Loss of penis sensitivity, achy joints, dull orgams

I started TRT nine months ago. At first the results were amazing, better energy, better libido, put on good weight, muscle definition and for the first time in a long time I just felt better about life.

Things leveled off and over the past few months I am having issues. Just laying next to my wife was enough to get me "up". Now it's a chore. The loss of sensitivity is crippling to my drive. What used to be fun (sex) has now become a chore to try to orgasm. My erection might stand up quickly but then fades to half mast, back up, down.

Sweating: I NEVER did so during sex but after starting TRT my wife needs a rain coat. I used to go for an hour, just riding on the edge of having an orgasm, enjoying it. Now, I am dripping like a rain storm and having to focus very hard to finish.

Joints: Achy, clicky, easily cramping. Never had this before. I am trying to up my water intake to see if maybe I am just dehydrated.

Jealousy: Oh yeah, big problem. I have a rock solid marriage but sometimes the littlest thing will have me second guessing her fidelity. NO idea where this is coming from.

I've had my labs pulled a few times. These are the latest: I apologize for the formatting:

eGFR If Africn Am 76 mL/min/1.73 >59
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 14 9 - 20
Sodium, Serum 142 mmol/L 134 - 144 01
Potassium, Serum 5.0 mmol/L 3.5 - 5.2 01
Chloride, Serum 101 mmol/L 96 - 106 01
Carbon Dioxide, Total 27 mmol/L 18 - 29 01
Calcium, Serum 9.1 mg/dL 8.7 - 10.2 01
Protein, Total, Serum 7.2 g/dL 6.0 - 8.5 01
Albumin, Serum 4.6 g/dL 3.5 - 5.5 01
Globulin, Total 2.6 g/dL 1.5 - 4.5
A/G Ratio 1.8 1.2 - 2.2
Bilirubin, Total 0.6 mg/dL 0.0 - 1.2 01
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 49 IU/L 39 - 117 01
AST (SGOT) 30 IU/L 0 - 40 01
ALT (SGPT) 24 IU/L 0 - 44 01
Lipid Panel w/ Chol/HDL Ratio
Cholesterol, Total 161 mg/dL 100 - 199 01
Triglycerides 82 mg/dL 0 - 149 01
HDL Cholesterol 65 mg/dL >39 01
VLDL Cholesterol Cal 16 mg/dL 5 - 40
LDL Cholesterol Calc 80 mg/dL 0 - 99
T. Chol/HDL Ratio 2.5 ratio units 0.0 - 5.0
Please Note: 01
T. Chol/HDL Ratio
Men Women
1/2 Avg.Risk 3.4 3.3
Avg.Risk 5.0 4.4
2X Avg.Risk 9.6 7.1
3X Avg.Risk 23.4 11.0
Testosterone, Free+Total LC/MS
Testosterone, Total, LC/MS 879.4 ng/dL 264.0 - 916.0 02
This LabCorp LC/MS-MS method is currently certified by the CDC
Hormone Standardization Program (HoSt). Adult male reference
interval is based on a population of healthy nonobese males
(BMI <30) between 19 and 39 years old. Travison, et.al. JCEM
2017,102;1161-1173. PMID: 28324103.
Disclaimer: 02
This test was developed and its performance characteristics
determined by LabCorp. It has not been cleared or approved
by the Food and Drug Administration.
Free Testosterone(Direct) 21.3 pg/mL 6.8 - 21.5 02
Estradiol, Sensitive 25.0 pg/mL 8.0 - 35.0 02

At the time of the test I was taking 125mg/weekly split into two injections of T Cyp and coming off of HCG. No AI use. My labs were pulled at my trough.

My E is in range but since the labs were pulled at my trough I am wondering if maybe my E is too high during the peak?

Psychologically my sex drive is there but the equipment is not cooperating and this is killing me mentally.

I added HCG back into my routine two weeks ago, 500iu twice weekly, injected 24 hours before my T injections. My T injections are Sunday morning and Wednesday evening.

I am 47, 5'10" 170lbs, don't smoke, I do use pot a few times a week, rarely drink, eat fairly well, flat stomach, high metabolism, take a multivitamin, glucosamine, B12 and 50mg of zinc daily.

I am desperate to get the loss of sensitivity and erection problems resolved. I am too young to have a lackluster sex life

It must be hard to split 125 mg into two injections, why did you stop HCG. I definitely wouldn't add an AI, it will surely tank your estradiol levels. Just my opinion, wouldn't it be better to inject on Monday morning and Thursday evenings both testosterone and HCG. For me it just makes things easier to do Labs on Monday so I can fast and inject after my labs.

