UPDATE 8:
In the last month I've been running the protocol mentioned in the previous update, application to the scrotum, 200mg at 9AM and 100mg at 6PM. Everything is still fine as before, no changes, however there are a few more things I wanted to test out, to get a good feel for this.
I made a new batch of cream with a slightly modified formula and I wanted to make sure that it works the same. The previous batch was a little grainy (but everything still absorbed), so I added extra oil for it to dissolve better, and it worked, the new batch is completely smooth. Next I wanted to see what my new trough is on this protocol. And finally I wanted to see what my levels would be if I applied to the shoulder.
Trough (Scrotum):
Total T: 312 ng/dl (range 220-870 ng/dl)
E2: 28 ng/L (range 10-45 ng/L)
In absolute numbers my trough isn't that good, however in relative numbers it's a pretty significant increase. Obviously the additional application of 100mg in the evening works quite well. I don't feel bad having such a trough as the cream absorbs fast in the morning, so I'm not running such levels for long, but I still think it would be better to have it slightly higher. I think this opens up the possibility of running 150mg in the morning and evening, 12 hours apart, as is the standard cream protocol. While I wanted to have a drop off in levels throughout the night, maybe the main point of the hormonal fluctuation is just that, having them fluctuate throughout the day, regardless if you have 2 peaks and 2 troughs in 24 hours.
Peak (Shoulders):
Total T: 624 ng/dl (range 220-870 ng/dl)
E2: 22 ng/L (range 10-45 ng/L)
DHT: 1460 pg/ml (range 300-850 pg/ml)
On scrotal applications I was running pretty high DHT numbers and it seems we don't really know the implications of this long term. I wanted to see what my levels would be if I applied anywhere else and I decided to try the shoulder. Now the peak value here is horrible, it's around a third of what it is on scrotal applications. I also noticed that some symptoms started coming back. I think this just goes to prove how much more effective scrotal applications are and that they're most likely vital for the majority of men on dermal applications of T. Other places could be viable if higher % creams were used, something like 40%, meaning that you just put that much more T on the skin in absolute numbers.
I was most surprised by the DHT levels, which are quite high compared to T. I thought the conversion would be significantly lower just by applying on the shoulder. I thought that having lower T levels would decrease DHT significantly, but that just isn't the case. My expectation was having DHT at about 800. In any case shoulder applications are a no go, low T levels, while still running high DHT. I'll go back to the scrotum.
I think I have a good feel for the T cream now, I still like it very much. I'll switch to applying 150mg to the scrotum 2x a day with 12 hours apart, as is the standard protocol. If it won't feel right, then I'll go back to what I was doing here. I will likely not do any more blood tests with cream, other than a yearly checkup.
