I am going to start administering my own Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and need some advice

whoamilol

New member
I am going to start administering my own HRT and need some advice

I went in to get my testosterone measured a while ago, because I had been experiencing gyno and fairly low energy/sex drive. I have never used any gear before though so it wasn't caused by that.

I'm pretty sure I would not qualify for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), since, although my testosterone is in the lower end of the spectrum, it is within the normal range. Can't remember the exact number, but I remember my doctor saying it was low normal. However, my estrogen, prolactin and DHEA levels were all in the very upper section of the limit (again, can't remember exact numbers).

If I am to follow through with this self administered Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), I will find a way to get my levels tested again either through my GP or privately first.

I know how to obtain anabolics, and would probably be able to get my hands on most things, so that wouldn't be an issue.

My goal is to raise my test to the upper limit of what people have natty or maybe slightly above, as well as lowering my estrogen and prolactin levels to maybe the bottom third of what the natty range is and to then, with blood work, maintain my levels at this.


My age is 24, I have been training for 3.5 years, and think I am fairly close to my limit in terms of gym gains. Can bench 125kg, squat 170kg, deadlift 220kg and am stalling a lot on progress at the moment, although could probably squeeze a bit more out. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) idea is more for general wellbeing etc than gym gains though, although they will be a nice additional benefit.


At the moment I was thinking I might go on:

100mg/wk of some form of test <----might not go on the test straight away, and first see how the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) and prolactin reducing drugs help me on their own (since reducing those might increase test enough anyway)
HCG at an appropriate dosage
arimidex to keep estrogen in the lower normal range (or another Aromatase inhibitor (AI) depending on what is available): appropriate dosage
Caber for reducing prolactin: maybe .5mg/wk

^would play around with dosages and use bloodwork to see see if I should increase/decrease certain things


To people that are saying I should cycle and not stay on or I will get shut down: I am already shut down, that is my starting point. Worst that can happen is I will get more shut down and then qualify for legit Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) anyway. Also, dosages won't be too high and I will get bloodwork + try and keep hormones balanced, not use orals if possible, so can't see health effects being too big an issue. Also, my starting blood pressure is low (diastolic of ~50 for resting blood pressure), which is another reason for the low energy (although have not had any other issues from the blood pressure to my knowledge), so having elevated blood pressure will not be an issue for me and an increase will probably even benefit me.


How does this sound? Also, do you think there would be any way/any story I could say which would let me to obtain Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) through a doctor, considering gyno, low energy and sex drive etc? If it's possible to do it with drugs I know are pure, I'd rather do that.
 
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At your age, I think you should try to figure out why you have Low T as you may be able to fix the problem. You would be better off restoring your natural T production than going on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for the rest of your life. Call the doc and have him give your your detailed lab results from before. And it would probably be a good idea to run new labs to get a complete picture. It is hard to recommend anything without seeing actual numbers.

Here are some labs I can think of:

LH
FSH
Prolactin
Total Testosterone
Free testosterone
Estradiol (sensitive assay)
Vitamin D
CBC
Metabolic Panel
IGF-1
Thyroid Panel

Make sure you have the blood drawn first thing in the morning. Once you have your numbers and compartive normal ranges post them back up here.

You also need to look at things like poor sleep, diet, etc that may be lowering your testosterone. Lots of things can cause Low T so try to get to the bottom of it before you begin testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for the rest of your life.
 
At your age, I think you should try to figure out why you have Low T as you may be able to fix the problem.

...

You also need to look at things like poor sleep, diet, etc that may be lowering your testosterone. Lots of things can cause Low T so try to get to the bottom of it before you begin testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for the rest of your life.

But this has been a consistent thing. My diet is fairly balanced in terms of nutrients, is not calorie restrictive at the moment, and contains enough fat, so I can't see that being an issue. I sleep a normal amount.

Don't want to go on some big mission trying to avoid soy sauce in case it raises my estrogen and making sure I get a cup of broccoli a day etc. Cannot see it making all that big a difference, and I want to make a big difference. I am 24 and take care of myself and am not high body fat or anything so cannot see my hormonal profile going ahead and fixing itself.

It seems to me as if improving my homonal profile would improve my overall quality of life, could be done in such a way as to bypass most side effects, and would actually have real world benefits (higher T and lower E leads to better heart health, greater insulin sensitivity, more confidence, more energy, enhanced physical ability). Why wait?
 
You're just talking about another couple of weeks maybe to get some additional tests. A sleep study would be a good idea if you have ever been told you snore. What if you have varicole and that can be addressed and you get your natty T back? Wouldn't Natty T at the levels you are hoping for be better than injecting for the rest of your life not to mention the amount of money you are going to have to spend? What if you have sleep apnea and just need a c-pap? That can cause Low T. What if you could try restarting your HPTA and get your natty T back? High prolactin did you say? What if you have a pituitary tumor that is causing your Low T and needs to be removed?

I never said "big mission." I never said eat broccoli every day, but you might be surprised how many people out there eat at McDonald's every day. Why not just spend a week or two ruling some things out? It takes about 5 minutes to go to the lab and get some blood drawn. Do you even know if you are primary or secondary hypogonadotropic?

In the end you're obviously going to do what you want, but if it were me I would want to understand what is going on a little better. But I am a older than you and probably wiser than you. :)
 
arimidex to keep estrogen in the lower normal range (or another Aromatase inhibitor (AI) depending on what is available): 1mg/day or so

You better spend some more time studying arimidex dosages...that is way too much.

Also you might not need an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) for 100mg test per week.
 
