ExcelMale
Menu
Home
What's new
Latest activity
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Videos
Lab Tests
Doctor Finder
Buy Books
About Us
Men’s Health Coaching
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
Forums
Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Blood Test Discussion
Tips to Dial In Test C + HCG Protocol
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="madman" data-source="post: 217445" data-attributes="member: 13851"><p><strong><em>post #3</em></strong></p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.excelmale.com/forum/threads/ideas-for-fixing-chronic-ed-poor-sensitivity.24231/[/URL]</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Oct 13, 2021</strong></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Hi guys,</strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>I’m 30 years old living in Canada and I have been on TRT for approximately three years. The primary issue that got me started on TRT was lack of libido, bad ED (including total absence of morning wood), and a “numb” feeling / no sensitivity in the genitals.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>My initial bloodwork (September 2018) only included a few tests, with the below results:</strong></em></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><strong><em><strong>TSH: 1.61 (0.35 – 5.00 mIU/L)</strong></em></strong></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><strong><em><strong>LH: 4.3 (1.7 – 8.6 IU/L)</strong></em></strong></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><strong><em><strong>FSH: 2 (2 – 12 IU/L)</strong></em></strong></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><strong><em><strong>Testosterone: 8 (7.6 – 31.4 nmol/L)</strong></em></strong></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><strong><em><strong>Free testosterone: 162 (196 – 699 pmol/L)</strong></em></strong></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><strong><em><strong>Estradiol (standard): 77 (<159 pmol/L)</strong></em></strong></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><strong><em><strong>Prolactin: 13 (<18 ug/L)</strong></em></strong></em></li> </ul><p><em>After reviewing this bloodwork the urologist I’m seeing started me on 5G taro-testosterone 1% gel. In the initial weeks my libido came back and ED went away, but this only lasted a few weeks.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I found <a href="https://www.excelmale.com/forum/threads/how-to-use-excelmale-com.18196/" target="_blank">ExcelMale</a> and switched over to cypionate injections in the hope they would give me a long-term solution<strong>. Over the years I’ve tweaked protocols but in the last ~12-18 months feel I’ve been quite dialed in with good levels. My mood has been good, I feel I’m enjoying the benefits of TRT except for the libido and ED issues. I still get minimal / no morning wood. Even using 50-100mg of Viagra only gives me mediocre erections for sex, and the sensitivity of my genitals is almost nothing when I do use Viagra.</strong></em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>I’ve been injecting 90 mg/week of test cypionate, which I split into two doses of 45 mg every 3.5 days. I don’t use an AI or HCG. </em></strong><em>Below I pasted a summary table of some key metrics from bloodwork to show how my levels have been tracking for the past year. I have also posted the complete labs in case there are any markers worth reviewing more closely. Note: my doctor refuses to give me the sensitive estradiol test, so these are all standard estradiol tests unfortunately.</em></p><p>[ATTACH=full]19729[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>From your labs posted above pre/post trt on Sept.21/2021 you were hitting a TT 25.4 nmol/L (732 ng/dL), FT 725 pmol/L (slightly high) estradiol 161 pmol/L (non-sensitive slightly high) on a T-only protocol 90 mg T/week split (45 mg every 3.5 days).</p><p></p><p>From the most recent labs Feb.2/2022 (posted below) you just had done on the same dose 90mg T/week split (45 mg every 3.5 days) you are only hitting a slightly higher TT 27.4 nmol/L (790 ng/dL), a higher FT 823 pmol/L, and the shit kicker is lower estradiol 126 pmol/L and this is with the addition of <em><strong>hCG <em>1</em>000IU (</strong></em><strong><em><strong><em>500IU </em></strong>of Pregnyl 2x weekly). </em></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>I just had bloodwork done after 4 months on this protocol:</strong></p><p><strong><em><strong>1) 45mg of test cypionate 2x weekly (90mg total per week)</strong></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>2) 500IU of Pregnyl 2x weekly (1,000IU total per week)</em></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>My labs are attached. The free T didn't show up on the PDF but it's 823 pmol/L, which is well above the reference range of 160 - 699 pmol/L</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]19730[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>Where does your SHBG sit?