Appropriate duration of Clomid use post self prescribed TRT

[CanadaJim]

Just throwing another question to the masses. I am currently into my third week of Clomid only, post a two month (or so) duration of self administered TRT (75mg weekly test-e). I started a week after my last injection with 12.5mg of Clomid daily (week 1) then upped it to 25mg daily from week 2 and so on.

I am not noticing any sides or anything for that matter. The lab I purchased it from is reputable with a very good reputation of producing quality products. The one thing I notice is my "boys" seem heavier and fuller than when I was taking testosterone.

My biggest concern is the loss of interest in sex. I have a beautiful wife. We have always had great sex. The decreased sex drive started while I was taking testosterone which was a main factor in my decision to stop. I am 54, healthy, fit with healthy eating habits. I do drink wine and the occasional scotch as well as an occasional cannabis treat (hey I'm Canadian...legal eh?)

I have tried testosterone over the last few years (on and off). My sex drive is always crazy high (almost too high) when first starting but will wane off after a month or so, which from what I gather is normal. But this last time it really waned off to the point of nil. So I decided that "this is it, I have to stop this crazy train".

So far the Clomid has not helped with regards to sex drive. I know it's early on, but some guys report significant improvements very early in therapy others report extreme side effects. I am concerned. I mentioned the lack of interest in sex to my doc and he didn't seem very concerned. He is aware of my history of "dabbling" with testosterone. Should I stick with the Clomid? Up the dose? Will it eventually have positive effects on libido?

I do have blood work coming up in the next few months. I may stop the Clomid long enough in advance to allow my natural levels to return to baseline. Any ideas on how long after stopping Clomid will test levels return to baseline?

Thanks in advance for any input

 

[Vince]

Just throwing another question to the masses. I am currently into my third week of Clomid only, post a two month (or so) duration of self administered TRT (75mg weekly test-e). I started a week after my last injection with 12.5mg of Clomid daily (week 1) then upped it to 25mg daily from week 2 and so on.

I am not noticing any sides or anything for that matter. The lab I purchased it from is reputable with a very good reputation of producing quality products. The one thing I notice is my "boys" seem heavier and fuller than when I was taking testosterone.

My biggest concern is the loss of interest in sex. I have a beautiful wife. We have always had great sex. The decreased sex drive started while I was taking testosterone which was a main factor in my decision to stop. I am 54, healthy, fit with healthy eating habits. I do drink wine and the occasional scotch as well as an occasional cannabis treat (hey I'm Canadian...legal eh?)

I have tried testosterone over the last few years (on and off). My sex drive is always crazy high (almost too high) when first starting but will wane off after a month or so, which from what I gather is normal. But this last time it really waned off to the point of nil. So I decided that "this is it, I have to stop this crazy train".

So far the Clomid has not helped with regards to sex drive. I know it's early on, but some guys report significant improvements very early in therapy others report extreme side effects. I am concerned. I mentioned the lack of interest in sex to my doc and he didn't seem very concerned. He is aware of my history of "dabbling" with testosterone. Should I stick with the Clomid? Up the dose? Will it eventually have positive effects on libido?

I do have blood work coming up in the next few months. I may stop the Clomid long enough in advance to allow my natural levels to return to baseline. Any ideas on how long after stopping Clomid will test levels return to baseline?

Thanks in advance for any input

Your dose may be too high. I will consider using 12.5 mg daily or every other day. I don't think you should go higher. Probably will cause more sides with higher doses. More isn't always better.

 

[Aging Disgracefully]

I will preface by saying that everybody's situation is unique. I had a similar issue coming into my late 40's. Low T symptoms and so went to GP which confirmed very low T. I believe now this was a result of stress, lack of sleep and extended low calorie diet which really took it's toll. GP proscribed TRT. After having a raging sex drive my whole life I really lost interest. Everything still worked, I just didn't feel like it anymore....just lost that stirring in the loins feel if you know what I mean. TRT was a bit of a disaster with unstable levels and I found the HPTA restart protocol on here a few years after starting TRT. The HPTA restart protocol worked like a dream and I've had normal T levels for about 3 years now (I'm 51yo now) with no other intervention. Unfortunately my once raging libido never returned. Now it's my wife who hassles me and I have to try to get interested...wish I knew how to get back.

 

[bixt]

I will preface by saying that everybody's situation is unique. I had a similar issue coming into my late 40's. Low T symptoms and so went to GP which confirmed very low T. I believe now this was a result of stress, lack of sleep and extended low calorie diet which really took it's toll. GP proscribed TRT. After having a raging sex drive my whole life I really lost interest. Everything still worked, I just didn't feel like it anymore....just lost that stirring in the loins feel if you know what I mean. TRT was a bit of a disaster with unstable levels and I found the HPTA restart protocol on here a few years after starting TRT. The HPTA restart protocol worked like a dream and I've had normal T levels for about 3 years now (I'm 51yo now) with no other intervention. Unfortunately my once raging libido never returned. Now it's my wife who hassles me and I have to try to get interested...wish I knew how to get back.

What was your TRT protocol out of curiosity?

 

[CanadaJim]

Your dose may be too high. I will consider using 12.5 mg daily or every other day. I don't think you should go higher. Probably will cause more sides with higher doses. More isn't always better.

Yes I think you're right...I took my last 25mg this morning...I think I'll switch to 12.5 mg ED for a week then EOD for a week then stop. Thanks for the advice.

 

[bixt]

Yes I think you're right...I took my last 25mg this morning...I think I'll switch to 12.5 mg ED for a week then EOD for a week then stop. Thanks for the advice.

I don't think that will work. Run the 12.5EOD for at least a minimum of two months.

