HPA. Is this what I need for libido

[nippy]

I've recently read
"The anterior portion of the pituitary gland produces luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and the gonads produce estrogen and testosterone. "
So I'm on TRT. It's true theat when using TRT that your LH and Fsh shuts down... Now since being on trt my libido has been alot worse. Could this be due to the LH and Fsh shutting down.? Would it be better to stop the TRT and boost the LH with Hcg therapy.?

 

[Systemlord]

Now since being on trt my libido has been alot worse.

What are your Total T, Free T and estrogen levels?

Are you estrogen dominant?

Some guys don’t tolerate cypionate esters and once they stop injecting for a couple of days, or longer, their libido, sexual function return but only temporarily, then symptoms of low-T return.

If you take a powerful engine and put it in an old car, the weaker links will be exposed.

Do you exercise, lift weights or are you sedentary?

 

[nippy]

What are your Total T, Free T and estrogen levels?

Are you estrogen dominant?

Some guys don’t tolerate cypionate esters and once they stop injecting for a couple of days, or longer, their libido, sexual function return but only temporarily, then symptoms of low-T return.

If you take a power engine and put it in an old car, the weaker links will be exposed.

Do you exercise, lift weights or are you sedentary?

I can't remeber my exact e2 but it was on the low side. Always has been indo not aromatise very well. I eat very clean and lifts weighta 5 times a week. I have no issues with thyroid or prolactin. I use test E only 100 mg a week. Can not use anymore as my blood pressure shoots up. I'm. A hyper responder . I just have zero libido hard to get an erection too.. Its just getting me down so much. I was actually thinking of stopping trt as I've felt worse since I started four years ago....

 

[nippy]

I can't remeber my exact e2 but it was on the low side. Always has been indo not aromatise very well. I eat very clean and lifts weighta 5 times a week. I have no issues with thyroid or prolactin. I use test E only 100 mg a week. Can not use anymore as my blood pressure shoots up. I'm. A hyper responder . I just have zero libido hard to get an erection too.. Its just getting me down so much. I was actually thinking of stopping trt as I've felt worse since I started four years ago....

I'm in decent shape and eat very clean and don't drink or smoke. I e recently tried proviron but the tint libido I may have got once every 4 weeks has now gone since I started and stopped proviron

 

[madman]

I can't remeber my exact e2 but it was on the low side. Always has been indo not aromatise very well. I eat very clean and lifts weighta 5 times a week. I have no issues with thyroid or prolactin. I use test E only 100 mg a week. Can not use anymore as my blood pressure shoots up. I'm. A hyper responder . I just have zero libido hard to get an erection too.. Its just getting me down so much. I was actually thinking of stopping trt as I've felt worse since I started four years ago....

You have been a member since 2014 and should very well know by now that blood work should be done at true trough.

If your blood work was done at trough which is most likely the case then your trough FT level is horribly low.

Your trough TT 13.4 nmol/L (386.5 ng/dL) is nothing to brag about especially seeing as you have high SHBG (65 nmol/L) which would have your trough FT level in the gutter.

Your FT was done using the cFTV.

Even then seeing as you are injecting 100 mg T once weekly which would have your peak TT, FT, and estradiol levels higher it is highly doubtful that your peak FT would be absurdly high.

Although some may do well injecting once weekly the downfall is that peak levels post-injection/during the first few days will be high and in many cases absurdly high (depending on the dose of T) only to be followed by much lower levels come week's end.

Mind you some will still be hitting high trough levels due to following a high-dose protocol.

There will be a big difference in the peak--->trough and blood levels will not be as stable throughout the week which can easily have a negative impact on energy, mood, libido, erectile function, and recovery.

If anything you would be far better off injecting lower doses more frequently and getting your trough FT level in a healthy range.

The addition of low-dose hCG may be something to consider.

On your current protocol of 100mg T once weekly you are hitting an absurdly low trough FT 4.84 ng/dL.

Would be a given that any man's libido/erectile function would suffer!

You are already aware of where I stand when it comes to testing FT, especially in cases of altered SHBG!

 

[Systemlord]

Can not use anymore as my blood pressure shoots up.

You can’t use blood pressure medicine?

Your trough levels are no good, considering your SHBG levels are 65. No wonder you have ED and low libido. You also don’t aromatize well.

 

[nippy]

You have been a member since 2014 and should very well know by now that blood work should be done at true trough.

If your blood work was done at trough which is most likely the case then your trough FT level is horribly low.

Your trough TT 13.4 nmol/L (386.5 ng/dL) is nothing to brag about especially seeing as you have high SHBG (65 nmol/L) which would have your trough FT level in the gutter.

Your FT was done using the cFTV.

View attachment 30720
View attachment 30721

Even then seeing as you are injecting 100 mg T once weekly which would have your peak TT, FT, and estradiol levels higher it is highly doubtful that your peak FT would be absurdly high.

Although some may do well injecting once weekly the downfall is that peak levels post-injection/during the first few days will be high and in many cases absurdly high (depending on the dose of T) only to be followed by much lower levels come week's end.

Mind you some will still be hitting high trough levels due to following a high-dose protocol.

There will be a big difference in the peak--->trough and blood levels will not be as stable throughout the week which can easily have a negative impact on energy, mood, libido, erectile function, and recovery.

If anything you would be far better off injecting lower doses more frequently and getting your trough FT level in a healthy range.

The addition of low-dose hCG may be something to consider.

On your current protocol of 100mg T once weekly you are hitting an absurdly low trough FT 4.84 ng/dL.

Would be a given that any man's libido/erectile function would suffer!

You are already aware of where I stand when it comes to testing FT, especially in cases of altered

 

[nippy]

Thanks for the reply.. I inject twice a week. 100mg a week. Yes the bloods were taken in a trough... I use test E twice a week.. U was on 175 a week but this took my blood pressure up with some mad migraines... I take small amounts of hcg every other day have been for the last two weeks... The only thing I can think of doing is as u also say is more injections and may be putting it up to 150 a week. May be inject every other day.. But in the past over the last 4 years I've tried everything. Every way to get my libido up... Yes I've always had low e2. Always ... I do not aromatize very well and I have recently been talking to a guy who uses oral e2. He said this has change his life. It's brought back libido and given him his life back... I tried this back in 2021 granted only for 2 weeks. 1 mg a day but did nothing for me.....

 

[nippy]

You can’t use blood pressure medicine?

Your trough levels are no good, considering your SHBG levels are 65. No wonder you have ED and low libido. You also don’t aromatize well.

I've been told taking blood pressure tablets can kill libido and this is what I'm trying to fix. I've been on 300 mg of test in the past over the years I've tried all ways. High amounts of test injected daily to high amounts of test on less injections.. I tried lower amounts again on all injection frequencies and still no libido and not great e2 as I stated I don't aromatize well... So I tried oral e2. Granted only for 2 weeks but 1 mg a day and nothing. Didn't feel any better... I've never felt right on trt. Doc has said for years mg number are OK and I shkild have libido he said just carry on as u r and keep paying me... So I left him and I'm doing this alone. He was charging me too much and was sooo expensive.. I'm 52 I'm healthy and fit but just can't seem to get this libido back.. I took proviron as I was told it will boost libido.. It did the opposite. Now I read proviron can reduce e2 so is this my problem is it the e2 that's low and always has been?

 

[Systemlord]

I've been told taking blood pressure tablets can kill libido

So can subpar E2 and Free T levels. Losartan (ARB’s) doesn’t cause ED. Just because a blood pressure medicine is known to cause ED doesn’t mean that it will.