Pantalones
New member
I've noticed a couple trends throughout TRT forums regarding transdermal testosterone replacement (androgel, testim, etc.). The first being that a lot of guys will tell you straight up that gels are worthless, and for a lot of guys this seems to be the case. For a multitude of reasons, a lot of guys just don't feel well on gels, or their levels do not increase into what they consider satisfactory. I myself was one of the lucky responders..at first.
When I first went on TRT my levels had been low for a good year and a half. I went in a little skeptical, having done my research and knowing that a lot of guys considered androgel as a worse option than struggling with low natty levels. I was scared of it shutting me down without making me feel any better. Luckily my doc threw in some Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) which eased my mind and helped me to commit to his protocol. What occurred over the course of the next year was simply amazing to say the least.
Within the first three months I had gained twenty pounds, and my strength was increasing rapidly. Within six months I had gained upwards of around 35 lbs and literally felt invincible. Surprisingly enough, the gel had actually sky rocketed my total testosterone levels up near 1,300 ng/dL and free T was extremely high as well. Libido kicked in immediately and I was the horniest I'd ever been.
My response to transdermal TRT was unique in that I had made such significant progress. I was on the super responder end of the transdermal success spectrum, and it was great. Now getting to the point, after a year of success on androgel, I began to realize something was off. I was getting puffier, and although I was still big I experienced a slight gain in body fat or what I perceived to be body fat. Probably was actually water retention.
My E2 was creeping up, as often does happen with the gels eventually, and I was slowly absorbing less and less. I eventually went in for some blood work and it showed my T levels around 500, and E2 decently high. Knowing what I did I told my doc it was time for injections and we never looked back lol.
What I'm wondering is, why does this happen? Increases in skin thickness as a result to some of the chemicals in the gel formula? Does testosterone itself hep to thicken the skin? All I know is that no one will be successful for life on transdermal TRT. I know there are those out there who say injections don't give them the stable and energetic feeling that the transdermals did. Transdermals do convert more DHT which could account for some of this, and these individuals might respond best to a dual protocol of both transdermals and injections.
Overall transdermals have their place, but I'm not convinced its long-term TRT.
When I first went on TRT my levels had been low for a good year and a half. I went in a little skeptical, having done my research and knowing that a lot of guys considered androgel as a worse option than struggling with low natty levels. I was scared of it shutting me down without making me feel any better. Luckily my doc threw in some Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) which eased my mind and helped me to commit to his protocol. What occurred over the course of the next year was simply amazing to say the least.
Within the first three months I had gained twenty pounds, and my strength was increasing rapidly. Within six months I had gained upwards of around 35 lbs and literally felt invincible. Surprisingly enough, the gel had actually sky rocketed my total testosterone levels up near 1,300 ng/dL and free T was extremely high as well. Libido kicked in immediately and I was the horniest I'd ever been.
My response to transdermal TRT was unique in that I had made such significant progress. I was on the super responder end of the transdermal success spectrum, and it was great. Now getting to the point, after a year of success on androgel, I began to realize something was off. I was getting puffier, and although I was still big I experienced a slight gain in body fat or what I perceived to be body fat. Probably was actually water retention.
My E2 was creeping up, as often does happen with the gels eventually, and I was slowly absorbing less and less. I eventually went in for some blood work and it showed my T levels around 500, and E2 decently high. Knowing what I did I told my doc it was time for injections and we never looked back lol.
What I'm wondering is, why does this happen? Increases in skin thickness as a result to some of the chemicals in the gel formula? Does testosterone itself hep to thicken the skin? All I know is that no one will be successful for life on transdermal TRT. I know there are those out there who say injections don't give them the stable and energetic feeling that the transdermals did. Transdermals do convert more DHT which could account for some of this, and these individuals might respond best to a dual protocol of both transdermals and injections.
Overall transdermals have their place, but I'm not convinced its long-term TRT.
what is the highest percentage of cream you have tried? 10-20% is pretty strong, a lot stonger than testim. I couldn't do the 1. whatever percent