</p><p></p><p>When were labs drawn for labs done on Sept.21/2021 and Feb.2/2022?</p><p></p><p>Definitely would not rely on the standard e2 assay.</p><p></p><p>If you live in Ontario you can get the sensitive e2 assay.</p><p></p><p>What is your CRP?</p><p></p><p>Have no clue where your estradiol level truly sits.</p><p></p><p>As I stated in your previous thread there is a good chance with a robust TT 700-800 ng/dL that your FT is mid or high normal.</p><p></p><p>If labs were drawn at true trough (84 hrs post-injection) then your peak TT, FT, and estradiol will be higher.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]19731[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]19732[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>You would be hitting a healthy/high-end FT and this is most likely at trough if you had your labs done at the right time.</p><p></p><p>You stated:</p><p></p><p><em><strong>The good and bad of how I feel:</strong></em></p><p><em><strong><u>Good</u></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- Generally decent energy and mood, with some fatigue at times throughout the day (see below re: sleep quality)</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- Solid strength gains in the gym</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- Strong appetite</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- High libido and interest in sex</strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><u>Bad</u></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- <u>Mediocre sleep quality</u>. Waking up in the middle of the night wired (free T a touch too high?)</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- Mediocre erection quality, despite high libido</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- Testicles retracted up a bit and look small despite using HCG</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>- <u>Some back and forehead acne (not too concerned about this)</u></strong></em></p><p></p><p></p><p>Sounds like a healthy FT level let alone if this is at the true trough then your peak TT, FT, and estradiol would be much higher as you are injecting twice weekly (every 3.5 days).</p><p></p><p>In most cases, acne is a dead giveaway that FT is too high.</p><p></p><p>Excess FT levels can result in acne/oily skin (genetically prone), accelerated balding (genetically prone), drive down HDL, increased RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit (common), overstimulation of the CNS (common), bloating/water retention due to androgens effects on the retention of electrolytes (common).</p><p></p><p>Let alone many end up trying to manage estradiol with the use of an aromatase inhibitor.</p><p></p><p>Some of the side effects are due to testosterone metabolites estradiol/DHT.</p><p></p><p>Keep in mind that testosterone has a tonic effect on the CNS and can easily make one feel amped up let alone have a negative impact on sleep (quality/quantity).</p><p></p><p>FT 5-10 ng/dL would be considered low.</p><p></p><p>FT 16-31 ng/dL (high-end) is healthy.</p><p></p><p>Most men will do well with a FT 20-30 ng/dL.</p><p></p><p>Some may choose to run higher levels.</p><p></p><p>Comes down to the individual.</p><p></p><p>Even then most whether low/lowish or high/highish SHBG one can easily hit a high-end let alone absurdly high FT with a TT 1000ng/dL.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="madman, post: 217445, member: 13851"] [B][I]post #3[/I][/B] [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.excelmale.com/forum/threads/ideas-for-fixing-chronic-ed-poor-sensitivity.24231/[/URL] [B]Oct 13, 2021[/B] [I][B]Hi guys, I’m 30 years old living in Canada and I have been on TRT for approximately three years. The primary issue that got me started on TRT was lack of libido, bad ED (including total absence of morning wood), and a “numb” feeling / no sensitivity in the genitals. My initial bloodwork (September 2018) only included a few tests, with the below results:[/B][/I] [LIST] [*][I][B][I][B]TSH: 1.61 (0.35 – 5.00 mIU/L)[/B][/I][/B][/I] [*][I][B][I][B]LH: 4.3 (1.7 – 8.6 IU/L)[/B][/I][/B][/I] [*][I][B][I][B]FSH: 2 (2 – 12 IU/L)[/B][/I][/B][/I] [*][I][B][I][B]Testosterone: 8 (7.6 – 31.4 nmol/L)[/B][/I][/B][/I] [*][I][B][I][B]Free testosterone: 162 (196 – 699 pmol/L)[/B][/I][/B][/I] [*][I][B][I][B]Estradiol (standard): 77 (<159 pmol/L)[/B][/I][/B][/I] [*][I][B][I][B]Prolactin: 13 (<18 ug/L)[/B][/I][/B][/I] [/LIST] [I]After reviewing this bloodwork the urologist I’m seeing started me on 5G taro-testosterone 1% gel. In the initial weeks my libido came back and ED went away, but this only lasted a few weeks. I found [URL='https://www.excelmale.com/forum/threads/how-to-use-excelmale-com.18196/']ExcelMale[/URL] and switched over to cypionate injections in the hope they would give me a long-term solution[B]. Over the years I’ve tweaked protocols but in the last ~12-18 months feel I’ve been quite dialed in with good levels. My mood has been good, I feel I’m enjoying the benefits of TRT except for the libido and ED issues. I still get minimal / no morning wood. Even using 50-100mg of Viagra only gives me mediocre erections for sex, and the sensitivity of my genitals is almost nothing when I do use Viagra.