Long Term T Patients - Does TRT Lose It's Effectiveness (Libido, etc.) After Several Years?

[johnt]

I was reading posts on various forums and came across several people that noted after approximately 5 years the initial benefits felt by TRT such as increased libido and energy diminished significantly. Some posters noted they are now taking Cialis, Viagra, etc. and are looking to stop TRT because no longer worth it.

Also, read some of the same things about long-term use of HCG that it loses it's effectiveness over time.

For those of you that have been taking TRT for several years, have you experienced the same?

I have found this forum excellent and others good for education. There are days after reading I am ready to get started then other days after reading some posts I think, man am I crazy to start messing with my hormones. Then again I say to myself, people that are doing great on TRT probably don't seek out forums like this to share their experience. It is probably more heavier weighted by those that are having issues which gives the impression that most on TRT experience complications.

Apologize for the ramble.

 

[FeelingLost]

Hi johnt, I did not join this forum because of TRT side effects. I wanted to learn as much as possible about this process before I even started a protocol.
Forums do that if you can find the right one. I will say that OMG there are a lot of really bad ones out there on this subject. Thank god for Nelson and his crew.

 

[johnt]

Hi johnt, I did not join this forum because of TRT side effects. I wanted to learn as much as possible about this process before I even started a protocol.
Forums do that if you can find the right one. I will say that OMG there are a lot of really bad ones out there on this subject. Thank god for Nelson and his crew.

I totally agree. I joined to learn as much as I can as well. And I have learned a ton of stuff from all the great contributors of this site. Perhaps my anxiety about getting started is related to having low T, LOL!

 

[johndoesmith]

I was reading posts on various forums and came across several people that noted after approximately 5 years the initial benefits felt by TRT such as increased libido and energy diminished significantly. Some posters noted they are now taking Cialis, Viagra, etc. and are looking to stop TRT because no longer worth it.

Also, read some of the same things about long-term use of HCG that it loses it's effectiveness over time.

For those of you that have been taking TRT for several years, have you experienced the same?

I have found this forum excellent and others good for education. There are days after reading I am ready to get started then other days after reading some posts I think, man am I crazy to start messing with my hormones. Then again I say to myself, people that are doing great on TRT probably don't seek out forums like this to share their experience. It is probably more heavier weighted by those that are having issues which gives the impression that most on TRT experience complications.

Apologize for the ramble.

I'm not long term yet but if you think of healthy natural guys, their levels should be pretty decent, and that is what the body is "supposed" to be exposed to, so I don't see how testosterone would logically lose its effectiveness.

 

[CoastWatcher]

I was reading posts on various forums and came across several people that noted after approximately 5 years the initial benefits felt by TRT such as increased libido and energy diminished significantly. Some posters noted they are now taking Cialis, Viagra, etc. and are looking to stop TRT because no longer worth it.

Also, read some of the same things about long-term use of HCG that it loses it's effectiveness over time.

For those of you that have been taking TRT for several years, have you experienced the same?

I have found this forum excellent and others good for education. There are days after reading I am ready to get started then other days after reading some posts I think, man am I crazy to start messing with my hormones. Then again I say to myself, people that are doing great on TRT probably don't seek out forums like this to share their experience. It is probably more heavier weighted by those that are having issues which gives the impression that most on TRT experience complications.

Apologize for the ramble.

As men age other issues, comorbidities if you will, present themselves. What may well be thought of as a failure of TRT is, in reality, the presentation of another disease process. Look through the posts here at EM, many members are dealing with blood sugar issues, thyroid abnormalities, adrenal questions, cardiovascular challenges. Should those worsen, as - sadly - they can and do, the consequences may be blamed on the failure of TRT. Consider erectile dysfunction, almost always a multi-faceted issue. TRT improves function in most men, but our experience at EM indicates that it does not totally restore function in many of those same fellows. If there are underlying arterial plaque issues, ED may reassert itself with age and plaque accumulation...but it may be thought of as a TRT failure. In my own case it was a simple cost/benefit assessment: I know how badly I felt with basement levels of testosterone, and couldn't imagine feeling much worse. Instead, I felt dramatically better. I do suffer from adrenal challenges and other autoimmune issues, the future isn't assured. But I've no second thoughts about my decision. All the best with your own.

 

[FeelingLost]

Hi again johnt, In reading your last paragraph again. What are you trying to fix with a clomid restart or TRT program?

