Effectiveness of gels vs pellets vs injections?

[sean1971]

In my 2+ years of trt I was on gels, then pellets and now injections. I've only been on injections for 3 weeks. I'm not sure if it's just in my head or not, but the effectiveness of the injections seems much better than gels or pellets. My mood, sleep, energy and workouts is much better now. However, other than the first day of my very first injection, my libido shows no improvement.

Are injections proven to be more effective than gels or pellets?

Also, any thoughts to why after my first 200mg injection I had exceptional libido for 8 hrs and after my second two injections of 140mg no libido? I'm working on high bp, but I really want the libido/drive I had after my first injection three weeks ago.

Thx

[kelkel]

It's all testosterone just different delivery methods to which people respond differently. In my experience, the majority tend to respond to injections better than other methods. Obviously that's subjective but most of the top docs would regurgitate similar thoughts. Re your first injection and libido it could be psychological or a doperminergic type response.

Remember, we're not kids anymore and most as they age don't run around with constant erections. As long as it stands up when it counts you're good to go. Don't over-think it, you'll be fine.

[Youthful55guy]

My only experience is with injections, but I've hear the same from lots of other guys in other posts. My thought on the topic is that with topicals and pellets, absorption can be variable from person to person, but with injections, you know exactly what is getting into your system with each dose. There's no guesswork.

When I first started, I too was on weekly injections (though at a much lower dose) and I too felt that first dose like a libido hammer hit me. Then the effect subsided with each subsequent dose for the next 3 weeks and then no sudden rushes of libido post-injection, even after raising the dose to as high as 140 mg per week. My theory there, is as kelkel eluded to, is that the effect is probably neuroendocrine in origin (e.g. dopamine). When you introduce a sudden surge of testosterone, it's going to cause a cascade of hormonal and neuroendocrine throughout the body and in the brain in particular. The effect is not sustainable. I've describe the effect in other forums as the "Superman Effect". Not all guys experience it, but when you do, you must keep in mind that it's not sustainable. Your body will reach a new equilibrium soon. It's kind of like going through puberty all over again.

Regarding your dosing, 200 mg is a pretty stout dose for TRT. Even 140 mg is pretty high for a weekly dose. I'm a advocate of much smaller an more frequent injections using an insulin syringe. With big doses like yours, you are going to send your testosterone to super physiological levels for the first 2-4 days after the injection and that is just not good from a long-term sustainability standpoint. It will be a weekly hormonal rollercoaster. Been there, done that. In particular, you will probably find your E getting out of control and cycling up and down with T levels and your neuroendocrine system will just not be stable. Also, I'm guessing that hemoglobin will become problematic in a month or two.

I suggest you consider dropping the dose way down and inject twice a week. After 4 1/2 years on TRT, I've found that (for me) 40 mg every 3 days works beautifully. I very smooth ride with no perceivable ups and down, just a constant "optimum" level. This equates to 0.2 mL of a 200 mg/mL solution. I draw it up and inject with a single (one piece) 1 mL 28 gauge 1/2 in needle insulin syringe. I don't usually feel anything when that tiny needle goes in.

[2Sox]

^^^^ Very good points made. To elaborate further, at high doses of T, your E2 levels are bound to rise to levels that will most definitely affect your libido - negatively. This could indeed be your problem. Watch out.

Reduce your dose, try twice weekly injections SQ. I do low dose SQ daily totaling about 84mg/week. I do just fine. If your labs indicate an abnormally high E2 level, consider a gentle AI, like exemestane at a low dose. I take 12.5mg/week. Let us know how you do.