The first dose-ranging experiment ( Estriol Experiment: Human Male: N of 1) was a learning experience, and I feel more “steady” and confident now.
In this experiment, I’m taking 3 mg of E3 (estriol) every other weekend, which consists of 3 days of dosing at 3 mg each day, alternating with a weekend of rapamycin. This means I’m doing something for longevity every week! I have 1 mg E3 tablets and take 3 tablets spread throughout the day, based on a comment by Dr. Fraser.
I’ve received my pre-dosing blood work results, which are attached.
The total hormone situation is more complex than I can fully understand, and I’m navigating it as best I can. To shed light on this complexity, I’ll be adding additional blood tests. The new tests I plan to introduce at the mid-term point are:
• Estrogen, Total: This is very confusing, and I’ll dive into this in another post.
• Estrone: I’m trying to understand anomalies in the total estrogen number.
• Cortisol, Total: Suggested by AI for insight into a major pathway.
• DHEA-Sulfate, Immunoassay: Suggested by AI for insight into a major pathway.
• AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): Suggested by AI for assessing testicular health.
• Prolactin: Suggested by AI for evaluating pituitary/thyroid interactions.
• Leptin: Suggested by AI for exploring appetite suppression mechanisms.
• Dihydrotestosterone (DHT): Suggested by AI for insight into male hormone processes.
One blood test I’m no longer pursuing is progesterone, as during the dose-ranging phase, it remained consistently low and stable (0.6, <0.5, 0.7 ng/mL).
My Levine score is holding steady, showing a biological age approximately 15 years less than my chronological age.
March6_2025FullLipidHormoneREDACTED.pdf (238.8 KB)
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Just looking at the measured sex hormones pre-dosing in both the dose-ranging and low-dose experiments, it appears they are numerically low but show significant increases across the board!
Leading up to the first dose-ranging experiment, I felt fine. My energy and libido levels were good. However, leading up to this low-dose experiment, I felt like I didn’t have quite as much energy, and my libido was okay but not great. Maybe I was just tired or not sleeping as well.
All of these blood markers increased, and I don’t know why. This was pre-dosing, with a 2-month gap between the end of the first experiment and the beginning of the second—about 4 months total.
• Estradiol: 17 increased to 28 (65%)
• FSH: 17 increased to 24 (41%)
• LH: 5 increased to 11 (120%)
• SHBG: 20 increased to 37 (85%)
• Free Testosterone: 36 increased to 57 (58.33%)
• Total Testosterone: 200 increased to 379 (89.5%)
I rounded the percentages and numerical increases, except for testosterone, because I know a lot of people focus on it. I have a friend who started TRT about 6 months ago, and he’s done really well on it. He’s lost weight, gained muscle mass, and has a happier, more positive outlook on life—you can even see it in the way he walks. If I showed him these numbers, he’d probably scoff. He’s an “800 T” kind of guy, and I’m happy for him, but I’m playing my own game.
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On my latest blood test, I somewhat accidentally ordered “Estrogens, Total, IA.” The reference range is ≤ 404 pg/mL, and my reading was 155 pg/mL. The lab shows this as within range, but it just doesn’t make sense to me. I was under the impression that this test measures E1 (estrone), E2 (estradiol), and E3 (estriol). My E3 levels never got above 0.20, and my E2 levels never exceeded 40. I don’t believe my E1 levels could be over 100 pg/mL.
According to some AI-provided data for females:
• Postmenopausal Females: ≤ 130 pg/mL (without hormone replacement therapy)
• Premenopausal Females:
◦ Follicular Phase: 60–250 pg/mL
◦ Ovulatory Peak: 150–750 pg/mL
◦ Luteal Phase: 60–400 pg/mL
Some references suggest a range for males of 10–50 pg/mL, which seems believable. For my next test, I’ve ordered E1 (estrone) separately to figure out what’s going on. It’s possible that E3 interferes with E1 in some strange way, but this is pre-dosing! This is now pre-dosing for the second experiment, and I find it very unlikely that E3 could have had such a significant influence several months after the last dose.
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Summary Limerick:
A gent with his tests in a bind,
Found insurance less than kind,
The Combine said no,
To treatments, you know,
Now he switches his prickers each time.
