High Hematocrit Symptoms TRT - Donate Blood for High Hematocrit on Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Discusses managing high hematocrit levels during testosterone replacement therapy and the role of blood donation.

Key Takeaways

High hematocrit is a common but manageable side effect of testosterone therapy.
Blood donation is a recommended and safe method to reduce hematocrit but is not always required.
Doctors may monitor hematocrit to rule out other health conditions such as sleep apnea or hypertension.
Secondary erythrocytosis from TRT differs from polycythemia and often does not pose serious risks.
Patient education and individualized care are important to avoid unnecessary fear and interventions.

What the video covers

Explains concerns about high hematocrit levels in men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Discusses the practice of donating blood to manage elevated hematocrit and its medical rationale.
Highlights differences in medical protocols between the UK and the US regarding hematocrit monitoring and blood donation.
Mentions secondary erythrocytosis as a common condition in TRT patients, often confused with polycythemia.
Addresses the role of doctors and hematologists in monitoring hematocrit and managing risks.
Notes that some TRT patients experience fatigue despite normal blood levels, possibly due to frequent blood donation.
Emphasizes that donating blood is generally safe and beneficial but not always medically necessary.
Discusses how elevated hematocrit can be a useful indicator for doctors to investigate other health issues like sleep apnea.
Mentions therapeutic phlebotomy as a treatment option for very high hematocrit levels.
Encourages patients to consult healthcare providers and not to fear hematocrit increases caused by TRT.

Chapters

Do men on testosterone replacement therapy need to donate blood regularly?

Not necessarily. Blood donation can help reduce high hematocrit levels caused by TRT, but it is not always required. Patients should consult their doctors to determine if donation is needed based on their individual hematocrit levels and symptoms.

What is the difference between secondary erythrocytosis and polycythemia in TRT patients?

Secondary erythrocytosis is an increase in red blood cells due to TRT or conditions like living at high altitude, and it is generally less serious. Polycythemia is a more severe blood disorder. Doctors often monitor to distinguish between the two.

Can high hematocrit levels from TRT cause health problems?

High hematocrit can increase blood viscosity, potentially raising risks such as hypertension. However, many patients tolerate elevated levels well, and doctors monitor for related conditions like sleep apnea or cardiovascular issues to manage risks.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

Do we really have to worry about donating blood every few months due to higher hematocrits? And if this is your first time here, make sure to subscribe so you can learn more about fitness and nutrition, hormones, and anti-aging, all to optimize your life overall. And hit that notification bell so you don't miss anything.

Speaker A

these to optimize your life overall and hit that notification bell so you don't miss anything so how do you go about that in UK Sam Mike yeah I mean we can see a lot of its if you're honest but

Speaker A

So how do you go about that in the UK, Sam? Mike, yeah, I mean, we can see a lot of it, if you're honest, but there are some guys that habit. We need the evidence, you know, that actually it's not as, as long as you're not getting a raise. If I plainly smoothie's other things that are happening as this, it's not much of an issue. But in terms of what the doctors again had their monitored and restricted, if they, it's almost the CR high hematocrit England, you know, and this person, for example, I don't know, experienced hyper pressure or something else, then that would be something that they were focused on.

Speaker A

of what the doctors again had their monitored and restricted if they it's almost the CR high hematocrit England you know and and this person for example I don't know experienced hyper pressure or something else then that would be

Speaker A

So I think even if the doctor, because you know, we did others, even the doctors, and again, they can't often utilize international evidence, right? In ere, they, if they have a higher massacre in the Maghreb, it's usually recommended donate a pint of blood, you know, it's a good thing to do, maybe just do it on a basis and until sort of things level out. But yeah, well, and for those men who the NHS won't draw the blood for, then we have private service that we work with a private company that will draw the blood for a patient. We have like every other is in on the Red Cross aside the NHS Blood Service, but they'll say if they're matter, it's too high, people can donate. If they're on HCG, they say you can donate. And so then that usually becomes a real problem. So we have to help arrange for the right service for them to be able to have pint taken and dispose their wishes. It was a waste really, but they don't want that in the blood supply.

Speaker A

Maghreb in it's usually recommended donate a pint of blood you know it's a good thing to do maybe just do it on a on a basis and until sort of things level out but yeah well and for those men who the NHS won't

Speaker A

So I think that's the thing. I think it has to happen here basically because doctors feel like they must, even if they don't fully agree with the evidence behind it. And I think loss of them agree with me Rozier's analysis. You know, there are people in high altitudes, you know, that have just a secondary erythrocytosis. It's not necessarily polycythemia, which always conflated. We've heard from a couple pages that had gone hematologists because they were worried about the high American hemoglobin, especially, you know, some that were applying for life insurance policies. And so they had to be put through the ringer through all these different tests when there was just secondary said with a psychosis.

Speaker A

matter it's too high people can donate if they're on HCG they say you can donate and so then that usually becomes a real problem so we have to help arrange for the right service for them to be able to have pint taken and

Speaker A

If I say, okay, you're right. I mean, one hematologist to one of our clients that, alright, and that's your hematocrit 60 or 60%, you know, we don't usually worry too much. That was shocking really, like informatics has a pathology, the meaning of the things like, you know, do you have sleep apnea? Has TRT uncovered sleep apnea? He may have had that was mild in those sort of things. Obviously are checked as well bits. So in some ways, it's a good guide or luster canary in the coalmine with hematocrit going up because I give the doctor the chance to ask if there is an issue of these things and then try to get them to having a your CPAP or this asleep study.

