mr.craig.smith
New Member
Hey guys! I hope you're doing well. I'm reaching out because I just had some recent labs done for my annual physical/checkup through my primary care doctor, and I am genuinely surprised at the results. I posted my previous labs on another thread, and I will put them below again as well.
Here is my current protocol:
18mg of testosterone cypionate daily subQ
500iu of HCG Monday/Wednesday/Friday (3X per week)
2.5mg tadalafil daily* (except for the past 7 days, more on that below)
I recently switched to this protocol on 4/17/2025 after my initial starting protocol on 12/12/2025 of:
16mg of testosterone cypionate daily shallow IM/subQ
500iu of HCG 2x per week (every 3rd day)
2.5mg tadalafil daily
I switched from shallow IM to subQ because I was feeling kind of bad/reluctant about putting so many holes in muscle tissue, and it seemed like potentially a "good idea" to switch to daily subQ given that I'm injecting 356 days a year for the rest of my life. Anyways, without further adieu, here are my most recent labs. I am only highlighting some of the information - the rest are attached. I am going to bold the things I'm most surprised by:
DHEA-Sulfate: 392 ug/DL (range 23-266)
Estradiol: 20.0 pg/mL (range 15.0 - 33.1)
Progesterone: 1.70 ng/mL (range 0.14 - 2.06)
Prolactin: 10.90 ng/mL (range 2.64 - 13.13)
Testosterone: 643 ng/dL (range 240-781)
SHBG: 28.6 nmol/L (range 17.4 - 69.0)
Calc Free Testosterone: 147.0 pg/mL (range 42.3 - 190.0)
For comparison, here are my previous labs before switching to strictly subQ:
04/07/2025:
Estradiol: 34 pg/mL (range <61 pg/mL)
Testosterone: 826 ng/dL (range 300 - 1080 ng/dL)
SHBG: 39 (range 17-56 nmol/L)
Testosterone Free-Calc: 172.70 pg/mL (range 47.0 - 244 pg/mL)
03/17/2025:
Testosterone: 1115 ng/dL (range 300 - 1080 ng/dL)
SHBG: 39 (range 17-56 nmol/L)
Testosterone Free-Calc: 252.0 pg/mL (range 47.0 - 244 pg/mL)
*these labs were done post injection around 1:00 PM and were not trough labs.
02/17/2025:
Estradiol: 33.7 pg/mL (range 11.8 - 39.9)
Testosterone: 958 ng/dL (range 280 -1100)
SHBG: *not measured*
Testosterone Free-Calc: *not measured*
12/19/2025:
Estradiol:
Testosterone Total: 448 ng/dL (range 250 - 1100 ng/dL)
SHBG: 37.2 nmol/L (range 10-50 nmol/L)
Testosterone Free-Calc: 68.3 pg/mL (35.0 - 155.0 pg/mL)
DHEA: 467 mcg/dL
Observations:
The last time I had prolactin tested/measured was 06/11/2024 and it was a 4.0 ng/mL (range 3.9 - 22.7).
Subjective feelings and where I need help:
-Mood: I "peaked" mood wise in March. At the time I remember feeling/journaling that I finally felt like I had things dialed in. My workouts/PT were going well, my mood was positive, and I felt very "happy" and on. However, I also figured this was due to the honeymoon phase.
- Workouts: I have made slow and steady progress with my physical therapy, but by no means am I setting any records or really packing on a lot of mass. My bodyweight has fluctuated about +5-7lbs from 212-215lbs at my lowest/pre TRT to 220lbs current (some fluctuation with water weight/glycogen depending on how many carbs I've had). My workouts are OK, but I've definitely noticed a decrease in desire and intensity of effort since about March. My step count has consolidated between 9-10k per/day, which is about 4-5 miles of walking/movement, and I am currently doing physical therapy at home/apartment gy about 4-5x per week (usually only have energy to do 2 days in a row, 1 day off, repeat).
- Recovery: better than it was in December. Slowly getting better, but would like to be able to feel able to lift 5-6x per week without dragging.
- Libido: Had an initial surge (honeymoon phase) followed by pretty much back to baseline. My wife and I have sex 1-2x per week, but I don't feel the URGE/DESIRE/NEED like I did briefly when restarting TRT. Since I switched to subQ a month ago, I have noticed it's gotten worse in that I can take it or leave it. This bothers me as my wife is really attractive and I want my libido to be higher.
- EQ: I had some morning wood for a brief period when getting on, especially when I was taking the 2.5mg of tadalafil, but those are gone. Definitely noticed a drop off when I switched to subQ and when I stopped taking the 2.5mg of tadalafil.
Tadalafil
I love the benefits for vascularity/health/and EQ, but it was making my joints creaky, I felt emotionally flat after awhile, and I was having terrible insomnia and lower back/side pain after awhile. I want to figure out a protocol that works - maybe every other day dosing?
If anyone has any thoughts/suggestions, I am all ears.
TLDR: I INCREASED my testosterone & HCG dose from 16mg/daily to 18mg/daily and HCG 500iu 2x/week to 3x/week, but my free and total testosterone DECREASED. Additionally, my estradiol decreased. I suspect injecting subQ is primarily to blame for the total & free T drop, partially to blame for the lower estradiol, and the tadalafil also exacerbated things. My prolactin also went from 4 to 10 and I have very little interest in sex/never masturbate.
