Why does TRT take so long to work?

[Failure]

There are a few things about TRT that I don't understand.

How come it takes 3-6 weeks to feel the effects of TRT? Is there a loading phase in a sense? I would have thought that if we are putting the proper amount of T into the body it should be there to use.

Also, I was prescribed HCG and Test but no AI. Is there a chance that I would need one or is the HCG doing that function?

[tectime]

When you first start hrt it takes alittle time for tes levels to rise enough. Usually about 3 or 4 wks depending on ester of tes prescribed, amount of dosage, frequency of injections, amount of body fat, as far as an al if your dose is higher than what your body would be naturally producing ( any dose over 100mgs wky) yes you do. How much how often again is dependent on same and can only truly be judged by blood work. Stay steady on your new journey when that tes kicks in you should be quite pleased.

[tectime]

The hcg is to help keep your nat. Tes as high as possible, does nothing to block or kill estrogen. And balancing your estrogen level is as important as maintenance of your tes levels.

[bass]

think of it as a repairing tool. your body is broken and it takes tikes time to get it repaired! its never been a magic pill.

[Low Testosterone]

I would say approximately 25-30% of all men on TRT do not need an AI of any kind. Any type of AI use for those men would bottom their estradiol out and they would feel horrible, in some cases, worse than before.

[sirupate]

I felt like a new man within a week or two. I started on the 1% Androgel , forget the dose, but probably 4 pumps. Was feeling like a teenager pretty quickly. But I do agree that to get properly "dialed in" can take a while. Especially so if your doctor isn't willing to experiment much. Then, you go from doctor to doctor trying to get it "right".

[bass]

^^^ gels work faster than injections, but still based on the individual and how he/she responses to the treatment.

[Moparman]

I would say approximately 25-30% of all men on TRT do not need an AI of any kind. Any type of AI use for those men would bottom their estradiol out and they would feel horrible, in some cases, worse than before.

I have a feeling I may be one of those guys. Every time I take anastrozole I get a little anxious. I've reduced it to .25 mg twice a week and still feel weird. I just got blood work today so ill see where I'm at. I'm taking 160 mg test a week split into two 80 mg doses. Plus 700 ius of Hcg a week

[tectime]

I agree probly 25 to 30 % of men on hrt/trt don't use an al, I also agree that 25 to 35% are on doses so low that they are by no means receiving the proper amount if tes to even make a difference. If you are raising your tes levels ad you know your estrogen levels are going up to, hence the bloat, irritability,pimples gyno, dude your the low t guy ! You know this stuff. estrogen control is a major issue! One that should be dealt with before it hits not after the sides start to show. If you raise tes levels estrogen levels raise also. Like I said before blood work is the only way to know how much how often. Estrogen is a lot harder to crash then it is to lower. Better to take the preventive route then to hope and fix the problem ! One that can easily be avoided!

[Metalject]

I agree probly 25 to 30 % of men on hrt/trt don't use an al, I also agree that 25 to 35% are on doses so low that they are by no means receiving the proper amount if tes to even make a difference. If you are raising your tes levels ad you know your estrogen levels are going up to, hence the bloat, irritability,pimples gyno, dude your the low t guy ! You know this stuff. estrogen control is a major issue! One that should be dealt with before it hits not after the sides start to show. If you raise tes levels estrogen levels raise also. Like I said before blood work is the only way to know how much how often. Estrogen is a lot harder to crash then it is to lower. Better to take the preventive route then to hope and fix the problem ! One that can easily be avoided!

I disagree. I've been on TRT for a little over 3yrs and I've yet to need an AI. Even on 200mg/wk I don't need an AI, my estradiol levels have never gone much over 20. Taking an AI would only cause me problems.

[Ryanmcd]

I agree probly 25 to 30 % of men on hrt/trt don't use an al, I also agree that 25 to 35% are on doses so low that they are by no means receiving the proper amount if tes to even make a difference. If you are raising your tes levels ad you know your estrogen levels are going up to, hence the bloat, irritability,pimples gyno, dude your the low t guy ! You know this stuff. estrogen control is a major issue! One that should be dealt with before it hits not after the sides start to show. If you raise tes levels estrogen levels raise also. Like I said before blood work is the only way to know how much how often. Estrogen is a lot harder to crash then it is to lower. Better to take the preventive route then to hope and fix the problem ! One that can easily be avoided!

False about if you raise the test levels your estrogen levels go up, I was doing 150 a week and took an AI one time and my E2 hit 3. I stay around 18-22 no matter how much I run and my brother is the same with 0 AI, he runs over 1 gram a week at times and his E2 is 22-25 w/o an AI. Also HCG for me does noting for test levels if that means anything not sure.

