Unexpected rise in hematocrit after low‑dose Testosterone Enanthate – how I managed it
Posted by rationaljenna in Safety & Side Effects - 1 points, 0 comments.
Hey everyone, tbh I started a very mild TRT protocol a few months ago because my labs showed borderline low testosterone and I was feeling sluggish and my sleep HRV was dropping. I went with 100 mg of Testosterone Enanthate injected weekly, thinking it was the safest start. For the first six weeks I felt more energy, my libido improved and my morning cortisol looked a bit lower, so I thought all good.
Then my routine bloodwork came back and I saw my hematocrit had jumped from 39 % to 45 % even though I’m a female and normally stay in the low 40s. I didn’t have any symptoms – no headaches or dizziness – but the increase surprised me because I was only on a low dose. I read that testosterone can stimulate red blood cell production, so I added a low dose of aspirin and started drinking more water, plus I scheduled a phlebotomy after another month.
My next labs showed hematocrit back down to 42 % and I felt fine. Has anyone else seen this at similar doses? Any tips on monitoring frequency or natural ways to keep it in check, especially for us women?
No? Thanks.
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