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Lowering trt dose/ increasing frequency of injections question
Some very rough numbers: Twice-weekly injections might give a 50% drop from peak to trough. EOD probably cuts that to 5-10%. Average serum testosterone levels stay about the same at the same dose. For example: suppose with twice weekly injections total testosterone is dropping from a peak of...- Cataceous
- Post #8
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Low T
Assuming this is morning testosterone: Your cFTV result of 8 ng/dL is borderline. Some men do have symptoms at this level, even though it is considered to be within the normal range. I would be hesitant to start conventional TRT without more information. If you have access to short-acting...- Cataceous
- Post #2
- Forum: Blood Test Discussion
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Peak vs trough testosterone level
That title is for those who don't provide proper attribution and quoting. It means there are studies demonstrating correlation, which may hint at causality, but are not definitive. I included one of several at the bottom. If you are truly interested then I can provide more of the references...- Cataceous
- Post #16
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Peak vs trough testosterone level
There is some evidence for such mental health issues, including anxiety. Per Grok: There is emerging evidence from psychology and related fields supporting the hypothesis that a lack of challenges or adversity—sometimes framed as excessive comfort, overprotection, or "coddling"—can contribute...- Cataceous
- Post #14
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Peak vs trough testosterone level
Setting aside strictly biochemical dysfunction, I think in some ways it's the opposite. We evolved to face challenges and overcome them. When everything is handed to you and you can't feel a sense of purpose or accomplishment then you get mental health issues.- Cataceous
- Post #11
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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About to Start a New Protocol
Don't rely on the so-called direct free testosterone tests. They are useless, and the dose linearity might not be reflected in them. Instead either use equilibrium dialysis or Vermeulen calculated free testosterone. For the latter, measure SHBG and ideally albumin in addition to total...- Cataceous
- Post #60
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Peak vs trough testosterone level
It's human nature to strive for better. If we settled for "good enough" then we'd still be cave dwellers.- Cataceous
- Post #9
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Peak vs trough testosterone level
You can estimate the peak-trough ratio based on the half-life of the testosterone ester. The estimate I use for weekly injections of testosterone cypionate is 2.5, which stems from a five-day half-life. This would put your peak at over 1,500 ng/dL. However, half-lives vary among individuals, so...- Cataceous
- Post #4
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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About to Start a New Protocol
The week-long stabilization period is reasonable unless you're converting from a long-lived injected testosterone ester. Then the influence could last a few weeks leading to uncertainty about levels. Waiting a full three months would be good, but maybe not necessary. If you've already been on...- Cataceous
- Post #58
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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About to Start a New Protocol
If anything it would be about the half-life rather than the SHBG "charge" time. A good rule of thumb is to allow five half-lives for stabilization. Xyosted is somewhat unusual because the lack of excipients extends its half-life to 10 days, about double that of conventional formulations of...- Cataceous
- Post #56
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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About to Start a New Protocol
Keep in mind that transdermal testosterone is only relatively short-acting—that is, when compared to something like testosterone cypionate injections. However, it is slower than nasal gels or oral formulations. The reason why is that the skin acts as a reservoir, gradually releasing the...- Cataceous
- Post #54
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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About to Start a New Protocol
This is correct. Maybe you're not understanding that an absorbed dose of 100 mg T is insanely high for relatively fast-acting testosterone. If done on a daily basis that's like taking 1,000 mg of testosterone cypionate every week. Or, looking at it another way, healthy young men typically make...- Cataceous
- Post #52
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Should I up the cypionate dose?
A 4/3 split may not be quite as good as 3.5/3.5, but it's still a significant improvement over the original seven-day cycle. Certainly worth doing...- Cataceous
- Post #16
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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A suitable trt plan which will not compromise fertility
This is not the general experience. These short-acting forms of testosterone have been proven effective in clinical trials. Did you measure your levels on the oral product to ensure you were reaching a healthy peak of testosterone? It seems likely that daily peak levels have independent...- Cataceous
- Post #15
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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A suitable trt plan which will not compromise fertility
Gonadil appears to be vitamin E and Tribulus terrestris. The Wiki statement on the latter isn't very promising: Although its extract has been used as a dietary supplement since the 1980s in belief that it increases testosterone levels to aid body building or sexual enhancement in men, T...- Cataceous
- Post #13
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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A suitable trt plan which will not compromise fertility
I forgot to mention that Maximus has demonstrated that at least with their oral testosterone product you can keep the HPTA alive with concurrent use of enclomiphene. This could possibly apply to other oral testosterone products, which also are faster-acting than topical products and most...- Cataceous
- Post #10
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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A suitable trt plan which will not compromise fertility
Anecdotally we have seen that adding a SERM such as Clomid to TRT is not useful to the majority who try it. This is because androgens and not just estrogens apply negative feedback to the hypothalamus. It is true that there's always going to be a low enough dose of testosterone such that Clomid...- Cataceous
- Post #9
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Should I up the cypionate dose?
