Hello…. Looking for advise

[Nandomart]

Hello everyone,
45 years old, 5 11” about 215 lbs
Had an appointment with my Uro and he did some lab work and informed me that my testosterone was on the low end.

Hematocrit= 45.8
Normal range: 40.0 - 51.0 %

PROLACTIN = 10.85​

Normal range: 3.0 - 20.0 ng/ml

LH-URO = 7.28​

Normal range: 0.7 - 7.9 mIU/mL

FSH-URO = 1.61​

Normal range: 1.5 - 12.4 mlU/m

Estradiol = 16.10​

Normal range: 0 - 60.7 pg/mL

Total TESTOSTERONE LEVEL = 322​

Normal range: 300 - 1,000 ng/dl

PSA = .43​

Normal range: 0 - 4.0 ng/mL

I was prescribed the following:

1 mil or 100 units weekly test cypionate


.75ml hcg
Inject subcutaneously weekly
(Reconstitute with 6ml bacteriostatic water and refrigerate after mixing) not sure what that means….

Anastrozole 1 mg weekly


I haven’t started the regiment. I’ve been doing my research and I was wondering if you all could provide me with advise.

Should I split the dosage on the test from 1 shot to 2 shots?

How about the hcg?

Should I split the anastrozole?

To be honest I’m nervous about starting the regiment, I have been lacking motivation,brain fog and I have been more fatigued.

 

[Systemlord]

Should I split the dosage on the test from 1 shot to 2 shots?

TRT is all about trial and error, you find what works best for you and report back.

How about the hcg?

HCG isn’t for everyone, for some it’s necessary and not for others. Some men can’t tolerate it beyond the first few doses.

Should I split the anastrozole?

You may be in for a world of hurt, this drug is powerful and can render your estrogen undetectable after the first dose.

Most men don’t need anastrozole. It doesn’t seem you found a competent provider. Mixing the bodybuilding world with TRT is commonplace.

Three different substances, this is going to complicate the dialing in process. Sides could come from three different sources.

It’s best to start TRT in isolation, your body needs testosterone, give it testosterone. Keep it simple.

 

[Nandomart]

Thanks for the advise, my provider was Dr. Lipshultz. I consulted with him after lurking in the forum and seeing that he was highly recommended.

 

[madman]

Hello everyone,
45 years old, 5 11” about 215 lbs
Had an appointment with my Uro and he did some lab work and informed me that my testosterone was on the low end.

Hematocrit= 45.8
Normal range: 40.0 - 51.0 %

PROLACTIN = 10.85​

Normal range: 3.0 - 20.0 ng/ml

LH-URO = 7.28​

Normal range: 0.7 - 7.9 mIU/mL

FSH-URO = 1.61​

Normal range: 1.5 - 12.4 mlU/m

Estradiol = 16.10​

Normal range: 0 - 60.7 pg/mL

Total TESTOSTERONE LEVEL = 322​

Normal range: 300 - 1,000 ng/dl

PSA = .43​

Normal range: 0 - 4.0 ng/mL

I was prescribed the following:

1 mil or 100 units weekly test cypionate


.75ml hcg
Inject subcutaneously weekly
(Reconstitute with 6ml bacteriostatic water and refrigerate after mixing) not sure what that means….

Anastrozole 1 mg weekly


I haven’t started the regiment. I’ve been doing my research and I was wondering if you all could provide me with advise.

Should I split the dosage on the test from 1 shot to 2 shots?

How about the hcg?

Should I split the anastrozole?

To be honest I’m nervous about starting the regiment, I have been lacking motivation,brain fog and I have been more fatigued.

I was prescribed the following:

1 mil or 100 units weekly test cypionate


.75ml hcg
Inject subcutaneously weekly
(Reconstitute with 6ml bacteriostatic water and refrigerate after mixing) not sure what that means….

Anastrozole 1 mg weekly


As good as Lipshultz is this is a typical cookie cutter protocol which would most likely be a whopping starting dose of 200 mg T/week with an AI thrown in to boot!

Shame he would start you on such!

The whopping starting dose with hCG thrown in to boot is going to have your FT and estradiol sky-high hence why the AI was thrown in.

Tread lightly when it comes to use of an AI let alone the need for one!

Ts metabolites estradiol and DHT are needed.

Having healthy levels of estradiol is critical!