Everything I see there says you could lower your dose. I see things missing from the labs that would tell you to lower your dose. You should also be checking prolactin. Prolactin, dopamine and serotonin are orgasm related. Check for serotonin increasing supplements and meds you may be taking.

I had a sensitivity problem too and found my DHEA-S and Progesterone were very low so my MD put me on progesterone cream daily and 50mg DHEA and that made a huge difference. Also if your thyroid isn't perfect it can have the same symptoms.

Vince said:

It must be hard to split 125 mg into two injections, why did you stop HCG. I definitely wouldn't add an AI, it will surely tank your estradiol levels. Just my opinion, wouldn't it be better to inject on Monday morning and Thursday evenings both testosterone and HCG. For me it just makes things easier to do Labs on Monday so I can fast and inject after my labs.

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Splitting the injections in half is not hard with the syringes I'm using. The reason I do Sunday morning and Wednesday evening is that it's easier for my wife to handle my injection on Sunday morning rather than a Monday morning because I leave very early for work

What are you seeing that makes you think I should lower my dose? Is it my trough T level being as high as it is?

I had a similar issue with the sensitivity. At my age,64, joints are always a little achy. I was having a hard time finishing, often loosing erection after 20 to 30 minutes, which was more than enough time for my wife. My doctor asked me how often we were having sex, and it was virtually every day. He told me to take the maximum cialis dose of 20 on days when sex was planned, and to lower my expectations a bit. We have sex 3-4 times per week now and the problem is almost non existent. Occasionally don’t orgasm, but it doesn’t seem to bother me much.

The jealousy thing could could be an issue. I found that when my libido rose, I got competitive even though we had been married 30 years. I wasn’t jealous, but found I was becoming a perfectionist. I could no longer tolerate vanilla sex and I thought my wife couldn’t either. Turns out she’s fine even if she doesn’t have an orgasm. Sex isn’t vanilla and she is more than happy with our sex life.

How often are you and the wife having sex? If you are wearing it out, it could be a factor. Do you take a pde5 like cialis or viagra? Not the ideal, but well worth it if it helps.

Mountain Man said:

I had a similar issue with the sensitivity. At my age,64, joints are always a little achy. I was having a hard time finishing, often loosing erection after 20 to 30 minutes, which was more than enough time for my wife. My doctor asked me how often we were having sex, and it was virtually every day. He told me to take the maximum cialis dose of 20 on days when sex was planned, and to lower my expectations a bit. We have sex 3-4 times per week now and the problem is almost non existent. Occasionally don’t orgasm, but it doesn’t seem to bother me much.

The jealousy thing could could be an issue. I found that when my libido rose, I got competitive even though we had been married 30 years. I wasn’t jealous, but found I was becoming a perfectionist. I could no longer tolerate vanilla sex and I thought my wife couldn’t either. Turns out she’s fine even if she doesn’t have an orgasm. Sex isn’t vanilla and she is more than happy with our sex life.

How often are you and the wife having sex? If you are wearing it out, it could be a factor. Do you take a pde5 like cialis or viagra? Not the ideal, but well worth it if it helps.

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We are having sex almost daily, sometimes twice in a 24-hour period. On occasion I have taken 10mg of tadalafil but the last time I took it it seemed to have no effect

WB134 said:

We are having sex almost daily, sometimes twice in a 24-hour period. On occasion I have taken 10mg of tadalafil but the last time I took it it seemed to have no effect

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That is part of your issue right there.......try spanking/blowing load twice a day and by the end of the week you will understand why there is loss of sensitivity/hard time reaching orgasm.

Healthy blood flow also has an impact on sensitivity.

WB134 said:

We are having sex almost daily, sometimes twice in a 24-hour period. On occasion I have taken 10mg of tadalafil but the last time I took it it seemed to have no effect

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I think we may have an answer. You are feeling jealous of your wife, and don't really have a solid reason, just a nagging feeling. You're having sex with her daily, sometimes even more, and you are forcing the issue. As a guy, we often feel if she is sexually satisfied she's faithful. Is this why you're trying so hard?

Back off to to every other day, or better yet, every three days. Take 20 tadalafil and see how that goes. Your biggest issue is more than likely the jealousy thing. Figure out what that's about. There is something about your marriage that is bothering you. When you are young and single, you can have good, and even great sex with a woman that you are not in love with, or even like as a person. After a number of years being married, it's all too different. Very complex and intricate, and sex can get screwed up easily. My wife was so upset when Trump got elected she didn't want sex for a week. If you and she both talk about your sex life, you may get a resolution. My wife insists on a day between sex because it is better than when we are doing it daily and we agree that the wait is worth it.

