Libido...to titrate up or down while on TRT?

[CanadaJim]

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience. I am "self dosing" testosterone cyp. Weekly shallow IM injections of 87.5mg. The first 3-4 weeks were great. Libido and energy took quite a jump. Going in to weeks 5-6 things started slowing down, especially the libido. I have read in other forms that some guys begin tweaking their doses either up or down with the hopes of dialing in their libido. Any advice, or things I should be investigating to help get the engine started again? Thanks in advance

 

[Vince]

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience. I am "self dosing" testosterone cyp. Weekly shallow IM injections of 87.5mg. The first 3-4 weeks were great. Libido and energy took quite a jump. Going in to weeks 5-6 things started slowing down, especially the libido. I have read in other forms that some guys begin tweaking their doses either up or down with the hopes of dialing in their libido. Any advice, or things I should be investigating to help get the engine started again? Thanks in advance

That's the honeymoon of trt. The first two weeks is unreal. For most, but not all.

 

[CanadaJim]

That's the honeymoon of trt. The first two weeks is unreal. For most, but not all.

So is it helpful to tweak the dose a bit or is it..."it is what it is"...

 

[madman]

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience. I am "self dosing" testosterone cyp. Weekly shallow IM injections of 87.5mg. The first 3-4 weeks were great. Libido and energy took quite a jump. Going in to weeks 5-6 things started slowing down, especially the libido. I have read in other forms that some guys begin tweaking their doses either up or down with the hopes of dialing in their libido. Any advice, or things I should be investigating to help get the engine started again? Thanks in advance

Still, back at this, I see.

Possibility of "test booster" ingredients affecting lab results?

This is simply a question/observation I am throwing out to the masses. I had been self dosing testosterone e last year for about six months. Approximately 80-100mg weekly - shallow IM. Stopped the first week of November due to some unwanted sides. No PCT. I did start taking a test booster...

www.excelmale.com

This is simply a question/observation I am throwing out to the masses. I had been self dosing testosterone e last year for about six months. Approximately 80-100mg weekly - shallow IM. Stopped the first week of November due to some unwanted sides. No PCT. I did start taking a test booster supplement (TestFreak 2.0). I know for the most part they are bogus but hear me out. I had blood work done nearly two months after I stopped taking the test e. I was feeling pretty shitty. Low energy, no libido, etc. My blood work came back with higher than normal test. Like 20 nmol/l above the highest value. We were both surprised (my doc and I) as I did not feel like I had higher than normal test. He was aware of my self dosing testosterone and felt that enough time had past that my lab values should not have been effected. I told him about the supplement and he laughed but said maybe it was effective. I had blood work repeated the following March and my testosterone had leveled back to "low normal".
Now fast forward to this June. I haven't had any testosterone since November of last year. Still wasn't feeling myself. Low test symptoms. A friend of mine who happens to rep for a supplement company offered me another "test booster"(ANS Fortitude II). I took it. With absolutely no change in the way I felt. Had blood work done again June 15th. My Testosterone levels came back way higher than normal again. And like last time I did not feel like my test was high at all. In fact quite the opposite.
So having said all this. Has anyone ever researched the ingredients in these test boosters and how they may falsely effect lab work? That is the only explanation I can think of. There is no way that they increase testosterone levels but something seems to be skewing the lab results.




You were experiencing the honeymoon period as you are only 5 weeks in!

Huge mistake to get caught up in trying to mimic such indefinitely let alone you need to give the protocol a fighting chance.....at least 12 weeks to gauge how you truly feel overall regarding relief/improvement of low-t symptoms.

Blood work will be done once blood levels have stabilized (4-6 weeks).

Testing should be done at trough as we want to see where said protocol (dose of T/injection frequency) has your TT, FT, estradiol let alone other blood markers such as CBC (which includes RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit).

Tweaking a protocol at 6 weeks in should only be done if your trough TT/FT levels are still too low.....highly doubtful.

Patience is key.

Again libido let alone erectile function is multifactorial.

Much more involved than simply having healthy hormones.


post #6/11

one month on TRT + bloodwork before and after (prolactin raised)

Hey guys I am now 4 weeks on TRT. I am a 34 year old male and had issues with low libido and low energy the last 2 years until I have checked my T levels and they were very low. For example in 2016 I had TT levels of 870 ng/dL and 3 weeks ago before I started TRT it was 358 ng/dL. 1 week ago I...

www.excelmale.com

Achieving a healthy TT/FT level let alone other hormones on such protocol should have a positive impact on (mood/energy/libido/erections/body composition/recovery) but it will be more in the norm as opposed to the so-called amazing!

You need to get out of the mindset of trying to chase this honeymoon period as it is temporary and short-lived.

Shut down of the HPTA most likely has a big impact.

Hate to burst your bubble if you think that having healthy testosterone levels let alone constantly fluctuating will result in a raging libido/killer erections.

There is so much more involved when it comes to libido/erectile function.

Having healthy testosterone levels is one piece of the puzzle.

Even then when it comes to trt and libido many tend to get caught up in thinking that it will be through the roof once they hop on trt and get to the point of so-called dialed in let alone cure any ED issues they may have.

When you find that happy place you should have a healthy libido not raging, savage, insane.

There are many men who will see an improvement in libido, others will continue to struggle, some may even end up worse off than before trt and some of the lucky ones will see a drastic improvement.

I think too many get caught up in expecting to feel great 24/7 once on trt as if testosterone is going to cure all that ails them.

 

[CanadaJim]

That's the honeymoon of trt. The first two weeks is unreal. For most, but not all.

