Clomid vs test injections for trt

[yeahbuddy289]

About two years ago I found out I have low test. I am young (26) and would like to have kids someday so we started treating it with 25mg of Clomid a day. That brought my numbers up but I still didn't feel any better. So we double my dose of Clomid to 50mg a day. This more than doubled my free test and total test from my starting numbers. Yet I still didn't feel any better.

When I started my cycle last fall I dropped the Clomid and started my test e. and dbol and immediately felt an increase in sex drive. I know test e takes awhile to take effect so I'm wondering if it was just a coincidence or Clomid had some how affected my sex drive?

After my cycle I did a PCT and did not restart my Clomid in hopes I might recover. I got blood work done for my upcoming appointment so I will find out then. But I'm assuming I did not recover and will end up on some form of hrt. I think I prefer the Clomid because I like the idea of my balls producing their own testosterone and I believe it will give me the best chance at having kids. But I literally felt no different even when the Clomid more than doubled my numbers. Are there any down sides to Clomid? Even though my numbers are better with it, is there something about this drug or any side effects that could be keeping me from feeling the benefits of the increase in testosterone?

[kelkel]

Many report feeling the way you do with clomid or HCG Mono. It's very subjective but regardless of numbers, it's how you feel that's important. Think about some of the top guys in this arena who are proponents of TRT. Crisler, Vergel, etc. They all use testosterone . Yes, they're all older and not concerned with procreating but it still says something doesn't it.

Realize that when on exogenous testosterone and you use HCG then your testicals are producing testosterone. It's the reason it's used. The degree to which you produce can be both dose dependent and physiological. I posted this excerpt yesterday in a thread but it applies to your question as well:

Human chorionic gonadotropin therapy
A known critical element in the development of healthy spermatogenesis is high intratesticular testosterone.13 In men using exogenous testosterone, these levels can be greatly diminished. Intramuscular human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) therapy is an option shown to protect against, or at least to diminish, the impact that exogenous testosterone has on intratesticular testosterone levels . In a randomized, controlled trial of 29 healthy men randomly assigned to four groups, testosterone enanthate was given 200 mg per week plus either intramuscular saline, 125, 250, or 500 IU hCG every other day. Sperm, intratesticular testosterone levels, and gonadotropins were measured at day 0 and day 21. Intratesticular testosterone levels were suppressed by 94% in the placebo group, 25% in the 125 IU hCG treatment group, and 7% in the 250 IU hCG treatment group, and they were increased 26% from baseline in the 500 IU hCG treatment group.13 Thus, even with supraphysiologic doses of testosterone replacement, healthy levels of intratesticular testosterone were maintained by low-dose hCG therapy.
The benefits of hCG therapy are not limited to maintaining healthy levels of intratesticular testosterone levels alone. These benefits also include maintenance of spermatogenesis in males receiving testosterone supplementation. We have previously demonstrated the ability of hCG therapy to maintain spermatogenesis in men receiving TST. When 26 hypogonadal men receiving TST via transdermal patches or intramuscular injections and concomitant low-dose hCG were studied retrospectively, factors such as serum and free testosterone, estradiol, serum parameters, and pregnancy rates were evaluated. Results showed no differences in semen parameters during 1 year of follow-up, and none of the men became azoospermic during the treatment.

[yeahbuddy289]

So 500IU of HCG injected every other day increased testosterone production by 26% more than baseline? And "baseline" being the testosterone production in the testies prior to using the test e correct? Or is baseline the intratesticular testosterone production while on test e without HCG?

[kelkel]

Or is baseline the intratesticular testosterone production while on test e without HCG?

This ^^^

[yeahbuddy289]

Is 26% really enough to help that much with fertility?

[kelkel]

I think we were both misreading each other! Baseline being below, which should ease your mind!

gonadotropins were measured at day 0

[yeahbuddy289]

Ah ok thanks kel. So it is somewhat common to feel no difference on Clomid even though numbers are better?

[kelkel]

Ah ok thanks kel. So it is somewhat common to feel no difference on Clomid even though numbers are better?

It can be that way for some guys, yes. I hear and read of a lot of guys who run HCG Mono feel that way and when switched to test are quite surprised at the difference.