HCG and Libido

[jwh7699]

I have been using HCG for 3 months. 250iu's on Wed & Saturday.

Currently on Test Cyp 100mg twice a week Wed & Saturday.

I noticed after the 2nd month of using HCG my libido decreased.


I took one week off of it before doing a 3rd month.

After the 3rd month I stopped using it.


It's been two weeks and my libido is going back up.

Anyone experience this?

Thanks!!!

[Lifted1]

Have you checked e2 recently while feeling lowered libido? Your test dose is on the high side so you might have already been in the higher range of E and the addition of Hcg just pushed you over the threshold. Once you stopped Hcg, your E dropped and you started feeling better. I suggest dropping 20~40mg/wk of Testosterone and keeping Hcg in your protocol.

[Beethoven]

I agree that your test is on the high side. HCG will elevate your E2. Being that you're pinning 200 mg a week it's a safe bet your E2 is high.

[jwh7699]

My last E2 level was 60 back in March prior to starting HCG . Total Test was 939.

I'm not sure if I want to Lower my dose of Test.

[Lifted1]

If it was e2 sensitive, you were already more than double of the recommended range 20-30pg/dl. I'm surprised you didn't have sides already, but the Hcg definitely pushed you out of the tolerable range.

I still think you should drop 20mg/wk Test, incorporate the Hcg back in, pull some bloods 4 weeks later, then adjust from there.

[Beethoven]

My last E2 level was 60 back in March prior to starting HCG . Total Test was 939.

I'm not sure if I want to Lower my dose of Test.

TRT is about treating your symptoms with the lowest possible dose. Why you might wonder? The sides. At 200 mg if the only sides you've had is E2 be lucky, you could soon have high RBC issues too. Don't want to drop your test, well then add an AI. If not drop HCG and deal with your testicles making a run for the high road and aching. If you are at 936 you've got some room to move around in. You got some decisions to make.

[OingoBoingo]

hCG is an important part of TRT. Read the hCG and Pregnenolone sticky to find out why.

TRT is about finding balance, not just shooting for the highest possible numbers. If I can lower my Testosterone to avoid or reduce sides, I'm happy to do so.

I've found that reducing Testosterone dose in small amounts (10mg/wk or so) doesn't affect my performance in the gym, but does indeed help to reduce sides. It's a no-brainer for me!

[kelkel]

What's your Free T level and range?

[jwh7699]

1017 (250 - 1100) Bioavailable 200.1 (46 - 224) Free T Not sure how to do the math to get the correct measurement value.

If I lower the Test and re-add the HCG , wouldn't that push E2 backup in the 60 range?

I take 3mg of Boron daily which is a natural AI.

The only sides I have are occasional tiredness and not as much stamina as I had in the gym.

Is there a benefit to being at a certain range of Total T or is it mostly based on side effects?

I'm not looking to take the most Testosterone possible, just looking to lose the tiredness.

Thanks!!!

[jwh7699]

June 2013
Hematocrit
46% 39-50

Hemoglobin
15.4 g/dl 13-17


Feb. 2014
Hematocrit
Result: 49.6 % 39-50

Hemoglobin
16.5 g/dl 13-17

[OingoBoingo]

If it were me, I'd reduce each shot at least 10mg (to 90mg), add the hCG and retest in 6-8 weeks.

Adding hCG may increase the E2, but dropping your Testosterone dose will help lower it.

Dr. Crisler believes that TRT benefits are achieved in the upper quartile of range; however, which part of that upper quartile varies from person to person.

If your tiredness is caused by E2, lowering Testosterone could actually result in more energy for you. Remember that E2 follows Testosterone!

BTW, have you checked hematocrit lately?

[jwh7699]

I'm gonna lower each shot to 90mg. I will wait a week and then add back in the HCG . I will get tested in a few weeks.

Thanks for the Advice!!

[2Sox]

If it was e2 sensitive, you were already more than double of the recommended range 20-30pg/dl. I'm surprised you didn't have sides already, but the Hcg definitely pushed you out of the tolerable range.

I still think you should drop 20mg/wk Test, incorporate the Hcg back in, pull some bloods 4 weeks later, then adjust from there.

Lifted got it right. But I'd go one further. Cut your dose down to 60mg twice a week. You have room for it.

[jwh7699]

If I drop to 80mg twice a week, is it a Very Noticeable drop?

[kelkel]

If I drop to 80mg twice a week, is it a Very Noticeable drop?

How that drop effects you is individual as it's "your" metabolism. Small, incremental changes are almost always the way to go. I believe it may have been Oingo a while ago that used the term "linear" when it comes to protocol changes. Meaning that changes are not in a line nor are they always predictable. Sometimes a little can be a lot or vice versa.

Give blood. Hema's at the top of your scale and can be a cause of your fatigue, tiredness.

[hawk14dl]

I've recently changed from 150/wk to 120/wk. Haven't noticed any difference at all. But when I started out at 100 it didn't feel like it was doing much.

Also lowered my hcg from 700iu/wk to 600iu/wk. Thinking about dropping it down to 500.

[jwh7699]

Thanks guys!! I donate blood every few months, but it is WBC not RBC, I read that doesn't have an effect on lowering Hematocrit level.

I'm gonna drop the Test to 160mg a week and add the 250iu of HCG back in. Not wait a week. I will get full BW done in a few weeks.

[xcraider37]

Thanks guys!! I donate blood every few months, but it is WBC not RBC, I read that doesn't have an effect on lowering Hematocrit level.

I'm gonna drop the Test to 160mg a week and add the 250iu of HCG back in. Not wait a week. I will get full BW done in a few weeks.

Your donating white blood cells? Doesn't sound right.

[jwh7699]

It's through a specialized company. It's a 3 hour process. They take blood from one arm send it through a machine that separates the WBC from the whole blood, then the blood is put back in through a tube in the other arm. They pay $200 each time I donate. They use the WBC in research to test against vaccines they are creating.

[OingoBoingo]

Your Hematocrit increased roughly 10% in the previous two tests. If it continued to rise at that rate (and I wouldn't be surprised given your current Testosterone dose), you could be at risk. Give blood now or get it checked. I wouldn't wait a few weeks.

[OingoBoingo]

It's through a specialized company. It's a 3 hour process. They take blood from one arm send it through a machine that separates the WBC from the whole blood, then the blood is put back in through a tube in the other arm. They pay $200 each time I donate. They use the WBC in research to test against vaccines they are creating.

Back then long time ago when grass was green and I was in igh school, a few students did the same for a little extra money; at the time they only paid $18.50. I couldn't do it because I was under 18, but went with a friend to have a look. Was amused by the queue of high school students and hobos waiting to get in. Makes me wonder about some of the studies I read...

Some did it as often as they could, until they discovered that donating sperm paid more and was more fun!

[kelkel]

Some did it as often as they could, until they discovered that donating sperm paid more and was more fun!

Well that's handy.

[hawk14dl]

Well that's handy.

Not for OP.. His libido is in the tank, he wouldn't make any money!

[jwh7699]

I will look into donating Whole Blood. I was denied in the past because my Grandfather died of a rare disease Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.

The sperm donation sounds handy , but I prefer not having kids running around I don't know about.