HCG Only (no testosterone) while doing HRT

[one way step]

Has anybody ever just used HCG only as a way of hormone replacement therapy?

If so what were your doses and what were the results?

 

[Megatron28]

It is referred to as hCG Monotherapy. Are you working with a doctor? He or she could set you up on the right dosage.

 

[one way step]

I was on it for about a year and a half several years ago. My doctor had me taking 2500iu three times a week. For the first week it worked very well! High energy, libido, etc. After the one year period it lost its touch and I was unable to get it back to a steady dose. I eventually discontinued when my mail order pharmacy had a shortage of it.

Issues I had in the final six months I was on it were hair loss (receding hairline), body hair growth, and no libido/shrunken testicles.

 

[Megatron28]

I was on it for about a year and a half several years ago. My doctor had me taking 2500iu three times a week. For the first week it worked very well! High energy, libido, etc. After the one year period it lost its touch and I was unable to get it back to a steady dose. I eventually discontinued when my mail order pharmacy had a shortage of it.

Issues I had in the final six months I was on it were hair loss (receding hairline), body hair growth, and no libido/shrunken testicles.

Do you have blood work from when you were on it?

 

[one way step]

Nah. I did this in 2006-2007.

 

[Megatron28]

Maybe you "burned" out your testicles? Have you tried clomid? Or TRT?

Are you doing anything now or are you just living with hypogonadism?

 

[one way step]

Right now I am trying to figure out an appropriate routine for TRT using test, hcg, and adex.

After I got off HCG in 2007 I was fully off TRT for a while then went back on using just test. I always had an issue with finding the right test dose, and my doctor was giving me high doses (500mg-1000mg every two weeks). I then went on HCG and test (450mg test and 5000iu hcg every two weeks on different days). This worked well most of the time but came with some side effects (more hair loss, more body hair).

I've seen a second endo and he has been no help either. I'm basically on my own to figure this out, but my original endo will give me prescriptions (test, hcg, adex). I've been through a bumpy ride trying to get this right, often with little help from doctors.

BW from 12/30 (was taking 200mg test per week with no HCG).

TSH, Ultrasensitive 2.40 uIU/ml
Free T-4 1.15 ng/dl
T-3 Uptake 37.5%
T-3 (Total) 1.14 NG/ML

LH <0.1 mIU/ml
Prolactin 5.6 ng/ml
Estradiol, serum 40 pg/ml
Testosterone 490ng/dl

 

[Megatron28]

What you were doing was not TRT. You were running a cycle. That much test would have put you at supraphysiological levels. No wonder you had problems.

A typical TRT protocol is 100-200mg of testosterone per week. 250iu of hCG twice a week and an AI if needed. The idea ia to keep your total testosterone levels in the normal range.

Have you tried reading the Basic TRT Overview sticky thread?

 

[3J]

Maybe you "burned" out your testicles? Have you tried clomid? Or TRT?

Are you doing anything now or are you just living with hypogonadism?

thats exactly what happened.. what kind of idiot doc prescribes such a high hcg dosage for hrt, even hcg mono.. the highest he should have gone is 200iu eod

 

[one way step]

What you were doing was not TRT. You were running a cycle. That much test would have put you at supraphysiological levels. No wonder you had problems.

A typical TRT protocol is 100-200mg of testosterone per week. 250iu of hCG twice a week and an AI if needed. The idea ia to keep your total testosterone levels in the normal range.

Have you tried reading the Basic TRT Overview sticky thread?

I used to be on 100mg test per week which didn't work for me (lack of energy, weight gain, no libido whatsoever). 200mg is much better in terms of energy, appetite, etc. I have a better libido on it but still nothing that is acceptable at all, which is why I'm trying to use my BW and other medicines to find the right routine.

I agree my doctor is a total moron, but I live in a rural area and my choice of endos are very limited. I traveled 90 minutes to see the second one and he was no help either.

 

[theheat]

You need to find out if you're primary or secondary as far as hypogonadism. If you're pimary, you're testicles aren't producing enough T, so it's not an issue with your pituitary releasing enough LH. If you're secondary, then you're pituitary isn't producing enough LH, so HCG monotherapy might be effective. You're doctor should first determine the cause of your hypogonadism, and then propose an appropriate treatment. The problem is that many doctors use the same approach with all patients, and inevitably HCG monotherapy ends up being ineffective for many.

 

[Megatron28]

You need to find out if you're primary or secondary as far as hypogonadism. If you're pimary, you're testicles aren't producing enough T, so it's not an issue with your pituitary releasing enough LH. If you're secondary, then you're pituitary isn't producing enough LH, so HCG monotherapy might be effective. You're doctor should first determine the cause of your hypogonadism, and then propose an appropriate treatment. The problem is that many doctors use the same approach with all patients, and inevitably HCG monotherapy ends up being ineffective for many.

Given that it was working "very well" in the beginning, it is likely that OP has Secondary Hypogonadism.

 

[theheat]

I would like to see his baseline BW and then at 6 weeks to be 100% sure he's secondary. Some people feel better for a few weeks on mono, but then the positive effects evaporate. Try adding 200mg/wk T to 500 IUs 2x wk HCG if you aren't feeling anything from the mono (Depending on your BW of course).

 

[Megatron28]

I would like to see his baseline BW and then at 6 weeks to be 100% sure he's secondary. Some people feel better for a few weeks on mono, but then the positive effects evaporate. Try adding 200mg/wk T to 500 IUs 2x wk HCG if you aren't feeling anything from the mono (Depending on your BW of course).

See posts #4 and #5. He already said he doesn't have blood work from back then.

 

[Alpin]

I never heard of long term doses like that for HCG.
350-500 i.u 3 times a week is the standard normal replacement for HCG mono.
Your HRT protocol doesn't seem the norm.
500-1000 mg every 2 weeks?
What made the "doc" increase the dose by 500 mg?

 

[one way step]

I never heard of long term doses like that for HCG.
350-500 i.u 3 times a week is the standard normal replacement for HCG mono.
Your HRT protocol doesn't seem the norm.
500-1000 mg every 2 weeks?
What made the "doc" increase the dose by 500 mg?

Because my doctor sucks.

It didn't jump to double the amount; it went to 600mg, then 700mg, then 800mg, etc.

 

[Alpin]

Because my doctor sucks.

It didn't jump to double the amount; it went to 600mg, then 700mg, then 800mg, etc.

7500 i.u. a week HCG....
wow.
Did he give you an A.I. at least?

 

[Therealkozmo]

Buy clomid. It's a hell of a drug

 

[one way step]

No A.I.

Like I said, this guy sucks. The only thing he is good for is getting my HRT prescriptions and blood work.

 

[one way step]

Buy clomid. It's a hell of a drug

What exactly is clomid. Pill or injection? How would it improve libido, energy, etc?

Sorry for the questions, I am unfamiliar with this drug.