Self-Guided HRT

[TheSpoonyBard]

Allow me to play Devil's advocate for a moment, if you will? What is the difference in say a self administered TRT/HRT protocol vs a self administered AAS protocol? I mean, some people seem to create a double standard when it comes to an issue such as this. What makes it okay to self prescribe an AAS regimen but not an HRT one? Is it because you can legally obtain testosterone from a physician fairly easily? Because said physician can order labs to test hormone levels? If those are cases for advocacy of physician led HRT/TRT then the logic is flawed. I'll tell you why, and use my case as an example. I'm on a TRT protocol which was prescribed to me by my doctor. All well and good until we meet and I beg, and plead for her to test me for more than just total, free, and bioavailable levels of T. Well, it's just not a happening thing for her for whatever reason. I come here to the forums and post my latest experience with my doc, and I'm advised by this site's most knowledgable HRT members to get a private test performed at an outside lab, as an out of pocket expense, no insurance involved. Because my Dr won't order the tests I have requested and I'm paying a lab to test the levels I WANT tested, that takes the protocol from the hands of the physician and it now begins to enter the realm of self administered HRT. And before you say "find a new doctor, dummy!" believe you me I've attempted a few different docs now including specialists such as a urologist who was a bigger anal cavity than my PCP. When you're limited by funds and insurance coverage choosing a well informed doctor becomes complicated. Now, going on cycle is an accepted thing, especially here, hence the name of the website. I would think you could do as much if not more damage to an endocrine system with the improper use of an AAS cycle than you could with a NON hyper-physiological dose of exogenous testosterone as a supplement to aid in recovery of low T levels. So I suppose I'm asking where the difference lies? How is a so called "self guided HRT" protocol more morally ambiguous than a self guided AAS cycle? A Doctor isn't going to put you on an AAS protocol. Unless I'm missing something, and in that case may I have your doctor's contact info? Lol! Please discuss. Sorry for the lengthy post also.

[HRTstudent]

Allow me to play Devil's advocate for a moment, if you will? What is the difference in say a self administered TRT/HRT protocol vs a self administered AAS protocol? I mean, some people seem to create a double standard when it comes to an issue such as this. What makes it okay to self prescribe an AAS regimen but not an HRT one? Is it because you can legally obtain testosterone from a physician fairly easily? Because said physician can order labs to test hormone levels? If those are cases for advocacy of physician led HRT/TRT then the logic is flawed. I'll tell you why, and use my case as an example. I'm on a TRT protocol which was prescribed to me by my doctor. All well and good until we meet and I beg, and plead for her to test me for more than just total, free, and bioavailable levels of T. Well, it's just not a happening thing for her for whatever reason. I come here to the forums and post my latest experience with my doc, and I'm advised by this site's most knowledgable HRT members to get a private test performed at an outside lab, as an out of pocket expense, no insurance involved. Because my Dr won't order the tests I have requested and I'm paying a lab to test the levels I WANT tested, that takes the protocol from the hands of the physician and it now begins to enter the realm of self administered HRT. And before you say "find a new doctor, dummy!" believe you me I've attempted a few different docs now including specialists such as a urologist who was a bigger anal cavity than my PCP. When you're limited by funds and insurance coverage choosing a well informed doctor becomes complicated. Now, going on cycle is an accepted thing, especially here, hence the name of the website. I would think you could do as much if not more damage to an endocrine system with the improper use of an AAS cycle than you could with a NON hyper-physiological dose of exogenous testosterone as a supplement to aid in recovery of low T levels. So I suppose I'm asking where the difference lies? How is a so called "self guided HRT" protocol more morally ambiguous than a self guided AAS cycle? A Doctor isn't going to put you on an AAS protocol. Unless I'm missing something, and in that case may I have your doctor's contact info? Lol! Please discuss. Sorry for the lengthy post also.

Couple things... first of all, just because androgen abuse is generally more accepted on other forums on this site doesn't mean we all share that view. Not only that, but it's like going to a casino and asking people, "Whats so bad about gambling?"

Next, TRT is a quality of life treatment, and this is a big difference. Oftentimes, you are also on TRT for life. That means you need to take drugs regularly for DECADES.

The goals of taking testosterone for quality of life vs muscle-building are so incredibly different.