Has anyone got MGD from an androgen deficiency?

[Milo007]

Hello everyone,
I would like to begin with sharing my gratitude to each and every one in this forum who had been trying to help me and educate me on the management of my condition. As I have already mentioned in other posts, I have been diagnosed with MGD and moderate gland loss on each eyelid. But according to my doctor my gland loss is not that extensive as seen in meibography but I do have a very low TBUT in both eyes of 3 seconds. I have been trying to connect the dots on why I have such a low TBUT with moderate gland loss. And a low TBUT definitely indicates a compromised lipid layer which maybe either due to low lipid volume or inferior quality of lipid secretions.

So I was thinking of possible reasons for them. I would most certainly relate my condition to years of excessive computer use. But I would also like to highlight that over the last few years my androgen levels have possibly gone down too because I have very little ejaculate volume which is mostly watery and I have been reducing the frequency of ejaculation to as low as once or twice a month. This has been the case for last 2 years and from the time onwards I reduced my frequency of ejaculation to that low I noticed my semen volume and quality deteriorate in consistency. It's only a few months I have started to increase the frequency of ejaculation in fear of a possible deficiency of male hormones that stimulates the meibomian glands.

I had my testosterone levels evaluated before 3 years and it was on the lower side already. But after the practice of restricted celibacy I think it might have gone even lower.

Is there a possibility that low androgen hormones for a long time has resulted in meibomian gland atrophy or a deterioration of lipid quality?

What hormonal tests should be done to confirm a deficiency in essential hormones necessary for proper gland functioning?

Can anyone correlate their MGD or in general dry eyes to androgen deficiency?

[hopeful_hiker]

Yes, it can be the cause. You need to test your hormones. I have researched the topic but I still do not understand which one is best: urine or blood.

@PG has an excellent post on her hormone replacement journey here. In her case post menopausal hormonal shift caused a disbalance.

Here is the most comprehensive and thorough reasearch in the topic: Sex, Gender and Hormone by the TFOS DEWS II.

[Guest]

Sex hormones
FSH
free and total testosterone
SHBG
DHT
estrogen
progesterone

thyroid hormones
TSH
free t4
free t3

These are the tests I would ask for, since you’re a man. Try to ejaculate as much as possible, it will protect your prostate and help increase testosterone. You were right about that.

I had an androgen deficiency and I’m treating it now with 200mg test cypionate a week. My issue wasn’t related to androgens directly. My issue is sleeping eyes open and lid closure problems.

I hope you get your problem resolved. I’m allergic to almost everything, the best drops I have used are oasis tears an oasis tears plus. Worth a shot!

[Milo007]

Sex hormones
FSH
free and total testosterone
SHBG
DHT
estrogen
progesterone

thyroid hormones
TSH
free t4
free t3

These are the tests I would ask for, since you’re a man. Try to ejaculate as much as possible, it will protect your prostate and help increase testosterone. You were right about that.

I had an androgen deficiency and I’m treating it now with 200mg test cypionate a week. My issue wasn’t related to androgens directly. My issue is sleeping eyes open and lid closure problems.

I hope you get your problem resolved. I’m allergic to almost everything, the best drops I have used are oasis tears an oasis tears plus. Worth a shot!

May I ask what caused your androgen deficiency?

Is cypionate an androgen substitute?

Have you got MGD because of lagophthalmos?

I am a partial blinker too and used to have slightly open eyes during sleep.

[Guest]

May I ask what caused your androgen deficiency?

Is cypionate an androgen substitute?

Have you got MGD because of lagophthalmos?

I am a partial blinker too and used to have slightly open eyes during sleep.

My androgen deficiency was caused by age and steroid use for 6 years, I was a bodybuilder.

Testosterone is the anabolic/androgenic agent, cypionate is the ester. But yes, this is an injection taken weekly. I feel so much better.

Yes, I believe my MGD was caused because my glands are exposed to air, they dry and get inflamed and then don’t secrete oil properly. I sleep eyes open, yes, my left eye closes but my right one is still having an issue. The left one feels pretty good.

[Milo007]

My androgen deficiency was caused by age and steroid use for 6 years, I was a bodybuilder.

Testosterone is the anabolic/androgenic agent, cypionate is the ester. But yes, this is an injection taken weekly. I feel so much better.

Yes, I believe my MGD was caused because my glands are exposed to air, they dry and get inflamed and then don’t secrete oil properly. I sleep eyes open, yes, my left eye closes but my right one is still having an issue. The left one feels pretty good.

You made a good point about your eyes getting dry in open air for incomplete lid closure. They are indeed supposed to be either flowing freely while frequent blinking or remain protected from air exposure with a complete lid closure.

I have noticed when I ejaculate frequently my skin is far more oily than when I am not. Obviously the sebaceous glands and the meibomian glands are all having androgen receptors and are androgen sensitive.