Speaker A

evidence behind it and I think loss of them agree with me Rozier's analysis you know there are people in high altitudes you know that have just a secondary erythrocyte toast it's not necessarily polycythemia which always conflated we've heard from a couple

Speaker A

Okay, Keith, is there a certain number that you use in the U.S. to say now it's the moment you have to draw blood? I haven't run into that. Yeah, you know, so we don't really under the problem a man runs 54.7. That's what my last time I checked. But I think, you know, it's one of the beneficial effects of testosterone to increase that oxygenation. That's why you can give it to a diabetic with ulcers and heal those old sores. So you know, we don't bleed COPD guys. We don't lead people at altitude. You don't, you know, bleed sleep apnea people with, you know, anytime you're in a box of environment, you know, you're gonna compensate by increasing red blood cell fast enough. But with testosterone, the same way, it's just once again the a lot of the doctors and I understand why they do it there, it's a route, you know, see why of course it is and that's what they're doing there and you can't blame them for that.

Speaker A

secondary said with a psychosis if I say okay you're right I mean one hematologist to one of our clients that alright and that's your hematocrit 60 or 60% you know we don't usually worry too much that was shocking really like

Speaker A

So they, they say prolong this is that I see a lot of guys that come in for the need for console that a bit on testosterone and they're still extremely fatigued. You know, they don't, they don't feel well. When you look at them, they're they have a deficiency anemia Ostrow levels look great but they're losing all the benefits robbing themselves every month or two.

Speaker A

it's a good guide or luster canary in the coalmine with with hematocrit going up because I give the doctor the chance to ask if there is an issue of these things and then try to get them to having a your CPAP or this asleep study

Speaker A

Yeah, I mean, I think our doctors are quite happy if they want to give blood because it's a nice thing to do. They give so many donations and ones that require the normal blood donation centers they get a free, I think a special dinner at the end of the year and it's a nice thing to do. So through the normal way but if they're gave me more therapeutic football to me I'll know regular regular basis just to get it down to certain number and I know excited to go through this when I when I was in America one of my doctor's wasn't very comfortable with when my hematocrit was about 54 55 Ron nealy may change seasonally and made me go to get therapeutic phlebotomy from the American Red Cross and it was just like this stranger I mean it does well.

Speaker A

runs 54.7 that's what my last time I checked but I think you know it's one of the beneficial effects of testosterone to increase that oxygenation that's why you can give it to a diabetic with ulcers and heal those old sore so you

Speaker A

I'll tell all my knitted he basically said what I tell every one of my patients were having this talk about the erythrocytosis which is one of the risk of testosterone if you call it a risk but we still talk about it but I'll tell them that you know if you want to go give blood to the Red Cross is you're a good guy and you just want to donate and then great for you. I mean I think everything about that but if you think you need to go donate blood because your own testosterone you don't. There's lots of worry and and fear out in the in the forums and the TLT community about it and it's, you know, I think every case is different but in general I learned to just after that episode of giving all the blood, you know, that was probably about ten more years ago I just said you know what I'm still fine.

Speaker A

fast enough but with testosterone the same way it's just once again the a lot of the doctors and I understand why they do it there it's a route you know see why of course it is and that's what

Speaker A

You know, I think if blood once it was a nice thing to do about four years ago we measure the CBC if they've got a manic red 54 55 and you know you'll tell them this is what it is this is what it's from its from the testosterone samples but if this number makes you uncomfortable go donate if you're uncomfortable that and because the opposite is if you don't notice Australia more likely to have anemia anyway so it's actually a good thing that increases the wreath report and it increases real.

Speaker A

extremely fatigued you know they don't they don't feel well when you look at them they're they have a deficiency anemia Ostrow levels look great but they're losing all the benefits robbing themselves every month or two yeah I mean I think our doctors are quite happy

Speaker A

So yeah.

Speaker A

thing to do so through the normal way but if they're gave me more therapeutic football to me I'll know regular regular basis just to get it down to certain number and I know excited to go through this when I when I was in America one of

Speaker A

my doctor's wasn't very comfortable with when my hematocrit was about 54 55 Ron nealy may change seasonally and made me go to get therapeutic phlebotomy from the American Red Cross and it was just like this stranger I mean it does well

Speaker A

I'll tell all my knitted he basically said what I tell every one of my patients were having this talk about the erythrocytosis which is one of the risk of testosterone if you call it a risk but we still talk about it but I'll tell

Speaker A

them that you know if you want to go give blood to the Red Cross is you're a good guy and you just want to donate and then great for you I mean I think everything about that but if you think

Speaker A

you need to go donate blood because your own testosterone you don't there's lots of worry and and fear out in the in the forums and the TLT community about it and it's uh you know I think every case

Speaker A

is different but in general I learned to just after that episode of giving all the blood you know that was probably about ten more years ago I just said you know what I'm still fine you know I think if blood once it was a nice thing

Speaker A

to do about four years ago we measure the CBC if they've got a manic red 54 55 and you know you'll tell them this is what it is this is what it's from its from the testosterone samples but if

Speaker A

this number makes you uncomfortable go donate if you're uncomfortable that and because the opposite is if you don't notice Australia more likely to have anemia anyway so it's actually a good thing that increases the wreath report and it increases real

Speaker A

so yeah [Music]

Topics:testosterone replacement therapyhematocritblood donationerythrocytosispolycythemiaTRT side effectstherapeutic phlebotomysleep apneahormone optimizationTRT monitoring

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