Testosterone Propionate - Gauging How Quickly It Is Peaking Based Off EQ

[keithtran2102]

Maybe that's something to do with your FT:E2, SHBG:E2 or even DHT:E2 ratio I think?

 

[AndroChishti]

If I were in this situation with the absurd E2 level after injecting a tiny dose of testosterone subq, the very first experiment I would run is to switch to shallow IM. I would use your same gauge needles, at least 1/2", and go straight into the delts, and then repeat labs in a week.

There has been endless debate around whether it should be possible for subq injections to produce higher E2 levels, and what the mechanism for that could be. Theories aside, it is a fact that there are large numbers of men who've experienced this phenomenon, including many on this forum (myself among them).

I have similar experience with subq as well, I noticed that my T:E2 and DHT:E2 ratio gets skewed towards in favor of estrogen. I think it is because of local estrase activity. Estrase enzymes are available in other tissues of body not just blood, and it could be that since the depot of testosterone is in fat, the local estrase enzyme would cleave off the ester chain and hence exposing alot of free T to aromtase enzyme in fat cells. Excess conversion of T to E2 and slower release of T from the subq layer both results in higher E2 levels and comparatively lower T levels. This is just a hunch, I might be completely wrong.

Another thing, that I have noticed is that I dont do well with microdose daily protocols. After multiple blood tests, I consistently find low Total T and DHT levels and proportionately higher E2 levels on mcirodose daily injections, for example 10mg TE or 10mg TP. I develop nipple sorness and extreme emotionality on these stable, low dose protocols and it feels as if I have castrated myself. Where as I feel much better on less freqeunt bolus injections like MWF protocols.

I have also noticed that on low dose protocols, one which I am on right i.e. 10mg TP ED, I can pop adex like candy and still have all high e2 symptoms. I am taking 0.5mg adex ED along with my shot of 10mg TP for the last 4 days and still not have crashed my E2. While on less frequent protocols, just 0.25mg Adex on shot days is enough to provide symptom relief from high E2.

Again, this might be because on low dose protocols, there arent enough androgens (T, DHT) to balance E2 and so even physiological levels of E2 could cause symptoms.

From tomorrow I am starting 15mg TP protocol, fingers cross if thats a success.

 

[Cataceous]

I have similar experience with subq as well, I noticed that my T:E2 and DHT:E2 ratio gets skewed towards in favor of estrogen. I think it is because of local estrase activity. Estrase enzymes are available in other tissues of body not just blood, and it could be that since the depot of testosterone is in fat, the local estrase enzyme would cleave off the ester chain and hence exposing alot of free T to aromtase enzyme in fat cells. Excess conversion of T to E2 and slower release of T from the subq layer both results in higher E2 levels and comparatively lower T levels. This is just a hunch, I might be completely wrong.
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If this were the case then you would not expect these opposite results seen in this study. With N=234 it is pretty well-powered. It's even more surprising because you expect lower troughs with IM vs SC. @FunkOdyssey, do you see any confounders in this research?

While IM-TC and SCTE-AI provide a significant increase in TT levels, SCTE-AI is associated with lower levels of post-therapy HCT and E2 compared to IM-TC after adjusting for significant covariates. SCTE-AI is an effective testosterone delivery system with a potentially preferable safety profile over IM-TC.​