New Atrevis Hydrogel Based Testosterone Cream from Empower: Surprising Results!

[Nelson Vergel]

Nelson do you know if your PSA went higher.

I did not test it. My PSA has always been under 1.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

did you switch from injection and would you go back or are you happier with cream?

I am switching to 100 mg T enanthate per week today since I am traveling a lot and I really find it difficult to use the cream while on the road. It was just an experiment to see how good the Empower new hydrogel T cream was. I am also re-starting hCG at 500 IU twice per week plus continuing with my good experiment of 100 mg daily oral pregnenolone.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Still waiting for my progesterone LC/MS results. It takes a while like ultrasensitive estradiol does.

There was no effect of 100mg pregnenolone on progesterone. It is still very low at less than 0.4 ng/dL. I am thinking about using a low dose progesterone cream from Empower.

Pregnenolone has been good for my mood and sleep. Progesterone may improve those two parameters even better as it is the precursor for allopregnanolone. The additive effect of hCG on upstream hormones may also help.

How Can I Increase My Allopregnanolone ?

We know that pregnenolone and progesterone increase allopregnanolone. Do you know any other hormones that increase allopregnanolone?

www.excelmale.com

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Nelson, I'm curious about your total iron relative to ferritin.

Iron was Ok at 83. Ferritin low at 31. Increasing ferritin is definitely a challenge even with iron and Vit C supplementation.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

What brand of pregnenolone are you using ? I need to pick some up.

This one. Amazon.com

 

[Zibernet]

I am switching to 100 mg T enanthate per week today since I am traveling a lot and I really find it difficult to use the cream while on the road. It was just an experiment to see how good the Empower new hydrogel T cream was. I am also re-starting hCG at 500 IU twice per week plus continuing with my good experiment of 100 mg daily oral pregnenolone.

How different do you feel on injections vs cream?

 

[goolapsh]

Nelson thanks for the updates. I also had a reaction to atrevis base making it Impossible for me to use (other bases have been user friendly for me). Also I should mention trintellix made me nauseous as hell lol but I had good experiences with viibryd (more tolerable side effects). Just sharing my experiences with those.

 

[SSHSSA74]

Surprising, I know! I have really kept everything the same. There is data that shows transdermals can have high variability in T levels. I think I was able to spread the cream to a larger area when I switched from scrotum/inner thighs to upper body. That may be the reason.

so is your libido same with non scrotal application?

 

[SSHSSA74]

Thanks.

Now we know the dose (4 clicks) was kept consistent but different application sites used between all 3 protocols/sets of labs:


Labs/Protocol

(May 1) TT 1352 ng/dL, FT 380.3 pg/mL - 50% on the scrotum and 50% on the INNER THIGHS

(June 6) TT 896 ng/dL, FT 197.4 pg/mL- 50% on the scrotum and 50% on the SHOULDERS

(July 2) TT 2183 ng/dL, FT 571 pg/mL- full scrotal first 2 weeks then 50% on the SHOULDERS and 50% on the CHEST


Your TT/FT level was all over the place let alone absurdly high on the last set of lab's (July 2) non-scrotal applications (50% on the SHOULDERS and 50% on the CHEST).

Odd!

How’s DHT, Libido and Estradiol on shoulder and chest application?

 

[Nelson Vergel]

How’s DHT, Libido and Estradiol on shoulder and chest application?

DHT (LC/MS) was 83 ng/dL. Estradiol (ultrasensitive) 69 pg/mL

 

[Nelson Vergel]

so is your libido same with non scrotal application?

My libido was pretty noticeable at the beginning of the scrotal cream application. It has leveled off but it is still pretty healthy now (even after I started Trintellix low dose, an antidepressant). I do not think there is a treatment in the world that sustains high libido. Libido is cyclical and dependent on so many variables like sleep quality, stress, medications you take, how much porn you consume, and how bored you are in your relationship or dating/hook up scene.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I also had a reaction to atrevis base making it Impossible for me to use

What type of reaction?

Also I should mention trintellix made me nauseous as hell lol but I had good experiences with viibryd (more tolerable side effects).

Thanks for sharing this. I have no nausea (taking smallest dose of 5 mg/day). It is interesting that Trintellix was studied in groups of patients who had been on Zoloft and other older drugs who were switched to Trintellix. They all noticed improved sexual function. Viibryd is also good for sexual function. Antidepressants: Which cause the fewest sexual side effects?

