MidwesternGuy
New Member
I have read through many stories on here about individuals who successfully reversed TRT-induced testicular atrophy using HCG. I have also read a litany of medical studies that demonstrated a similar result. While this is certainly encouraging, I am left wondering whether HCG can also reverse testicular atrophy caused by a varicocele. I have never taken TRT and my testosterone is still within the normal range. I have seen no studies on whether HCG is effective at reversing atrophy for someone without hypogonadism and who has never taken TRT. Do any of you know whether HCG is a viable treatment in this situation? Is it dangerous to take HCG when my hormones are already at relatively normal levels?
The full story: A few years ago I discovered what appeared to be a varicocele and had my doctor take a look at it. She confirmed that it was a varicocele, but assured me that they are common and that I didn't need to worry about it. A year later I was experiencing pain and some testicular atrophy (particularly on the left side), so I went to a different doctor who immediately set me up for an ultrasound. The ultrasound confirmed both that I had a stage 3 varicocele and that my left testicle was now much smaller than my right. I had a varicocelectomy and the varicocele has thankfully not come back. However, both of my testicles have continued to experience progressive atrophy in the year and a half since the surgery. My left testicle has declined in volume by about 40% and my right by about 25%.
I do not yet have children (but plan to within the next couple of years if possible) and don't want to lose the ability to have them (if I haven't already lost it). My doctor initially thought that I might have hypogonadism, but testing showed that my testosterone is slightly over 500 ng/dl. This is down from the mid-700s when I was in my mid-20s. I am in my early 30s now. My LH (2.5 mIU/ml) and FSH (2 mIU/ml) were low, but slightly above the low end of their respective normal ranges. My Estradiol is in the low 30s. Multiple members of my clinic have acknowledged that the imaging shows a steady and significant decline in testicular volume across several ultrasounds over the past year and a half, but I was told that I shouldn't worry about the atrophy until my testosterone falls below 250. Since the atrophy began, I have developed gyno, less frequest morning wood, smaller ejaculation volumes and reduced muscle mass. I fear that if I do nothing, these new symptoms will continue to get worse as my testicles further atrophy.
I'm interested to hear from some of you as to whether taking HCG would even work to reverse the atrophy in my case. Also, by taking HCG while my hormones are relatively normal, am I risking destabilizing my hormones?
The full story: A few years ago I discovered what appeared to be a varicocele and had my doctor take a look at it. She confirmed that it was a varicocele, but assured me that they are common and that I didn't need to worry about it. A year later I was experiencing pain and some testicular atrophy (particularly on the left side), so I went to a different doctor who immediately set me up for an ultrasound. The ultrasound confirmed both that I had a stage 3 varicocele and that my left testicle was now much smaller than my right. I had a varicocelectomy and the varicocele has thankfully not come back. However, both of my testicles have continued to experience progressive atrophy in the year and a half since the surgery. My left testicle has declined in volume by about 40% and my right by about 25%.
I do not yet have children (but plan to within the next couple of years if possible) and don't want to lose the ability to have them (if I haven't already lost it). My doctor initially thought that I might have hypogonadism, but testing showed that my testosterone is slightly over 500 ng/dl. This is down from the mid-700s when I was in my mid-20s. I am in my early 30s now. My LH (2.5 mIU/ml) and FSH (2 mIU/ml) were low, but slightly above the low end of their respective normal ranges. My Estradiol is in the low 30s. Multiple members of my clinic have acknowledged that the imaging shows a steady and significant decline in testicular volume across several ultrasounds over the past year and a half, but I was told that I shouldn't worry about the atrophy until my testosterone falls below 250. Since the atrophy began, I have developed gyno, less frequest morning wood, smaller ejaculation volumes and reduced muscle mass. I fear that if I do nothing, these new symptoms will continue to get worse as my testicles further atrophy.
I'm interested to hear from some of you as to whether taking HCG would even work to reverse the atrophy in my case. Also, by taking HCG while my hormones are relatively normal, am I risking destabilizing my hormones?
