growing4skin
New Member
I've been on TRT for 6 months now with varying results. My main question is about high DHT levels, erections, and any possible serious side effects.
My doctor, who is specializing in HRT for several years now, transitioned from being a surgeon to anti aging medicine. She has more experience with women than men, but is also very open minded and willing to listen and explore my own ideas about how therapy is going.
Before prescribing testosterone, she did extensive blood work, but the main hormone not tested was DHT. After 6 months of TRT I came in 200 points above the high range . I'm not worried about hair loss or BPH with the high DHT. I feel like I've read enough about it to be aware of the possible changes. I don't have any noticeable BPH symptoms.
Even though DHT is considered very good for enhancing male characteristics and behavior, can it cause weak erections or orgasms that come on suddenly with less build up than I had before? Are there any serious medical issues that can arise from high DHT? I haven't seen any listed on this forum.
From my tests, you can see my progesterone went from low normal pre TRT to very low @ 6 months. I'm considering taking a low dose sublingual pregnenolone tab (10 mg) to see if I can raise my progesterone levels and backfill the hormone pathway. Will this raise my DHT even further? Would this be of concern? I'm pretty conservative, but also experimental.
In the first few months of TRT I experienced noticeable shrinkage in my testicles and diminished sexual function. My doctor added Hcg. I think she could be more proactive about adding Hcg at the beginning.
I had 15 tests done at 6 months (two weeks ago) My thyroid is working well, but on the low end of Free T4 & Free T3. My cortisol is on the low end of normal and I'd like to see it a little higher. I have no major health concerns and a very healthy libido. But I've also experienced less firm erections and odd orgasms compared to before TRT. I get regular morning wood, and take a low 20mg dose of sildenafil to boost my confidence if I'm intimate with somebody. I am fully functional but still experience the odd orgasm while using sildenafil. I started to take the 20mg tab sublingually a month ago and the effects are awesome! It's just the boost I need without the discomfort I experience with a larger dose.
I'm going to have my first Gainswave treatment next week to see if it knocks open some of my blood vessels. I'm an RN and my doctor is going to do the treatment in exchange for my time helping with her Saturday clinics.
Any advice is greatly appreciated, including suggestions on a better area of the forum to post this question.
Here are a few of my test numbers:
Pre TRT:
Testosterone: 358 (193-740)
Free T: 8.2 ( 9-30 )
Non Sensitive E2: 28 (25-60)
DHEA-S: 297 (52-295)
Progesterone: 0.45 (0.2-1.4)
At 3 months of weekly IM shots of Test cap 200mg (no Hcg) I tested:
Testosterone: 1139 (350-890)
Sensitive E2: 27 (8-35)
Prolactin: 16.2 (4.0-15.2)
I changed to every 3rd day SQ Test cap 45mg (135 mg/week), every day SQ HCG 100 IU (700 IU/week) and had blood work 8 weeks later. I skipped my Test cyp which was due on the day before my blood work because I wanted to see my lowest T score. That was probably a mistake lab value wise. I've been feeling great for the most part on this regimen but would like to fine tune my sexual responsiveness.
Testosterone: 568 (350-890)
Free T: 108 ( 47-244)
Non Sensitive E2: 35 (10-42)
DHEA-S: 212 (70-310)
DHT: 922 (106-719)
Progesterone: < 0.10 (0.20-1.20) Is this drop adding to my sexual function issues?
Prolactin: 6.5 (2.1-17.7) Not sure if the Hcg lowered my prolactin?
My doctor, who is specializing in HRT for several years now, transitioned from being a surgeon to anti aging medicine. She has more experience with women than men, but is also very open minded and willing to listen and explore my own ideas about how therapy is going.
Before prescribing testosterone, she did extensive blood work, but the main hormone not tested was DHT. After 6 months of TRT I came in 200 points above the high range . I'm not worried about hair loss or BPH with the high DHT. I feel like I've read enough about it to be aware of the possible changes. I don't have any noticeable BPH symptoms.
Even though DHT is considered very good for enhancing male characteristics and behavior, can it cause weak erections or orgasms that come on suddenly with less build up than I had before? Are there any serious medical issues that can arise from high DHT? I haven't seen any listed on this forum.
From my tests, you can see my progesterone went from low normal pre TRT to very low @ 6 months. I'm considering taking a low dose sublingual pregnenolone tab (10 mg) to see if I can raise my progesterone levels and backfill the hormone pathway. Will this raise my DHT even further? Would this be of concern? I'm pretty conservative, but also experimental.
In the first few months of TRT I experienced noticeable shrinkage in my testicles and diminished sexual function. My doctor added Hcg. I think she could be more proactive about adding Hcg at the beginning.
I had 15 tests done at 6 months (two weeks ago) My thyroid is working well, but on the low end of Free T4 & Free T3. My cortisol is on the low end of normal and I'd like to see it a little higher. I have no major health concerns and a very healthy libido. But I've also experienced less firm erections and odd orgasms compared to before TRT. I get regular morning wood, and take a low 20mg dose of sildenafil to boost my confidence if I'm intimate with somebody. I am fully functional but still experience the odd orgasm while using sildenafil. I started to take the 20mg tab sublingually a month ago and the effects are awesome! It's just the boost I need without the discomfort I experience with a larger dose.
I'm going to have my first Gainswave treatment next week to see if it knocks open some of my blood vessels. I'm an RN and my doctor is going to do the treatment in exchange for my time helping with her Saturday clinics.
Any advice is greatly appreciated, including suggestions on a better area of the forum to post this question.
Here are a few of my test numbers:
Pre TRT:
Testosterone: 358 (193-740)
Free T: 8.2 ( 9-30 )
Non Sensitive E2: 28 (25-60)
DHEA-S: 297 (52-295)
Progesterone: 0.45 (0.2-1.4)
At 3 months of weekly IM shots of Test cap 200mg (no Hcg) I tested:
Testosterone: 1139 (350-890)
Sensitive E2: 27 (8-35)
Prolactin: 16.2 (4.0-15.2)
I changed to every 3rd day SQ Test cap 45mg (135 mg/week), every day SQ HCG 100 IU (700 IU/week) and had blood work 8 weeks later. I skipped my Test cyp which was due on the day before my blood work because I wanted to see my lowest T score. That was probably a mistake lab value wise. I've been feeling great for the most part on this regimen but would like to fine tune my sexual responsiveness.
Testosterone: 568 (350-890)
Free T: 108 ( 47-244)
Non Sensitive E2: 35 (10-42)
DHEA-S: 212 (70-310)
DHT: 922 (106-719)
Progesterone: < 0.10 (0.20-1.20) Is this drop adding to my sexual function issues?
Prolactin: 6.5 (2.1-17.7) Not sure if the Hcg lowered my prolactin?