Considering HRT

[Greenscape]

Looking for some advice here. I am 51 and a few months ago I asked my GP to test my Testosterone. Well they drew blood(in the afternoon) and the number came back at 275 for the total. My doc and the lab said that was within range. Well I did a little research and even if that is within range its at the very bottom of any chart I could find.

So I went thru a battery of blood and Saliva tests with a doctor that specializes in this(pretty expensive) and my Testosterone came back at 475(in the morning). Sounds like a better # but my free # 73 and my bioavailable # was 158. Both of those pretty much at the bottom of the scale.

Good news is that with the exception of low Vit D all my other numbers were great and my LH was 1.7(very low and probably the issue) My doctor feels that even though my #'s are within range I would probably benefit from Treatment(libido, energy etc). I am pretty fit and active but I know as I age this ain;t gonna get any better. He says I am the perfect candidate for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) injections 3 times a week to get my testicles back on board..

I am reluctant to do this as I am fairly young and dont understand the risks or side effects of potentially doing this for the next 25-30 years..

 

[qcomer]

Since your LH is low, youre more than likely secondary hypogonadism. Although, I would have been jealous of your numbers when i started lol.

Get the LH fixed. Have him check your thyroid, maybe a MRI on your pituitary gland, etc. Low LH and low vit d are a concern. Start with the vitamin d - get that correct, see how it effects everything else.

Then get your LH corrected. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is pretty common to try to get you to restart. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) therapy is not life long, it is usually used until your LH/Test bounces back.

How is your estradiol? IGF-1? DHT? etc? Those are all very important also.

 

[Greenscape]

Since your LH is low, youre more than likely secondary hypogonadism. Although, I would have been jealous of your numbers when i started lol.

Get the LH fixed. Have him check your thyroid, maybe a MRI on your pituitary gland, etc. Low LH and low vit d are a concern. Start with the vitamin d - get that correct, see how it effects everything else.

Then get your LH corrected. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is pretty common to try to get you to restart. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) therapy is not life long, it is usually used until your LH/Test bounces back.

How is your estradiol? IGF-1? DHT? etc? Those are all very important also.

My Estradiol(saliva) was 1.2(range was 0.5-2.2) so thats fine.

DHT was 36(range 25-75) and % of free was 0.93(range 0.62-1.10)

IGF-1 is 199(range was 46-284)

IGF Binding protien is out of range at 10L(rabge is 13-73) dont remember what that meant.

I questioned him on the Pituitary and whether that should be researched further. He said he tested all pituitary function except one and that he would not do that unless I had vision or balance issues.

I had a horrible Spinal fusion 5 years ago that was pretty bad and I had a artificial disc put in my cervical spine 2.5 years ago. I think he feels that these 2 surgeries beat up my adrenal system up. I do pretty well at eating good and staying fit. But I honestly think I should feel better based on the effort I put in..

I am considering taking the HCG(he is recomending 1000cc 3 times a week for 6 weeks on and 2 weeks off) Based on what I see that might end up being a pretty robust dose..

Like I said dont want to do that forever..

 

[RA64]

If you feel good, don't start testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), or HCG.
If you want to start feeling like you did when you were in your 20's, then consider testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and HCG.

 

[qcomer]

If you feel good, don't start testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), or HCG.
If you want to start feeling like you did when you were in your 20's, then consider testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and HCG.

Agreed.

You are at a point where you need to determine what you want to do.

A) Try to restart or pump up your natural production again (Low LH points to it being secondary and that there is something else lowering your test - thyroid/adrenal, pituitary, etc.). To be honest - you tell your doctor what you want tested, not the other way around. Youre the one paying the bill - if you feel like youre being ignored, find another doc.

B) Forget about the underlying problem and figuring out what it is and skip straight to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) treatment.

TRT isnt all that bad, but if you have other goals and would like to cure the underlying problem...look into that. its all your choice.