Ts metabolites estradiol and DHT are needed in healthy amounts to experience the full spectrum of testosterones beneficial effects on (cardiovascular health, brain health, libido, erectile function, bone health, tendon health, immune system, lipids, and body composition).

You need to state the strength of your T but even then I would put money on it that its 200 mg/mL as no one in their right mind would throw in an AI with a starting dose of 100 mg T/week.

Even then most commonly used esters TC or TE would be the 200 mg/mL strength.

Common starting dose would be 100 mg T/week or better yet 50 mg T split twice-weekly.

Most men on TTh are injecting 100-200 mg T/week whether once weekly or split into twice-weekly (every 3.5 days), M/W/F, EOD or daily.

Even then the majority of men can easily hit a healthy let alone high trough FT injecting 100-150 mg T/week especially when split into more frequent injections.

Yes there are some outliers who may need the higher-end dose 200 mg T/week but it is far from common as in RARE!

Such dose is overkill for most let alone starting therapy.

Best piece of advice is to start low and go slow on a T only protocol as we want to see how your body reacts to testosterone and where said protocol (dose of T/injection frequency) has your trough TT, FT and estradiol let alone other critical blood markers RBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit.

There will always be time to throw in the hCG or increase your dose if need be!

 

[Nandomart]

Madman I appreciate your feedback. I’m confused by your comment “You need to state the strength of your T but even then I would put money on it that its 200 mg/mL as no one in their right mind would throw in an AI with a starting dose of 100 mg T/week.”

Is this not the strength? “1 mil or 100 units weekly test cypionate”


If it isn’t where can I find that information?

Your concerns are why I haven’t started the protocol. I have had it for 2 weeks now. It’s a little discouraging that Dr. Lipshultz would prescribe these as a starting protocol based on you alls feedback so far.

I was under the impression that HCG would help maintain fertility but it seems that it may do more harm now vs just starting a just testosterone protocol.

 

[Systemlord]

It’s a little discouraging that Dr. Lipshultz would prescribe these as a starting protocol based on you alls feedback so far.

I'm surprised as well.

 

[madman]

Madman I appreciate your feedback. I’m confused by your comment “You need to state the strength of your T but even then I would put money on it that its 200 mg/mL as no one in their right mind would throw in an AI with a starting dose of 100 mg T/week.”

Is this not the strength? “1 mil or 100 units weekly test cypionate”


If it isn’t where can I find that information?

Your concerns are why I haven’t started the protocol. I have had it for 2 weeks now. It’s a little discouraging that Dr. Lipshultz would prescribe these as a starting protocol based on you alls feedback so far.

I was under the impression that HCG would help maintain fertility but it seems that it may do more harm now vs just starting a just testosterone protocol.

Is this not the strength? “1 mil or 100 units weekly test cypionate”


No that is the volume of the oily solution you will be injecting.

1 mL insulin syringe = 100 units.

If the strength of your TC is 200 mg/mL (most likely) then 1 unit = 2 mg TC.

1 mL (100 units) = 200 mg TC

TC comes in 100 mg and 200 mg/mL strength and 200 mg/mL strength is what is most commonly used!

It will be on the label of your TC package/vial.

Yes the main reason one would use hCG with exogenous T is to maintain fertility and prevent/minimize testicular atrophy.

Many do start exogenous T with hCG but the downfall here is you will have no idea how your body reacts to T only let alone where said dose will have your trough TT, FT and estradiol.

hCG will also drive up your T and estradiol.

If you run into any issues it will be hard to pinpoint whether is is the T or hCG.

 

[Nandomart]

You are correct it is 200 mg TC. Would you recommend starting by splitting the dosage or a single shot a week? If a single shot a week what day of the week do you recommend?

 

[Systemlord]

Would you recommend starting by splitting the dosage or a single shot a week? If a single shot a week what day of the week do you recommend?

I would recommend 50 mg twice weekly as this will get the majority of men to mid range or higher.

 

[madman]

You are correct it is 200 mg TC. Would you recommend starting by splitting the dosage or a single shot a week? If a single shot a week what day of the week do you recommend?

Drop the AI!

If you want to avoid the big swing in peak--->trough when injecting once weekly then the most sensible move would be starting on 100 mg T/week split into twice-weekly injections (50 mg every 3.5 days).

You will clip the peak-->trough and blood levels will be more stable throughout the week.

