Testosterone fine but crashed prolactin/no pleasure

[Justaguy1]

Hi All - thanks for listening to my story below and would welcome any help

1. Due to a case of acute urinary retention (caused by an anticholinergic) back in early July, I had to go to the ER and was sent home with a Foley catheter for 2 days, and it was taken out on the 3rd day
2. Voiding slowly came back to normal, but strangely noticed I could no longer feel pleasure during orgasm (at climax), but sex otherwise felt fine as well as libido
3. Waited a month with no improvement - saw endocrinologist and did blood test: testosterone normal for my age of 28 (680), Estradiol 30, prolactin slightly elevated (20 on normal range of 2-18) but was consistent with pre-catheter when I had no sexual issues; doctor put me on cabergoline first week of August twice a week (half a pill each time) since it may help with orgasm
4. Stayed on cabergoline for 1.5 months. Did not notice orgasm improve, but pleasure/sensitivity during sex decreased significantly as well; no major issues achieving an erection but low pleasure was very apparent/could not really achieve orgasm unless I tried really hard
5. Did blood test and showed that my prolactin was crashed to non-detectible levels. Went off of cabergoline as of mid-September
6. Fast forward to today, there has been no improvement in either pleasure/sensitivity during sex nor orgasm. What used to be the most sensitive part of the penis (frenulum) feels like normal skin when touched and not pleasurable at all. Penis also feels cold to the touch esp. when standing, but can still achieve erection fine. Refreshed blood tests show Prolactin back to normal range at 12.7 and testosterone slightly higher at 707, estradiol 32

Putting the orgasm dysfunction aside, I am fairly certain that cabergoline/crashed prolactin caused my lack of sensitivity/pleasure during sex, but now that it is back up I'm not sure why things aren't improving. Doctors (both endo and urology) are out of ideas since everything looks normal. Could the cabergoline caused some other neurological side effects?

Thank you for reading and appreciate the help.

 

[bennettjc]

Justaguy1,
I've had zero prolactin for a couple of years because I am on a medication to help my mood, mirapex (a Parkinson's med actually), which suppresses it And despite having had some of the lowest T levels in town (Total = 44ng/dl, Free = 2.4ng/dl) I usually can orgasm with pleasure, sometimes with generic viagra, sometimes without.

So I do wonder if in fact the lack of prolactin is playing a role in your situation. I must confess I haven't researched the issue as my (former) endocrinologist said it has no consequence.

Best,
Bennett

 

[M.J]

I find cialis as a mirical, solved many issues also helped significantly in libido and morning wood is daily with it.
Although I am taking very low dose. 2.5mg a day yet really good.

did you tried it before ?

 

[Justaguy1]

Thanks guys. At this point I don't think prolactin is the issue either, but rather than when it was crashed to 0, it probably threw off some other hormones/wirings. I noticed that my penis also doesn't "smell" the same - there's basically a lack of smell rather than the "dick smell".

I did try Cialis - I noticed that maybe my erections were a little bit stronger, but throughout this I haven't really had any issues with achieving an erection. It didn't have any noticeable impact on pleasure/sensitivity for the ~2 weeks that I tried it out.

 

[M.J]

Are you using hcg ?

 

[Justaguy1]

hey M.J. - no, prior to this I have not used any drugs outside of the cabergoline, and the anticholinergic (the 1 single time when it caused acute urinary retention)

 

[M.J]

hey M.J. - no, prior to this I have not used any drugs outside of the cabergoline, and the anticholinergic (the 1 single time when it caused acute urinary retention)

I am having a second thought regarding cialis need to give it sometime I think I was passing through another honey moon period but not sure anymore only time will tell.
I use hcg all the time to stay fertile plus FSH.
I am still lost between protocols but I believe I have progressed.
You can try hcg maybe it will help but I am not really sure.

 

[captain_j]

I just recently started Cialis at 5 mg daily 5 days ago. I'm trying it mainly to help with blood pressure. However, I'm getting significant side effects. Facial flushing, indigestion, and constant back pain (sciatica). I'm going to have to drop it. I may take a second pass at 2.5 mg a day after it's cleared out of my system.

 

[madman]

I just recently started Cialis at 5 mg daily 5 days ago. I'm trying it mainly to help with blood pressure. However, I'm getting significant side effects. Facial flushing, indigestion, and constant back pain (sciatica). I'm going to have to drop it. I may take a second pass at 2.5 mg a day after it's cleared out of my system.

In many cases, the body will eventually adapt but how long it takes and to what degree depends on the individual.

Seeing as you are only 5 days in you could try to tough it out a little longer but if the sides are too much then try lowering the dose to 2.5 mg/day.

 

[DorianGray]

In many cases, the body will eventually adapt but how long it takes and to what degree depends on the individual.

Seeing as you are only 5 days in you could try to tough it out a little longer but if the sides are too much then try lowering the dose to 2.5 mg/day.

Agree. 5 days is almost nothing. Hard to believe one would be hypersensitive to it, but any thing is possible, I guess. Very possible halving the dose would ease you in until you adapt.

 

[captain_j]

I can say that even after only 5 days, the positive effects on erection quality were there. So if it's effective enough in my system to cause that, then I'd say it would also be able to cause side effects. Back pain is still hanging around, last dose was yesterday morning. Hoping it subsides in the next day or two. I'm pretty sure I'd get a benefit from just 2.5 mg a day. I only started taking it for the blood pressure assistance (never had an issue with ED), but I will say the benefits are a plus.