Newbie testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) questions?

[Rich_B]

Newbie TRT questions?

I asked this in the 'Ask Me Anything' thread but thought I'd create it as a new thread also in hope of more responses .........

Background: I have been cycling AAS since 2006 for bodybuilding purposes but for the last two years I have only been interested in the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) benefits of Testosterone use i.e. improved wellbeing, libido etc. I still exercise 3 x per week, weights and cardio each session and I am in better than average shape. I'm 32 years old. I no longer use typical high dose steroid cycles for bodybuilding.

My questions are as follows:

1. I have found that taking 250mg test enanthate gives me the desired effects from approximately 4 weeks after starting treatment. The feeling of wellbeing and increased libido gradually increases up until around weeks 7-8, at which point I feel great and libido is through the roof. Then at week 9 all of a sudden the party stops, libido is low, wellbeing is back to average, I don't feel like it's a full on crash as I'm not depressed or anything and my strength is still up in the gym etc but something definitely isn't right. I would love to maintain that feeling from weeks 7-8 but I'm struggling to see where I'm going wrong. Any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. The exact medication I am taking is 250mg test enanthate per week (one weekly IM jab) with 500iu Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) per week (one weekly Sub-Q jab), Proviron 50mg per day, T3 25mcg per day. I also take the following OTC supplements daily; multi-vitamin, 10g Omega 3 fish oils, 5000iu Vit D, 200mg CoQ10, 5g Taurine.

2. I have little experience with AI's but I have Arimidex on hand in case it's needed. I presume the change in my wellbeing at week 9 could be due to aromatisation, if this is the case what is a good starting point and dosing protocol with the Arimidex and how long after starting it should it take effect? Just so when I know at what point it is or isn't working and I can then adjust the dose.

3. Is Sustanon a better choice than single ester Testosterone?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[300winmag]

I asked this in the 'Ask Me Anything' thread but thought I'd create it as a new thread also in hope of more responses .........

Background: I have been cycling AAS since 2006 for bodybuilding purposes but for the last two years I have only been interested in the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) benefits of Testosterone use i.e. improved wellbeing, libido etc. I still exercise 3 x per week, weights and cardio each session and I am in better than average shape. I'm 32 years old. I no longer use typical high dose steroid cycles for bodybuilding.

My questions are as follows:

1. I have found that taking 250mg test enanthate gives me the desired effects from approximately 4 weeks after starting treatment. The feeling of wellbeing and increased libido gradually increases up until around weeks 7-8, at which point I feel great and libido is through the roof. Then at week 9 all of a sudden the party stops, libido is low, wellbeing is back to average, I don't feel like it's a full on crash as I'm not depressed or anything and my strength is still up in the gym etc but something definitely isn't right. I would love to maintain that feeling from weeks 7-8 but I'm struggling to see where I'm going wrong. Any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. The exact medication I am taking is 250mg test enanthate per week (one weekly IM jab) with 500iu Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) per week (one weekly Sub-Q jab), Proviron 50mg per day, T3 25mcg per day. I also take the following OTC supplements daily; multi-vitamin, 10g Omega 3 fish oils, 5000iu Vit D, 200mg CoQ10, 5g Taurine.

2. I have little experience with AI's but I have Arimidex on hand in case it's needed. I presume the change in my wellbeing at week 9 could be due to aromatisation, if this is the case what is a good starting point and dosing protocol with the Arimidex and how long after starting it should it take effect? Just so when I know at what point it is or isn't working and I can then adjust the dose.

3. Is Sustanon a better choice than single ester Testosterone?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Well if you doing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and dont really need it I would seriously look at why I am doing this. 1. There is a cost to it specially if your going underground or online clinic. 2. You should have labs etc to monitor it which is time and money. 3. Your killing your natural production for no reason. Not judging and if you want to do it, so be it. I would think 250 per week is an awful lot, probably should within the 100-150 range with a max of 200. Also with much and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) your T levels are probably going to be through the roof as well as E numbers. By backing off the T might make it so you can lower your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) intake or not take it all.

To me it kind of sounds like you are trying to do a maintenence phase in betwee cycles, which im not sure if youll get the best info here.

 

[Rich_B]

Well if you doing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and dont really need it I would seriously look at why I am doing this. 1. There is a cost to it specially if your going underground or online clinic. 2. You should have labs etc to monitor it which is time and money. 3. Your killing your natural production for no reason. Not judging and if you want to do it, so be it. I would think 250 per week is an awful lot, probably should within the 100-150 range with a max of 200. Also with much and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) your T levels are probably going to be through the roof as well as E numbers. By backing off the T might make it so you can lower your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) intake or not take it all.

To me it kind of sounds like you are trying to do a maintenence phase in betwee cycles, which im not sure if youll get the best info here.

Thanks for the reply.

Just to clarify, this is not a maintenance phase between cycles in a 'blast and cruise' style. I never intend to use more than 250mg per week again although I do intend to cycle on and off at this dose. I currently don't take an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) but feel like I perhaps should be doing to counteract the problems I'm experiencing with libido. If I reduce the T should I reduce the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) too? I take Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) primarily to help recovery when coming off the T.

