Things You Wish Someone Would Have Told You When You fisrt Started TRT ?
- Thread starter Atlaz
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what would make it any different than testing to dial in your TT? It doesn't show up as LH.
Everyone claims HCG makes your E2 spike, thats not what we see. Most people keep their E2 levels too low.
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Well there are lots of reasons. One of the big ones is decrease in sensitivity when ejaculating. Some guys claim this doesn't happen, but I think its a simple fact of not knowing what they are missing.
Also testosterone suppresses cortisol and the adrenal glands. HCG will help offset this.
HCG also helps your testes maintain the production of progesterone which is responsible for endothelial function.
Also many men after being on T for a while will have a suppressed SHBG. Its well documented that T injections increase free T more than other preparations. Stimulating E2 production at the testicular level will help offset this. Estradiol is not just made in fat cells around the body, a large majority is made in the testes.
It also comes down to the simple fact of why let your testes shut-down when you can keep them running? You never know whats going to happen. Not everyone stays on TRT forever consistently. As a matter of fact most guys attempt a restart at one time or another. Keeping your testes functioning is the smart thing do.
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IMT staff
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well that depends on symptoms. For a standard follow up blood test, excluding the standard CMP, CBC and lipid.
Total T, Free T and Estradiol usually work.
We don't use blood test's to dial someone in. We use them as confirmation that we have them dialed in.
I'm trying to learn and have a few questions pertaining to hCG in relation to TRT. What is the purpose of hCG? How often and what amounts of hCG do you typically recommend for someone on TRT? How does hCG effect e2 levels in your experience? Are there any negatives that you've encountered? What about long term studies concerning it's usage?
ETA - I think you answered some of this while I was typing. Reading upstream now.
Specifically what tests. Specifically what levels?
Straight forward question that should be relatively easy to answer if HCG is an absolute necessity.
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IMT staff
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I will say this again for you. You are too concentrated on exact levels. Its more about alleviating symptoms, and then using a blood test to make sure the dosages that make someone feel good are not putting their health at risk.
Some guys are at 700. some guys are at 900. some all the way up to 1100.
Some guys have an E2 at 30 and are fine. It really doesn't matter as long as its not over 50 and preferably not under 30. but if a guy measures at 28 and feels great, why change anything? Especially if his lipids, C reactive protein and CBC looks good?
Your doing it backwards. Feel good first, blood test second.
As far as what other blood test's, like I said it depends on a patients symptoms. There are many things to test for, but should have a reason before just going and testing everything. There is a symptom for pretty much every scenario.
The ONLY thing we have ran into and not been able to solve, is when men have such a low SHBG there is no way to get it up. This has happened to couple of our clients and we still don't have an answer.
No.... You claimed feeling good had nothing to do with it and that HCG was necessary whether a person felt good or not.....I am simply asking you which blood tests you are using to determine a persons appropriate HCG dosage.
TT FreeT and sensitive array of estradiol are all able to be manipulated without the use of HCG. A person is able to "feel" good without HCG....... How is that an absolute necessity?
TT FreeT and sensitive array of estradiol are all able to be manipulated without the use of HCG. A person is able to "feel" good without HCG....... How is that an absolute necessity?
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First of all your wrong. E2 is not always able to be manipulated upwards without HCG.
Secondly, I have already stated the reason why it is imperative to take HCG, if they don't make sense to you then they never will.
But yes I have seen it help adrenal fatigue by testing DHEA-s blood and 4 point salivary cortisol. I have seen it bump progesterone levels. I have seen it decrease TSH.
What I meant to you by not feeling it is just because you can't tell a difference doesn't mean its not working. Testosterone sometimes takes a while to suppress men, ESPECIALLY causcasian men. So just cause your adrenals are still working fine doesn't mean they always will. Who knows maybe you don't have enough progesterone and your arterial walls are hardening.
I don't have a clue what your deal is.
I know this, your way too concentrated on your lab results!!!!!!!
Im going to step away from this conversation now because you are convinced, like every newb is at one point or another, and nothing I say is going to change your mind. It doesn't matter what I post. Your just going to have to learn on your own like all newbs do.
Time is the only thing that can help you understand the array of benefits HCG has too offer.
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Mprtz
New member
There is no blood test that will specifically tell you that your hcg dose is sufficient. I've seen a study where they measured intratesticular test on hcg, but the subjects had to be sedated.
The upshot of that study seemed to confirm 500 to 1000iu per week that people generally use.
There is no blood test that will specifically tell you that your hcg dose is sufficient. I've seen a study where they measured intratesticular test on hcg, but the subjects had to be sedated.
No specific test was my point.
Feel good. Blood work looks good. Not worried about fertility. Not worried about testicular atrophy.
Those are my supporting arguments that HCG is not a necessity.
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What about the claimed half-life of nebido vs the actual one. I have read something about some studies that shows the half-life to be much shorther than that claimed by the manufacturer. Some links to studies (or explanation on the subject) on this and/or the rollercoaster ride you will end up with if you only inject every 12 weeks like the doctors try to force you to do would be great.
