Experiences and Questions: Personal Experiments with Oral Native Testosterone Base & Enclomiphene (TRT+), Testosterone Propionate, HCG and more

[FunkOdyssey]

just realized that the average lifespan of the batteries in these rings is 16 to 20 months—and the batteries are non-replaceable. Considering they cost $450, I’m a bit less inclined to buy now. Plus its a subscription model for the app.

They replace the ring for free when the battery dies. I bought my original Gen 3 ring in 2021 and had it replaced twice now for free, once in 2023 and again just recently.

How helpful do you find the Oura ring?

Absolutely essential.

Sounds interesting:
Injectable T + HCG + scrotal cream (to up DHT a little bit and suppress aromatization).

I'm skeptical of scrotal cream for the purpose of counteracting high estrogen. Yes, you get supraphysiologic DHT, but it comes with a significant helping of additional E2.

Don't worry about this stuff for now. Few men ever need to, and odds are, you won't be one of them.

 

[dirkdigglr]

They replace the ring for free when the battery dies. I bought my original Gen 3 ring in 2021 and had it replaced twice now for free, once in 2023 and again just recently.

Hey, do they replace it indefinitely? Couldn’t really find any clear info about that.

Absolutely essential.

Yeah, I’ll get one. Still figuring out if the RingConn 2 might be better—no subscription required, and someone mentioned the sleep tracking is more accurate (whatever that means exactly).

I'm skeptical of scrotal cream for the purpose of counteracting high estrogen. Yes, you get supraphysiologic DHT, but it comes with a significant helping of additional E2.

Don't worry about this stuff for now. Few men ever need to, and odds are, you won't be one of them.

Ah okay, so this drives E2 up? I remember you mentioned that oral T might lower E2 because of high DHT?

----------

Got my blood drawn today… but something feels off. My sleep is getting lighter and shorter, and it's harder to fall asleep. I guess that’s probably not ideal for health.

That said, I’ve been feeling really good—no more sluggish mornings.

I checked my blood pressure in the morning and afternoon, and it’s been around 135/85 to 140/90.
(I’m already on 80 mg Telmisartan.)

Without testosterone, my BP used to be around 120/80 to 125/80.

I'm curious, guys, how much does your blood pressure go up personally with the addition of testosterone, HCG, etc.?

Let’s see what the blood results reveal…

My uneducated guess: elevated hematocrit from iron, combined with high T and E2.

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Hey, do they replace it indefinitely? Couldn’t really find any clear info about that.

I imagine there is some point where they stop replacing it but I haven't reached that point yet. Maybe two years from now when this third ring dies, they'll tell me I need to buy something new.

Ah okay, so this drives E2 up? I remember you mentioned that oral T might lower E2 because of high DHT?

Yes, topical testosterone drives E2 up, like most other forms of testosterone. Only oral testosterone seems to have the E2 reducing effect. There is aromatase in the skin and subcutaneous fat beneath the skin which will produce some E2 from topical testosterone.

Got my blood drawn today… but something feels off. My sleep is getting lighter and shorter, and it's harder to fall asleep. I guess that’s probably not ideal for health.

Normal for someone new to high levels of T and E2. You can wait for adaptation or reduce dose.

I checked my blood pressure in the morning and afternoon, and it’s been around 135/85 to 140/90.
(I’m already on 80 mg Telmisartan.)

Without testosterone, my BP used to be around 120/80 to 125/80.

Let’s see what the blood results reveal…

My uneducated guess: elevated hematocrit from iron, combined with high T and E2.

Normal increase in BP for someone new to high T and E2 due to combined water retention and increased sympathetic nervous system activity. These effects are [mostly] transient and you can wait for adaptation or reduce dose.

If you do happen to run peak labs, you're going to see some shocking numbers that may bias you towards a dose reduction. 20 mg of test prop daily with hCG on top is no joke. On 19 mg of test prop without hCG, I had 1800+ ng/dL total T, 49 ng/dL free T, and 56 pg/mL E2 at peak.

 

[dirkdigglr]

Normal for someone new to high levels of T and E2. You can wait for adaptation or reduce dose.

Normal increase in BP for someone new to high T and E2 due to combined water retention and increased sympathetic nervous system activity. These effects are [mostly] transient and you can wait for adaptation or reduce dose.

That is very good to know!