You will be injecting .25 mL (25 units) which would be 50 mg TC every 3.5 days!

 

[Nandomart]

Hello everyone, havent started my protocol yet, have a 4 month old now and didnt want to start messing with hormones until he settled down.

i have been reading more on TRT to make sure I am making the right decision for myself. However, it does make me nervous.

The test results I posted above were the last results I had from my URO.

A year prior to that my PCP had some labs ran( seem a little more thorough than my URO now that I look back at them.)


albumin g/dL 4.5 (range 3.6 - 5.1)

sex hormone binding globulin nmol/L +16.5 (range 10 - 50)

testosterone, free pg/mL 111.3 = (range 46 - 224)

testosterone,bioavailable NG/dL = 228.9 (range 110 - 575)

testosterone, total, MS NG/dL = 494 (range 250 - 1100)

I didn't pay these results any mind back in 2023 since my PCP had said my results were normal. Based on the research I have done so far and looking back at these results it appears my SHBG is low? Is that something I should be concerned with before I start my protocol?

Granted these results are from 2023.

 

[Systemlord]

Hello everyone, havent started my protocol yet, have a 4 month old now and didnt want to start messing with hormones until he settled down.

You’re overweight for a guy that’s 5’ 11”. Clean up your diet and exercise. If you really want to improve your health, the carnivore diet has the ability to boost your testosterone. Nothing increases testosterone more naturally than red meat and exercise.

I don’t think a lack of testosterone is casing your problem, I think your lifestyle is the problem. The western diet, the quality of the food, lack of sunlight and the lack of exercise is the problem. Humans typically spend 8 to 10 hours indoors during work hours.

Vitamin D also helps regulate hormones. If you live in the northern hemisphere, you’re getting less vitamin D, so unless you’re supplementing, your levels are more than likely inadequate.

In this case, you should be taking 5000-10,000 IU.

Vitamin D increased my testosterone a lot, = TT 347 ng/dL points higher and FT increase substantially. Men with low vitamin D tend to carry around more body fat. 2000 units of vitamin D takes my weight from 215 to 160 lbs within two months without changing anything about my lifestyle.

You already did start messing with your hormones the moment you got married and had a kid. Married men have lower testosterone and men with children have even lower testosterone than single men. The hunt is over and mother nature is going to assure you raise your child and don't sleep around by lowering your testosterone.

You can't take much stock in what your doctor says, normal and healthy normal are not the same thing. Have a read at the bottom of my post in my signature.

The majority of mainstream medical doctors know nothing about general health.

Influence of marital status on testosterone levels-A ten year follow-up of 1113 men - PubMed​

Based on a large population of 1113 men aged 30-60 at baseline (mean: 44.1 years, standard deviation: 10.5), we investigated whether intra-individual changes in testosterone (T) and related reproductive hormones during a ten year period were dependent of marital status at baseline and follow-up...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Marriage lowers testosterone — Harvard Gazette​

A man's testosterone levels drop significantly when he holds an infant. Even holding a baby doll can decrease levels of the male virility hormone.

news.harvard.edu

 

[Nandomart]

You already did start messing with your hormones the moment you got married and had a kid. Married men have lower testosterone and men with children have even lower testosterone than single men. The hunt is over and mother nature is going to assure you raise your child and don't sleep around by lowering your testosterone.

Influence of marital status on testosterone levels-A ten year follow-up of 1113 men - PubMed

Based on a large population of 1113 men aged 30-60 at baseline (mean: 44.1 years, standard deviation: 10.5), we investigated whether intra-individual changes in testosterone (T) and related reproductive hormones during a ten year period were dependent of marital status at baseline and follow-up...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Marriage lowers testosterone — Harvard Gazette

A man's testosterone levels drop significantly when he holds an infant. Even holding a baby doll can decrease levels of the male virility hormone.

news.harvard.edu

You can't take much stock in what your doctor says, normal and healthy normal are not the same thing. Have a read at the bottom of my post in my signature.

Doctors no nothing about general health.

well hell, been married 5 years and I'm on my 3rd kid now.......lol. Any thoughts on the results from 2023? Anything that stands out that may throw my hormones more out of whack?

 

[Systemlord]

well hell, been married 5 years and I'm on my 3rd kid now.......lol. Any thoughts on the results from 2023? Anything that stands out that may throw my hormones more out of whack?

I updated my post. ^^^