New to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with questions

[samx]

New to TRT with questions

Hi everyone!

I am 31 years old and have always had low T. I also pretty much have all symptoms of hypogonadism. I finally found a doctor who was willing to put me on TRT cause before that all doctors I went to told me that my levels are still normal.

I have pretty much done all tests you can get. I got tested for klinefelter which was negative, I got a pituitary MRI which was also negative and I also did a GnRh test. My endo couldn't really tell me why my T is low. He assumes that maybe I had an injection of my testicles in the past but this wouldn't make sense cause my LH is also low. If the reason was the testicles then my LH should be high.

Anyway, I now started with testosterone gel (2.5%, 62.5mg per serving). My doc told me to start with 1 sacchet which contains 62.5mg testosterone. I have been applying this to my forearms and upper arms for 2 weeks now and I don't notice any effects at all. Libido and erections haven't improved. I also don't feel better mentally.
Is this normal? I'm already becoming discouraged.

I don't think that I am not absorbing. Last year a different doctor put me on testogel for one week and then did a test and my testosterone was elevated which shows that I was absorbing the gel.

Do you think that I should already feel a difference after 2 weeks? I read reports from people who said they felt it instantly.

I also don't know if I should switch to injections. Applying the gel is really annoying.
But injections also have disadvantages cause then I'd have to drive to my doc every 3 weeks for an injection. I don't know if he would be willing to show me how to inject myself and since I'm really anxious I also don't know if I could even inject myself without freaking out.

I also read that many people, especially in the USA, seem to also use HCG and an Aromatase Inhibitor as addition to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but I don't know if my doctor has any experience with this and if he'd be willing to do that.
Do you absolutely have to also take HCG to prevent testicle shrinkage? If my testiscles got really small then this would also drag me down.

Currently I'm pretty worried how this will all turn out. What if hate most about TRT is all the things which can go wrong and anxiously awaiting every blood test and worrying what kind of results I might have. I already know this from past blood tests that if some values are totally out of whack then this totally upsets me and worries me.

So much for an introduction. I am happy to be able to exchange myself with other TRTers. This makes me feel a little safer.

 

[Athens-M50]

I put the gel (Testim) on for 2 months...and had the script filled again...I called the Dr. to see if it had had time to get in my system....she said..."Lets do some blood work"....results were my levels were lower(free was 3 and total was 80 for a 43 yrs old man)that before me putting the cream on for 2 month......so she put me on injections....1ML of Cypoinate....once a week.....This Thursday will be only my second shot....so I cannot tell anything yet....but have my fingers crossed!!!!!

Just my story

 

[couch]

If you are hypogonad, I'm not sure why you would be worried about testicular atrophy. The damage is done.

Usually (at least in the US), the gel is the first thing they do because doctors can be real pussies about needles. Most patients are, too, and you can get good results from the gel. In your case, though, it's a pretty low dose. Consider that many people take 200mg/wk of test cyp on TRT. You're getting a bit more than a third of that. The other thing about the gel/cream is it should be subtle in effect unless you get a lot in you because there's no ester -- it hits you at once and your body metabolizes it (and it aromatizes...).

Anyways, some doctors, after the gel/cream isn't working will offer to give you shots once a week, or in the case of Nebido, once every couple months (8-10 weeks with a 6 week front load). Some doctors will offer you a script for cyp that you can take home and do yourself. On the other hand, some doctors are dickheads and won't do anything like this.

Moral of the story is find a doctor that doesn't suck, but you'll probably have to go through the motions of trying the topicals before they "take the radical step" of putting a needle in your hands.

And then there's IMT.

 

[samx]

Hi, I think waiting for 2 months before doing a blood test is way too long.

How much testosterone does 1ML of Cypoinate contain? And do you inject yourself?

 

[chris698]

It depends on the manufacturer, but usually 200mg/250mg per ML.

 

[samx]

Hi guys,
the problem is that I read that the typical injections 250mg every 2-3 weeks cause a huge spike where you reach supraphysiological levels and then towards the end the levels are too low again. I read in a book about TRT about this and the author was pretty much against it.
I also think that the risk of side effects like acne and all that are higher when you get really high levels which are above normal.
The only solution would be doing smaller injections but then I'd have to do them on my own. I cannot drive to my doctor every few days for an injection.
This is really stressing me out right now.

 

[TarheelWill]

To keep the hormone MUCH more stable without the peaks n troughs, you would want to inject cypionate at least once a week. Twice a week would be even better. This would also keep the sides down. Hope this helps

 

[bowhuntr09]

Samx,

Self-injecting is not hard at all. I will be doing my 3rd shot this week and there is really nothing to it. I started on gel and crashed after 3 weeks and got my doc to switch me to shots. I would not do the shots if I couldn't inject once a week, anything longer and you will be on a roller coaster.