglycerides).
Standard Full Set
Test Name Reference
Range
Triglycerides
Reference Range 0 149 mg/dl
Cholesterol, Total
Reference Range 100 199 mg/dl
HDL Cholesterol
Reference Range >40 mg/dl
VLDL Cholesterol
Reference Range 5 40 mg/dl
LDL Cholesterol
Reference Range <100 mg/dl
LDL/HDL Ratio
Reference Range <3.6 mg/dl
LDL/HDL Ratio Risk Assessment
1/2 Average Risk
Men 1.0 Women 1.5
Average Risk
Men 3.6 Women 3.2
2x Average Risk
Men 6.3 Women 5.0
3x Average Risk
Men 8.0 Women 6.1
Additional Testing
Test Name
C-reactive Protein
Reference Range <5 mg/dl
Homocysteine (0-30 years)
Reference Range 4.6 8.1 umol/L
Men (30-59)
Reference Range 6.3 11.2 umol/L
Women (30-59)
Reference Range 4.5 7.9 umol/L
>59 years
Reference Range 5.8 11.9 umol/L
Apo Ratio Testing
Apolipoproteins
apoB/apoA-1 Ratio
Reference Range Men <.9 Women <.8
Apo Ratio Risk Assessment
Low Risk
Men <.7 Women <.6
Average Risk
Men .7 .9 Women .6 .8
High Risk
Men >.9 Women >.8
Standard Full Set: This is a standard full lipid panel
examination. Ideally, all values should be kept within the
normal ranges at all times during steroid therapy. Note that the
LDL/HDL ratio is regarded as the most important measure of the
serum lipid tests, as it reflects the ongoing balance between
plaque deposition (LDL) and removal (HDL) in the arteries. The
LDL/HDL ratio is used to more closely assess heart disease risk
in individuals that have elevated LDL or total cholesterol
levels.
Additional Testing: (-reactive protein and homocysteine are two
additional markers that are important to examining
cardiovascular health. (-reactive protein is a key indicator of
inflammation in the body, and homocysteine is involved in blood
clotting and LDL cholesterol oxidation. It is also advisable to
include these two variables in your cardiovascular testing
schedule.
Apo Ratio: Apolipoprotein ratio testing is also recommended.
Although not commonly used in general medical practice,
apolipoprotein testing is increasingly regarded as a more
accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than
cholesterol testing. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is found in all LDL
particles, and is responsible for attaching these lipoproteins
to the artery walls. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-1) is found mainly
in HDL particles, and is responsible for initiating beneficial
reverse cholesterol transport. ApoA-1 enables the HDL particles
to pull cholesterol from the artery walls and transport them
back to the liver. The ratio of apoB to apoA-I, therefore,
appears to reflect a much truer measure of the balance of
potentially atherogenic and antiatherogenic particles in the
blood. A ratio above .9 is generally regarded as indicative of
increased cardiovascular disease risk. Lower ratios reflect
reduced cardiovascular disease risk assessments.
Liver Function
highlighted-liver-in-human-body
Test Name
Albumin
Reference Range 3. 5 5.5 g/dL
Globulin
Reference Range 1.5 4.5 g/dL
Total Protein
Reference Range 6.0 8.5 g/dL
Bilirubin
Reference Range 0.1 1.2 mg/dL
GGT (Gamma GT)
Reference Range 50 IU/L
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
Reference Range 25 100 IU/L
AST (SGOT)
Reference Range 0 40 IU/L
ALT (SGPT)
Reference Range 0 55 IU/L
A full liver panel is important to assessing hepatic strain. The
two markers of liver stress most commonly elevated in abusers of
anabolic/androgenic steroids are the enzymes alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). ALT
and AST are necessary to amino acid metabolism in the liver, and
will leak into the bloodstream as the liver becomes inflamed or
damaged.
These two enzymes are generally regarded as important indicators
of early steroid-induced liver toxicity. There have been cases
in which substantial liver damage has occurred without
substantial elevations in ALT and AST, however, so a more
detailed examination of liver enzyme values is always advised.
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase
(GGT) are known as cholestatic liver enzymes, which mean they
diminish or stop the flow of bile (a greenish fluid that aids
digestion and is produced in the liver).
ALP and GGT are important markers of liver health during steroid
use, and should be included in regular blood testing. Elevations
in ALP and GGT can indicate bile duct obstruction (intrahepatic
cholestasis), which refers to a condition where the liver can no
longer properly transport and metabolize bile.
Intrahepatic cholestasis is a potentially very serious
manifestation of steroid-induced liver toxicity, so elevations
in ALP and GGl should not be disregarded. Mild elevations in ALT
and AST may be caused by muscle damage (exercise) and not
steroid-induced liver toxicity.
