37 M Bloodwork Results....TRT or Cycle?

[Nj_Chaos]

37M, 5"10 185 lbs....all symptoms of low T (especially fatigue), have varicocele. Was athlete through college and still actively involved in sports, and have belly fat and difficulty building muscle. Also was in Military, been feeling like this for 15 or more years.....I went to a Dr who was recommended to treat Low T and got my first round of bloodwork back..results are below.

In order to meet my insurance requirements, I needed a second test...this one came back higher (and I think does not make me eligible for insurance). Free "T" very low in range first test, and lower on 2nd test but "normal". Besides general thoughts on overall situation, anything concerning about low Vitamin D and slightly high ALT? If my Test seems "normal", can just a regular cycle help with my fatigue issues? Should I self treat TRT, etc....

First Test:
AST (SGOT) 28 IU/L 0 - 40 01

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 24.6 Low ng/mL 30.0 - 100.0

ALT (SGPT) 66 High IU/L 0 - 44 01

Cholesterol, Total 209 High mg/dL 100 - 199 01

Triglycerides 62 mg/dL 0 - 149 01

HDL Cholesterol 49 mg/dL >39 01

VLDL Cholesterol Cal 12 mg/dL 5 - 40

LDL Cholesterol Calc 148 High mg/dL 0 - 99

Testosterone,Free and Total

Testosterone, Serum 372 ng/dL 264 - 916 01

Free Testosterone(Direct) 6.5 Low pg/mL 8.7 - 25.1 01

TSH 0.932 uIU/mL 0.450 - 4.500 01

LH 3.6 mIU/mL 1.7 - 8.6 01

FSH, Serum

FSH 3.4 mIU/mL 1.5 - 12.4 01

2nd Test:

Testosterone, Serum 553 ng/dL 264 - 916 01

Free Testosterone(Direct) 11.2 Low pg/mL 8.7 - 25.1 01

[i_SLAM_cougars]

That’s a personal decision. Also depends on what your goals are. If you want to be a bodybuilder than cycling makes sense.

Don’t put too much thought into it though as you can always jump ship later. The differences between cycling and try are really just amounts. When you cycle you’re going for super physiological doses to help build muscle, and TRT is probably just going to take you to the high end of normal. Either is going to make you better than you are now.

The only real thing to keep in mind before you jump into this is the possibility that you may shut your natural production down forever, thus becoming dependent on testosterone. So if you’re scared of needles you need to spend some time thinking this through. Also this may make reproduction harder, though not impossible.

[Youthful55guy]

That’s a personal decision. Also depends on what your goals are. If you want to be a bodybuilder than cycling makes sense.

Don’t put too much thought into it though as you can always jump ship later. The differences between cycling and try are really just amounts. When you cycle you’re going for super physiological doses to help build muscle, and TRT is probably just going to take you to the high end of normal. Either is going to make you better than you are now.

The only real thing to keep in mind before you jump into this is the possibility that you may shut your natural production down forever, thus becoming dependent on testosterone. So if you’re scared of needles you need to spend some time thinking this through. Also this may make reproduction harder, though not impossible.

Some very good advice!

Something else to keep in mind is that TRT is not all that expensive. What you need is a doc that is willing to prescribe it. I pay for it all out of pocket because I don't want to deal with the insurance companies for something that amounts to pocket change (at least for me). here's what it costs me:

Testosterone Cypionate -Pizer branded Depo-Testosterone 200mg/mL - Local Pharmacy $63.36/10 mL. At prescribed dose of 0.2 mL E3D = 50 doses/vial = 150 days of treatment = $0.4224/day = $154.18/year

HCG - Merck branded Pregny - Local Pharmacy $127.01/10,000 IU = $0.012514/IU. At 1050 IU/week (current dose 2X more than prescribed) = $13.34/week = $693.47/year

Syringes (for testosterone) - 122 (28G 1/2 inch) 1 cc insulin syringes/year. Currently use Easy Touch brand from https://www.totaldiabetessupply.com/...g-1cc-1-2-inch. $14.45/100 = $0.14 each = 122 X $0.14 = $17.08 /year

Syringes (for HCG) - 156 (31G 5/16 inch) 0.5 cc insulin syringes/year. Currently use Easy Touch brand from https://www.totaldiabetessupply.com/...-5cc-5-16-inch. $13.99/100 = $0.14 each 156 X $0.14 = $21.84 /year

Doctor Visit (copay) = 1/year at $20 = $20.00 /year

Labs = $0 (no copy) - Although I supplement my doc's labs with many of my own labs, but that's not something you "need" to do.

[Beetlegeuse]

TRT is correcting an unhealthy abnormality (because Low T has been associated with everything from depression to heart disease to osteoporosis) and can be run indefinitely. However, I think in most cases, men looking to get the most benefit from the TRT and who manage their own dosing are able to achieve Test levels as high as they've ever had, if not higher.

Cycling is giving you more (of a good thing?) than nature ever intended but it has to be interrupted periodically both to keep the cycling itself optimally effective and to prevent further loss of endocrine function. The risk that i_SLAM_cougars referred to is greater but so are the potential benefits. However, AASs alone don't magically turn you into the Incredible Hulk, and a lot of that potential benefit is wasted if you don't make dropping iron (or other strenuous exercise, particularly of the anaerobic variety) an integral part of your lifestyle. There's not much return on the investment if you put a supercharger on your car but then always only drive the speed limit.

It's the old risk/reward conundrum.

[kelkel]

D level is abysmal. Supplement with D3. D3 is D3 so no need to spend exhorbitant amounts on it. Cheaper the better. I'd start with 5K IU's per day with a large meal as it's fat soluble, and retest in 6 weeks or so. Take note of your free T when you test as it can help to improve it. It may be minimal but a few points of FT is a good thing. D is one of the most important supps you can take, imho. That and low dose caily cialis.

Re your ALT. I assume you workout frequently and muscular trauma can raise this level substantially for up to about 10 days. To get a true value of ALT/AST you'd need to take a week or so off from the gym. Your number is fine imho. Just monitor it. Mine run slightly elevated all the time.

[Nj_Chaos]

Thanks everyone...definitely will get the Vitamin D supplement...hoping to have another visit with my doctor to see what he thinks next week.