I was taking Nebido (testosterone undecanoate) along with HCG, I believe eliminating the HCG was key.
My reasons for thinking that:
I was on Nebido solo therapy for 5 years, my PSA stayed stable all those years. I quit TRT entirely for 24 months, used Clomid for a few months to speed thing up to increase my sperm counts. It worked. My sperm count recovered.
Early last year, I started again with Nebido but added HCG. After 5 months my PSA went up from 2.4 > 3.9. This was the first time ever in my life PSA went up.
I am currently age 66. Age is likely also a factor. It’s possible but not likely there are other factors outside of HCG in my case, dhea, pregnenolone, testosterone cream.
I researched HCG/LH, and there are research articles indicating the presence of LH and HCG receptors are found in prostate BHP tissues.
“Expression of Luteinizing Hormone/Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptor Gene
in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and in Prostate Carcinoma in Humans “
Also:
“Among men however, the side effects of the HCG diet generally affect the prostate area and causes them to become enlarged over time.”
Side Effects of HCG Diet in Men - HCG Diet Success Program - Lose 30-40 Lbs in Next 40 Days
It’s certainly not conclusive that HCG was the cause, I have also seen research that HCG might help BPH, and men take HCG with no negative effect on PSA. How many men take HCG with TRT, no way of knowing, how many develop BPH or an increased PSA score, no way of knowing. Is HCG blamed for the increased PSA score, I doubt it, but there isn’t any data available to analyze. I don’t think a lot of the male population are on TRT and even fewer are also taking HCG, so it’s a fairly small data set to deal with. Age is likely also a factor.
Seems clear, but then again, consider this. Confusing to say the least.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that HCG may provide a well tolerated and beneficial therapy for BPH that will be investigated in subsequent studies.
A trial study: the effect of low dose human chorionic gonadotropin on the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. - PubMed - NCBI
You could also google “Receptors for Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as potential molecular targets for therapy with LHRH antagonist cetrorelix”
Receptors for Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as potential molecular targets for therapy with LHRH antagonist cetrorelix | Request PDF
As men age, it’s natural for testosterone to decline while LH often increases, and as men age they often get BPH. Are those two hormone changes related to BPH, not known.
IMO it’s not natural to have both a high LH level and a high testosterone level. High testosterone causes a reduction in LH which is used to moderate testosterone production. Does this unnatural situation cause any problems, my guess is usually it doesn’t, but sometimes it does cause problems.
I do believe HCG preserves testicular size, though I don’t think the atrophy is not all that great and is usually reversible, it does happen. I believe HCG with TRT is likely to preserve fertility. Upstream downstream hormones, don't know, but HCG didn’t’ seem to do anything positive for me.
It would be
interesting to resume using HCG and retest PSA to see if it causes a rise again. It would be
interesting to do that, but I haven’t used HCG since my PSA went up and I will never use it again. It also could be that having very low levels of LH is actually a benefit in connection with BPH/PSA.
I am going to retest PSA today. It will be nice if PSA goes down more, but I was hoping for stable.
So IMO, each person needs to make their own decisions about this subject as it isn't at all clear.