I would say to the new people don't just jump on a AI because some people do it, do it off of blood work because I can tell you 1st had when I was a E2 @ 3 I would rather have a test level of 0 then that again, everything was sore and dry as hell skin and a broke dick lol, it took several weeks for it to come back.

[tectime]

Wrong ! I've been on hrt for over 3 yrs and have taken 1 mg anastrozole everyday and I've never crashed my estrogen levels. Anytime you introduce tes into your system some atos in estrogen period no way around it. My maint. dose alone requires me to take an al. And I have very low body fat. And wrong about hcg it stimulates Lh Recptors to help aid in your nat production. You people need to study znx read and understand what you're reading. If your not using an al you better check your bloods more often and quit repeating the false info that could lead some of the inexperienced users down the wrong path. EVERYONE INJECTING TES INTO YOUR BODY NEEDS BLOODS DONE TO DETERMINE THEIR AL DOSING. And if your docs not prescribing any well you better check out your doc. Mine is not only s very good friend of mine he's a former bodybuilder with years and years of practical lnowledge not just a 10 yr education in this stuff. Really read and understand before shouting false to your bro science bullshit!

[dreadnok89]

Exestamane is really good. It is so hard to crash your e on it

[Metalject]

Wrong ! I've been on hrt for over 3 yrs and have taken 1 mg anastrozole everyday and I've never crashed my estrogen levels. Anytime you introduce tes into your system some atos in estrogen period no way around it. My maint. dose alone requires me to take an al. And I have very low body fat. And wrong about hcg it stimulates Lh Recptors to help aid in your nat production. You people need to study znx read and understand what you're reading. If your not using an al you better check your bloods more often and quit repeating the false info that could lead some of the inexperienced users down the wrong path. EVERYONE INJECTING TES INTO YOUR BODY NEEDS BLOODS DONE TO DETERMINE THEIR AL DOSING. And if your docs not prescribing any well you better check out your doc. Mine is not only s very good friend of mine he's a former bodybuilder with years and years of practical lnowledge not just a 10 yr education in this stuff. Really read and understand before shouting false to your bro science bullshit!

So you're refusing to accept that some people don't need an AI when on TRT? Not everyone aromatizes testosterone at the same rate. Yes, body fat has some to do with it but not always. There are plenty of very lean guys who are sensitive to aromatase and plenty who aren't. Anyway, you can keep saying everyone needs an AI but if I take 200mg of testosterone/wk and my estradiol still doesn't go over 20, would you still say the same?

And most men taking 1mg of anastrozole per day would completely destroy their estrogen levels. Most men don't need more than 0.5mg 2x/wk to 1mg 2x/wk.

[Moparman]

I think I don't need an ai also. My current bw would prove or disprove it.

I was on 200 mg test once a week 250 iu Hcg and 1 mg anastrozole 2x week. I crashed my e2 to <4 in three weeks. Went to 200 mg split into two doses and lowered my ai to .25 mg twice a week and I still feel the symptoms of low E2. Dropped my test to 160 mg split to 80 mg twice a week and no relief

I stopped the ai and I feel better. Bw taken yesterday shall confirm what I believe- I don't need ai

Jst because something works for one person doesn't make it a fact for everyone

[Low Testosterone]

This might help with the estradiol argument.

The last 15 people to come through with 6wk blood work on doses of testosterone cypionate between 100-200mg/wk as well as HCG between 250-500iu 2x/wk of the 15, 5 had estradiol below 30 despite dramatically increasing their testosterone levels . None of the 5 were using any type of AI, only HCG and testosterone .

Hope this helps.

[redhawk01]

I never needed an ai when I was on TRT. Was on 50mgs twice a week. Hell, I did a cycle at 500mgs a week, and barely used an ai. I forgot to take it half the time, and I still only had e at 22. Lol
Some people are lucky I guess.

[powerlifterty16]

This might help with the estradiol argument.

The last 15 people to come through with 6wk blood work on doses of testosterone cypionate between 100-200mg/wk as well as HCG between 250-500iu 2x/wk of the 15, 5 had estradiol below 30 despite dramatically increasing their testosterone levels . None of the 5 were using any type of AI, only HCG and testosterone .

Hope this helps.

wgeb should someone start an ai? i mean if 20-30 is the optimal range id say 45 is prob a good time to start?

[tectime]

This might help with the estradiol argument.

The last 15 people to come through with 6wk blood work on doses of testosterone cypionate between 100-200mg/wk as well as HCG between 250-500iu 2x/wk of the 15, 5 had estradiol below 30 despite dramatically increasing their testosterone levels . None of the 5 were using any type of AI, only HCG and testosterone .

Hope this helps.