A comparison to baseline levels will be important in determining
the cause. If the only factor that has changed is the addition
of a hepatotoxic anabolic steroid (training is otherwise
steady), the drug is likely to blame. It is important to
remember that ALP and GGT are not always elevated with early
liver strain. Therefore, the elevation of any hepatic markers
above the reference range (even if only ALT and AST) can
indicate liver toxicity, and should be cause to discontinue the
offending steroids and reassess risk.
Muscle Enzyme
Muscle Enzyme
Test Name
Creatine Kinase
Reference Range 38-174 u/L
The creatine kinase (CK) enzyme is used as a marker of muscle
breakdown, kidney damage, and heart damage. High levels usually
indicate heart attack or other organ trauma. This enzyme can
also become elevated with exercise that breaks down muscle
tissue, especially intense endurance or resistance training.
Elevated CK levels caused by high intensity training are often
mistaken for organ damage. It is important to further examine
other markers of kidney and heart heath before such a
determination is made. Note that creatine kinase levels may also
be useful in determining if liver strain or heavy training is
the cause of mild elevations in liver enzymes ALT and AST.
Slight increases in ALT and AST caused by muscle damage will
usually coincide with elevated CK and normal ALP and GGT levels.
Blood
Blood-test
Test Name
WBC
Reference Range 4 11 K/MCL
RBC
Reference Range 81 103 FL
Platelet Count
Reference Range 130 400 K/MCL
Hemoglobin
Reference Range 13 17 g/dL
Hematocrit
Reference Range 40.7 50.3 (men) %
Reference Range 40.7 50.3 (women) %
A full blood count is one of the most commonly run blood tests,
and can give you a good snapshot of overall health in many
regards. A full blood cell test will give you a measure of white
cell count (responsible for fighting infection), platelet count
(vital to blood clotting and healing), and red blood cell count
(responsible for carrying oxygen). Red and white cell counts
will be further subdivided into various individual measurements,
often referred to as a differential cell count. Hemoglobin is
the specific carrier of gases in red cells, and hematocrit is a
measure of the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood
volume. Due to their effects on erythropoiesis, anabolic
steroids tend to increase red blood cell count, hematocrit, and
hemoglobin concentrations. While this may increase
oxygen-carrying (aerobic) capacity, as the concentration of red
blood cells increases so does the thickness of the blood.
Elevated hematocrit can increase the risk of heart attack or
stroke.
Kidney
kidney-damage graphic
Test Name
Uric acid
Reference Range 3.0 7.0 mg/dL
Creatinine
Reference Range .5 1.5 mg/dL
BUN
Reference Range 5 26 mg/dL
BUN/creatinine
Reference Range 8 27
This panel of tests looks at three primary waste products
filtered and excreted through the kidneys, urea, uric acid, and
I creatinine. Problems here can indicate serious underlying
problems with kidney function. Note that Blood Urea Nitrogen :
(BUN) is often elevated with excess protein consumption, and is
used by many physicians as an indicator that too much , protein
is being consumed for optimal metabolism. The high consumption
of meat or creatine supplementation can also elevate creatinine
levels, diminishing the value of blood creatinine testing as a
marker of kidney health. Electrolyte, mineral, and fasting
glucose testing is important to further assessing kidney health,
and is advised in addition to the above kidney markers. A quick
urine screen for pH, specific gravity, and the presence of
sugar, blood, and ketones is also available at most physicians
offices, and is generally advised alongside blood work when
possible.
Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose
Electrolytes
Test Name
Sodium
Reference Range 136 146 mEq/L
Potassium
Reference Range 3.6 5.2 mEq/L
Chloride
Reference Range 98 109 mEq/L
Bicarbonate (carbon dioxide)
Reference Range 21 30 mEq/L
Phosphorous
Reference Range 2.5 4.5 mg/dL
Calcium
Reference Range 8.5 10.5 mg/dL
Iron
Reference Range 35 185 mcg/dL
Glucose (fasting)
Reference Range 70 110 mg/dL
Electrolyte levels are examined to help detect problems with the
fluid and electrolyte balance. Abnormal values may reflect
something as small as sodium or potassium deficiency, or a more
serious condition such as kidney disease. A variety of other
health issues may also become apparent by looking at both
electrolyte and mineral levels, giving them somewhat broad
prognostic value. Fasting glucose is also examined to determine
if the individual may be hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) or
hyperglycemic (high blood sugar). Problems with fasting glucose
may reflect potentially serious health condition including
metabolic syndrome, diabetes, pancreati disease, liver disease,
kidney failure, or acute stress.
Prostate
prostate_gland
Test Name
PSA,serum
Reference Range 0.0 4.0 ng/mL
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells
in the prostate gland. Its levels can become elevated in cases
of benign prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer. While it
remains unknown if elevating the level of androgens in the body
with anabolic/androgenic steroids can increase the risk of
prostate cancer, it is known that I this disease can be
progressed by elevated hormone (androgen and estrogen) levels.
The PSA test is regarded as an important diagnostic tool for
screening individual prostate cancer risk. If PSA levels are
elevated, most will advise against using anabolic/androgenic
steroids.
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