If you do happen to run peak labs, you're going to see some shocking numbers that may bias you towards a dose reduction. 20 mg of test prop daily with hCG on top is no joke. On 19 mg of test prop without hCG, I had 1800+ ng/dL total T, 49 ng/dL free T, and 56 pg/mL E2 at peak.

Shocking numbers?

Any idea how much 150 IU hCG could actually put on top?

Are there health risks involved with these peaks in my 20 mg + 150 IU daily combo? The Cortex Labs guy starts some clients at 20 mg prop (without hCG) and ramps up to 50–60 mg per day in some cases. I mean… what is even going on then

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Any idea how much 150 IU hCG could actually put on top?

Varies widely, but I would say the possible ranges are something like this:

Total T: 75 - 200 ng/dL
Free T: 2 - 4 ng/dL
E2: 10 - 25 pg/mL

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Are there health risks involved with these peaks in my 20 mg + 150 IU daily combo? The Cortex Labs guy starts some clients at 20 mg prop (without hCG) and ramps up to 50–60 mg per day in some cases. I mean… what is even going on then

I almost said something in my previous post about Cortex normalizing ridiculous doses of prop. So I'll say it here: the doses of prop he suggests are insane. The deep troughs on prop let you "get away with" crazy high levels during the day, without the degree of side effects that would normally accompany them.

Does your endothelium get away with it though? How many people are running high doses of prop and serial carotid IMTs, calcium scans, coronary CTAs to detect rapid plaque accumulation? If the answer is higher than zero I would be surprised.

To answer your question more directly, potentially there could be health risks involved. Cardiovascular risk would be my primary concern. It would behoove you to monitor this more carefully than the average person.

 

[dirkdigglr]

ah yeah cortex normalizing insane amounts of prop

so as I understood, estrogen has protective capabilities.

With enclomiphene (and basically also without any SERMs) I had an LDL of 50, HDL of 36, total cholesterol 100. (5 mg ezetimibe + 5 mg rosuvastatin).
Lp(a) is slightly elevated at 121 nmol/L (reference: <75 nmol/L).

The low LDL should be quite risk-reducing, right?

I asked ChatGPT about supraphysiological testosterone levels and safety, and it said:

The endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels and plays a crucial role in vascular tone, clotting, and inflammation. High spikes in testosterone—especially superphysiological ones—can potentially harm it via:

• Increased oxidative stress, reducing nitric oxide availability.
• Pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by androgens.
• Worsened lipid profiles, especially if HDL is suppressed and hematocrit rises.
• Higher blood pressure, which increases shear stress on vessels.

I’m not sure why I can’t get my HDL higher. It’s always been on the low side as far as I remember—I never really saw it much higher. The doc who reviews the labs says it’s “not important,” but I’ve seen people like Bryan Johnson with HDL of 73, so it makes me wonder how relevant it actually is and what I can do to raise it.

I’ve already changed my diet a couple months ago to bump fat up to around 30–40% of calories. Before that I was only at ~15%, which was clearly too low.

Regarding plaque: as I understood it, that’s more of a later stage of atherosclerosis. I’m 37. I read in Peter Attia’s book "Outlive" that you’d need something like a CT angiogram to actually see the stages before anything calcified… so I guess that’s the move? I once asked a doctor about it, and he was shocked and said I wouldn’t get one even if I paid for it myself—though that wasn’t true, I’ve seen private clinics offering those for around €300–€400 if you’ve got the money.

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

ah yeah cortex normalizing insane amounts of prop


so as I understood, estrogen has protective capabilities.


With enclomiphene (and basically also without any SERMs) I had an LDL of 50, HDL of 36, total cholesterol 100. (5 mg ezetimibe + 5 mg rosuvastatin).
Lp(a) is slightly elevated at 121 nmol/L (reference: <75 nmol/L).


The low LDL should be quite risk-reducing, right?

I asked ChatGPT about supraphysiological levels and safety, and it said:



I’m not sure why I can’t get my HDL higher. It’s always been on the low side as far as I remember—I never really saw it much higher. The doc who reviews the labs says it’s “not important,” but I’ve seen people like Bryan Johnson with HDL of 73, so it makes me wonder how relevant it actually is and what I can do to raise it.

I’ve already changed my diet a couple months ago to bump fat up to around 30–40% of calories. Before that I was only at ~15%, which was clearly too low.


