26 and Low T

[LethalDiesel]

My wife and I are trying to have kids, and we know that she has PCOS. I decided I needed to get checked out as well just to be on the safe side. I contacted my GP who didn't want to do any blood work, and referred me to a Urologist office to have a Semen Analysis done. They did a Semen Analysis and also checked my Testosterone levels by my request due to lack of libido and ED.

First Test level check came back at 326ng/dL but that's all I know. Semen Analysis came back good so we found Fertility was not an issue.

They requested that I do another Test level check and also another Semen Analysis. That test is listed below, and same outcome with the Semen Analysis as before.

Test Name Result Normal Range
Test, Serum 347ng/dL (348-1197)
LH: 2.4mIU/mL (1.7-8.6)
FSH: 4.1mIU/mL (1.5-12.4)
Prolactin: 8.6ng/mL (4.0-15.2)

My Urologist referred me to another one that was more qualified with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) than him. I went to see him and he also told me that my fertility is not an issue but my Testosterone is definitely low.

Starting December 15th my new Urologist put me on a Clomid protocol of 25mg ED for 30 days. I took it for 10 days and I noticed some Eye floaters that I've never had before so I contacted him and he told me to stop taking the Clomid. My last appointment with him was January 12th, and he did not want to draw blood since I didn't complete the Clomid protocol, so he put me on Femara (Letrozole) 2.5mcg ED for 30 days. Last week I met with him again and my Libido has gotten worse and having a lot of ED issues now. He drew blood again and put me on Cialis 5mg/day


I had a follow up appointment with him Yesterday. He went over my lab results:
Test: 287.14
FSH: 4.88
LH: 2.93
and he said his lab range for testosterone was (175ng/dL - 750ng/dL) which seems incorrect to me.

He wanted me to have a Penile Doppler Ultrasound because he believes it might be a physical problem, and if that turns up normal that he wants me to go to a Sex Therapist for the issues I'm having. I've had more ED issues after starting Letrozole, and Cialis didn't really help much.

His other option was to put me on Andro-Gel for a few months to see if it helps any, and I didn't feel comfortable with using the Gel after everything I've read on here so he prescribed me AndroDerm @ 4 grams per day. I mentioned to him and showed him a print out of what I've been reading here and he basically told me that Injections are "old school" and not efficient and that anyone who does them over the Gel/Patch is doing it to abuse it, etc.

I also had them do another blood draw, to test the following:

-Total Testosterone, bound and unbound. Most typical, but limited value.
-Bioavailable Testosterone or Free Testosterone
-Estradiol (E2) Ultrasensitive
-LH
-FSH
-Thyroid Panel (TSH, fT3, fT4)
-Vitamin D

I'm currently waiting on the Dr. to send the paperwork to my Insurance company to have the Androderm approved and also still waiting on my Test results. I feel like this Dr. is not as knowledgeable as he thinks he is, and I feel like he has really done more harm then good.

 

[Frustrated1]

Man you are their cash cow. We've all been their and the stories are all the same. Save yourself a ton of time, money, and aggravation. Go with Maximus and chip, he knows his stuff. You will feel better, have erections, and you get to keep your sperm.

Also if after a week of cialis 5mg every day you are having erection issues... Then your dr is seriously fucking you up.

 

[Nordic11]

I'm currently waiting on the Dr. to send the paperwork to my Insurance company to have the Androderm approved and also still waiting on my Test results. I feel like this Dr. is not as knowledgeable as he thinks he is, and I feel like he has really done more harm then good.

It doesn't look like he did anything that would harm you. Did you have a specific question?

 

[LethalDiesel]

It doesn't look like he did anything that would harm you. Did you have a specific question?

I guess I shouldn't really say that he "harmed" me. I was just stating that the ED issues have gotten worse while being on Letrozole. I have never had an ED problem until about 2 days before my first Urologist appointment back in November before my first Semen Analysis, and blood draw. After that I had no ED problems until my current Urologist put me on Letrozole 2.5mg/day.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, however my libido has been shit for a long time.

I didn't have a specific question, just looking for advice.

 

[LethalDiesel]

Man you are their cash cow. We've all been their and the stories are all the same. Save yourself a ton of time, money, and aggravation. Go with Maximus and chip, he knows his stuff. You will feel better, have erections, and you get to keep your sperm.

