Pre treatment protocol help

[Xisso]

Hey. I'm about to start TRT with the goal to increase motivation/energy and sex drive.

2018 I took labs and started supplementing to increase my T. Mainly zinc, maca root, noFap.
My latest lab from 2023 shows T to be a lot higher.

2018:

2023:

Still not satisfied.

I need help with a protocol.

My plan after reading online is daily injections with TestC and HcG.

Could someone advise me what dosages to start with based on my bloodwork?

Also, do i need to add anything more to my protocol?

 

[Systemlord]

Could someone advise me what dosages to start with based on my bloodwork?

I would start low and go slow, 10-15 mg per injection (70-105 mg per week). hCG is one of those unknown variables, it may cause side effects and it may not. hCG will definitely increase estrogen versus TRT in isolation.

Also, do i need to add anything more to my protocol?

Cialis has many added health benefits beyond it’s intended purpose, like reversing, endothelial dysfunction, changing T:E-2 ratios, increasing sensitivity to insulin and a large new study shows that men who take erectile dysfunction medications are less likely to experience heart failure, stroke, and heart attack.

 

[Systemlord]

Low SHBG is associated with type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome and therefore lower testosterone. If this is the case, SHBG will increase on TRT, if not it will decrease.

 

[Xisso]

hCG is one of those unknown variables, it may cause side effects and it may not. hCG will definitely increase estrogen versus TRT in isolation.

Should I test out testC or hcG by it self first to see how i respond?

Low SHBG is associated with type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome and therefore lower testosterone. If this is the case, SHBG will increase on TRT, if not it will decrease.

My stats are:
184cm
72kg
I do not have diabetes. So i should expect my already low SHBG to be even lower on TRT?

 

[Systemlord]

I do not have diabetes. So i should expect my already low SHBG to be even lower on TRT?

Yes, single digits. You’re a light weight for someone with low SHBG, which might mean it’s genetic and not low because of a disease. Typically low SHBG men are overweight.

 

[Systemlord]

Should I test out testC or hcG by it self first to see how i respond?

I would start TRT in isolation and add the hCG later on after you dial-in on TRT.

 

[Xisso]

I would start low and go slow, 10-15 mg per injection (70-105 mg per week)

Is that including the ester?

You’re a light weight for someone with low SHBG

Light and tall!


Do i need to draw anything else that will be important for the dial at 6 weeks bloods besides:
Blood panel
TTotal
FT
Estrogen

 

[Systemlord]

Is that including the ester?


Light and tall!


Do i need to draw anything else that will be important for the dial at 6 weeks bloods besides:
Blood panel
TTotal
FT
Estrogen

Yeah, that’s pretty standard for a 6 week follow-up. You start adding more testing when you’re having problems.

The ester only determines the half-life.

 

[Xisso]

Yeah, that’s pretty standard for a 6 week follow-up. You start adding more testing when you’re having problems.

Internet was right.

If I wanted to start both TRT and HcG at the same time..(Everywhere I read they advocate for this?!) What would my daily HcG dose be?
Regardings side effects from HcG. What are the common ones?

 

[Systemlord]

If I wanted to start both TRT and HcG at the same time..(Everywhere I read they advocate for this?!)

T-Nation, ExcelMale don’t subscribe to this idea. You have many different members, with differing opinions, unique personalities who often debate such subjects. I find it hard to believe everyone everywhere has the same opinion about a particular subject.

You haven’t dived deep enough into the countless conversations on these forums. A lot of men can’t even tolerate hCG, at any dosage. Men who are genetically predisposed to high aromatization and therefore estrogen dominance will find dialing in on hCG problematic.

Imagine trying to dial-in on hormone replacement on two different compounds, and you’re having side effects. Is it the TRT dosage that too high or is it the hCG or hCG dosage that’s causing the sides?

Too many moving parts if you ask me. So better to dial-in on TRT in isolation. If you add the hCG later on and start feeling worse, you know it’s the hCG causing the problems.

 

[Systemlord]

Regardings side effects from HcG. What are the common ones?

hCG can stimulate the LH receptors in the breast tissue and trigger gynecomastia. Also fluid retention, bloating, acne, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction and low libido.

 

[madman]

Hey. I'm about to start TRT with the goal to increase motivation/energy and sex drive.

2018 I took labs and started supplementing to increase my T. Mainly zinc, maca root, noFap.
My latest lab from 2023 shows T to be a lot higher.

2018:View attachment 32491

2023:View attachment 32492

Still not satisfied.

I need help with a protocol.

My plan after reading online is daily injections with TestC and HcG.

Could someone advise me what dosages to start with based on my bloodwork?

Also, do i need to add anything more to my protocol?

Was your most recent blood work done in the early AM in a fasted state?

Although your TT 15 nmol/L (432.6 ng/dL) may seem subpar your FT would not even be considered low as you have absurdly low SHBG.