Regarding plaque: as I understood it, that’s more of a later stage of atherosclerosis. I’m 37. I read in Attia’s book that you’d need something like a CT angiogram to actually see the stages before anything calcified… so I guess that’s the move? I once asked a doctor about it, and he was shocked and said I wouldn’t get one even if I paid for it myself—though that wasn’t true, I’ve seen private clinics offering those for around €300–€400 if you’ve got the money.

I strongly recommend the book "The Clot Thickens" for all things cardiovascular. Low LDL is not necessarily risk reducing. What you want is low triglycerides, low fasting insulin, sunlight, nitric oxide, good vitamin C and D levels and an avoidance of blood sugar spikes. That's a basic starter list but here are lots of other things as well. It's hard to distinguish between the things that seem to raise HDL (like HIIT) and the benefits of the things themselves.

 

[FunkOdyssey]

With enclomiphene (and basically also without any SERMs) I had an LDL of 50, HDL of 36, total cholesterol 100. (5 mg ezetimibe + 5 mg rosuvastatin).
Lp(a) is slightly elevated at 121 nmol/L (reference: <75 nmol/L).

The low LDL should be quite risk-reducing, right?

It's helpful, but it's still very possible to develop atherosclerosis at LDL levels that low and even lower. The book that Guided recommended, The Clot Thickens, presents many examples of this, as it unravels the cholesterol hypothesis of CVD and convincingly advances an alternative hypothesis.

I’m not sure why I can’t get my HDL higher.

I’ve already changed my diet a couple months ago to bump fat up to around 30–40% of calories. Before that I was only at ~15%, which was clearly too low.

These are related.

Regarding plaque: as I understood it, that’s more of a later stage of atherosclerosis. I’m 37.

"Postmortem coronary angiography and dissection of hearts from 105 United States soldiers killed in Vietnam demonstrate that (1) 45% have some evidence of atherosclerosis; (2) 5% have gross evidence of severe coronary atherosclerosis; and (3) no patient had angiographic evidence of severe coronary narrowing, and in only one patient was any degree of stenosis observed."

Average age of soldiers killed in Vietnam: 23 years old.

I read in Peter Attia’s book "Outlive" that you’d need something like a CT angiogram to actually see the stages before anything calcified… so I guess that’s the move?

That is the gold standard but it's a bit expensive. Carotid IMT is a cheaper and easier method to identify soft plaque.

 

[dirkdigglr]

Yeah, I still need to read The Clot Thickens. I got the blood values from 01.08, but pregnenolone is missing—they didn’t run it. HDL and LDL aren’t moving. Hematocrit is now 47%; previously it was around 41% (no medication) to 44% (on enclomiphene). I’m not sure if ChatGPT calculated free testosterone correctly. I couldn’t find anything suspicious with ChatGPT; maybe the trough is a bit high. Feel free to take a look at the full blood values—the names are in German, but they should be understandable. (Why is resolution of images so low? Is there a different way to include images in higer resolution?)

EDIT: Here are the full blood values in better image resolution. Link to images

Context & protocol​

• Protocol: 20 mg testosterone propionate every day (ED) + 150 IU hCG ED, both IM.
• Blood draw timing: ~24 h after last injections (trough).
• Recent training: I trained a day or two before the draw → may affect inflammation and lactate.
• Meds influencing labs: Telmisartan likely contributes to low aldosterone.
• Self-reported comparison: On enclomiphene ~3 mg every 3 days, I previously saw DHT ≈ 770 pg/mL (now lower) and DHEA-S ~ 430,0 μg/dl (now higher). Natty DHT was at 308 pg/ml and DHEA-S 338,0 μg/dl

---

TL;DR​

• Total T trough ≈ 1,303 ng/dL (45.2 nmol/L) → peaks will be higher; overall exposure is supra-physiologic.
• Estimated free T (Vermeulen) is high too.
• LH/FSH are suppressed (expected on exogenous T; hCG doesn’t lift pituitary LH/FSH).
• E2 42.5 pg/mL = upper-normal for this T level.
• DHT 553 pg/mL in range; previously higher on enclomiphene.
• No erythrocytosis (Hct/Hb normal).
• HDL low per this lab’s cut-off; CRP, PCT, lactate mildly elevated—compatible with recent training.

 

[dirkdigglr]

Another quick update: my propionate ran out today, there might be a tiny amount left, but not even 20 mg. My supplier hasn’t delivered yet. What I have on hand is native testosterone (so I could make a topical) and testosterone cypionate. I’m debating whether to start the cypionate now or try the topical, and I’m not sure what dose I’d need for cypionate. And how to transition.

