HRT Gynocomastia and Vasectomy

[fit2beking]

Guys,

I just recently found this board and another board with a wealth of information. I posted this on the other board about a week or so ago so I just copied and pasted it because I am lazy like that. LOL! Can you guys take a look see at my post and offer some advise? I got some good advise from the other board but I wanted to pose this over here to see what you guys may have to offer. Also, I have already started getting the itchy and sensitive nips. with some puffines... I want to jump on the adex now but I dont want it to skew my E2 test results...Can I get on the adex then quit it some time before the next round of bloodwork or will taking the adex keep my E2 levels down for an extended period of time? Thanks in advance!

Good morning people! I recently found this site and it has be a great wealth of information. I am really grateful to have found it. Let me give you some background on me and my issue with Low T. I am 43 years old and I have been recently diagnosed with Low T. My baseline reading of total Testosterone was 157 ng/dl. My GP referred me to a Urologist and he retested my total testosterone, prolactin, psa, and liver functioning test. My test level was at 310. So he prescribed 200mg cyp to be injected once every two weeks, which is administered by my wife. I have a few concerns and a few questions, so if I may indulge you guys to help me out with this it would be greatly appreciated.

I have had Gynecomastia that started when I was going through puberty that never went away. I had that removed when I was 22 years old from under both nipples. It started coming back a few years later and I had it removed again when I was 30 it has not returned. Thank God! Because it was painful. I also had a vasectomy when I was 34 which I thought was a good thing at the time. Now I am not so sure. I think this may have been the culprit of my low t situation right now. No scientific proof but I have read that this can happen. So, here is my dilemma, my doctor didn’t check any of the following E2, LH, FSH, or SHBG and I have some real concerns about developing gyno again. So, with all that being considered should I start supplementing arimidex and HCG? I can get the arimidex but not the HCG. I go back and get my test levels tested in 7 weeks I am going to ask for those other tests to be taken as well. I would like to get him to prescribe the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) and arimidex. I think I am going to print all the info I found here and see what his response will be. I am so afraid of having estrogen issues. The thing is I don’t know if I should start with arimidex now or wait until my next testing results. My head is in a fog with this....LOL!

Also, I have recently lost 30 lbs with diet and exercise but I have seemed to hit a plateau with the weight loss. If he doesn’t move in the direction of the ancillaries should I find a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) clinic? Sorry for being all over the place in writing this post. I am sure I am forgetting something and will add more later. Please help my head is spinning! LOL!

 

[halfwit]

First, I wouldn't wait 7 weeks to find out if I had elevated E2 if my nipples are already itching and there's a history of gynecomastia. If your doc isn't willing to reschedule this for you, there are private labs available in most states if you happen to reside in the US. I've never heard of a vasectomy causing hypogonadism personally, but I have read a few studies showing that it is possible to disrupt the blood flow to the testes - leading to it. This is still a topic of great debate in the medical community, so I'll just leave it at that.

If you can afford it, there are many options available to you including ones like the board sponsor here Increase My T - which tend to have better choices at your disposal as many doctors tend to either feel they have their hands tied in prescribing "off-label" medications (AI/HCG are intended for women), or simply do not know enough about male hormones to begin with. I personally cannot afford the superior option of going with a self-paid plan, but I have found a doctor that at least listens to me. I feel this is the most important facet of finding the right doctor for your treatment as it's all too common to see a doctor that relies solely on values from a panel instead of asking how you FEEL.

I would hold off on the arimidex until you can get a blood test as it is always much easier to bring E2 levels down than it is to increase them. Adex has a "same day service" of about 48hrs to decrease serum estradiol, whereas it could take weeks to bring it back up if you have a slower aromatase function. There is also the fact that arimidex is a non-suicidal Aromatase inhibitor (AI), which means that you could potentially have a higher level of E2 due to rebound once its use is stopped. All around a bad idea in my humble (non-doctor) opinion.

My .02c

 

[Megatron28]

Sound advice from Halwit. Just one thought to chime in with. Taking Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) makes it harder to manage estradiol. Given that you have had a vasectomy and are done with kids, taking Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) may not be the best idea in your situation.

