AI and it's effects on libido

[seeW]

hello all

i'm a a 43 year old male
5'6"
210 lbs
20% body fat

after a recent annual physical and a low test finding i've started TRT. been on 3 months now. currently using an online clinic and administering

200mg test cyp weekly

i started with daily injections at 28mg/ day
500iu hcg pinned twice weekly at 250 iu
1mg anastrozole taken twice weekly at .5mg

i was adamant about bloodwork and took it regularly

pre TRT

total T 223 / 250-827 low
estradiol 26 / <39
hematocrit 48.1 / 38.5-50.0

2 months of TRT

total T 1299 / 250-827 high
estradiol 37 / <39
hematocrit 50.5 / 38.5-50.0 high

after two months i stopped my AI with the blessing of my DR. everything was great, feeling good, and the gym was awesome, except for my libido was garbage.

it started off great. a few weeks in, it skyrocketed, though it was fine before. but gradually it diminished. all aspects of it. it was unpleasant.

i was certain the AI was to blame, and thought i had crashed my E2. i was disappointed when i got the BW back and it showed a normal range level.

after talking with the doc, he told me to stop it for a month and then check in and recommended upping my HCG. i noticed some atrophy in my twins.

so for the past month my new protocol has been

200mg test cyp weekly / now pinned 56mg EOD
1000 IU hcg weekly pinned EOD at 250 iu
no AI

i got a more extensive BW profile, here are the results, i also gave blood shortly after last BW, per the DR suggestions, about 3 weeks prior to this lab

total T 1389/ 250-827 high
free T 304/ 35-155 high
SHBG 24 / 10-50
prolactin 8.9 / 2-18
estradiol 85 / <39 high
hematocrit 48.4 / 38.5-50.0

libido slowly improved, though still not as good as i think it should be at the test levels i'm rocking. its not as good as it was pre TRT

my question is, can i not take the AI? Doc prefers i take it

i feel better without it. since my total and free T are high, shouldn't my E2 also be high? in proportion with?

am i negating the effects of the exogenous testosterone by not taking an AI

[almostgone]

Have they checked your DHT level?

[seeW]

negative on DHT

[almostgone]

Just hang loose seeW and some of the other guys will post up some of their experiences.

I'm surprised they haven't cut back on your TRT dose some. I usually feel my best when my free T is just at or slightly over the top end of the range and my E2 is towards the upper end of the range.