I’ve started noticing some ripples from my recent lab testing. My insurance sent a letter noting I’d ordered blood tests typically used for transplant patients, asking for confirmation. I haven’t replied—seems I might be flagged in their system as a transplant case, which could complicate coverage down the line. (The bureaucratic gears grind on!) Meanwhile, my latest draw included both male and female markers, requiring me to sign two releases after confirming I understood the process, plus attracting several employees whispering and typing on the computer. So, these E3 experiments carry some risks—navigating the system being one of them. For my next round, I’m considering LabCorp over Quest. I’m not sure if it’s wiser to face one very irritated giant or two mildly peeved ones. Quest seems to be tightening the screws, so a switch might buy some breathing room.
Mid-Dosing Possible Side Effect: Muscle/Strength Stagnation
I’m about midway through this self-experiment with rapamycin and estriol, and I’ve definitely noticed at least some loss in my ability to gain strength and/or muscle.
My primary muscle exercise is training for the eponymous muscle-up—a pull-up over the bar followed by a dip on top. I’ve been working on it seriously for 3 years and casually for 5 years before that. I use an “assisted” weight counterbalance machine that provides a dialed-in amount of assistance. Currently, I’m at 13 lbs of assistance for a full range-of-motion rep. In a great month, with no interruptions like travel or family matters, I’ve gained up to 4 lbs of pulling strength, though 1 or 2 lbs is more typical. I’ve also been through tumultuous life periods where I’ve regressed.
Shortly before starting this experiment, I was at 14 lbs of assistance, where I could crank out 6 reps “easily”—probably 3 reps short of failure. At the end of those sessions, I’d often test my one-rep max if I felt pumped. On several days, I dialed it down to just 8 lbs of assistance, and one day I even managed 6 lbs.
Shortly after starting this experiment, I was at 13 lbs of assistance, but after several weeks, I’m struggling to get past 4 reps, which is noticeably slow improvement. Today, while resting between sets, I realized I’m slowing down on gains. Then it hit me: I haven’t “felt” like testing a max lift lately. The drive just isn’t there. I considered giving it a shot, but I could tell from how my muscles felt that any significant increase would lead to failure. Since it’s an over-the-bar move, failures need to be handled carefully—you could fall off and get injured—so prudence is warranted.
So, I’m definitely perceiving muscle “stagnation” on this dosing regimen. I’ve planned for a couple more weeks to finish up, but I need to think carefully about what this means for future tests. Decrease the dosing? Increase the spacing? I don’t know yet.
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Got busted on an stupid AMH test. The first time I went into get tested for E3, I checked the neither male or female or both box or other box. I can’t remember exactly which one, but I knew if I checked male there would be red flags. This go around I got complacent, and checked male and when asked I told them I was male. Hey I could be gay, I could be a woman, prove me wrong.I could be a hermaphordite for all they know or can prove. Now I’m being sexually discriminated against. I think/hope the other hormone tests are going through. They always take the longest because they go to Puerto Rico.
TEST NAME: AMH
TEST CODE:
XXXXXXXXXX
CONTACT:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Laboratory testing on this patient was verbally requested and/or confirmed by a physician or his or her authorized representative after contact with an employee of XXXXXXXX. Federal regulations require that we maintain on file written authorization for all testing. Therefor we are asking that the physician or his or her authorized representative sign a copy of this report and return it to the client service representative.
Signature:______________________
Note: The X’s represent identifying info and the wording has been altered but the meaning retained.
Some of the hormones have come back; estridiol 22; estrone 23. So I hope my testosterone results are “approved” and make it through. I think I know what I did wrong. When the 2 extra people came in before the blood draw they asked “Who ordered this test?” I said I just bought it online. There is an actual ordering physcian on the paper. I should have memorized his name and said he is an old friend and personal physician. Lessons learned. Actually next time I start to feel “something is up” I’m walking out I’m not saying goodbye or by your leave or later dude or my phone rang and an emergency came up. I’m just walking out calmly, silently and quickly. Come to think of it, it’s time to ditch these guys and go with the competition.
