My 2 Cents Worth

[Youthful55guy]

I had an interesting private message from someone that saw some of my posts and asked for my "2 cents" worth of advice on self-medication. I thought it might make for an interesting thread. Here's how I replied. No doubt I'll get challenged on some aspect of it, particularly the dosing frequency. This seems to be a very polarizing issue here and I'm very opinionated on the topic.

My "2 cents"

Get tested regularly and often. never make a change in dosing without labs to support your decision.

Wait at least 6 weeks before making any dose adjustments. You are a moving target the first couple of weeks and your hormones and their effect on your mind, body, and libido will be all over the map.

Always test the day you are scheduled for your next injection and then inject after they draw the blood (not before).

Ignore advice from anyone that recommends weekly or less frequent dosing. They have probably never tried more frequent dosing and don't know what they are missing.

As a starting dose, I recommend 40 mg (20 mL of 200 mg/mL) T-cyp or T-eth every 3 days (E3D) using a 25 or 28 G insulin syringe. Inject into the upper outer quadriceps muscle. There's a ton of videos available on U Tube.

I recommend holding off on any HCG until after your first 6 week follow up test. You want to know how the T is affecting you before you start altering things with HCG.

I also recommend discontinuing HCG about a week ahead of any tests, again so that you know your response to the T-cyp.

You will begin to notice testicular shrinkage after about 4 weeks. This is normal. They will come back once you start HCG. I recommend a dose of HCG of about 350 IU 3 times per week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday). This will layer in about 300 ng/mL added T from natural production, and should prevent testicular shrinkage. Also, This will help to maintain ejaculate volume. The seminal vesicles, prostate, and cowpers glands (particularly the seminal vesicles) produce about 95% of the ejaculate volume. They have both androgen and LH receptors and need both to work properly.

Make sure your initial tests include both SHBG and Free T (direct LC/MS method). Base all dosing decisions on Free T, not total T, especially if your SHBG is high. If you do not have high SHBG, you probably don't need to continue with the test, but it is often included in the male test panels.

[kelkel]

Well written. I agree with most all you expouse with the following caveats:

1. 100% agree with pulling BW the day of injection as noted. However, if BW can be liberally pulled I think it's prudent to know your peak as well. Although this may frighten an uninlightened doctor.

2. Some guys do just fine on weekly injections. Personally I would not ever recomment it. At a minimum every 5 days, imho. Those that say they are fine on weekly injections and have not tried a shorter rotation are missing out.

3. Agree with holding off on HCG as well as stopping it a week out of BW to see exactly what the T is doing for you. I don't think it necessary to do this every time once experienced.

Good post YG55!

[Youthful55guy]

Well written. I agree with most all you expouse with the following caveats:

2. Some guys do just fine on weekly injections. Personally I would not ever recomment it. At a minimum every 5 days, imho. Those that say they are fine on weekly injections and have not tried a shorter rotation are missing out.

I might have been a little strong in my original wording about them not understanding what they are talking about with weekly injections, so I modified it to what you said. They have probably never tried it and don't know what they are missing.