Results- Blood work, sore nipples, testicular atrophy- Opinions requested

[harley121]

First, a big thank you to all the Vets here for your info. I found this site in Sept and have learned so much. Here's my question:
I'm 46, 174lbs, 5'6" 18" BF, bodybuilding on and off for 25 years. Started TRT 1 year ago and dialed in at 100mg/ wk of test. cyp. for the last 5 months. For the last 3 months, my nipples have been sensitive, tingly, sticking out, my balls are pulled up, ache sometimes. Other than that I feel amazing, get great workouts, etc. Per recommendations here I got my bloodwork done, Sensitive E test. results attached. Other than the Blood serum test level being high (my range is 200-800 for my age according to Dr. ) Estridol (sensitive ) is 20, etc. Why are my nipples and balls like this? They never were for the prior 46 years. Dr. says cut back on Test. to 80mg/ wk, wont give an AI. What are your thoughts?
Oh- the Sensitive E test was Labcorp.

[GotNoBlueMilk]

You have two symptoms you are concerned with: atrophy and nipple sensativity.

Atrophy: this is going to happen when on HRT unless you take HCG. It's to be expected, it's happening, and if it bothers you either psychologically or physically you need to go on HCG. Read the sticky on HCG at the top of this forum. It pretty much says it all on the subject.

Nipples: Your E2 is 20 which is really good. Here's the thing though. Nipple soreness and sensativity can be caused by a number of different things. For gyno, it takes E2 + IGF-1 + progesterone to produce gyno and gyno symptoms. If you have high IGF-1 or progresterone, it won't take as much E2 to develop gyno symptoms. Also, some people are just more sensative to E2 and gyno than other people. The best way to reduce gyno symptoms is to reduce E2. But, and this is a big but in your case, your E2 is not an issue.

Sensative nipples can also be caused by high progresterone. The symtoms from high progesterone tends to be a little different than high E2. With high progesterone one tends to have erect nipples with the sensativity. So unless you have developed physical lumps inside your nipples, I would think your symptom is from high progesterone. YOu didn't show that test result in your attachements. You may not have even had that tested. You also didn't show IGF-1 levels. Again, maybe they were not even tested.

As to your doc's suggestion of dropping your dose, that will help your symptoms. Did you have blood drawn for your test in a trough or soon after your T injection? In other words, is that number a trough or peak value? If it is a trough then dropping your T amount is probably a decent suggestion. If it is a peak then your trough may be about 800. So I don't know that dropping your dose is something you want or not. How do you feel other than your hard erect nipples and shrinking testicles? That is your guide.

You definately need to be very careful with your nipple symptoms. If you don't have any gyno lumps yet you are very close to developing them. An AI is not really a good idea for you because it will drop your E2 low since it is already about perfect.

You need to know your progesterone level. That is bloodwork. Controlling that is not via an AI. Work with your doc on this. Some guys in here may know of a natural option for lowering progesterone. I would bet this is the route you need for the nipple issue.

If you go on HCG, your nipple symptoms will increase and possibly push you into the gyno area. Take care of the nipple issue and don't just go on HCG unless you want to make your other problem worse.

[harley121]

Hey Got..
Thanks for the info. I did the injection- 100mg on Sunday afternoon and the blood was drawn the following Tues early am into 2 seperate vials. Not sure what a trough is. though. You are right on the nipple symptom. They are erect and sensitive, there's no lump. So sounds like what you described. Ill talk to Dr. about the Prog. test. If its not on that paperwork he didn't test for it and at the time- 2 weeks ago, I didn't know to ask for it. Im learning alot about this.

I feel amazing other than really the nipple thing. The testicles is annoying, but I ve been married a long time to a hot woman and things are great there, even if my nuts are a little smaller part. The red rocket is actually better than ever

Here's a question. If I do a cycle of Test Cyp (same thing as for HRT) but at 500MG/ week split into 2- 250MG shots for 12 weeks, Im assuming this will be worse? I did a Deca/ Anavar cycle like 20 years ago and didn't have any of this. No Test . at the time as I didn't know to add it then.

[harley121]

Ok, have a Dr. appt for next tues pm for blood work. What are the names of the tests that I need to have ran? Also, I pin myself on Sunday again so it will be at peak value. Is that better or worse? It seems like my nipples get better towards the end of the week right b4 I need to give my self another shot.

[harley121]

Still have a few questions:

1. What are the names of the tests that I need to have ran?
2. If I do a cycle of Test Cyp (same thing as for HRT) but at 500MG/ week split into 2- 250MG shots for 12 weeks, Im assuming this will be worse? I did a Deca / Anavar cycle like 20 years ago and didn't have any of this. No Test . at the time as I didn't know to add it then.
3. If I want to do an anabolic cycle do I need to use something other than Test. as a base AAS? I guess same question as above

[steroid.com 1]

Still have a few questions:

1. What are the names of the tests that I need to have ran?
See the sticky at the top of the forum on Finding a TRT Doc, the labs you need are listed there.

2. If I do a cycle of Test Cyp (same thing as for HRT) but at 500MG/ week split into 2- 250MG shots for 12 weeks, Im assuming this will be worse? I did a Deca / Anavar cycle like 20 years ago and didn't have any of this. No Test . at the time as I didn't know to add it then.
Most likely will get worse and you will through everything off.

3. If I want to do an anabolic cycle do I need to use something other than Test. as a base AAS? I guess same question as above

These questions are better posted in the Q&A aas board...we don't cycle in here.

[harley121]

Got it thanks.