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You're just talking about another couple of weeks maybe to get some additional tests. A sleep study would be a good idea if you have ever been told you snore. What if you have varicole and that can be addressed and you get your natty T back? Wouldn't Natty T at the levels you are hoping for be better than injecting for the rest of your life not to mention the amount of money you are going to have to spend? What if you have sleep apnea and just need a c-pap? That can cause Low T. What if you could try restarting your HPTA and get your natty T back? High prolactin did you say? What if you have a pituitary tumor that is causing your Low T and needs to be removed?

I never said "big mission." I never said eat broccoli every day, but you might be surprised how many people out there eat at McDonald's every day. Why not just spend a week or two ruling some things out? It takes about 5 minutes to go to the lab and get some blood drawn. Do you even know if you are primary or secondary hypogonadotropic?

In the end you're obviously going to do what you want, but if it were me I would want to understand what is going on a little better. But I am a older than you and probably wiser than you. :)

really helpful post bro

I had no idea that sleep apnea caused low t. I google that relationship and had a bit of a read just then. I have actually had a few girls tell me I snore and have even had one say that it sounded like I stopped breathing for a bit. Thought it was a bit worrying at the time but then just sort of forgot about it. Will look into seeing a sleep specialist but I'm not really sure how to go about that. May as well try and rule out all possible causes.
 
really helpful post bro

I had no idea that sleep apnea caused low t. I google that relationship and had a bit of a read just then. I have actually had a few girls tell me I snore and have even had one say that it sounded like I stopped breathing for a bit. Thought it was a bit worrying at the time but then just sort of forgot about it. Will look into seeing a sleep specialist but I'm not really sure how to go about that. May as well try and rule out all possible causes.
Talk to your PCP and ask for a referral to a sleep specialist. They then perform an interview to see if you fit the criteria for sleep apnea and perform an overnight sleep study with a bunch of wires taped to your head and chest. I was woken up an hour into my study and put on a cpap right away as I was apparently stopping my breathing just enough to kill my REM sleep. Once they got the cpap on me, I apparently had a solid 4 hours of REM sleep, which I was told is almost unheard of in adults and likely meant I had gone some time without a proper night's sleep. While my sleep apnea wasn't the root cause of my hypogonadism, it has most certainly improved my quality of life.

If you're planning on doing this on your own, another suggestion is to contact IMT here as they can most certainly help you identify what is going on and provide the best course of treatment as can be seen in testimonials by many men that have sought them out. I don't normally advocate online resources such as these, but even their board reps have a better understanding of male hormones than I'd say 75% of doctors/endos do.
 
What is IMT bro? I know you aren't talking about Institute of Management Technology which is what google brings up

Just googled CPAP - sounds expensive. So did you need to buy yourself a big CPAP machine? Was that expensive man? Maybe getting a bit ahead of myself since I don't even know what the sleep specialist will say yet but whatever
 
What is IMT bro? I know you aren't talking about Institute of Management Technology which is what google brings up

Just googled CPAP - sounds expensive. So did you need to buy yourself a big CPAP machine? Was that expensive man? Maybe getting a bit ahead of myself since I don't even know what the sleep specialist will say yet but whatever

IMT = Increase My T, they're a board sponsor here and specialize in male hormone replacement therapy. Yes, a CPAP machine is very expensive if you were to go out and purchase one on your own. Since my shitty insurance company which doesn't even cover vials of testosterone paid for mine, I'm sure if you have any sort of insurance coverage, odds are it will be paid for.
 
You spend a third of your life sleeping. What price can you put on getting quality sleep? And it may help bring your T up. Lots of the symptoms one gets from poor sleep feel the same as those from Low T. I think there is a circular relationship between the two. But like Halfwit said, fixing your sleep is good in itself but it doesn't always fix your hypogonadism. You need to figure out what is going on with your body.
 
You spend a third of your life sleeping. What price can you put on getting quality sleep? And it may help bring your T up. Lots of the symptoms one gets from poor sleep feel the same as those from Low T. I think there is a circular relationship between the two. But like Halfwit said, fixing your sleep is good in itself but it doesn't always fix your hypogonadism. You need to figure out what is going on with your body.

Yeah bro but it is irrelevant how much it is worth if you cannot afford it you cannot afford it. Don't have health insurance so guess I will just try my luck seeing a doctor, getting a referral to a sleep expert and seeing what they have to say.
 
Yeah bro but it is irrelevant how much it is worth if you cannot afford it you cannot afford it. Don't have health insurance so guess I will just try my luck seeing a doctor, getting a referral to a sleep expert and seeing what they have to say.

I hate to tell you this, but the money you will spend on the doctor consults and the overnight sleep study will cost more than the cpap itself. In your case, just save your money and go buy a used machine and learn how to set it on the internet.
 
Could maybe try a nasal strip...it works for some.
oh yeah, I will google this now
I hate to tell you this, but the money you will spend on the doctor consults and the overnight sleep study will cost more than the cpap itself. In your case, just save your money and go buy a used machine and learn how to set it on the internet.
Yeah could do - seems like you can get them for under a grand from my cursory search there. I might try and record myself sleeping and compare that to a known sleep apnea person sleeping first though.
 
That's not how it works. I had a sleep study done because I am a REALLY loud snorer. The study confirmed that. But I don't have sleep apnea. Just very mild sleep hypopnea. You need to monitor your blood oxygen and sleep patterns.
 
That's not how it works. I had a sleep study done because I am a REALLY loud snorer. The study confirmed that. But I don't have sleep apnea. Just very mild sleep hypopnea. You need to monitor your blood oxygen and sleep patterns.

Oh yeah, I guess I will have to go for the actual legit test then
 
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