Is GnRH suppression hurting us?

[Mastodont]

AI monotherapy has been proposed as a way to increase endogenous testosterone, and there's at least one study on anastrozole claiming success. However, the long-term effects are uncertain.

If someone has both e2 and testosterone right at the lower limit of range, i don't know if it would be a good strategy, seems like all the participants had a decent e2 number to begin with. I have always had a low e2 in the natural state, hesitant to try anastrozole mono, but i guess trying with 0.25mg would not be too disastrous, i also have estradiol valerate handy in case of emergency Would be great if you could take exogenous e2 with anastrozole without losing the feedback loop effects

One interesting point on this study:
"PSA levels did increase significantly in group 2 vs. the placebo group (1.7 ± 1.0 to 2.2 ± 1.5 ng/ml, P = 0.031 group 2 vs. controls). PSA did not increase significantly in group 1 vs. the placebo group (1.6 ± 0.8 to 1.7 ± 0.8 ng/ml, P = NS group 1 vs. placebo). Two patients (both in group 2) had increases in PSA levels from below to above 4 ng/ml during the 12-wk study. Both patients underwent prostate biopsy. In one case, adenocarcinoma was diagnosed and the patient began external beam radiation. In the other case, the biopsy was negative and the subject has since been followed up without incident."

 

[Cataceous]

Out of curiosity, how come you dropped the anastrozole and/or hCG?

The results were not that good. Still had issues with sensitivity and libido. These largely dissipated after I started using gonadorelin and I was able to phase out the hCG. The AI use was basically just an experiment to see if knocking back the hCG-induced excess estradiol would be useful.

... I have always had a low e2 in the natural state, hesitant to try anastrozole mono, but i guess trying with 0.25mg would not be too disastrous, i also have estradiol valerate handy in case of emergency ...

You can always dissolve tablets in vodka and dose by volume if you need lower doses...

 

[Caposa]

The results were not that good. Still had issues with sensitivity and libido. These largely dissipated after I started using gonadorelin and I was able to phase out the hCG. The AI use was basically just an experiment to see if knocking back the hCG-induced excess estradiol would be useful.


You can always dissolve tablets in vodka and dose by volume if you need lower doses...

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad gonadorelin is working for you.

I've found your posts consistently helpful and insightful. Do you mind if I pick your brain about something? Testicular atrophy is the most bothersome side effect of TRT for me, so I recently introduced 1000 IU of hCG alongside my 100 mg of cypionate per week. It has raised my estrogen enough to warrant the introduction of anastrozole at 0.25 mg per week. Interestingly, it has not raised my testosterone sufficiently to drop my weekly dose of T.

Do you think T + hCG is a net positive over T solo? I have some concerns about the long-term use of an AI, but I also have concerns about letting my Leydig cells go completely dormant. I would appreciate your insight!

 

[Cataceous]

...
Do you think T + hCG is a net positive over T solo? I have some concerns about the long-term use of an AI, but I also have concerns about letting my Leydig cells go completely dormant. ...

Thanks for the kind words. For me, T + hCG is better than T alone. But it's a case of two steps forward, one step backwards, and the goal is still a few steps away. With or without the AI the results were subpar. It was also something that worsened over time, as if there's gradual degradation after the HPTA is suppressed.