Still, back at this, I see.

Possibility of "test booster" ingredients affecting lab results?

This is simply a question/observation I am throwing out to the masses. I had been self dosing testosterone e last year for about six months. Approximately 80-100mg weekly - shallow IM. Stopped the first week of November due to some unwanted sides. No PCT. I did start taking a test booster...

www.excelmale.com

This is simply a question/observation I am throwing out to the masses. I had been self dosing testosterone e last year for about six months. Approximately 80-100mg weekly - shallow IM. Stopped the first week of November due to some unwanted sides. No PCT. I did start taking a test booster supplement (TestFreak 2.0). I know for the most part they are bogus but hear me out. I had blood work done nearly two months after I stopped taking the test e. I was feeling pretty shitty. Low energy, no libido, etc. My blood work came back with higher than normal test. Like 20 nmol/l above the highest value. We were both surprised (my doc and I) as I did not feel like I had higher than normal test. He was aware of my self dosing testosterone and felt that enough time had past that my lab values should not have been effected. I told him about the supplement and he laughed but said maybe it was effective. I had blood work repeated the following March and my testosterone had leveled back to "low normal".
Now fast forward to this June. I haven't had any testosterone since November of last year. Still wasn't feeling myself. Low test symptoms. A friend of mine who happens to rep for a supplement company offered me another "test booster"(ANS Fortitude II). I took it. With absolutely no change in the way I felt. Had blood work done again June 15th. My Testosterone levels came back way higher than normal again. And like last time I did not feel like my test was high at all. In fact quite the opposite.
So having said all this. Has anyone ever researched the ingredients in these test boosters and how they may falsely effect lab work? That is the only explanation I can think of. There is no way that they increase testosterone levels but something seems to be skewing the lab results.




You were experiencing the honeymoon period as you are only 5 weeks in!

Huge mistake to get caught up in trying to mimic such indefinitely let alone you need to give the protocol a fighting chance.....at least 12 weeks to gauge how you truly feel overall regarding relief/improvement of low-t symptoms.

Blood work will be done once blood levels have stabilized (4-6 weeks).

Testing should be done at trough as we want to see where said protocol (dose/injection frequency) has your TT, FT, estradiol let alone other blood markers such as CBC (which includes RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit).

Tweaking a protocol at 6 weeks in should only be done if your trough TT/FT levels are still too low.....highly doubtful.

Patience is key.

Again libido let alone erectile function is multifactorial.

Much more involved than simply having healthy hormones.


post #6/11

one month on TRT + bloodwork before and after (prolactin raised)

Hey guys I am now 4 weeks on TRT. I am a 34 year old male and had issues with low libido and low energy the last 2 years until I have checked my T levels and they were very low. For example in 2016 I had TT levels of 870 ng/dL and 3 weeks ago before I started TRT it was 358 ng/dL. 1 week ago I...

www.excelmale.com

Achieving a healthy TT/FT level let alone other hormones on such protocol should have a positive impact on (mood/energy/libido/erections/recovery) but it will be more in the norm as opposed to the so-called amazing!

You need to get out of the mindset of trying to chase this honeymoon period as it is temporary and short-lived.

Shut down of the HPTA most likely has a big impact.

Hate to burst your bubble if you think that having healthy testosterone levels let alone constantly fluctuating will result in a raging libido/killer erections.

There is so much more involved when it comes to libido/erectile function.

Having healthy testosterone levels is one piece of the puzzle.

Even then when it comes to trt and libido many tend to get caught up in thinking that it will be through the roof once they hop on trt and get to the point of so-called dialed in let alone cure any ED issues they may have.

When you find that happy place you should have a healthy libido not raging, savage, insane.

There are many men who will see an improvement in libido, others will continue to struggle, some may even end up worse off than before trt and some of the lucky ones will see a drastic improvement.

I think too many get caught up in expecting to feel great 24/7 once on trt as if testosterone is going to cure all that ails them.

Thanks for the info...that post #6/11 wasn't mine fyi. But good information none the less. Thanks again.

 

[madman]

So is it helpful to tweak the dose a bit or is it..."it is what it is"...

I would tell anyone starting on trt.


Need to get out of the mindset of trying to :

*chase this honeymoon period

*tweaking a protocol too soon

* having unrealistic expectations

* testing using inaccurate assays



When you find that happy place you should have a healthy libido not raging, savage, insane.

There are many men who will see an improvement in libido, others will continue to struggle, some may even end up worse off than before trt and some of the lucky ones will see a drastic improvement.

I think too many get caught up in expecting to feel great 24/7 once on trt as if testosterone is going to cure all that ails them.

 

[madman]

Thanks for the info...that post #6/11 wasn't mine fyi. But good information none the less. Thanks again.

I understand.....wanted you to read over my replies (post #6/11) from another member's thread.

 

[DorianGray]

I would tell anyone starting on trt.


Need to get out of the mindset of trying to :

*chase this honeymoon period

*tweaking a protocol too soon

* having unrealistic expectations

* testing using inaccurate assays



When you find that happy place you should have a healthy libido not raging, savage, insane.

There are many men who will see an improvement in libido, others will continue to struggle, some may even end up worse off than before trt and some of the lucky ones will see a drastic improvement.

I think too many get caught up in expecting to feel great 24/7 once on trt as if testosterone is going to cure all that ails them.

This is very good. I'm going to post start another thread this leads right in to as I don't want to clog up the OP's. - Cycling TRT.

 

[TorontoTRT]

Yes. Be patient. Report back after 3 months of not changing a thing.