What about when guys on steroid cycles report having through the roof libidos where they have to either masturbate or have sex many times each day just to satisfy it? I’m not saying ur wrong about anything u said, just kind of playing devils advocate. These guys clearly have a shut down HPTA, and aren’t really experiencing daily variations in their testosterone levels, yet can have a libido that’s too much to even handle.
also, what do u mean by “I think all the hormones that comprise sexual function play a part in libido”
In my humble opinion; you may be comparing apples to oranges here.
Men using very high dosages of anabolic steroids or testosterone are in a different category to those on TRT.
The very strong stimulation they effect, may do unusual things to libido via different pathways on a very temporary basis.
AAS are causing things to occur in the body that will be different to that which "hormone replacement" causes over a longer sustained period. Typically AAS are used in cycles: users stop for periods whereby their body returns to full normal hormone function for a lengthy period of time, almost like a reset. TRT does not have periods where we allow all our natural hormones to return to normal production. This is a major difference just on its own. I realise there are some users who never let their body return to normal for years on these "courses". However, I am sure many of these guys start to experience all sorts of issues sexually, eventually. In fact I am quite familiar with this after having worked in a gym for 10 years of my life as a young man. Not all guys experience this incredible libido, quite the opposite. Some do, but often not for very long.
Even on TRT, some men have a period of time initially, whereby they feel incredible and sex function is vastly improved, this can last for weeks sometimes months. Then it all stops. AAS users stay on cycle typically for 2-3 months and can also experience a similar phenomenon.
It is not just testosterone that is responsible for our libido. All the hormones that comprise our sexual function play a part in our sexual prowess. It is a complex interplay of these and neurotransmitters that make it all happen, in the right quantities at the right time for a
consistent effect to occur on a
daily basis that can
be maintained over time. I am sure I do not need to list all of the hormones involved as this is common knowledge here. Hormones and neurotransmitters have important relationships with each other.
Of course we can manipulate our libido with drugs of various types in the short term BUT the honeymoon eventually ends. We are not designed to be obsessed about sex all the time (young male teenagers possibly being the exception here!), otherwise other important facets of our life would be under threat, such as hunting for food, building shelter, defending ourselves from attack and caring for our offspring! Hence why there needs to be a very intricate balance, which has enabled our survival. These checks and balances have evolved over a very long period of time, due to our evolution. Medical science comes along very recently in the scheme of things, throwing artificial hormones into this complex and intelligent system. The result often being far from satisfactory.
Some men can maintain a reasonably good level of Libido, erectile function and sexual sensation when on TRT, it would appear that you are one of them. This depends on many factors and most definitely how their individual body copes with the loss or interruption of particular ligands, changes in neurotransmitter levels and also, importantly; the changes in expression of the receptors that receive these ligands. For some, these losses and alterations will create issues or shortcomings we cannot solve completely at this point in time.