Do bloods right before you stop the clomid (to see how your hpta works while on the serm)

Also do bloods at least 3 months after stopping (to see if the hpta works without the serm). Long waiting period to allow the zuclomiphene isomer to clear.

 

[Chris84]

Your testosterone might’ve been a little on the low side. Enough to shut you down, but not enough to get you in an optimal range where you would feel better. Were you injecting 75mg once a week? Did you do labs when you were on the test e? Personally speaking, Clomid made my libido worse. Even at 12.5mg 2-3 times a week.

 

[CanadaJim]

I was injecting once weekly. In the past I tried tweaking the dose, went up 100mg weekly...felt worse. Tried lowering to 50-60mg...still nothing. Tried tweaking the injection frequency...nothing. Developed crazy skin issues as well as the libido issues so I decided enough is enough. I stopped cold turkey a few times but after 6 weeks or so I'd jump back on due to the sides. So far the Clomid seems to be doing it's thing. But the zero interest in sex is awful. I mean porn isn't even exciting. We would frequently watch porn together but that's not even a thought now lol...she is being very patient. I'm just hoping this will work it's way out over time or maybe I'll end up on TRT again but under the supervision of my Doc. Like I said in a previous post I have blood work in the next few months. I am considering stopping everything now (including supps) with the hope that my test will lower to my natural baseline for a true reading....

 

[Aging Disgracefully]

What was your TRT protocol out of curiosity?

I actually cant remember the exact dose now. It was just using the cream. Started with half a squirt daily ( I was still low), then went to full squirt daily (then I went high...?!), back to half a squirt (low again....), then I moved to the reset protocol.

 

[Systemlord]

My biggest concern is the loss of interest in sex. I have a beautiful wife. We have always had great sex. The decreased sex drive started while I was taking testosterone which was a main factor in my decision to stop. I am 54, healthy, fit with healthy eating habits. I do drink wine and the occasional scotch as well as an occasional cannabis treat (hey I'm Canadian...legal eh?)

I have tried testosterone over the last few years (on and off). My sex drive is always crazy high (almost too high) when first starting but will wane off after a month or so, which from what I gather is normal.

It's not normal, it could mean your body doesn't like constantly elevated hormones and is down regulating as a result. I believe this is why some men have temporary libido and erectile benefits.

You might try Jatenzo if you are in the US which varies your levels throughout the day, peaking as high as 980 and trough levels around 300-400 12 hours later. I tried injections for 4 years and it was never going to work, I believe the half-life has everything to do with it.

Jatenzo is a game changer for me!

 

[nodoctor]

Personally I think cream testosterone is awful unpredictable. you never really know how much you are getting. Everyone is different obviously.

There are so many other things to look for on your labs, like sex hormone binding globulin leaving your testosterone levels very high but your free testosterone very low, prolactin levels going very high, progesterone going to zero, etc. Estrogen going to high or too low. There are some good YouTube videos as well as threads on here that would give you a checklist of things to look out for. My opinion is that everyone will have a raging sex drive while on TRT if they handle the rest of the areas properly. If not, something is missing or deficient or excessive that they have not figured out yet.

 

[Cataceous]

... My opinion is that everyone will have a raging sex drive while on TRT if they handle the rest of the areas properly. If not, something is missing or deficient or excessive that they have not figured out yet.

Pregenolone, DHEA, kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, progesterone. TRT can scramble these hormones and others when it disrupts the HPTA. It's not a trivial matter to "repair" them while remaining on TRT.

 

[madman]

Personally I think cream testosterone is awful unpredictable. you never really know how much you are getting. Everyone is different obviously.

There are so many other things to look for on your labs, like sex hormone binding globulin leaving your testosterone levels very high but your free testosterone very low, prolactin levels going very high, progesterone going to zero, etc. Estrogen going to high or too low. There are some good YouTube videos as well as threads on here that would give you a checklist of things to look out for. My opinion is that everyone will have a raging sex drive while on TRT if they handle the rest of the areas properly. If not, something is missing or deficient or excessive that they have not figured out yet.

Highly doubtful!

 

[Bremster]

when I suggested to my doc on my last visit why don’t try some hCG, he suggested Clomaphene instead, just for four weeks, that’s it for a year.

I recently completed the four week, and the results were not good. I had difficulty having an orgasm.

 

[MDavidW76]

I thought the Zuclomifene in clomid decreased testosterone? IIRC Androxal removed the Zuclomifene from that Rx?

 

[Cataceous]

I thought the Zuclomifene in clomid decreased testosterone? IIRC Androxal removed the Zuclomifene from that Rx?

Think of zuclomiphene as an estrogen. When given to normal men it can suppress the HPTA, reducing testosterone production. However, the enclomiphene isomer of Clomid/clomiphene is dominant in the pituitary and hypothalamus. That is, enclomiphene prevents zuclomiphene and endogenous estrogens from docking with estrogen receptors in those glands. And yes, Androxal is enclomiphene.

A further point is that @Bremster is on high-dose TRT, so neither clomiphene nor enclomiphene alone is likely to affect his (free) testosterone.

 

[MDavidW76]

Think of zuclomiphene as an estrogen. When given to normal men it can suppress the HPTA, reducing testosterone production. However, the enclomiphene isomer of Clomid/clomiphene is dominant in the pituitary and hypothalamus. That is, enclomiphene prevents zuclomiphene and endogenous estrogens from docking with estrogen receptors in those glands. And yes, Androxal is enclomiphene.

A further point is that @Bremster is on high-dose TRT, so neither clomiphene nor enclomiphene alone is likely to affect his (free) testosterone.

Thank you for your reply Cataceous