Got an HCG script - no idea what to do now...

[drewsonofdean]

Hi All,

I am currently on 250mg Test-E every 2 weeks. I do EOD injections to keep stable e2 levels. I recently got a script for HCG because I just want to see if it works for me or not, rather than wondering. I had to get it from a different doctor because my TRT doctor wouldn't do it, but thats another story.

I can't seem to find a good HCG protocol that works with an EOD TRT schedule. Does anyone have experience in this?

I am nervous to start HCG because I feel like I am in a good place right now, but something is still "missing". I am worried that it will spike my e2 and cause me to become crazy again.

One last question, can you scale up the HCG, like slowly introduce it so that I don't jack up my estrogen levels?

Thanks to all in advance. You guys are awesome for helping me out all the time.

 

[ERO]

Just do your HCG every 3.5 days and you will be fine. Something like Monday AM, Thursday PM. Unless you are very sensitive to E2, you are unlikely to have E2 issues with this if you keep your dosages normal - something like 250 IU every 3.5 days to start is a safe starting point.

 

[drewsonofdean]

Thanks ERO, appreciate the response. Do you need to inject a big dose at the beginning? I read somewhere that you do 2000IU first then go to 25IUx2 per week.

 

[CoastWatcher]

Thanks ERO, appreciate the response. Do you need to inject a big dose at the beginning? I read somewhere that you do 2000IU first then go to 25IUx2 per week.

You don't need to worry about a loading dose. Please confirm your dosage- 25 IU?

 

[drewsonofdean]

Oops sorry, I was going to go with the standard 250IU 2x week. I guess it doesn't matter in terms of scheduling it on or around the TRT dose, from what I can gather.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

Drew,

If you're worried about the HCG spiking your E2, just inject a smaller dose EOD, on the opposite day of your Test injections, or a real small dose daily (100IUs). I would probably start with 150-200IUs EOD...I think that's a pretty good starting point.

Just curious...why are you taking the HCG? Maintaining fertility, maintaining testicular size, backfilling the pathways??

 

[drewsonofdean]

Thanks Jackie, sounds like a good idea. I have secondary hypgonadism, so the problem always began in the pituitary for me. It took me about 1 year of misery before I even went on TRT. So I feel like backfilling the pathways would be ideal at this point. My nuts also shrunk big time almost to 1/2 their original size. I would like to have kids one day too, but as I understand I can take HCG later on for that, so that isn't really my main concern at this point.

My issue is that testing is very expensive for me. I am currently working in another country and do not have insurance or medicare. One pregnenolone test is like $200 alone...

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

So I feel like backfilling the pathways would be ideal at this point. My nuts also shrunk big time almost to 1/2 their original size.

Those are good enough reasons to start the HCG now. Like I said, 100IUs daily, or 150-200IUs EOD will be a good start for you. Remember that more frequent injections with smaller doses equals less aromatization.

My issue is that testing is very expensive for me. I am currently working in another country and do not have insurance or medicare. One pregnenolone test is like $200 alone...

Well, the good news is that you don't need blood tests every week. You can get by with every few months to track your levels. At that frequency, it's not going to put you in the poor house. Best of luck to you.

 

[drewsonofdean]

Thanks man. Would it make sense to just go EOD on the opposite days of my test? So alternating days.

Also, would it make sense for me to scale into it...for example 100EOD to 150 EOD to 200 EOD over a few weeks period?

 

[Vince]

I'm one that injects 500iu of HCG every 3 1/2 days, no spikes in E2. I like the effect it has on my libido.

 

[Re-Ride]

To reduce the amount of pinning you can uptake the hCG in to a syringe, draw down the plunger all the way, remove and discard the needle, set syringe upright then top load the testosterone using 1 ml 25 G tuberculin syringe. Inject hCG and T together.

Added benefit is the hCG will flush the T so no wasted T left in syringe ever.

You might still want a third hCG dose by itself. Or as Jackie noted EOD. Smaller more frequent doses of hCG work better for many and not just because of reducing aromatization.

 

[drewsonofdean]

To reduce the amount of pinning you can uptake the hCG in to a syringe, draw down the plunger all the way, remove and discard the needle, set syringe upright then top load the testosterone using 1 ml 25 G tuberculin syringe. Inject hCG and T together.

Added benefit is the hCG will flush the T so no wasted T left in syringe ever.

You might still want a third hCG dose by itself. Or as Jackie noted EOD. Smaller more frequent doses of hCG work better for many and not just because of reducing aromatization.

I have Test-E which comes in a preloaded syringed. I usually back fill 7 of them for EOD injections over 2 weeks. Is there a way to do that but with backfilling? Since I don't have a vial to draw from.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

Thanks man. Would it make sense to just go EOD on the opposite days of my test? So alternating days.

That would work fine. I'm a low SHBG guy, so I inject Test and HCG EOD partially for that reason. The other reasons are to help control spiking E2, and also just because I like having a day off between the Test injections, and the HCG injections. That day off makes a big difference to me.

Also, would it make sense for me to scale into it...for example 100EOD to 150 EOD to 200 EOD over a few weeks period?

No need to scale up. Just pick a dosage (200IUs EOD would be a good starting point), and stick with it until your next labs.