 

[SSHSSA74]

My libido was pretty noticeable at the beginning of the scrotal cream application. It has leveled off but it is still pretty healthy now (even after I started Trintellix low dose, an antidepressant). I do not think there is a treatment in the world that sustains high libido. Libido is cyclical and dependent on so many variables like sleep quality, stress, medications you take, how much porn you consume, and how bored you are in your relationship or dating/hook up scene.

View attachment 15458

Agreed. That all makes sense. Thanks for your responses. I appreciate it.

 

[Zibernet]

My libido was pretty noticeable at the beginning of the scrotal cream application. It has leveled off but it is still pretty healthy now (even after I started Trintellix low dose, an antidepressant). I do not think there is a treatment in the world that sustains high libido. Libido is cyclical and dependent on so many variables like sleep quality, stress, medications you take, how much porn you consume, and how bored you are in your relationship or dating/hook up scene.

View attachment 15458

Another reason for low libido: gut dysbiosis.

 

[madman]

@Nelson Vergel

Where does your SHBG sit?

???

 

[goolapsh]

What type of reaction?


Thanks for sharing this. I have no nausea (taking smallest dose of 5 mg/day). It is interesting that Trintellix was studied in groups of patients who had been on Zoloft and other older drugs who were switched to Trintellix. They all noticed improved sexual function. Viibryd is also good for sexual function. Antidepressants: Which cause the fewest sexual side effects?

I tried using atrevis base and it gave me itchy rashes everywhere I applied it. Maybe there’s an ingredient in it that I’m allergic too. Atrevis is pretty potent though and disrupts the skin barrier aggressively so I’m not surprised I had that kind of reaction.

 

[Wolverine]

Recently switched from injections (50mg T Cyp twice a week) to daily hydrogel from Empower. Tried creams about 8 years ago. Labs went down as I wasn't absorbing. I tried Axiron and compounded cream back then. Neither worked. Have been on injections for about the last 7 years. Had highs and lows but was always searching for consistency.

I applied one click (50mg) to chest and two clicks (100mg) to scrotum first thing in the morning. I inject 350ius of HCG twice a week (Monday morning and Thursday evening) and take 12.5 mg of DHEA and 25mg of pregnenolone daily. My labs were done after 5 weeks on hydrogel, 10 hours post application on a Thursday afternoon and prior to my HCG shot in the evening on Thursday. I am primary so HCG has little effect on my T levels. My results are:

Total T: 1300 (range 250-1100 ng/dL)
Free T: 301.8 (range 35-155 pg/mL)
Ultrasensitive E: 62 (range <29 pg/mL)
Hematocrit: 46.6 (range 38.5-50.0%)

Given Madman's charts, imagine where my levels are at 4-5 hours post application. Having read other's hydrogel experiences I started at 3 clicks instead of the prescribed 4 and still have levels over the top. I didn't run DHT since I was paying for the labs out of my pocket and the DHT lab alone about doubled the cost on the labs. I assume it was very high. I was surprised that my HCT was 46 given how high my T levels were and I have had problems with HCT when on injections. Those with HCT issues may want to consider the hydrogel.

Now that I know it is effective, I will now tweak the amount and possibly location of the application to bring my levels down into upper range. I feel good but I believe that my high E is causing me bloating and some EQ issues. Good thing about the gel is that the tweaks and results are quick given there is no ester.

Just wanted to share with others that may be considering the hydrogel.

 

[Cooper]

thanks for the update! Overall how are you feeling compared to injections? Mood, mental clarity, libido, etc ....

 

[Wolverine]

thanks for the update! Overall how are you feeling compared to injections? Mood, mental clarity, libido, etc ....

Libido and EQ are not good. Im going to try to lower E with some arimidex and see if that helps. High E, aside from its own symptoms, will drive prolactin higher and increase TBG, which will lower free thyroid levels. I'll be conservative and not drive E too low.

 

[Wolverine]

Im wondering if the hydrogel and/or scrotal application are increasing norepinephrine as things seem to have tightened up down there. Estrogen can increase norepinephrine so maybe its the higher estrogen. Maybe higher DHT?? Anyone else have this issue when using creams or hydrogel, especially if applying to scrotum?