Maximus is currently featuring three options: the oral testosterone I was referring to, testosterone gel for conventional TRT, and the SERM enclomiphene to stimulate your natural testosterone production. It's likely not the cheapest option for you. You'd get off lightly if your doctor would...- Cataceous
- Post #10
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Should I up the cypionate dose?
No, modern oral forms are not hard on the liver. There are various testosterone undecanoate capsules, and I believe Maximus has a straight testosterone option. Someone here posted that even DIY is possible by ingesting testosterone with oil.- Cataceous
- Post #7
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Should I up the cypionate dose?
Splitting the dose does not affect your average level of testosterone. Currently you presumably have a relatively high level of testosterone in the day or two after each injection, but a low level in the day or two before each injection. For example, you might hit a peak of 750 ng/dL which...- Cataceous
- Post #5
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Should I up the cypionate dose?
Why not try splitting the dose, say into 25-30 mg twice weekly? This will dampen the high/low swings if you're currently injecting once a week.- Cataceous
- Post #2
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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ED/low libido even with TRT
We should let others know that we have a spreadsheet posted for calculating free estradiol. Note that it is now attached to the post because the original links do not work: https://www.excelmale.com/forum/threads/spreadsheet-for-calculating-free-t-e2.17216/ The analogy of free/total estradiol...- Cataceous
- Post #19
- Forum: When TRT Is Not Enough (ED, Libido, & More)
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[urgent help] battling long long term effect of enclo
Though it might be too subtle to make a dent in such an extreme sleep disturbance, one thing you could try is measuring your serum progesterone, and if it's at the lower end of the range then supplement with some each night. Progesterone naturally opposes estradiol and is somewhat of a sleep aid...- Cataceous
- Post #2
- Forum: Testosterone Side Effect Management
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TRT Peaks and troughs or steady levels. Which is correct?
I'm not aware of anything new on the subject. The successes of testosterone nasal gel and oral testosterone seem likely to reduce interest in finding ways to more precisely mimic a normal diurnal rhythm in serum testosterone. You may have seen a study referenced by @madman showing that a...- Cataceous
- Post #5
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Aging and Testosterone dose
If one is looking to maintain free testosterone at a particular level then it's typical to need dose reductions over time. This is because the metabolic clearance rate of testosterone tends to decrease with age, which in turn increases free testosterone, as mentioned here. It's harder to...- Cataceous
- Post #3
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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TRT Peaks and troughs or steady levels. Which is correct?
It's a good question, without a definitive answer. There's too much individual variation to say whether you'd find the differences to be subtle or profound. Neither modality produces a natural-looking diurnal rhythm in serum testosterone. However, men can have good results with either...- Cataceous
- Post #3
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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What affects free testosterone under TRT?
Tempting though it is to veer into some caustic remarks, let's stick to the facts. Are your previous posts based on your understanding of the subject or are they AI generated? If the latter then which AI and which inputs?—And why didn't you disclose AI use at the time? Why don't you or the AI...- Cataceous
- Post #5
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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What affects free testosterone under TRT?
The reasoning is incorrect and contradicts what is set out in the original post. A drop in SHBG only transiently affects free testosterone. At the new steady state free testosterone returns to its previous value, which is tied only to the testosterone production/dose rate and the clearance rate...- Cataceous
- Post #3
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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Bromantane experiences ?
No, but it sounds interesting. For me, caffeine has more cons than pros, so it would be nice to have an alternative. I might get some bromantane to try next time I place an order with NS.- Cataceous
- Post #5
- Forum: Nutrition and Supplements
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Bromantane experiences ?
I see that Nootropic Source has the powdered form—in case anyone is looking for a pretty reliable source. A dosing summary from Grok: Typical oral doses for bromantane powder range from 50–100 mg per day, often taken once in the morning to avoid potential insomnia. A lower starting dose of 25...- Cataceous
- Post #3
- Forum: Nutrition and Supplements
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About to Start a New Protocol
It's actually neither, though the former—the thin, permeable skin—increases absorption efficiency. It's the prevalence of 5-alpha reductase in the scrotal skin that boosts production of DHT. There can also be a fair bit of aromatase, boosting estradiol as well in many cases. The testes don't...- Cataceous
- Post #47
- Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions
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