Also if after a week of cialis 5mg every day you are having erection issues... Then your dr is seriously fucking you up.

Thank you, glad to know other people have been through the same shitty situation. Yes, still having issues after a week of Cialis 5mg/day.

 

[Nordic11]

Have you and your doc figured out a cause of the ED?

 

[LethalDiesel]

Have you and your doc figured out a cause of the ED?

No which is why he suggested having a Penile Doppler Ultrasound.

Let me back up a little bit, now within this last week I was able to get an erection but it was still difficult to maintain during intercourse twice last weekend. I never had issues until a couple days before I started seeing a Urologist, after that initial visit (semen analysis) I had no ED issues, just a low libido. After I referred to a different Urologist and he put me on Clomid I still had a low libido but no ED problems.

After being on Letrozole for nearly a month at 2.5mg/day libido is still almost nothing but I've experienced more ED. After being on Cialis 5mg/day I have still had ED for a majority of the week. I haven't even attempted this week so I don't know about it this week yet.

 

[DJ77]

Any doc that tells you injections are old school over the gel and patch should be dropped. Call Maximus, they will have your Test up and your ding dong in no time.

 

[Nordic11]

No which is why he suggested having a Penile Doppler Ultrasound.

Let me back up a little bit, now within this last week I was able to get an erection but it was still difficult to maintain during intercourse twice last weekend. I never had issues until a couple days before I started seeing a Urologist, after that initial visit (semen analysis) I had no ED issues, just a low libido. After I referred to a different Urologist and he put me on Clomid I still had a low libido but no ED problems.

After being on Letrozole for nearly a month at 2.5mg/day libido is still almost nothing but I've experienced more ED. After being on Cialis 5mg/day I have still had ED for a majority of the week. I haven't even attempted this week so I don't know about it this week yet.

I will preface my comments by saying that every person is different and what works or doesn't work for one person may not be the case for another.

With that said, I never in my life had issues with ED until a month after I started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). In my case, my ED was caused by a spike in my estrogen.

What did you doctor expect the Letro to do for you?

 

[Nordic11]

Any doc that tells you injections are old school over the gel and patch should be dropped.

Injections are old school. Gels and patches are comparatively new. Much less risk with gels and patches but they simply don't work for some people (didn't work for me). Injections, despite the inherent risks, seem to work for everyone.

Call Maximus, they will have your Test up and your ding dong in no time.

Chip is the man and his doctors are great. There is no faster way to find the road to better health.

 

[LethalDiesel]

I will preface my comments by saying that every person is different and what works or doesn't work for one person may not be the case for another.

With that said, I never in my life had issues with ED until a month after I started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). In my case, my ED was caused by a spike in my estrogen.

What did you doctor expect the Letro to do for you?

Injections are old school. Gels and patches are comparatively new. Much less risk with gels and patches but they simply don't work for some people (didn't work for me). Injections, despite the inherent risks, seem to work for everyone.


Chip is the man and his doctors are great. There is no faster way to find the road to better health.

His line of thinking is that the Letrozole would help raise my testosterone levels. Injections are a lot cheaper as well. I don't mind using the patch if it works, but I'm still waiting on it to be approved so my pharmacy can order it.

I just started working on filling out the information for Chip. I plan on calling to find out a little more information.

 

[Thedude67]

Letro is strong stuff bro. It sounds like he crashed ur estro hence ur ED probs . If ur tryn 2 have kids u mite not want 2 start a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol

 

[Frustrated1]

FYI everything else is compared to injections for efficacy. I think the patch is 70%. Injections are also the cheapest route. Injections also take up the lowest amount of time to do. Injections have the least amount of side effects(raches). You never have to worry about sweating, kids or wife coming in contact with it, swimming, and it's the easiest to adjust the dosages. Yea old school for me.

 

[LethalDiesel]

Letro is strong stuff bro. It sounds like he crashed ur estro hence ur ED probs . If ur tryn 2 have kids u mite not want 2 start a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol

That's what I've read is how strong Letro is, and that's pretty much what I assumed has happened is that my Estro is crashed causing the ED problems.

My wife and I have already discussed the issue that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) might hinder that. She would rather me get my hormones straightened out and hopefully get rid of these low libido and ED problems. Then go from there.