[/B][/I] [B][I]I’ve been injecting 90 mg/week of test cypionate, which I split into two doses of 45 mg every 3.5 days. I don’t use an AI or HCG. [/I][/B][I]Below I pasted a summary table of some key metrics from bloodwork to show how my levels have been tracking for the past year. I have also posted the complete labs in case there are any markers worth reviewing more closely. Note: my doctor refuses to give me the sensitive estradiol test, so these are all standard estradiol tests unfortunately.[/I] [ATTACH type="full" alt="1644768365751.png"]19729[/ATTACH] From your labs posted above pre/post trt on Sept.21/2021 you were hitting a TT 25.4 nmol/L (732 ng/dL), FT 725 pmol/L (slightly high) estradiol 161 pmol/L (non-sensitive slightly high) on a T-only protocol 90 mg T/week split (45 mg every 3.5 days). From the most recent labs Feb.2/2022 (posted below) you just had done on the same dose 90mg T/week split (45 mg every 3.5 days) you are only hitting a slightly higher TT 27.4 nmol/L (790 ng/dL), a higher FT 823 pmol/L, and the shit kicker is lower estradiol 126 pmol/L and this is with the addition of [I][B]hCG [I]1[/I]000IU ([/B][/I][B][I][B][I]500IU [/I][/B]of Pregnyl 2x weekly). [/I] I just had bloodwork done after 4 months on this protocol: [I][B]1) 45mg of test cypionate 2x weekly (90mg total per week)[/B] 2) 500IU of Pregnyl 2x weekly (1,000IU total per week)[/I] My labs are attached. The free T didn't show up on the PDF but it's 823 pmol/L, which is well above the reference range of 160 - 699 pmol/L[/B] [ATTACH type="full" alt="Screenshot (10880).png"]19730[/ATTACH] Where does your SHBG sit? When were labs drawn for labs done on Sept.21/2021 and Feb.2/2022? Definitely would not rely on the standard e2 assay. If you live in Ontario you can get the sensitive e2 assay. What is your CRP? Have no clue where your estradiol level truly sits. As I stated in your previous thread there is a good chance with a robust TT 700-800 ng/dL that your FT is mid or high normal. If labs were drawn at true trough (84 hrs post-injection) then your peak TT, FT, and estradiol will be higher. [ATTACH type="full" alt="Screenshot (10881).png"]19731[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type="full" alt="Screenshot (10882).png"]19732[/ATTACH] You would be hitting a healthy/high-end FT and this is most likely at trough if you had your labs done at the right time. You stated: [I][B]The good and bad of how I feel: [U]Good[/U] - Generally decent energy and mood, with some fatigue at times throughout the day (see below re: sleep quality) - Solid strength gains in the gym - Strong appetite - High libido and interest in sex [U]Bad[/U] - [U]Mediocre sleep quality[/U]. Waking up in the middle of the night wired (free T a touch too high?) - Mediocre erection quality, despite high libido - Testicles retracted up a bit and look small despite using HCG - [U]Some back and forehead acne (not too concerned about this)[/U][/B][/I] Sounds like a healthy FT level let alone if this is at the true trough then your peak TT, FT, and estradiol would be much higher as you are injecting twice weekly (every 3.5 days). In most cases, acne is a dead giveaway that FT is too high. Excess FT levels can result in acne/oily skin (genetically prone), accelerated balding (genetically prone), drive down HDL, increased RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit (common), overstimulation of the CNS (common),[B][I] [/I][/B]bloating/water retention due to androgens effects on the retention of electrolytes (common). Let alone many end up trying to manage estradiol with the use of an aromatase inhibitor. Some of the side effects are due to testosterone metabolites estradiol/DHT. Keep in mind that testosterone has a tonic effect on the CNS and can easily make one feel amped up let alone have a negative impact on sleep (quality/quantity). FT 5-10 ng/dL would be considered low. FT 16-31 ng/dL (high-end) is healthy. Most men will do well with a FT 20-30 ng/dL. Some may choose to run higher levels. Comes down to the individual. Even then most whether low/lowish or high/highish SHBG one can easily hit a high-end let alone absurdly high FT with a TT 1000ng/dL. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Share this page
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
WhatsApp
Email
Share
Link
Sponsors
Forums
Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Blood Test Discussion
Tips to Dial In Test C + HCG Protocol
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top