How long to continue TRT?

[Hammerhead]

Hi all -

Just a quick question about the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) process. I had been injecting 160mg weekly, but my doctor pulled me back to 120mg. He's thinking that some of the T may be going to estrogen. I've also used small amounts of progesterone to counter the estrogen dominance.

I'm also dealing with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (for the 2nd time), and possibly Lyme disease - so I'm sure that's throwing some curves into the mix too.

Anyway - my question - can testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) ever just get the body "jump-started" and help it to start producing normal T levels on its' own? Is there a point where you should lay off treatment and see if your system will sustain normal levels? If so - how do you tell when to drop treatment and test? Is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) ever considered to be an open-ended plan?

Thanks for any info you can share.
Steve

 

[R9]

Anyway - my question - can testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) ever just get the body "jump-started" and help it to start producing normal T levels on its' own?

I'm pretty sure that's the opposite of what testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) does. Did your doctor not tell you this?

 

[Megatron28]

Taking testosterone shuts down your natural production. Just stopping usually doesn't get your natural production to come back which is why guys running cycles do post cycle therapy (pct). But you went on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because your natural production was below normal so going back to that will have you feeling lousy again even if you could get it restarted.

Testosterone can convert to estrogen. It is called aromitisation. You need to have a blood test done to see what your E2 levels are. E2 is the "bad" estrogen. If your E2 is too high your choices are to either back off on your T dose, increase the frequency of your doses at smaller amounts of T (e.g. 80mg twice per week) or take an aromitase inhibitor (AI). Or some combination of all these. Lots of guys take AI's so they can control their estrogen while keeping their total T at the higher end of the normal range.

And keep in mind when you inject 160mg once per week that your TT and E2 levels fluctuate during the week.

 

[TrekB]

Taking testosterone shuts down your natural production. Just stopping usually doesn't get your natural production to come back which is why guys running cycles do post cycle therapy (pct). But you went on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because your natural production was below normal so going back to that will have you feeling lousy again even if you could get it restarted.

Testosterone can convert to estrogen. It is called aromitisation. You need to have a blood test done to see what your E2 levels are. E2 is the "bad" estrogen. If your E2 is too high your choices are to either back off on your T dose, increase the frequency of your doses at smaller amounts of T (e.g. 80mg twice per week) or take an aromitase inhibitor (AI). Or some combination of all these. Lots of guys take AI's so they can control their estrogen while keeping their total T at the higher end of the normal range.

And keep in mind when you inject 160mg once per week that your TT and E2 levels fluctuate during the week.

I just started on TRT. I'm 52. Total t was 280 prior to starting. On 100 mg once a week ... Had just one injection so far. What is standard for checking E2 levels. My doc said 5 weeks.

 

[Allen_S]

Its going to take about that much time for you to start feeling the effects of the Test. I would check your levels each time you need a refill about 5-6 weeks for the first 3 months...(not a dr. just a suggestion, and my experience). Like Megatron said If you split the dose 50 on Monday and 50 on Friday if you are worried about too much E2... See what your levels are after the 5-6 weeks and then you can actually see where you are...I keep my T at 1000-1100 and have not had any problems with E2 levels. I am 44 and I pin 300 a week split in 2 doses. and have lost 70lbs in 5 months and seeing great gains at the gym. Energy levels are great, more focused at the office, I feel like I am 25 again....Good luck on your journey