So 33% of the people on that day are not at this time on an ai. so 66% are on an ai at that light of a dose (100). Hmmm how many of that 33% will be on an ai at their next checkup. I bet at least half of them. Hmm at at the next check up ?! Dude I wasn't on an ai at first either but as time goes by. Estrogen must be controlled just like tes levels. Period ! Whether you need to take 1 mg a day or just lick the coating off if you inject tes into your system you must do something to combat estrogen. If not you are not receiving the max benefits from your protocol.

[powerlifterty16]

tectime, you are not correct. everyone's bodies are different. some people simply do not aromatize. people say hcg skyrockets estrogen, but mine was 14 after 6 weeks of hcg at 400 iu a pop 3x per week. Many people don't need an ai man.

I also must correct you, the abbreviation for testosterone is ''test''. surprised you didnt know

[tectime]

Test is something you take to see how smart you are. Tes is an abbrev for testosterone dude trust me it's used by hundreds of people that I can say and probly thousands out there. And everybody atos just not the same. Dude I don't know how long you've been talking about this stuff but for me yrs and yrs and yrs. I said I've been hrt for 3 yrs I've been in this lifestyle since I was 27. I'm 51 dude that's a lot of discussion time. I'm not arguing about any of this facts are facts dude tes atos into estrogen. Estrogen must be controlled. If you read what I've said all along is just that. Now how you gonna control estrogen ? Hmmm an al! I don't say wrong to anybody's protocol if it works for you, if youre happy with your results. If you want the most from what you're doing you will more then likely be using an al soon enough. Reading through your posts it doesn't seem like you're very happy with your setup so far?! Me I'm as happy as a fat rat. It's taken yrs to get it like it is but dude for me it's there. But right we are all different but the fact that tes atos into estrogen is a scientific fact, that you must control estrogen is a fact, unless you don't mind bloated face water retaining moody pimpled crappy gyno kicking can kinda deal. Again TES atos into estrogen/ estrogen must be controlled to avoid above listed sides. Estrogen control is as important as testosterone control. All facts! How you choose to control estrogen either an al, or a magic rock you keep in your gym bag, your decision.

[highpsi]

Had to address mine, was 75 on a 0-56 range. Hoping the subq and the ai are working to bring it down. We'll see next bw.

[tectime]

The ai at proper doses will cure that little situation for you. BW will show and how much better you feel will tell you!

[Moparman]

The ai at proper doses will cure that little situation for you. BW will show and how much better you feel will tell you!

Which ai must I take and how much if my bloodwork consistently shows I'm at 28 on a range of 0-39??

I take 160 mg tes split into two doses of 80 mg twice a week. And 350 iu Hcg twice a week

[tectime]

Anastrozole is my ai of choice. I'd say start with .25 mg second day after your injection. You know hit Monday shot take .25 mg anastrozole on weds. Thursday shot anastrozole on Sunday. If you need to increase add .25 mg on day after shot and stay with .25 mgs second day after. So Monday shot Tuesday .25ana wends .25ana. Anastrozole works very quickly once in your system, taking it on day's following shot will catch tes at peak.

[powerlifterty16]

Which ai must I take and how much if my bloodwork consistently shows I'm at 28 on a range of 0-39??

I take 160 mg tes split into two doses of 80 mg twice a week. And 350 iu Hcg twice a week

i would forget the ai as your e2 isnt so bad....maybe go down to 250 iu hcg twice per week or reduce the test dose to 150 total?
If you can avoid an ai it's better...ai's can have their own issues.

[tectime]

Moparman are you showing any signs of elevated estrogen? At the level and the ranges you mentioned I bet you are. Power is kinda right that's not super high numbers but it's still high on your scale. You know the signs to look for right? Itchy nipples, swollen/sore nipples, water retention, ball sack drawn up tight all the time. And how are you feeling ? Reared up and ready to go! Full of energy! Libido up! Of not estrogen is too high for you. See power it's not all about numbers, it's about getting the most out of the treatment you are undergoing. Living life as loud as you care too. And keeping hormones balanced is one of the major components.

[AnabolicBoy1981]

Needing an AI is a very person specific thing. i KNOWn lean guys who get gyno at 250-400mg of test, and i know fatasses who shoot a gram and have no gyno. Not saying gyno is a tell all gauge of proper E2 but point is everyone is different. Like my sex drive was fine on 100mg of prop a day, but even adding .25 adex makes my penis less sensitive.
As far as trt goes ive been on for 3 years and dont need ai at 100mg of cyp a week. No one should start with an AI, they should start with just the test, then adjust those doses, then if need, add an AI.

[ZenFitness]

I had a doc that prescribed an AI for me without bloodwork thinking that "everyone on TRT should be on an AI" as stated above. It absolutely destroyed my E2 levels. Not everyone needs an AI.

I'm on 50mg of zinc daily which I'm sure helps plus I do a 2X a week injection protocol with 250 ius of hcg 3x/wk. My E2 is in the low to mid 20s.