However, doesn't hCG keep your fertility up while on TRT?

 

[Thedude67]

Hcg will bring ur sperm count up while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but if ran as mono therapy ur sperm count will be even higher. There won't be any chance of a shut down than.

 

[Frustrated1]

That's what I've read is how strong Letro is, and that's pretty much what I assumed has happened is that my Estro is crashed causing the ED problems.

My wife and I have already discussed the issue that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) might hinder that. She would rather me get my hormones straightened out and hopefully get rid of these low libido and ED problems. Then go from there.

However, doesn't hCG keep your fertility up while on TRT?

Crashed E will cause ED. Actually it's amazing that the male organ ever works. All kinds of things have to be within range, including your mental state, in order to make it work.

There are a few things with HCG. All the hoopla you hear about it, is BS. It is a hormone. It does keep your nads functioning, because it tells your body to make more Testosterone. I can only speak about Chips Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which is the real deal. I know this because within an hr or 2, I can feel my nads get stimulated. There are a ton of fake Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) out there.

BTW you have a great wife. Understanding, stands by you, and wants to get you straightened out first.

Hcg will bring ur sperm count up while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but if ran as mono therapy ur sperm count will be even higher. There won't be any chance of a shut down than.

This is not true. I have yet to see any medical study prove that anything will raise sperm count. Link?

And as a mono therapy, it will stress your body.


Hormones are not a joke. You are playing with fire. If anything is off you will feel like shit. Fortunately there is one company that has a ton of experience with hormones. I personally think that they are world leaders with HRT, mostly because of this very forum, and the 100's of positive feedback. You can actually get to hear real experiences with real patients. Try that with an endo. It is your body, do with it as you please. Personally I'm not chancing a thing, and went with who I feel is the best. Maximus/Chip. And if you think it's simple, I'm on my 3rd protocol within 6 weeks. I can assure you, nobody knows Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) like Chip.

 

[Thedude67]

The OP is talkin bout tryn 2 conceive a child n I do no testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is goin 2 lessen ur chances of that. I'm only tellin him what my doc has tOld me. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or clomid or hmg isn't goin 2 shut you down from everything that I've heard n read .

 

[Frustrated1]

The OP is talkin bout tryn 2 conceive a child n I do no testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is goin 2 lessen ur chances of that. I'm only tellin him what my doc has tOld me. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or clomid or hmg isn't goin 2 shut you down from everything that I've heard n read .

Yes I know. testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can almost shut down your nads. The reason is that your body see's that it has all the T it needs, so it stops sending signals. Your nads shrink, loads get small, and sperm nearly disappear.

HRT includes HGC. This gives the nads the signal that they need to make more.

So if done properly he can have the best of both worlds, if not he can limp along. Eventually doing nothing he will want to find the nearest bridge, and jump off it.

 

[Nordic11]

Hormones are not a joke. You are playing with fire. If anything is off you will feel like shit. Fortunately there is one company that has a ton of experience with hormones. I personally think that they are world leaders with HRT, mostly because of this very forum, and the 100's of positive feedback.

This is an important point. Only those very familiar with male hormones should be prescribing HRT. There are lots of doctors and companies that are very well versed on male HRT. Everyone here, including me, has a strong loyalty to Chip and his doctors because they have the perfect trifecta of knowledge, price, and amazing customer service.

 

[shithead]

I followed the below protocol and we were having babies in 3 months.

ANY testosterone that you take will shut down your own production...in order for your natural test levels to recover you cannot take any testosterone or AAS AT ALL. Aromasin is an aromatase inhibitor that also increases natural testosterone production...

here is what i would do:

Wk 1: 1500iu of HCG 2x per week (mon, thurs), 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 2: 1500iu of HCG 2x per week (mon, thurs), 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 3: 1000iu of HCG 2x per week (mon, thurs), 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 4: 1000iu of HCG 2x per week (mon, thurs), 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 5: 100mg of clomid per day, 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 6: 50mg of clomid per day, 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 7: 50mg of clomid per day, 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 8: 50mg of clomid per day, 25mg of Aromasin per day
Wk 9-10: 25mg of Aromasin per day

Remember during this time you cannot take any AAS whatsoever...no test, no gels, nothing... 2-3 weeks after you are finished this protocol get your test and sperm count checked again.