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[ironmike7000]

Just started hrt this week. Taking 2cc of testosterone cypionate every 2 weeks. What should I expect as far as sex drive and muscle gains? My test level was about 400 and I'm 55 years old. Sex drive has been low for a couple years. Been lifting since 1979 so I carry some muscle already. I'm 5ft. 8in. and weigh about 190. I was 205 last year but my blood pressure started going up so cleaned up my diet and it's normal now. Any responses wouls be appreciated.

[kelkel]

Hi Mike. Welcome to our world. Question: Your doctor seriously started you on 400mg of cyp every two weeks? Or is that a typo? If it's accurate your doc is seriously lost on both the amount and the time between shots. Cyp has a half-life of around 5-7 days so weekly shots are the minimum. That dosage will send you to supraphysiologic levels for the first week then during the second week your going to feel like crap as your levels will tank. Consider an average starting dose to be 100mg per week, give or take and then adjustments are made based on follow-up BW.

Do you have pre-TRT bloodwork with ranges that you can post as I'm surprised (well, not with that doc) you were given the script at that level natural T unless you presented other sides along with it. Post the other BW if possible so we can take a look. There may have been simple changes you could have made to drastically improve your T levels before starting TRT. Serum T is not near as important as your Free/bio T. Really like to see your free T, shbg, E2, D levels to name a few.

Did she discuss any AI's with you? You will be having drastic spikes in your E level with that dosage. Post up some more info so the guys here can help more. If you new to this particular forum read up on the stickies which will answer a lot of your questions.

[Times Roman]

Just started hrt this week. Taking 2cc of testosterone cypionate every 2 weeks. What should I expect as far as sex drive and muscle gains? My test level was about 400 and I'm 55 years old. Sex drive has been low for a couple years. Been lifting since 1979 so I carry some muscle already. I'm 5ft. 8in. and weigh about 190. I was 205 last year but my blood pressure started going up so cleaned up my diet and it's normal now. Any responses wouls be appreciated.

test cyp is typically 200mg/ml and 1cc = 1ml. this means 400mg eow or averaging 200mg/week. not the highest i've evver seen, but still seems high. I'm at 80mg/wk myself to give yourself some perspective. with trt, less IS more!

400 is fairly low, (isn't "normal" like 350 - 1200?) so you should see some benefits around the 4th or 5th week. Benefits like some improved libido, the beginning of some mild bf loss if cardio/exercise has been a normal part of your routine, and maybe some slight strength gains. Maybe an overall improved interest in things in general. It will be different for everyone, maybe you should come back in a month and a half and tell us how you feel?

[zaggahamma]

yes dose was never stated but like stated most is 200mg per ml(cc) so 400 every 2 weeks

agree with both you should notice some nice things but its a bit of a harsh ride

if you read a lot of posts in this forum you will hear over and over and over again about the half life of test injects and your pretty much back to baseline after a week so this is why a weekly inject is better (smaller than 400 ofcourse) and some even inject a few times a week

also like already stated more bloodwork and more things to watch for

keep reading and best of luck

[steroid.com 1]

Some of the best TRT Doc's in this medical vertical are now starting men out at 60mg to 80mg / week and seeing great results to put things into perspective.

OP, please spend some time and study the Stickies at the top of the forum; there is much there that can educate you and plant your feet onto reality.

TRT is a Godsend to many of us but it is no panacea by any means.

Welcome to TRT!

gd

[ironmike7000]

test cyp is typically 200mg/ml and 1cc = 1ml. this means 400mg eow or averaging 200mg/week. not the highest i've evver seen, but still seems high. I'm at 80mg/wk myself to give yourself some perspective. with trt, less IS more!

400 is fairly low, (isn't "normal" like 350 - 1200?) so you should see some benefits around the 4th or 5th week. Benefits like some improved libido, the beginning of some mild bf loss if cardio/exercise has been a normal part of your routine, and maybe some slight strength gains. Maybe an overall improved interest in things in general. It will be different for everyone, maybe you should come back in a month and a half and tell us how you feel?

The doc told me I was at around 400 for my test level. He said that was on the low side for my age. I have been experiencing low sex drive, always tired and just not myself the past few years. My only experience with anabolics was in the 80s and that was with orals. I'm not real familiar with alot of the terms used here. I do know they gave me 2cc friday and I'm to get another 2cc in 2 weeks. After 3 months they will do bloodwork and adjust my dosage accordingly. I'm already in pretty good shape. 4 days a week lifting with cardio afterwards. For me this has always worked well. I will admit I'm not in the same shape as I was in my earlier years, especially my cardio. Thanks for your reply.