Sex daily is fine, but it shouldn't be forced or some kind of a challenge. You are probably a very physical and competitive guy. I am too, and I can tell you forcing the sex isn't helping you . Slow down, talk to your wife. If she is receptive to solving the sexual issue you have-and daily sex is a quality issue-then there's virtually no need to be jealous. She's all yours.

Since I have added HCG back into my schedule, how long should I wait until pulling labs?

WB134 said:

Since I have added HCG back into my schedule, how long should I wait until pulling labs?

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Every time and make adjustments to my protocol I wait at least 6 weeks before I do Labs again

Check your iron levels. Also, you are taking a lot of zinc.

Saul said:

Check your iron levels. Also, you are taking a lot of zinc.

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Iron was at 16.5 yesterday. I'm only taking one tablet which is the recommended dosage?

WB134 said:

Iron was at 16.5 yesterday. I'm only taking one tablet which is the recommended dosage?

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That maybe what is written on the bottle butr the normal recommended dose of Zinc is 15mg/day. Many take 30mg/day and have good success
more than that for an extended period could be dangerous.

google zinc side effects.

FeelingLost said:

That maybe what is written on the bottle butr the normal recommended dose of Zinc is 15mg/day. Many take 30mg/day and have good success
more than that for an extended period could be dangerous.

google zinc side effects.

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Just read the bottle, 455% of RDA. Add the 73% of my RDA my multivitamin was giving me and I was taking over 500% of the RDA.

Think I'll stop the zinc tabs

I have to believe you are over thinking all this. It seems you are looking for some silver bullet that is going to fix this. If you are having erections during sleep, then you are probably ok. All this chemistry set discussion is making for a lot of overthinking and micromanaging. The biggest factor in good sex is your mind, and it appears you are distracted in the bedroom. Do you really think that this is a zinc thing?

The achy joints are something else. You can improve these if you consider turmeric, 500 mg twice daily. Get a curcumin turmeric combination and take morning and night. CBD oil twice daily can also work wonders for this. You've got a lot on your mind and that can't be helping how you feel. If you are over doing it in the gym, then back off a bit, try curcumin and turmeric, CBD oil, and some mobility exercises. Most importantly, relax. A tight mind equals tight and achy body.

In any long term relationship, sex tends to ebb and flo a bit in its intensity. I am a therapist, and I have counseled hundreds of men over the last 21years and I see this all the time. Your story is very common, more common than you'd imagine. TRT doesn't make us immune to this. Speak with your doctor that is giving you TRT. Your numbers appear good. I have to think that a frank conversation with your doctor is going to get you better info than a lot of advice from us. Many of us, myself included, get on TRT because we have some doubts about some aspect of our lives-energy, libido, muscle mass etc. Some of this is undoubtedly lab numbers, but there are a lot of men that, despite poor health and numbers do just fine. We are not those guys. We try to fix things, we tend to overdo and overthink. We don't settle for mediocrity. Great attitude to have, but it can get in the way of rationality at times. Do all these things suggested, but the most important thing you can do is examine the relationship. Is sex with the wife fun? Playful? Passionate? If it is not, then it may have a sense of urgency. When guys struggle in a relationship with doubt, every sexual event becomes an audition of some sort. Complete trust in your partner is still the most powerful aphrodisiac there is, and always will be.

Thanks for posting MountainMan. Your input based on your many years of experience is always valuable and provides great perspective.
As to the zinc, I was not suggesting that it was causing ED, just that he is way over the RDA. I started zinc a few months ago (15 mg) and as part of my research I learned there are some issues (as you know - saying this for the benefit of others) that can occur because by too much zinc, even causing copper deficiency and copper deficiency can cause issues with joints or fatigue. Based on Vince's input, I switched to zinc with copper.

Much thanks to MM and Saul. I do not think the ED issues are being caused by the overdosing of zinc. I did some research on the side effects of too much zinc and ED was not listed.

The mental weight of "will I be able to perform" pops up every time we climb into bed and that is no doubt adding to the ED issues.

I will monitor how I feel over the next few weeks. Maybe the extra zinc is causing my joint issues. I have been on the HCG for two weeks now and in four weeks I will pull labs. Maybe the HCG is putting my T too high and maybe I'm converting too much T to E ? Or maybe my T/E ratio is skewed.

If I had your numbers I would not change a thing with the protocol. IMO it is working very well. I would look else where for why you are having these issues.
When we have something going on that doesn't feel right it is not always our protocol. But that seems to be the first thing we blame.

Testosterone, Total, LC/MS 879.4 ng/dL 264.0 - 916.0 02

Free Testosterone(Direct) 21.3 pg/mL 6.8 - 21.5

Estradiol, Sensitive 25.0 pg/mL 8.0 - 35.0 02

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I also did not think Zinc at 50mg/day was a reason for your issues. I just mentioned it because it was a lot.