Got my bloodwork results, need guidance!

Update 12/30/2024

The conversation provides a guide on using finasteride for hair loss, suggesting to start with a quarter of a 1mg pill daily after ensuring estradiol levels are within a specific range, and potentially increasing the dose if no side effects occur. It also recommends supplements like DIM, Calcium d-glucarate, and Zinc to manage high estradiol levels and side effects from finasteride.

Being overweight may increase finasteride side effects due to higher aromatase activity converting testosterone to estradiol. Maintaining a healthy weight could reduce these side effects.

Athletes often use finasteride to maintain hair transplants, but some avoid it due to potential hormonal effects. Notable examples include Mo Salah and Conor McGregor, while LeBron James has had multiple procedures with varying success.

A user experienced increased hair shedding and unchanged DHT levels after taking 0.25mg of finasteride for 47 days, leading them to increase the dose to 0.5mg. Others discussed varying experiences with finasteride, minoxidil, and the importance of measuring scalp DHT.

A long-term finasteride user experienced side effects like sexual dysfunction, dry eyes, muscle weakness, and brain fog, which improved when they stopped the medication. They decided to stop finasteride again, questioning if maintaining hair was worth the negative impact on their well-being.

A 25-year-old male with normal hormone levels is considering starting finasteride and minoxidil for hair loss but is concerned about high estradiol levels and potential side effects. Responses vary, with some suggesting blood tests before starting treatment and others emphasizing individual tolerance and the importance of consulting a doctor.