 

[Xisso]

Was your most recent blood work done in the early AM in a fasted state?

Although your TT 15 nmol/L (432.6 ng/dL) may seem subpar your FT would not even be considered low as you have absurdly low SHBG.

Yea, 1 hour after i woke up, fasted.

Do you belive I would not get any increase in motivation/energy and sex drive from TRT with my blood work?

 

[madman]

Hey. I'm about to start TRT with the goal to increase motivation/energy and sex drive.

2018 I took labs and started supplementing to increase my T. Mainly zinc, maca root, noFap.
My latest lab from 2023 shows T to be a lot higher.

2018:View attachment 32491

2023:View attachment 32492

Still not satisfied.

I need help with a protocol.

My plan after reading online is daily injections with TestC and HcG.

Could someone advise me what dosages to start with based on my bloodwork?

Also, do i need to add anything more to my protocol?

Would tread lightly here before jumping on TRT!

Your hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBCs are already on the high end.

 

[Xisso]

Would tread lightly here before jumping on TRT!

Your hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBCs are already on the high end.

I did a blood test a bit after that. Only blood panel this time. Is it looking better?

 

[madman]

Yea, 1 hour after i woke up, fasted.

Do you belive I would not get any increase in motivation/energy and sex drive from TRT with my blood work?

You only had TT, BAT, and SHBG tested.

Although BAT can be helpful we always want to test FT.

S- Testosteron, bioaktiv - Unilabs

sv

anvisningar.se

Even then with a TT 436 ng/dL and absurdly low SHBG, your FT would not be low.

If anything you would have a decent FT level.

You are missing some critical blood markers LH/FSH, full thyroid panel, cortisol (four specimens), and prolactin.

Keep in mind dysfunction thyroid/adrenals can easily have a negative impact on energy, mood let alone libido/erectile function.

 

[madman]

Hey. I'm about to start TRT with the goal to increase motivation/energy and sex drive.

2018 I took labs and started supplementing to increase my T. Mainly zinc, maca root, noFap.
My latest lab from 2023 shows T to be a lot higher.

2018:View attachment 32491

2023:View attachment 32492

Still not satisfied.

I need help with a protocol.

My plan after reading online is daily injections with TestC and HcG.

Could someone advise me what dosages to start with based on my bloodwork?

Also, do i need to add anything more to my protocol?

2023-4-19 (blood work)

Your BAT (calculated) was 11 nmol/L

If your albumin was 3.6 g/dL.

Free & Bioavailable Testosterone calculator

BAT 11 nmol/L

FT 16.2 ng/dL

If your albumin was 4.3 g/dL.


BAT 11.4 nmol/L

FT 14.1 ng/dL.

 

[Xisso]

FT 14.1 ng/dL.

Thank you for the help to figure out my FT.

My free T is somewhere between 16-14 ng/dl then. And to feel great I should aim to get to 25-30 ng/dl based on online reading when people feel great on TRT?

You are missing some critical blood markers LH/FSH, full thyroid panel, cortisol (four specimens), and prolactin.

Keep in mind dysfunction thyroid/adrenals can easily have a negative impact on energy, mood let alone libido/erectile function.

I have done more extensive blood work done via Dr and I'm sure he took a thyroid panel, cortisol. I have requested the answer so I can check for myself.

LH is in the 2023 panel or is that wrong LH?.

Prolactin I'm not sure if I took so before starting I should perhaps have it checked?

I found this blood panel. Should I add something to this before starting treatment to go from normal FT 14-16 ng/dl to 25-30 ng/dl?

 

[Cataceous]

With those numbers I would not start TRT.

...
My free T is somewhere between 16-14 ng/dl then. And to feel great I should aim to get to 25-30 ng/dl based on online reading when people feel great on TRT?
...

Negative! That 14-16 ng/dL is right in the middle of the healthy normal range for Vermeulen calculated free testosterone. It would be foolish to start TRT with such robust free testosterone. Many of the guys claiming to feel better at 25-30 ng/dL have not even spent significant time at physiological levels. What newcomers fail to appreciate is that TRT can be quite disruptive, affecting many hormones and systems. When a guy already has normal testosterone, starting TRT fails the cost-benefit analysis in my opinion.

You have other options. If you're determined to see if higher testosterone does anything for you then try a fast acting form, such as nasal gel or troches. Because these provide relatively short bursts of testosterone they have less impact on natural production and other hormones.

The symptoms you describe can also relate to neurotransmitters, and dopamine in particular. You might experiment with supplements and medications that boost dopamine, etc.

 

[Xisso]

That 14-16 ng/dL is right in the middle of the healthy normal range for Vermeulen calculated free testosterone

I agree with that. But I want to see if going from normal to high, 25-30 ng/dl will make my average motiovation be high motivation.

When a guy already has normal testosterone, starting TRT fails the cost-benefit analysis in my opinion.

Do you mean costs as in price for the treatment or should I be very concern about health issues starting TRT?