 

[fit2beking]

First, I wouldn't wait 7 weeks to find out if I had elevated E2 if my nipples are already itching and there's a history of gynecomastia. If your doc isn't willing to reschedule this for you, there are private labs available in most states if you happen to reside in the US. I've never heard of a vasectomy causing hypogonadism personally, but I have read a few studies showing that it is possible to disrupt the blood flow to the testes - leading to it. This is still a topic of great debate in the medical community, so I'll just leave it at that.

If you can afford it, there are many options available to you including ones like the board sponsor here Increase My T - which tend to have better choices at your disposal as many doctors tend to either feel they have their hands tied in prescribing "off-label" medications (AI/HCG are intended for women), or simply do not know enough about male hormones to begin with. I personally cannot afford the superior option of going with a self-paid plan, but I have found a doctor that at least listens to me. I feel this is the most important facet of finding the right doctor for your treatment as it's all too common to see a doctor that relies solely on values from a panel instead of asking how you FEEL.

I would hold off on the arimidex until you can get a blood test as it is always much easier to bring E2 levels down than it is to increase them. Adex has a "same day service" of about 48hrs to decrease serum estradiol, whereas it could take weeks to bring it back up if you have a slower aromatase function. There is also the fact that arimidex is a non-suicidal Aromatase inhibitor (AI), which means that you could potentially have a higher level of E2 due to rebound once its use is stopped. All around a bad idea in my humble (non-doctor) opinion.

My .02c

Points well taken. Yes I can afford to get testing prior to the 7 week follow up. I will call my GP monday morning and schedule some test. I do reside here in the US. I have pretty good health insurance which has not given me any issues with testing or prescriptions. My Watson cyp was only 5 bucks! Some guys from the other board was pretty much on the same path as you are. It never hurts to get various opinions from you guys. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and information from this board as well. I have been reading and I see who are well versed on this subject. So please don't take offense wth me for not mentioning any names but I am sure you guys know who you are. I will have an indepth conversation with my urologist as well. Thanks for the response! I must say that so far I do feel slightly better already. According to my wife my disposition seemed to have changed for the better. So all is looking up as long as this gyno issue gets in check.

 

[halfwit]

Sounds like a plan, let us know how it goes! (I am jealous of your benefits, mine don't cover the purchase of testosterone )

 

[fit2beking]

Sound advice from Halwit. Just one thought to chime in with. Taking Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) makes it harder to manage estradiol. Given that you have had a vasectomy and are done with kids, taking Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) may not be the best idea in your situation.

Thanks for the replay Mega and that may be why he didn't prescribe it in the first place. But if I can get the boys to produce some or more on their own I would like that as well to help with shrinkage. Even though they are not producing much as you can see.

 

[fit2beking]

Sounds like a plan, let us know how it goes! (I am jealous of your benefits, mine don't cover the purchase of testosterone )

Man, the insurance shell game is so insane in this country. Im sorry they wont pay for it. Do you mind telling me what it cost out of pocket for you? My gp first prescibed me the androgel it was 200 with insurance and 400 without and that was for a month supply. I immediately asked her to refer me to a urologist and my first consultation with him he allowed me to self inject. My wife is a nurse so she gives me injections. 5 bucks for 10ML. Way cheaper!!!

 

[halfwit]

Man, the insurance shell game is so insane in this country. Im sorry they wont pay for it. Do you mind telling me what it cost out of pocket for you? My gp first prescibed me the androgel it was 200 with insurance and 400 without and that was for a month supply. I immediately asked her to refer me to a urologist and my first consultation with him he allowed me to self inject. My wife is a nurse so she gives me injections. 5 bucks for 10ML. Way cheaper!!!

It really varies on which pharmacy, but I had been getting it for $65 from costco until they recently decided they were no longer able to sell me 10mL vials. CVS (my temporary choice) is 96 dollars a vial, but I'm hoping this coupon I found online will drop it down to 38 bucks. It totally is a shell game, but one we have to play.