I don't believe Testosterone is a fix all. My TT was 173ng/dL I've had ED for 11 years starting at age 52.
I'm trying a TRT program to try and help my overall mood and general health.
I have only been on a T gel for 6 weeks and I have brought my TT up to 630 and Free T 18.4

I still have ED............hell if my libedo picks up I would not be able to do anything about it.
My urine stream strength is as weak as it was before I started the TRT
My over all mood has slightly improved. I am not stronger and i have the same endurance on my stationary bike that I ride daily.
Playing with my dumbbell set still hurts like hell. You don't know what burn feels like until you try to lift at 6000ft above sealevel where we have no O2.

So I still have hope some and maybe all of these things will improve in time.
I am pretty sure if you try T and in 6 months if nothing you were hoping to fix or improve is better you can just stop.

 

[CoastWatcher]

...I don't believe Testosterone is a fix all...I am pretty sure if you try T and in 6 months if nothing you were hoping to fix or improve is better you can just stop.

Testosterone isn't a magical potion, individual response to therapy will certainly vary. There's no denying that some who post here are disappointed with their results; I believe many more are satisfied. In my own doctor's practice, here in Toronto, she reports that well over 85% of those who initiate therapy and stay the course through the shake-down, dialing-in process report that TRT has "significantly" improved their quality of life (those of us who are her patients regularly complete surveys on multiple topics related to our experience in treatment).

Many who abandon TRT are patients of less than skilled doctors. I believe that the single most important decision a man makes about TRT, after the threshold determination to begin treatment, is choosing their physician. A poor physician prescribes a poor protocol...which leads to poor results...which leads to frustration...which leads to the decision to abandon treatment. FL is correct, you can just stop therapy, though the suppression of your axis would need to be addressed (again, something a good doctor can manage you through).

 

[johnt]

Thank you all for your great insight, its very much appreciated.

@FeelingLost I am not doing a restart. I've never been on TRT. The reason I am considering TRT is the hopes of it improving symptoms of lack of motivation, anxiety, irritability, add muscle, and overall long-term health benefits.

@CoastWatcher your post really struck a cord with me. I think some men that are having issues probably are due to things beyond TRT and who knows how they have been managing their TRT protocol (under a competent doctor's care, etc.).

Thanks again for everyone taking time out to reply.

 

[madman]

I agree with everything CW states. I strongly feel that the choice you make to start trt should be based on your symptoms and how they are affecting your quality of life and not just improving ones libido/ed as every man wants to have a raging libido and erections that can pierce granite but if you are suffering from low energy/fatigue, irritabilty/anger/depressive moods, loss strength/muscle, poor libido/ed issues, and a general overall feeling of un wellness due to low t than I would pursue therapy as your chances of improving your overall well being are good. When it comes to libido/ed many other factors come into play and sure testosterone plays a role but not solely as vascular function, neurotransmitter balance, overall metabolic function and thyroid/adrenals all contribute to the full cascade of hormones that keep us healthy. Think about when one goes through puberty, sure there is a sudden increase in testosterone which everyone attributes to increased sex drive but you have to understand when one is young the full cascade of hormones are functioning at peak levels as everything is running smoothly including a healthy/strong vascular/endothelial system. Many seem to think that trt will make you feel 18 again when in reality we can never mimic our peak health at that age. Think of how many people on trt have other underlying health issues/poor diets/lack of exercise which can contribute to overall poor health regardless of having healthy testosterone levels.

 

[Vince]

I was reading posts on various forums and came across several people that noted after approximately 5 years the initial benefits felt by TRT such as increased libido and energy diminished significantly. Some posters noted they are now taking Cialis, Viagra, etc. and are looking to stop TRT because no longer worth it.

Also, read some of the same things about long-term use of HCG that it loses it's effectiveness over time.

For those of you that have been taking TRT for several years, have you experienced the same?

I have found this forum excellent and others good for education. There are days after reading I am ready to get started then other days after reading some posts I think, man am I crazy to start messing with my hormones. Then again I say to myself, people that are doing great on TRT probably don't seek out forums like this to share their experience. It is probably more heavier weighted by those that are having issues which gives the impression that most on TRT experience complications.

Apologize for the ramble.

I also agree that the one's with the most problems will post, makes sense. I've been on TRT over 2 years, and I have enjoyed it, but I do like tweaking my protocol.

 

[Vince Carter]

HRT is sold as a simple take this and it's far more complicated than that, lots of bad forums, bad advice, bad medical care, poor patient compliance, existing medical issues...FAR more to this than Cypionate.

 

[Vince Carter]

Too I'd really suggest that you avoid the PeakT and TNation forums, those two aren't populated by too many guys that know anything about HRT or what they're doing.

 

[Virginian]

Been on TRT almost 4 years. No decrease in response so far. Age 74.