I agree with you!
My libido has just never been good on test cypionate except for in the beginning of starting trt. I was doing 140 mg in one single dose every 7 days.
My primary doc agrees with you also but she defers to the
urologist.
Prior to upping my dose to the 150 mg split twice a week my numbers at 100 mg split twice a week at trough were still pretty high. If my libido and erection quality issues were gone I wouldn't even be trying to figure this out.
The thing that has messed up my scale is my new
urologist wants my lab work done 48 hrs post injection instead of at my trough. Why i haven't a clue.
48hrs post injection of 100 mg weekly split into two dose was netting me a 1093 ng/dl total testosterone and 52 estradiol. Which is still pretty high I feel like.
Instead of chasing libido by trying to add in AI would i be better off just quitting TRT and let my body reset for a bit and then start with a low dose. Talking with current
urologist he thinks higher dose = higher libido.
To be honest I don't know what to do anymore short of just quitting all together but I know from my fertility test done in April my LH and FSH are 0's so my natural system is completely shut down.. Always appreciate your advice and feedback.
When you mention SHBG and FT, may I ask the reasoning. I understand what they are but how that correlates to finding libido and the correct dose and dose frequency is beyond me. Shared my most recent labs. No SHBG or Free test though.
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Talking with current urologist he thinks higher dose = higher libido.
Pure nonsense!
Having healthy testosterone levels is beneficial to ones libido/erectile function but it is far from the only thing that is required to having a healthy libido.
Thyroid/adrenals, neurotransmitters, insulin sensitivity, stress (mental/physical), quality of sleep, diet, vascular health to name a few can all have a big impact on ones libido/erectile function.
Libido is much more complex than simply having good testosterone levels.
When it comes to the hormonal aspect having healthy FT, DHT and estradiol levels are critical!
Low levels of any of these hormones would have a negative impact on libido/erectile function.
One does not need high FT let alone DHT in order to have a healthy libido/erectile function.
It's myth that high T will have one running around with a raging libido and titanium erections to boot!
Skewed T:E ration can have a negative impact.
Dysfunction thyroid/adrenals can have a negative impact on libido/erectile function.
Elevated prolactin can have a negative impact on libido/erections.
High blood pressure, hyperlipidemia and high blood sugar can damage blood vessels/nerves.
Adrenaline is a libido/EF killer!
TT is important to know but FT is what truly matters as it is the unbound fraction of T responsible for the positive effects.
All that should really matter here is the dose one needs to achieve a healthy trough FT which will result in relief/improvement of low-T symptoms and overall well-being.
Yes symptom relief is what truly matters but when it comes to what FT level is needed one needs to keep in mind the overall goal would be to use the least amount in order to feel well while at the same time minimizing sides and keep blood markers healthy long-term.
As I have stated numerous times on the forum.
FT <5 ng/dL would be considerd low.
FT 5-9 ng/dL would be considered the grey zone where some men may experience symptoms of low-T.
FT 10-15 ng/dL would be healthy.
FT 20-25 ng/dL would be high-end/high!
The majority of men will do well with a trough FT 15-25 ng/dL depending on the injection frequency.
Trial and error.
Need to keep in mind that there is a big difference between one running a high-end/high trough FT 20-25 ng/dL injecting daily vs twice-weekly vs once weekly.
Also going to be a big difference in peak--->trough on said protocol!
Many tend to overlook this and gun for a high-end/high trough FT only to end up struggling with sides especially in the long run.
Running too high a trough/steady-state FT can easily have a negative effect on libido, erectile function and mood.
The body was never meant be amped up on T 24/7!
You are hammering the s**t out of your CNS and dopamine!
Yes a healthy FT let alone Ts metabolites estradiol and DHT play a critical role when it comes to libido and erectile function but its a myth that high levels are needed as T is a threshold hormone and the body only needs a certain amount for normal functions.
Higher T let alone DHT does not mean higher libido. or better erectile function as there is a plateau effect.
Having a healthy FT is only one piece of the puzzle as libido let alone ED are multifactorial and complex.
Getting quality sleep, minimizing stress (physical/mental), following a healthy diet, exercising/staying active, improving overall vascular health will have a far bigger impact than jacking up your trough FT!
Have realistic expectations especially when it comes to libido and erectile function.
Hope you understand that every time you increase the dose and drive up FT there will be a mini-honeymoon period where it's common for one to experience an increase in libido and erections, euphoric type feeling due to T levels rising, increased dopamine/AR activity as hormones will be in flux during the weeks leading up until blood levels have stabilized (4-6 weeks TC/TE).
During this transition period (first 4-6 weeks) the body is trying to adjust.
Unfortunately this is short-lived and temporary as once blood levels have stabilized (4-6 weeks TC/TE) the body will eventually adapt (over the next few months) to its new set-point and the increased libido and erections, euphoric type feeling will eventually wane more what we call into the norm.
This mini-honeymoon period is common when starting testosterone therapy or tweaking your protocol (increasing dose of T).
Do not expect to maintain a stellar libido in the long-run as many other factors come into play here.
Now when it comes to changes in body composition (increase muscle, loss adipose) and increased strength/recovery on testosterone therapy running a higher trough/steady-state FT will be more advantageous when following a proper training/diet regiment.
Even than genetics will have the final say.
If anything when it comes to your protocol I would have started out on a much lower dose and worked your way up from there.
As I stated in your previous thread you were overmedicated from the get-go and your doctor should have never put you on T until your elevatedRBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit were addressed,
This guy should not be treating men!
Yet he wants to keep jacking up your FT and throw in an AI to boot!
Feel bad for you my man.
If you want to kill 2 birds (high hematocrit/estradiol) with one stone then you should look into oral TU (Jatenzo,
Kyzatrex or Tlando).
Definitely would give it a go unless you want to stick with the injections.
Look over my reply in post # 47
I will be starting
Kyzatrex soon, as I've had high crit due to injection. One wonders if there's any real difference in the three other than dose.
FOXXX2!
Nothing worth fretting over!
All three formulations use TU in castor oil and the PKs are similar.
Minor differences in some of the excipients between the formulations.
Kyzatrex contains phytosterols which should help improve absorption but even then any of the three formulations when dosed properly with a meal that contains some fat would allow one to achieve a healthy/high peak TT and more importantly FT.
Standard...
Look over my reply in post # 14/18!
@madman Thank you for the reply. It won't let me directly quote your reply, still a newbie I guess but I shared my pre TRT labs above and will work on responding to your message shortly.
The type of method the labs, I have to be honest I am not sure. All of my stuff has gone through Labcorp. I see the e2 has used the ultra sensitive test.
Pre-therapy my rbc, hemoglobin and hematocrit were on the upper end of normal sometimes slightly above on annual physicals etc. Very likely having suffered from sleep apnea for years, prior to starting therapy. Sounds like that could certainly...
Look over this thread which I already posted earlier!
Testosterone might not do as much for your libido as people think it does. Here's what this hormone does and doesn't do for your sex drive.
www.yahoo.com
As an expert on andrology and sexual dysfunctions, urologist Andrew Y. Sun, M.D., sees plenty of patients who’re struggling with low libido. And most are pretty sure they already know why: They must have low testosterone levels. Even if it turns out they don’t, “most of them still strongly believe that increasing their testosterone levels will improve their libido,” says Sun, who practices at Urology Partners of North Texas.
Sun’s...