 

[Cataceous]

Use this site for Vermeulen free T. With TT of 45.2 nMol/L, SHBG of 37.8 nMol/L and albumin at 4.38 g/dL you get cFTV of 1.08 nMol/L, which is over 31 ng/dL. The top of the normal range for this is in the low 20s. In line with what @FunkOdyssey said, your peak level could easily be two or three times this.

 

[dirkdigglr]

Here are the full blood values in better image resolution. Link to images

I asked ChatGPT to analyze the blood values based on the book "The Clot thickens". Actually not sure what sources ChatGPT used for this.

Quick take​

Vascular protection looks good overall: LDL-C 46 mg/dL, TG 50 mg/dL, HbA1c 5.2%, fasting glucose 86 mg/dL, kidneys & liver unremarkable, PSA 0.8 ng/mL, hematocrit 47% (TRT-safe).

Potential issues for the endothelium / “pro-thrombotic milieu”​

• Inflammation: CRP 0.56 mg/dL = 5.6 mg/L → elevated. IL-6 6.5 pg/mL at the high end of normal. Procalcitonin minimally above range. Pattern fits acute/subacute load (infection, dental/periodontal issue, hard training, sleep debt).
• HDL-C 34.6 mg/dL → low. Not a therapy target by itself, but as a marker it’s unfavorable for vascular milieu (despite excellent TG).
• Ferritin 364 ng/mL (high-normal). Ferritin is acute-phase sensitive and rises with training; together with CRP this plausibly reflects an acute bump.
• Daytime BP 130–135/80–85 → US Stage 1 / EU “high-normal.” If sustained, this stresses the endothelium.

Missing essentials for the “clotting hypothesis”: Fibrinogen, Factor VIII, vWF, homocysteine, Lp(a) (once-in-life), ideally hs-CRP (instead of CRP), optional PAI-1, MPV.

---

Details, plain and simple​

Green (protective/ok)​

• Atherogenicity: LDL 46, very low non-HDL, TG 50 → excellent.
• Glycemia/insulin: HbA1c 5.2%, glucose 86, C-peptide 1.0 ng/mL → low insulin load.
• TRT safety: Hb 15.6, Hct 47%, RBC 5.22, platelets 309 → fine; PSA 0.8 → good.
• Organs: eGFR 116–130, AST/ALT/GGT normal, vitamin D 39.7 ng/mL solid.

Yellow (monitor/optimize)​

• Inflammation: CRP 5.6 mg/L high; IL-6 high-normal; procalcitonin slightly high → repeat as hs-CRP (and IL-6) in 1–2 inflammation-free weeks (no infections, no hard training for 48–72 h, good sleep). If hs-CRP >2 mg/L persists → look for sources (dental, skin, gut, OSA, chronic load).
• HDL 34.6 mg/dL low → emphasize steady endurance work + occasional HIIT, sleep, minimal alcohol, reduce nicotine/vape if relevant (endotheliotoxic).
• Ferritin 364 ng/mL → interpret alongside hs-CRP. If ferritin stays high with normal hs-CRP, reassess iron status and inflammation sources.
• BP 135/85 → confirm with ABPM (24 h) or 7-day home average. Targets: daytime <130/80, 24-h mean <125/75, nighttime <110/65. Levers: <5 g salt/day, 150–300 min/week cardio, keep lifting.

Red (gap in the Kendrick picture → fill it)​

• Order a coagulation/endothelium panel: Fibrinogen, Factor VIII, vWF antigen/activity, homocysteine, Lp(a) (once in life), optional PAI-1, MPV.
  This directly tells you whether your “thrombo-climate” is quiet.
• Imaging/calibration: CAC score (Agatston). With very low LDL, CAC = 0 is especially reassuring; if >0, you can tighten LDL goals/lifestyle accordingly.

Hormones (only what matters)​

• Total T 45.2 nmol/L (~1300 ng/dL) → high but tolerable as long as Hct/BP/sleep are fine.
• E2 42.5 pg/mL → near the upper edge; often symptom-positive, but keep an eye on it.
• DHEA-S 533 µg/dL and progesterone 0.84 nmol/L slightly high; cortisol 531 nmol/L (AM) just above reference → watch stress/sleep (endothelium-relevant).
• LH/FSH suppressed → expected on TRT.