Thanks again for your response.

 

[Megatron28]

Thanks for the reply.

Just to clarify, this is not a maintenance phase between cycles in a 'blast and cruise' style. I never intend to use more than 250mg per week again although I do intend to cycle on and off at this dose. I currently don't take an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) but feel like I perhaps should be doing to counteract the problems I'm experiencing with libido. If I reduce the T should I reduce the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) too? I take Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) primarily to help recovery when coming off the T.

Thanks again for your response.

Why would you want to cycle like that? Why not just manage your estrogen through a lower dose of T or take your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) and stay on it permanently? I don't get what you hope to accomplish.

 

[Rich_B]

Why would you want to cycle like that? Why not just manage your estrogen through a lower dose of T or take your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) and stay on it permanently? I don't get what you hope to accomplish.

I'm cycling in the way that traditional high dose steroid cycles are done but at a much lower dose. The reason for this is that I have discovered that I still gain reasonably well at 250mg/wk and this is a much easier dose to recover from than 500mg+.

My attitide is why use 500mg or more when I am happy with the effects from 250mg. However I still have the libido issue to contend with even at this relatively low dose, hence my seeking advice in this forum. I feel the advice I will get here is more suited to my situation that in the general steroid forum where I am constantly advised to "increase the Test and your problems will go away". As we all know this is simply not the case. I will be much happier if I can master the art of correct estrogen control at the low Test dose.

 

[2rude4u]

I'm cycling in the way that traditional high dose steroid cycles are done but at a much lower dose. The reason for this is that I have discovered that I still gain reasonably well at 250mg/wk and this is a much easier dose to recover from than 500mg+.

My attitide is why use 500mg or more when I am happy with the effects from 250mg. However I still have the libido issue to contend with even at this relatively low dose, hence my seeking advice in this forum. I feel the advice I will get here is more suited to my situation that in the general steroid forum where I am constantly advised to "increase the Test and your problems will go away". As we all know this is simply not the case. I will be much happier if I can master the art of correct estrogen control at the low Test dose.

I think you probably just answered your own question. Many have issues with E at even lower does than you are on. It can cause everything that you have described. Do you know where you E is?

 

[trtgiant]

This is all a balancing issue, and 250mg with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) will get your test levels in the above normal range. You are are still doing a cycle, although a bit more subdued than a normal cycle, you will essentially have all the same issues that you would have in a long cycle.

When you are on a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) dose, the problems from being on a cycle aren't the same, but balancing the E, at least for me, is always a bitch. If you can be natural for a while longer, I would say do that, as it is simpler. I guess what I am saying is, if you are not going into andropause, being on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is worse that being healthy and not injecting.

Chances are you will go on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but even a couple more years of natural living is good. At least for me, my libido is not as strong as it was before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and andropause, its way better than when I went into andropause, had hot flashes and all kinds of weird side effects,

 

[Rich_B]

I think you probably just answered your own question. Many have issues with E at even lower does than you are on. It can cause everything that you have described. Do you know where you E is?

Not at the moment no, I haven't had any bloodwork done.

This is all a balancing issue, and 250mg with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) will get your test levels in the above normal range. You are are still doing a cycle, although a bit more subdued than a normal cycle, you will essentially have all the same issues that you would have in a long cycle.

When you are on a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) dose, the problems from being on a cycle aren't the same, but balancing the E, at least for me, is always a bitch. If you can be natural for a while longer, I would say do that, as it is simpler. I guess what I am saying is, if you are not going into andropause, being on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is worse that being healthy and not injecting.

Chances are you will go on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but even a couple more years of natural living is good. At least for me, my libido is not as strong as it was before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and andropause, its way better than when I went into andropause, had hot flashes and all kinds of weird side effects,

Thanks for the reply.

I don't intend to stay on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) full time, I intend to run cycles of Test probably twice per year but at a dose no higher than 250mg as this is all I need to make reasonable muscular gains, I may possibly be able to gain on even less which I haven't tried yet. What I would like to achieve is the feeling of overwhelming wellbeing to last longer than just a few days during these cycles.

 

[Megatron28]

As the old saying goes, go big or go home. You are going to get all the downsides of a cycle -- shutting down you HPTA and very little upside at only 250mg. If you are going to do a cycle you shouldn't do it half assed. Make it worth the hassle.

 

[Rich_B]

As the old saying goes, go big or go home. You are going to get all the downsides of a cycle -- shutting down you HPTA and very little upside at only 250mg. If you are going to do a cycle you shouldn't do it half assed. Make it worth the hassle.

This would make sense to me except that I do make good gains at 250mg without the need for any Aromatase inhibitor (AI) or SERM as I get no major sides. If I up the dose to 500mg I need to take other meds to counteract the sides without a huge difference in the gains, I also find it harder to recover from a 500mg cycle.