Testosterone levels while on Hormone therapy and Abiraterone

  • 13 replies
  • 185 subscribers
  • 3363 views

Hi !

I’ve seen posts asking of Testosterone levels when on  Hormone therapy and I thought I I could share my own results so people in this forum can compare. As I’m having my tests done in Sweden they are measured in nmol / L.

Background:

- From beginning of January 2024 to middle of July 2024 I was on Firmagon (Monthly injections)

- In mid April 2024 (two weeks after my radiation) i added Abiraterone together with Prednisolon

- At the end of July 2024 i changed from Firmagon to Orgovyx (HT pills instead of injections)

- I ONLY changed Firmagon for two reasons. 1. I had real bad reactions every time to the injection site in my belly 2. I liked the the choice of pills instead of injections. So Firmagon worked very well just to be clear Slight smile

So T-levels:

- End of January 2024 / Beginning of February 2024: T-level 0.7 nmol / L

- Mid April 2024 (before adding Abiraterone) T-level 0.7 nmol / L

- Mid July 2024 (3 month check after radiation): T-level < 0.4 nmol / L ( in Sweden they don’t measure lower)

- Mid October 2024 (3 month after changing from Firmagon to Orgovyx): T-level < 0.4 nmol / L 

Even if my ’standard hormone therapy’ have done a very good job of suppressing T-levels the adding of Abiraterone really helped in suppressing the T-levels

Anyway, T-levels of 0.7 nmol / L is approx 20 ng / dL and all litterature shows that 50 ng / dL is already a good level of Testosterone level suppression and probably ’lower is even better’. Hopefully my post can help some of you in trying to interpret your Testosterone levels Slight smile

Best wishes - Ulf

  • I’m now on 6 monthly decapeptyl HT injections which commenced November  following a failed RAPR last August . Salvage RT  is not currently an option due to potential side effects .

    My testosterone level was 0.60 in February but has increased to 1.6 following my last test at the end of April . I also had my next RT injection at the same time 

    Should  I be concerned or is the increase likely to be as a result of the test coming as the effect of Novembers HT JAB reduces ?

    I tried to get feedback from the specialist nurses at the Hospital but was told it would take a while as they are ‘well behind on the test reviews’ !!

    Thanks In anticipation 

  • To clarify

    Levels are nmol/L  . Also,  the current level is 1.3 not 1.6 . 

  • Hi !

    First of all, T levels can vary a little bit even when on hormone therapy so from one test you can’t conclude anything.

    1.3 nmol / l is approx 37.5 ng / dl, below the ’norm’ of 50 ng / dl ( and below) that scientific litterature means is good castrate level.

    So, probably no concern at all. But perhaps you could consult with your doctor on having a new measurement of Testosterone Done in a near future just to see if there might be some sort of trend. But your current T level is definetily ok.

    One other to keep in mind. When having hormone therapy and Abiraterone you not only stop production of Testosterone in your testicles but Abiraterone inhibits production of androgen in other parts of the body, like the prostate. So it’s a extreme version of creating a hostile environment for any possible prostate cancer to live in. The STAMPEDE trial showed that. 

    Anyway, what I’m saying is that your T levels is within and below 50 ng / dl which is OK and perhaps a check with your doctor and nurse to have a early Testosterone test again to see if was a ’hickup’ or that it only stabilized on a new OK level