[zaggahamma]

the op was understood

the fact that you dont understand the terms is why we recommended to read posts, stickies, etc.

also dont be afraid to ask for your treatment in writing, ask questions, copies of bloodwork, etc.

a lot of doctors/offices wont volunteer this information

this is your health..YOU have to take charge

[Times Roman]

let me just throw this out there....

when i first started trt, i was on a bi weekly schedule. when i suggested 1/2 dose weekly, he became upset. i finally got to see an endo (the upset doctor was my gp), and the endo immediately agreed that a weekly schedule was very sensible.

my point is, don't always take what the doc says as ggospel. some times ya gotta nudge em a bbit....

[gixxerboy1]

i agree, i would try and see an endo. The regimen your dr has you on may cause you other issues. You will probably feel bad for days before your next shot. Your hormone levels will be up then down and back up. Also you may need an ai for estrogen at that dose.

[Vettester]

Agree with what others have already said. Your protocol is too much, too infrequently. To boot, running labs in 3 months is a disaster when starting out, especially based on this protocol. 6 weeks would be the standard time frame for your first labs. If you review the half life of your medication, you will find it to be approx. 7 to 8 days. So, when they do finally run labs, it will be tough to truly assess your serum levels, as there will be a major variance from taking labs 2 to 3 days, or taking them 12 to 13 days after your injection.

Definitely read the stickies. You need to know ALL of your baseline labs going into this, not just a total test serum score. Problems could exist upstream, and definitely downstream with this protocol. Best of luck getting this all dialed in.

[ironmike7000]

I've read what everyone has said. It makes more sense to me to take weekly injections at half my doseage too. I had gyno issues 25 years ago and don't want that again. I don't have any bloodwork to post as he did'nt give me any. I never asked for any either. When I go back I'll ask. I'll be doing my own injections at home so even if he does'nt agree with weekly at half the dosage I still could and he would'nt know the difference. My main concern is to get my sex drive back, more energy and to feel better overall. If I add some muscle, well that would be great. I have noticed in the past year or so my strength level has dropped.

[zaggahamma]

I've read what everyone has said. It makes more sense to me to take weekly injections at half my doseage too. I had gyno issues 25 years ago and don't want that again. I don't have any bloodwork to post as he did'nt give me any. I never asked for any either. When I go back I'll ask. I'll be doing my own injections at home so even if he does'nt agree with weekly at half the dosage I still could and he would'nt know the difference. My main concern is to get my sex drive back, more energy and to feel better overall. If I add some muscle, well that would be great. I have noticed in the past year or so my strength level has dropped.

sounds like you catching this at the right time and havent suffered as long as some of us and thats good

best of luck with it

[fit2bOld]

Definitely go with the weekly injections. A lot of the guys as myself inject an even smaller dose 2x a week. Good luck and ask for the blood work so you can post it for better feedback.

[grilla]

Hey Mike, I'm one month in to TRT so I'm almost as new to this as you. I don't have any advice but you asked
what you might expect, and I wanted to chime in there.

I'm 41 but had a total test level close to yours. I've been in the gym 25 years, have AAS experience from
20 years ago (never ran pct, poor cycle planning, etc.), and went to the Dr because I'd started having trouble
leaning up, my lifts were in a slow, but seemingly steady, decline and I generally hadn't felt like myself for a
while. Never ed but libido wasn't as voracious as it had been even two years ago.

I'm taking 100mg test cyp once a week and will take my fifth injection this Sunday.

I feel great!

I got stronger immediately. I know some of this must have been placebo effect but
I also think I've been in the gym moving weight for so long that my body needed and
knew exactly what to do with the extra test when it hit my system.

I am recovering fast! And when I'm sore it's a good sore rather than the kind that
was making me wonder how much more time I had in the gym. I am putting muscle
back on quickly. (I started at 225lb, 15%bf and was 227lb, 12%bf yesterday.)

When I wake up in the morning and put my feet on the floor, my joints feel super.
Knees, hips, back...like I'm 25 again.



And libido? Excellent.

I can't tell you what to expect in six months or six years (or even two months!), but
I can tell you that for a gym rat, the first month is incredible!

(And to echo what you've heard repeatedly...inject weekly.)

Good luck! Enjoy it!

grilla

[zaggahamma]

thanks grilla

are you taking anything else along with your test shots?

[grilla]

jpk-
I am only taking the 100mg of test cyp a week. I really do feel great and want to keep the calculus simple for as long as I can.

I do eat well (and heavily) and take a multi, vit E, vit D, vit C, omega 3, magnesium (natural calm orange...delicious!), and zinc.

grilla

[zaggahamma]

cool..good thinking...thanks for sharing ...u sound like you know what to look for so all good...best of continued health