I am going to start administering my own HRT and need some advice

[whoamilol]

I went in to get my testosterone measured a while ago, because I had been experiencing gyno and fairly low energy/ drive. I have never used any gear before though so it wasn't caused by that.

I'm pretty sure I would not qualify for TRT, since, although my testosterone is in the lower end of the spectrum, it is within the normal range. Can't remember the exact number, but I remember my doctor saying it was low normal. However, my estrogen, prolactin and DHEA levels were all in the very upper section of the limit (again, can't remember exact numbers).

If I am to follow through with this self administered HRT, I will find a way to get my levels tested again either through my GP or privately first.

I know how to obtain most things, so that wouldn't be an issue.

My goal is to raise my test to the upper limit of what people have natty or maybe slightly above, as well as lowering my estrogen and prolactin levels to maybe the bottom third of what the natty range is and to then, with blood work, maintain my levels at this.


My age is 24, I have been training for 3.5 years, and think I am fairly close to my limit in terms of gym gains. Can bench 125kg, squat 170kg, deadlift 220kg and am stalling a lot on progress at the moment, although could probably squeeze a bit more out. HRT idea is more for general wellbeing etc than gym gains though, although they will be a nice additional benefit.


At the moment I was thinking I might go on:

100mg/wk of some form of test <----might not go on the test straight away, and first see how the AI and prolactin reducing
factors help me on their own (since reducing those might increase test enough anyway)
HCG at an appropriate dosage
arimidex to keep estrogen in the lower normal range (or another AI depending on what is available): an appropriate dosage
Caber for reducing prolactin: maybe .5mg/wk

^would play around with amounts and use bloodwork to see see if I should increase/decrease certain things


To people that are saying I should cycle and not stay on or I will get shut down: I am already shut down, that is my starting point. Worst that can happen is I will get more shut down and then qualify for legit HRT anyway. Also, dosages won't be too high and I will get bloodwork + try and keep hormones balanced, not use orals if possible, so can't see health effects being too big an issue. Also, my starting blood pressure is low (diastolic of ~50 for resting blood pressure), which is another reason for the low energy (although have not had any other issues from the blood pressure to my knowledge), so having elevated blood pressure will not be an issue for me and an increase will probably even benefit me.


How does this sound? Also, do you think there would be any way/any story I could say which would let me to obtain HRT through a doctor, considering gyno, low energy and drive etc? If it's possible to do it with pure stuff, I'd rather do that.

[bass]

My only advice to you is don't do it without doctor supervision. 1mg AI ed is like being on chemotherapy! 500 iu hCG every 10 days won't do much good. I see you only have one post which means you're fairly new, read more especially the stickies in this section.

[austinite]

Agree with bass. Please visit with a doctor for proper evaluation. It's important you find the root cause and judging by your suggested protocol, you're doing more harm than good. Please reconsider.

[whoamilol]

Yeah I wouldn't just jump into it without getting the dosages sorted out first, I know there are risks. But what if a doctor is not willing to help me? If I do something stupid, and muck up my hormones, it will just put me in a position where I can get on legit doctor administered HRT.

Other than the dosages, do the general ingredients involved look like they would work for a permanent HRT combination?

Have had gyno, a fairly low sex drive etc since 12ish so think it is just my genetics. Not sure what the doctor could do to help me other than putting me on HRT. Diet, sleep etc is all fine. And I could get a plan of reasonable dosages of appropriate compounds to tackle the problem, and then use blood work as a way of altering the amount I was taking if necessary to fine tune it.

It seems like a lot of doctors don't really know what's up and just prescribe test and then the patient will go on to get gyno etc and they will be surprised. I see no reason why I couldn't do at least as good a job as the doctor could by myself.

Thanks for the replies so far

[trikydik]

It takes a while to find the right doctor. Here in Indy, many urologists will not even consider treating Low T unless there are 2 or 3 different blood workups spaced several weeks a part showing a continuous low T. A lot of old school docs out there. Google HRT in your area and talk to different specialists.

There are different reasons for having Low T. If you self medicate you will 99.999% treat the wrong reason.

Reading through your post... it is difficult to fully understand why your wanting to go on Test... Do you truly believe that your test is holding your body building back, or what?

For those of us who do have low test and are at an age where it makes a medical difference, this is a serious problem. (Though putting on a little mass and loosing some weight will be a nice side effect)....

[ZenFitness]

My age is 24, I have been training for 3.5 years, and think I am fairly close to my limit in terms of gym gains. Can bench 125kg, squat 170kg, deadlift 220kg and am stalling a lot on progress at the moment, although could probably squeeze a bit more out. HRT idea is more for general wellbeing etc than gym gains though, although they will be a nice additional benefit.

That's pretty strong... 275 lbs. bench, 375 lbs. squat, and 485 lbs. deadlift is something that quite a few guys can't do.

Yeah I wouldn't just jump into it without getting the dosages sorted out first, I know there are risks. But what if a doctor is not willing to help me? If I do something stupid, and muck up my hormones, it will just put me in a position where I can get on legit doctor administered HRT.

You've got quite a bit of life ahead of you. Find the right doc and don't cripple yourself unnecessarily just so that you can get TRT. Be patient and look for a doctor.

[powerlifterty16]

you need to get your blood work from your doctor and post your exact numbers. Your lifts are good, but even with low t one can become strong. There is a member here who deadlifted 495 with a 190test level. Your lifts are really good for only 3.5 years of training though...ive had to lift a lot longer to get strong.

[whoamilol]

Okay, an update:

Somebody suggested sleep apnea as a possible cause of low test on another forum, and this actually fits with girls telling me I snore/appear to have stopped breathing for a bit. I might try and find a sleep specialist in NZ.

Has anybody had any experience with sleep apnea, and the sort of improvements that can result from it being treated?

[powerlifterty16]

i think my dad snores...he has low test too. doubt he has apnea

[whoamilol]

i think my dad snores...he has low test too. doubt he has apnea

I was told by a girl a while ago that I stopped breathing for a bit though. Have any of you had experience dealing with sleep apnea?

[APIs]

While I've never done the sleep study, my sleep apnea is directly linked to my body & neck mass. If I stay below 260 & below 20 inches on my neck the symptoms almost totally disappear. Anything above this and the sleep apnea re-appears. As for administering your own HRT, there’s an old saying; Play Doctor long enough & you’ll have a fool for a patient. Don’t do it, as others here have mentioned. No matter how smart you might be, there are too many variables present for it to be properly managed on your own…

[kelkel]

Find a doctor who's willing to properly diagnose your issue. If the doc can't give you a valid reason, find another doc. Many things can cause low T such as hypothyroid, sleep apnea as mentioned, cortisol, prolactin, pathologies, varicoceles, and so on. Like said above, find the cause.

[Vettester]

We need to see your labs. Everything else is just speculation. Please post them up if you have them, or order new ones and let's look them over.