I posted this in another thread about doing an HCG reset to restore libido. I think "common wisdom" seems to imply that HCG maintains some level of production of pregnenolone but this did not happen in my case despite using very large doses. I used 500HCG along with 50mg of test cyp e3.5d. Every 6 months I do a 3 week period where I run 1000iu HCG MWF while stopping T for those 3 weeks then I resume TRT. The ester probably never compoletely leaves my system but it fixes my libido issue if I have them. I thought initially it would be bc my neurosteroids were low but this doesn't seem to be it. My pregnenolone is ZERO. My DHEA-S is 318 which means that my adrenals are working. My libido is raging. So what exactly is HCG doing with regards to neurosteroids on TRT? Is it doing anything?
"So my labs are in. This is 15 days from my last test cyp shot of 50mg and 6 shots in of 1000iu HCG MWF. My libido was RAGING after being in the dumps.
Total T 352
Free T 127
E2 24
DHEA 318
Pregnenolone ZERO... did not even register on the lab test
SHBG 10
So obviously the libido restoration has NOTHING TO DO with my Pregnenolone levels based on these bloods. My DHEA is thst level no matter what and never really varies.
It seems the most important number in the entire chart is E2 24 which is roughly where I am during TRT anyways. Unless the labs can't measure something like ITT intratesticular testosterone and intratesticular estrogen if that is even a thing.
I have finished my HCG monotherapy and resumed TRT. One thing thst happened this time is I was getting some night sweats in week 3 and my small pre existing gyno seemed to be flaring. I also lost my morning wood in week 3. Zero. I am wondering if week 3 pushed me over the edge e2 wise while my twst was basically zero as the ester finally cleared. Going fwd I may try to just stay on test and run HCG 1000iu MWF and never come off the test. Or add the clomid alongside like Lipschultz suggests in the literature.
Also for reference on 50mg of test cyp and 500iu HCG e3.5d my total t is 700, free t 290, e2 25-30, SHBG low teens. I am really confused now.
Is it long term unhealthy to have Pregnenolone of zero? Or can we view it like LH and FSH being zero due to therapy?"
"So my labs are in. This is 15 days from my last test cyp shot of 50mg and 6 shots in of 1000iu HCG MWF. My libido was RAGING after being in the dumps.
Total T 352
Free T 127
E2 24
DHEA 318
Pregnenolone ZERO... did not even register on the lab test
SHBG 10
So obviously the libido restoration has NOTHING TO DO with my Pregnenolone levels based on these bloods. My DHEA is thst level no matter what and never really varies.
It seems the most important number in the entire chart is E2 24 which is roughly where I am during TRT anyways. Unless the labs can't measure something like ITT intratesticular testosterone and intratesticular estrogen if that is even a thing.
I have finished my HCG monotherapy and resumed TRT. One thing thst happened this time is I was getting some night sweats in week 3 and my small pre existing gyno seemed to be flaring. I also lost my morning wood in week 3. Zero. I am wondering if week 3 pushed me over the edge e2 wise while my twst was basically zero as the ester finally cleared. Going fwd I may try to just stay on test and run HCG 1000iu MWF and never come off the test. Or add the clomid alongside like Lipschultz suggests in the literature.
Also for reference on 50mg of test cyp and 500iu HCG e3.5d my total t is 700, free t 290, e2 25-30, SHBG low teens. I am really confused now.
Is it long term unhealthy to have Pregnenolone of zero? Or can we view it like LH and FSH being zero due to therapy?"
