What can I expect from new protocol?

[Mrfrieze]

Hey guys, I have been on TRT since August 2017. I just turned 40 in Dec. I started at 140 and have stepped up every 6 weeks. I have been on 220 mg of Test Cyp for about 6 weeks now. My labs were taken on the 6th day, instead of day 7, before my injection. I also was taking .5 Arimadex on day 2 after injection. I feel Ok on this and have noticed increase in energy, strength and things like that.

TT was 998 ng/dl.
Free T was 42.7
SHBG was 39.3
Estradiol was 27.1.

I recently switched to Defy because I felt they would be able to offer a more complete HRT protocol. Defy changed my protocol to .45 mg T Cyp every 3.5 days. They added 500iu of HCG and changed me to .125 Arimadex all on same day as Test injection.

In everyone's personal experience, what can I reasonably expect in these changes. I am somewhat nervous about the reduction in Testosterone but I am trusting the Dr. knows best. I am curious what benefits HCG will have, as I am not concerned with the shrinkage. I am assuming it can add to the TT numbers and will compensate for the reduction in dosage. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Vince Carter]

If youre Primary HypoGonadal (problem is the testes) HCG isn't going do any appreciable endo T production, beyond that how can any one say how you'll respond...sounds like a basic starting point protocol from Defy.

 

[Systemlord]

Your SHBG isn't high enough to where you have to inject once weekly, twice weekly is perfect. Great numbers except most take AI on injection day since T and E2 rise together. Most good doctors prefer to use the least amount of drugs (AI's) in order to lower E2, larger AI's doses are to be avoided if possible as they can have a negative impact on cholesterol and bones health is E2 is driven too low. Most inexperienced doctor go too heavy on AI dosing, .5mg is unnecessary if you can achieve the same results at a lower dosage of T.

Trust me sometimes less is more, most chuckle at dose reductions but you will likely find you are calmer at the lower doses as your FT levels were sky high. E2 levels largely affects the way you feel on TRT, more so than T alone. Defy was a excellent choice, one I'm contemplating myself. HCG is an individual thing, some feel mood benefits, other nothing but can help a guy remain fertile.

 

[Deleted member 17030]

Hey guys, I have been on TRT since August 2017. I just turned 40 in Dec. I started at 140 and have stepped up every 6 weeks. I have been on 220 mg of Test Cyp for about 6 weeks now. My labs were taken on the 6th day, instead of day 7, before my injection. I also was taking .5 Arimadex on day 2 after injection. I feel Ok on this and have noticed increase in energy, strength and things like that.

TT was 998 ng/dl.
Free T was 42.7
SHBG was 39.3
Estradiol was 27.1.

I recently switched to Defy because I felt they would be able to offer a more complete HRT protocol. Defy changed my protocol to .45 mg T Cyp every 3.5 days. They added 500iu of HCG and changed me to .125 Arimadex all on same day as Test injection.

In everyone's personal experience, what can I reasonably expect in these changes. I am somewhat nervous about the reduction in Testosterone but I am trusting the Dr. knows best. I am curious what benefits HCG will have, as I am not concerned with the shrinkage. I am assuming it can add to the TT numbers and will compensate for the reduction in dosage. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

The thought of that scares me greatly, but so far none. Not sure why that doesn't concern you.

 

[Mrfrieze]

If youre Primary HypoGonadal (problem is the testes) HCG isn't going do any appreciable endo T production, beyond that how can any one say how you'll respond...sounds like a basic starting point protocol from Defy.

Maybe no one will know how I will respond. I'm curious on the change to every 3.5 days, compared to once per week. I know it reduces peaks and valleys, that's it. I am looking for a rough idea of where 90mg every 3.5 days ''may'' put my TT numbers. If there is a significant difference in well being, energy or athletic performance with such a change? And assuming the issue was not in my testes would the HCG compensate for the reduction in dosage?

 

[Mrfrieze]

The thought of that scares me greatly, but so far none. Not sure why that doesn't concern you.

Because I am in a committed relationship and she understands this side effect. And it has not been very drastic. Also I like the fact that this greatly reduces or eliminates my chances of getting her pregnant. I have 2 kids and do not want any more.

 

[Mrfrieze]

I just noticed that my Free T was measured in Pg not ng. But there range was listed as if it was ng. I did a google search and it looks like if it is truly pg/ml that my free T is actually quite low. Hmmm? I wonder which one is a misprint?

 

[madman]

The thought of that scares me greatly, but so far none. Not sure why that doesn't concern you.

If anything testicular shrinkage is minimal in most unless one has small gonads naturally and the leydig cells are what atrophies when one is using exogenous testosterone as lh/fsh shutdown and the leydig cells only make up about 10-20% of testicular volume.

If the leydig cells were 50% of testicular volume than I would be definitely concerned or as I stated if you naturally have small gonads.

 

[FeelingLost]

I just noticed that my Free T was measured in Pg not ng. But there range was listed as if it was ng. I did a google search and it looks like if it is truly pg/ml that my free T is actually quite low. Hmmm? I wonder which one is a misprint?

You could do the Free T calculation. Know your albumin and SHBG and TT
http://www.issam.ch/freetesto.htm

 

[Systemlord]

I just noticed that my Free T was measured in Pg not ng. But there range was listed as if it was ng. I did a google search and it looks like if it is truly pg/ml that my free T is actually quite low. Hmmm? I wonder which one is a misprint?

That definitely make all the difference, I remember when I looked at your FT score it did look a little oddly high, but now makes perfect sense that it's not ng/dL but pg/mL which puts it lower than initially thought.

 

[Mrfrieze]

That definitely make all the difference, I remember when I looked at your FT score it did look a little oddly high, but now makes perfect sense that it's not ng/dL but pg/mL which puts it lower than initially thought.

Does the protocol Ive been switched to make sense then? Based on that low of SHBG.

 

[Systemlord]

Does the protocol Ive been switched to make sense then? Based on that low of SHBG.

I know you didn't mean low SHBG, FT is low by the corrected lab ranges.