Posted by Thrud on May 11, 2002, at 23:59:40
In reply to Low Sex Drive? Read This! , posted by afatchic on May 11, 2002, at 6:58:33
Hi there.
Did you get leutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels measured along with your testosterone? Both these hormones command endocrine glands to release testosterone.
If you have low LH and/or FSH with low testosterone this could suggest hypopituitarism or high cortisol levels. High LH or FSH could suggest that adrenal and/or gonadal problems might be present.
The cortisol problem is very interesting: being the "stress" hormone it is well known to be elevated in people with depression and anxiety. Amongst other bad things, it suppresses LH and hence testosterone. Paradoxically, antidepressants are well known to LOWER cortisol and should, from that perspective, INCREASE testosterone. Regardless, they somehow find other ways of destroying your sexual function...
Maybe in the study you cite the patients' depression was not well controlled, even on medication, and hence cortisol, LH, testosterone etc. was also out of whack? If they compared non-depressed controls with equally non-depressed people on medication then the picture would be clearer.
Anyways, if you ever get hormonal abnormalities get referred straight to an endocrinologist: my experience with PCPs in these sort of matters has been pretty negative.
Best of luck.
Thrud
poster:Thrud
thread:105967
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/106068.html