Shots or Cream TOT Podcast's latest theory

[Powerdome]

Hi all,

Small rant to start!!!

I have listened to the TOT podcast for a long time and pay attention to the doctors round table as it is an incredible resource on all things TOT related.

I have also listened to Jay in the past say he has tried creams before and gone back to shots because they work better. Now on the latest episode (As Dr Nichols who he had on the show advocates) he says creams are the best method! (rubbed on the ball sac)

Poor Jay has great intentions but is a super weird dude. "Down the rabbit hole!" "Tin foil hat!" haha

His message is very important. Its a shame he contradicts himself at times.

So, after all that...who has tried both creams and shots? What has been your verdict concerning these two methods?

I would think if creams (at 10 or 20%) are as effective, it would be a better choice?

 

[Grrrr]

WHere in the podcast is this? I must have missed it

 

[HealthMan]

I tried both. Creams didnt work well for me. I would not absorb them (unless applying im the ball sac or perianal). You have to apply twice a day. You have to worry about not contaminating your wife and kids. Injections are much easier. No absorption issues. No daily messy applications. Also both numbers and subjectively i feel better using injections.

 

[madman]

Creams with new application over injectable?

 

[OMI100]

Never tried shots.
I do well on cream 200mg/ml at 1/2 mil daily on my tricep under arm.
That's about a 1/4 teaspoon....

 

[Vince Carter]

If for some reason I ever came off shots, Id want to do the cream to the scrotum, exclusively. I already know if works well for as an adjunct to my injections for DHT treatment.

 

[Vince]

Before I started trt my doctor recommended creams. I read so much on testosterone replacement therapy before I started, it made me fearful of using creams. There was no way I was going to contaminate my grandkids or my lovers. At least for me I'm really happy that I went with injecting.

 

[Vince Carter]

I dont have a cross contamination issue which IMHO is actually pretty low in most day-to-day situations any way.

 

[stx359]

What about using both? I am expecting my initial set of labs any day now after adding 25 mg a day (one click) of Empower compounded cream applied scrotally to what I was already doing - 80 mg test cyp q 3.5 and 150 IU/day of HCG. I anticipate needing to drop my injected dose and increasing to two clicks a day. Debating between once a day or one click twice a day. I am extremely curious about the idea of more closely mimicking the natural pattern of testosterone as opposed to two peaks a week. Adding the cream provided a noticeable boost to my libido which I am trying to determine if that was a honeymoon effect or if I simply grew used to it.

 

[Vince]

I think creams have gotten a bad wrap for a number of reasons. They are often prescribed at too low of a dose. Some of the coumpounded ones are weak or not consistent. Half life doesn’t seem to be factored correct just like with cypionate. You need it more often.

There are a large number of guys doing well on creams. More than likely they never ventured into this forum bc they just used what the doc said and felt better.

I wasn't saying that creams are bad for trt. For me it's just that if I contaminated anyone, I don't know if I could forgive myself.

 

[Vince Carter]

What about using both? I am expecting my initial set of labs any day now after adding 25 mg a day (one click) of Empower compounded cream applied scrotally to what I was already doing - 80 mg test cyp q 3.5 and 150 IU/day of HCG. I anticipate needing to drop my injected dose and increasing to two clicks a day. Debating between once a day or one click twice a day. I am extremely curious about the idea of more closely mimicking the natural pattern of testosterone as opposed to two peaks a week. Adding the cream provided a noticeable boost to my libido which I am trying to determine if that was a honeymoon effect or if I simply grew used to it.

Remember that when you test on topicals the routine is opposite of injections with a trough, you apply the cream ~2hrs prior to your blood draw.

 

[S1W]

Remember that when you test on topicals the routine is opposite of injections with a trough, you apply the cream ~2hrs prior to your blood draw.

Something I’ve been curious about - for guys that use a click of cream to raise DHT, how long would DHT stay elevated? For example, we know that if you were to apply cream in the morning, the peak would be a few hours after application and then would decrease until the next morning. Does DHT follow a similar pattern?

 

[Vince Carter]

Thru testing I found that I return to baseline 24hrs later, has to be applied daily in my case.

 

[stx359]

Remember that when you test on topicals the routine is opposite of injections with a trough, you apply the cream ~2hrs prior to your blood draw.

Correct! Dr. C is overseeing this process and counseled me accordingly but its an important thing to point out. My draws were on injection day before injection but two hours after applying the cream.

 

[stx359]

Something I’ve been curious about - for guys that use a click of cream to raise DHT, how long would DHT stay elevated? For example, we know that if you were to apply cream in the morning, the peak would be a few hours after application and then would decrease until the next morning. Does DHT follow a similar pattern?

Strongly recommend you click on the link and read that study. There is a chart of DHT levels over time that is fascinating on page 728. Interestingly DHT peak levels were the same regardless of dose. Doses were 12.5 mg, 25 mg or 50 mg. However the 50 mg dose maintained DHT levels over 16 hours whereas they dropped in the 25 mg group and dropped further in the 12.5 mg group.

 

[Vince Carter]

Ive used 12.5 and 25mg, basically one click or two from my dispenser and I found out I needed to use it everyday when I did my first lab and I was still at baseline which is about 40 on a 16-79 scale.
When I applied 2 clicks 2hrs prior to my draw that put my DHT at about 100-110 there about on that same scale. Repeated that twice and took it as gospel for how my body responds to the cream.

There was once an old(er) notion from years ago that treating a mans DHT was more conducive than just adding Testosterone.