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

Here are the full blood values in better image resolution. Link to images

I asked ChatGPT to analyze the blood values based on the book "The Clot thickens". Actually not sure what sources ChatGPT used for this.

Quick take​

Vascular protection looks good overall: LDL-C 46 mg/dL, TG 50 mg/dL, HbA1c 5.2%, fasting glucose 86 mg/dL, kidneys & liver unremarkable, PSA 0.8 ng/mL, hematocrit 47% (TRT-safe).

Potential issues for the endothelium / “pro-thrombotic milieu”​

• Inflammation: CRP 0.56 mg/dL = 5.6 mg/L → elevated. IL-6 6.5 pg/mL at the high end of normal. Procalcitonin minimally above range. Pattern fits acute/subacute load (infection, dental/periodontal issue, hard training, sleep debt).
• HDL-C 34.6 mg/dL → low. Not a therapy target by itself, but as a marker it’s unfavorable for vascular milieu (despite excellent TG).
• Ferritin 364 ng/mL (high-normal). Ferritin is acute-phase sensitive and rises with training; together with CRP this plausibly reflects an acute bump.
• Daytime BP 130–135/80–85 → US Stage 1 / EU “high-normal.” If sustained, this stresses the endothelium.

Missing essentials for the “clotting hypothesis”: Fibrinogen, Factor VIII, vWF, homocysteine, Lp(a) (once-in-life), ideally hs-CRP (instead of CRP), optional PAI-1, MPV.

---

Details, plain and simple​

Green (protective/ok)​

• Atherogenicity: LDL 46, very low non-HDL, TG 50 → excellent.
• Glycemia/insulin: HbA1c 5.2%, glucose 86, C-peptide 1.0 ng/mL → low insulin load.
• TRT safety: Hb 15.6, Hct 47%, RBC 5.22, platelets 309 → fine; PSA 0.8 → good.
• Organs: eGFR 116–130, AST/ALT/GGT normal, vitamin D 39.7 ng/mL solid.

Yellow (monitor/optimize)​

• Inflammation: CRP 5.6 mg/L high; IL-6 high-normal; procalcitonin slightly high → repeat as hs-CRP (and IL-6) in 1–2 inflammation-free weeks (no infections, no hard training for 48–72 h, good sleep). If hs-CRP >2 mg/L persists → look for sources (dental, skin, gut, OSA, chronic load).
• HDL 34.6 mg/dL low → emphasize steady endurance work + occasional HIIT, sleep, minimal alcohol, reduce nicotine/vape if relevant (endotheliotoxic).
• Ferritin 364 ng/mL → interpret alongside hs-CRP. If ferritin stays high with normal hs-CRP, reassess iron status and inflammation sources.
• BP 135/85 → confirm with ABPM (24 h) or 7-day home average. Targets: daytime <130/80, 24-h mean <125/75, nighttime <110/65. Levers: <5 g salt/day, 150–300 min/week cardio, keep lifting.

Red (gap in the Kendrick picture → fill it)​

• Order a coagulation/endothelium panel: Fibrinogen, Factor VIII, vWF antigen/activity, homocysteine, Lp(a) (once in life), optional PAI-1, MPV.
  This directly tells you whether your “thrombo-climate” is quiet.
• Imaging/calibration: CAC score (Agatston). With very low LDL, CAC = 0 is especially reassuring; if >0, you can tighten LDL goals/lifestyle accordingly.

Hormones (only what matters)​

• Total T 45.2 nmol/L (~1300 ng/dL) → high but tolerable as long as Hct/BP/sleep are fine.
• E2 42.5 pg/mL → near the upper edge; often symptom-positive, but keep an eye on it.
• DHEA-S 533 µg/dL and progesterone 0.84 nmol/L slightly high; cortisol 531 nmol/L (AM) just above reference → watch stress/sleep (endothelium-relevant).
• LH/FSH suppressed → expected on TRT.

This is another reason I am not a fan of ChatGPT.

First, the point of the book is to propose a model of heart disease which actually fits the data we have about CVD. While there are a number of recommendations in the book. the bigger picture is that there are literally hundreds of risk factors for CVD that act through one or more of the three major mechanisms proposed in the book. Anything that interferes with or causes 1) damage to the blood vessels) 2) too little or too much repair activity (which are plaques which are very similar to blood clots) and 3) breakdown of the plaques and re-growth of the glycocalyx/endothelium will promote CVD.