Thank you!
Here is my current protocol:
18mg of testosterone cypionate daily subQ
500iu of HCG Monday/Wednesday/Friday (3X per week)
2.5mg tadalafil daily* (except for the past 7 days, more on that below)
I recently switched to this protocol on 4/17/2025 after my initial starting protocol on 12/12/2025 of:
16mg of testosterone cypionate daily shallow IM/subQ
500iu of HCG 2x per week (every 3rd day)
2.5mg tadalafil daily
I switched from shallow IM to subQ because I was feeling kind of bad/reluctant about putting so many holes in muscle tissue, and it seemed like potentially a "good idea" to switch to daily subQ given that I'm injecting 356 days a year for the rest of my life. Anyways, without further adieu, here are my most recent labs. I am only highlighting some of the information - the rest are attached. I am going to bold the things I'm most surprised by:
DHEA-Sulfate: 392 ug/DL (range 23-266)
Estradiol: 20.0 pg/mL (range 15.0 - 33.1)
Progesterone: 1.70 ng/mL (range 0.14 - 2.06)
Prolactin: 10.90 ng/mL (range 2.64 - 13.13)
Testosterone: 643 ng/dL (range 240-781)
SHBG: 28.6 nmol/L (range 17.4 - 69.0)
Calc Free Testosterone: 147.0 pg/mL (range 42.3 - 190.0)
For comparison, here are my previous labs before switching to strictly subQ:
04/07/2025:
Estradiol: 34 pg/mL (range <61 pg/mL)
Testosterone: 826 ng/dL (range 300 - 1080 ng/dL)
SHBG: 39 (range 17-56 nmol/L)
Testosterone Free-Calc: 172.70 pg/mL (range 47.0 - 244 pg/mL)
03/17/2025:
Testosterone: 1115 ng/dL (range 300 - 1080 ng/dL)
SHBG: 39 (range 17-56 nmol/L)
Testosterone Free-Calc: 252.0 pg/mL (range 47.0 - 244 pg/mL)
*these labs were done post injection around 1:00 PM and were not trough labs.
02/17/2025:
Estradiol: 33.7 pg/mL (range 11.8 - 39.9)
Testosterone: 958 ng/dL (range 280 -1100)
SHBG: *not measured*
Testosterone Free-Calc: *not measured*
12/19/2025:
Estradiol:
Testosterone Total: 448 ng/dL (range 250 - 1100 ng/dL)
SHBG: 37.2 nmol/L (range 10-50 nmol/L)
Testosterone Free-Calc: 68.3 pg/mL (35.0 - 155.0 pg/mL)
DHEA: 467 mcg/dL
Observations:
The last time I had prolactin tested/measured was 06/11/2024 and it was a 4.0 ng/mL (range 3.9 - 22.7).
Subjective feelings and where I need help:
-Mood: I "peaked" mood wise in March. At the time I remember feeling/journaling that I finally felt like I had things dialed in. My workouts/PT were going well, my mood was positive, and I felt very "happy" and on. However, I also figured this was due to the honeymoon phase.
- Workouts: I have made slow and steady progress with my physical therapy, but by no means am I setting any records or really packing on a lot of mass. My bodyweight has fluctuated about +5-7lbs from 212-215lbs at my lowest/pre TRT to 220lbs current (some fluctuation with water weight/glycogen depending on how many carbs I've had). My workouts are OK, but I've definitely noticed a decrease in desire and intensity of effort since about March. My step count has consolidated between 9-10k per/day, which is about 4-5 miles of walking/movement, and I am currently doing physical therapy at home/apartment gy about 4-5x per week (usually only have energy to do 2 days in a row, 1 day off, repeat).
- Recovery: better than it was in December. Slowly getting better, but would like to be able to feel able to lift 5-6x per week without dragging.
- Libido: Had an initial surge (honeymoon phase) followed by pretty much back to baseline. My wife and I have sex 1-2x per week, but I don't feel the URGE/DESIRE/NEED like I did briefly when restarting TRT. Since I switched to subQ a month ago, I have noticed it's gotten worse in that I can take it or leave it. This bothers me as my wife is really attractive and I want my libido to be higher.
- EQ: I had some morning wood for a brief period when getting on, especially when I was taking the 2.5mg of tadalafil, but those are gone. Definitely noticed a drop off when I switched to subQ and when I stopped taking the 2.5mg of tadalafil.
Tadalafil
I love the benefits for vascularity/health/and EQ, but it was making my joints creaky, I felt emotionally flat after awhile, and I was having terrible insomnia and lower back/side pain after awhile. I want to figure out a protocol that works - maybe every other day dosing?
If anyone has any thoughts/suggestions, I am all ears.
TLDR: I INCREASED my testosterone & HCG dose from 16mg/daily to 18mg/daily and HCG 500iu 2x/week to 3x/week, but my free and total testosterone DECREASED. Additionally, my estradiol decreased. I suspect injecting subQ is primarily to blame for the total & free T drop, partially to blame for the lower estradiol, and the tadalafil also exacerbated things. My prolactin also went from 4 to 10 and I have very little interest in sex/never masturbate.
Thank you!
