Need insight on twice a week and T levels

[bshank]

Howdy howdy.

I just got off the phone with my clinic about some issues I have been having(libido has dropped quite a bit, acne, some bouts of anxiety). They thing my issue is that my T is too high(around 1400 during the peak). I asked them about switching from a once a week protocol to twice a week and they told me that due to the half life of test cyp(which is 10 days) that pinning twice a week wouldn't affect my overall T levels as much. Is this true? It seems to me like it would lower my peak levels and raise my trough levels.

Believe it or not I have been trying to google this put most information I see on dosing twice a week just goes over how it keeps your E lower and, for some people, helps keep an even keel mood and energy wise. For now we are lowering my once a week dose and running some tests in a month but depending on how that goes and according to answers on here I may readjust my dosing after the bloodwork.

 

[Jimstigator]

Howdy howdy.

I just got off the phone with my clinic about some issues I have been having(libido has dropped quite a bit, acne, some bouts of anxiety). They thing my issue is that my T is too high(around 1400 during the peak). I asked them about switching from a once a week protocol to twice a week and they told me that due to the half life of test cyp(which is 10 days) that pinning twice a week wouldn't affect my overall T levels as much. Is this true? It seems to me like it would lower my peak levels and raise my trough levels.

Believe it or not I have been trying to google this put most information I see on dosing twice a week just goes over how it keeps your E lower and, for some people, helps keep an even keel mood and energy wise. For now we are lowering my once a week dose and running some tests in a month but depending on how that goes and according to answers on here I may readjust my dosing after the bloodwork.

In theory - you seem correct. In practice... its tough. For me, 100mg of test a week, injected EOD, keeps my peak around 900-950. 50mg a twice week, so the same weekly dose, has me at like 700-800. I guess I don't have the answer, but I doubt you would see much of a drop in TT. You are right, most people split doses to manage E2, but there isn't much reporting on TT levels.

In my case, more frequent injections tend to result in higher TT for any given dose of test a week.

It probably goes against alot of opinions around here, but I agree with your clinic - that peak is too high. Reading hormone forums causes you to lose perspective... don't forget that peak is probably two-three times higher than anyone you know naturally. Its just un-necessary in most cases to go that high. Independent of estrogen levels, at a TT over 1000, I start to get acne. Plus, I feel better peaking between 800-950 than levels over 1000.

-Jim

 

[TRTnooby]

There is no way to know the exact half life of any esther because its going to vary from person to person and injection site to injection site. I've heard anywhere from 6-12 days.

Logically, taking half of much of something twice as often is going to lead to a tighter range of peaks and valleys.

Everyone is different, why not try it and see how you feel. Do you self inject at home?

 

[Megatron28]

Yes, it will lower the peak and increase the trough if you increase pinning frequency. Basically it evens you out more. At some point there is diminished returns, but a lot of us here like pinning twice a week.

I doubt that high TT levels themselves are affecting your libido. In fact, most of us see libido increases with higher TT levels. Try running a blast sometime and you will see what I mean.

In your case, my guess is that it is more likely that your estradiol is spiking when your TT is peaking. Have you checked E2 a couple of days after an injection?

 

[bshank]

Have you checked E2 a couple of days after an injection?

1400ish T and E2 was about 21.

 

[bshank]

Everyone is different, why not try it and see how you feel. Do you self inject at home?

I do self inject. I am going to go with the doctor for a bit and see how the lowered dose works out. If that doesn't do anything I will switch over to twice a week even if the clinic things that won't help.

 

[Megatron28]

1400ish T and E2 was about 21.

Sensitive or regular assay? It would help to post the range and units. But it could be that your E2 is too low.

Can you post your exact TRT protocol and blood work results with units and ranges?

 

[bshank]

My starting protocol was 200mg once a week, 1mg of AI and umm I think 500iu of HCG twice a week(i think).

Test: 1466 - ng/dL, 348-1197
Estradiol: 21.7 pg/mL 7.6-42.6

For about the past 6 weeks or so I lowered my AI to .25mg twice a week since it sounded like my E2 might be too low. I don't have any bloodwork for this but it didn't make any difference.

 

[Megatron28]

My starting protocol was 200mg once a week, 1mg of AI and umm I think 500iu of HCG twice a week(i think).

Test: 1466 - ng/dL, 348-1197
Estradiol: 21.7 pg/mL 7.6-42.6

For about the past 6 weeks or so I lowered my AI to .25mg twice a week since it sounded like my E2 might be too low. I don't have any bloodwork for this but it didn't make any difference.

Get blood work then and let us know which estradiol assay is used. Otherwise we are guessing.