HCG or Clomid Stimulation Test - Colorado

[ColoradoFlyer]

Hello all,

I am still trying to determine the cause of my low testosterone. Doctors says I need an MRI, but that will not determine the cause of my hypogonadism. I want to do a clomid or HCG stimulation test which is unknown to the doctors I have talked to. They just want to prescribe me testosterone and be done with me. Anyone know any doctors in Colorado who are knowledgeable on this subject?

Thanks!

 

[Megatron28]

Read up on Primary and Secondary Hypogonadism. Basically it means are your testicles the problems or is it your pituitary? If they are recommending an MRI, they probably have diagnosed you with secondary. What were your LH and FSH results? What were your other lab results?

If you are primary there are some things they can try doing to stimulate your testicles to produce T like you are suggesting. That wouldn't do much though if you are secondary. If you are secondary, taking testosterone injections is probably the right course of action for you now. The MRI will make sure that you don't have a pituitary tumor that is causing the problem.

As for Colorado, I think the board sponsor IMT may be based on Colorado. There are many people in this forum that sing their praises. Try giving them a call.

 

[ColoradoFlyer]

Read up on Primary and Secondary Hypogonadism. Basically it means are your testicles the problems or is it your pituitary? If they are recommending an MRI, they probably have diagnosed you with secondary. What were your LH and FSH results? What were your other lab results?

If you are primary there are some things they can try doing to stimulate your testicles to produce T like you are suggesting. That wouldn't do much though if you are secondary. If you are secondary, taking testosterone injections is probably the right course of action for you now. The MRI will make sure that you don't have a pituitary tumor that is causing the problem.

As for Colorado, I think the board sponsor IMT may be based on Colorado. There are many people in this forum that sing their praises. Try giving them a call.

I am very familiar with primary and secondary hypogonadism, which is why I do not want to spend the money on an MRI. I haven't been diagnosed either way. Doctor says I need an MRI, I say I need a stimulation test. If I get a stimulation test for a few hundred dollars and it shows me as being primary, I don't need an MRI and that will save me a few thousand. The doctors I have done to haven't even heard of a Clomid or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) stimulation test. They only know how to prescribe testosterone.

 

[Megatron28]

What are your LH and FSH levels? That's the easy, quick, and cheap way to figure out if you are primary or secondary. Are you sure they didn't already test those levels if they are now recommending an MRI of your pituitary - which indicates they think you are secondary? If not, you probably need a new doctor. I can't imagine that they would jump straight to an MRI after ONLY testing your Total T. Do you have any other health issues besides the low T? BTW: what did your Total T come in at?

 

[ColoradoFlyer]

What are your LH and FSH levels? That's the easy, quick, and cheap way to figure out if you are primary or secondary. Are you sure they didn't already test those levels if they are now recommending an MRI of your pituitary - which indicates they think you are secondary? If not, you probably need a new doctor. I can't imagine that they would jump straight to an MRI after ONLY testing your Total T. Do you have any other health issues besides the low T? BTW: what did your Total T come in at?

FSH, LH, and Prolactin are all normal. Everything in all my blood tests came back normal except total and free testosterone. Nothing suggests either primary or secondary hypogonadism. Why recommend an MRI when a much cheaper Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or Clomid test would be far more conclusive. I could have a tumor and still be primary. I could have no tumor and still be secondary. An MRI shouldn't even be considered until something suggests secondary. In my case, nothing does.

 

[Megatron28]

If your FSH and LH are normal (or low) that means you are secondary. Your pituitary is not recognizing that you have deficient levels of testosterone.

When your fsh and lh are above normal, that means you are primary. Your pituitary is screaming for more T but your testicles can't/won't produce it.

Since it appears that you are secondary it is common to recommend an MRI. Odds are that you don't have a tumor but do you want to take the chance that one may be causing your low T? Any other ideas about what could be causing your pituitary to stop functioning properly. Drug use? Obesity? Age? Head injury?

As for the restart, if your testicles are working perfectly (i.e not primary hypogonadism) a restart is not going to do anything. That would just be wasting your time and money and delaying feeling better. Sounds like you need trt. I'm no doctor though.

 

[ColoradoFlyer]

If your FSH and LH are normal (or low) that means you are secondary. Your pituitary is not recognizing that you have deficient levels of testosterone.

When your fsh and lh are above normal, that means you are primary. Your pituitary is screaming for more T but your testicles can't/won't produce it.

Since it appears that you are secondary it is common to recommend an MRI. Odds are that you don't have a tumor but do you want to take the chance that one may be causing your low T? Any other ideas about what could be causing your pituitary to stop functioning properly. Drug use? Obesity? Age? Head injury?

As for the restart, if your testicles are working perfectly (i.e not primary hypogonadism) a restart is not going to do anything. That would just be wasting your time and money and delaying feeling better. Sounds like you need trt. I'm no doctor though.

I am sorry, but that is not correct. Someone who has primary hypogonadism for a long time will have their FSH and LH levels return to normal as the body starts to consider that level of testosterone normal. Most men develop hypogonadism later in life and experience an increase in symptoms. So, they get the testosterone checked and the problem is obvious. I, on the other hand, did not develop any symptoms. I have had these symptoms my entire life which is why it took so long for me to discover the problem. A singular perspective makes comparison impossible.

My testosterone is in the 110 range. I have no problem growing facial hair, getting an erection, and having enough energy most days. A guy with a normal testosterone level who drops to 110 would likely be completely debilitated. I probably a more unusual case for most doctors. I need to find one that knows more than to put pill A into slot B when symptom C appears.

 

[Megatron28]

If you had super low T your entire life, did you ever start puberty? Have you tested for genetic diseases?

 

[ColoradoFlyer]

If you had super low T your entire life, did you ever start puberty? Have you tested for genetic diseases?

I can grow a beard and get an erection, so obviously I have been through puberty. I can't even get tested for primary or secondary hypogonadism. After that is determined, other possibilities can be considered.

 

[Megatron28]

Call Todd at IMT. He deals with this stuff all day. If you want references just read the postings about him on this forum.

 

[ColoradoFlyer]

Still looking for a Doctor familiar with the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) stimulation test. How about Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, Mew Mexico, Nebraska, or Kansas?