For example, this explains why Ibuprofen is pro-CVD because it interferes with an enzyme which helps break down blood clots. It has nothing to do with cholesterol for example and neither do most other risk factors.

From a blood test perspective, i don't remember a list in the book but a list can be derived. For example, fasting insulin should be below 6 or so (US units) because chronically elevated insulin (besides being a driver of cancer , dementia, and almost everything bad) will tend to promote overgrowth of plaque IIRC and likely damages the blood vessels. Minimizing blood sugar spikes (hence low A1C) is also critical since blood sugar spike damage the linin of the blood vessels. Trigs should be as low as possible although I don't know the mechanism there but it may promote overgrowth of plaques. Infections are a risk for the endothelium so Vitamin D should be over 50. I don't think there is a good blood test for Vitamin C but it is involved in connective tissue which is key for the integrity of the blood vessels so supplementing is important.

In general, LDL/APOB is a very poor predictor of CVD, partially because it is not a major player in any of the three parts of the mechanism (cholesterol is a very small components of plaques) however oxidized cholesterol could be an issue due ot its potential for damage to the blood vessels (which healthy cholesterol should not be able to do.

I have had better luck with Perplexity, but the bottom line is that once you understand the process of CVD, then the risk factors can be managed with much greater precision. The book provides a framework for understanding a much broader swath of data.

 

[dirkdigglr]

This is another reason I am not a fan of ChatGPT.

First, the point of the book is to propose a model of heart disease which actually fits the data we have about CVD. While there are a number of recommendations in the book. the bigger picture is that there are literally hundreds of risk factors for CVD that act through one or more of the three major mechanisms proposed in the book. Anything that interferes with or causes 1) damage to the blood vessels) 2) too little or too much repair activity (which are plaques which are very similar to blood clots) and 3) breakdown of the plaques and re-growth of the glycocalyx/endothelium will promote CVD.

For example, this explains why Ibuprofen is pro-CVD because it interferes with an enzyme which helps break down blood clots. It has nothing to do with cholesterol for example and neither do most other risk factors.

From a blood test perspective, i don't remember a list in the book but a list can be derived. For example, fasting insulin should be below 6 or so (US units) because chronically elevated insulin (besides being a driver of cancer , dementia, and almost everything bad) will tend to promote overgrowth of plaque IIRC and likely damages the blood vessels. Minimizing blood sugar spikes (hence low A1C) is also critical since blood sugar spike damage the linin of the blood vessels. Trigs should be as low as possible although I don't know the mechanism there but it may promote overgrowth of plaques. Infections are a risk for the endothelium so Vitamin D should be over 50. I don't think there is a good blood test for Vitamin C but it is involved in connective tissue which is key for the integrity of the blood vessels so supplementing is important.

In general, LDL/APOB is a very poor predictor of CVD, partially because it is not a major player in any of the three parts of the mechanism (cholesterol is a very small components of plaques) however oxidized cholesterol could be an issue due ot its potential for damage to the blood vessels (which healthy cholesterol should not be able to do.

I have had better luck with Perplexity, but the bottom line is that once you understand the process of CVD, then the risk factors can be managed with much greater precision. The book provides a framework for understanding a much broader swath of data.

Thanks for the in-depth explanation. Sounds like a very interesting book. I like the idea of a framework. I’ll definitely have a look.

I'm curious: what are you doing for cardiovascular health? What changes did you implement after reading the book?

On a different note: I not only ran out of propionate, and the vial of bacteriostatic water I received from Optitropin (for the HCG) has some white, fungal-looking growth floating in it. It's the first time I’ve bought bacteriostatic water — up until now I only used one 5000 IU vial of HCG, which came with a small amount of water included. I assume this contaminated vial should definitely be thrown away, right?

I’ve also realized that pharmacies here in Germany don’t carry anything like bacteriostatic water (they dont even know it)— only single-use sterile water. So, it seems like you need to buy benzyl alcohol yourself and inject it into sterile water to make your own bacteriostatic water?

Is there a workaround if you run out of bacteriostatic water? Can you just use sterile water with HCG? Or is there some other trick that works? (I’ll probably just go with sterile water for now.)

Also, how do you handle HCG while you're on vacation for a week — do you just skip it entirely?