Been goofing around coming up with projects to 3D print and whipped this together over a few days. It uses a cheap temperature controller and a strip heater to warm up vials of oil to reduce the viscosity. I’m super stoked about how it turned out!

I’m relatively new to HRT, and one thing I’m starting to realize is that optimization may be more about finding the right hormonal balance for your body rather than simply trying to achieve the highest testosterone level possible.

When you’re first getting into this, it’s easy to focus on total testosterone numbers and assume that higher is better. But I’m starting to wonder if finding the right balance between testosterone, estradiol, and other factors is ultimately more important for how you actually feel, look, and perform.

For those of you who have been on HRT for a while, has your perspective on optimization changed over time? Have you found that dialing in the right balance at a more moderate testosterone level made a bigger difference than chasing higher numbers?

I’d be interested to hear your experiences and thoughts.

Hey everyone,

This is a follow-up to my last post. I've now done my blood tests at 10 weeks of TRT. Same as before, I feel zero mental benetits, O libido, and low energy. The only real change is that I've noticed I'm more muscular, but to be fair, my diet and workouts are completely dialed in.

I'm trying to figure out what's going on with my current response. My doctor appointment is in 2 weeks, so l wanted to share my before-and-after labs to see what you guys think and if you have any advice. I currently pin 14MG a day subq. Roughly 100MG a week.

My Recent Labs (10 Weeks on TRT):
Total Testosterone: 24.1 mol/L (695 ng/dL)
Free Testosterone: 594 pmol/L
SHBG: 27.3 nmol/L
Estradiol: 109 pmol/L
Hematocrit: 0.481 L/L (Hemoglobin: 153 g/L)
Ferritin: 54 ug/L
WBC: 3.7 x E9/L (slightly low)
LH: <0.1 IU/L FSH: <0.2 IU/L
Prolactin: 8.2 ug/L
TSH: 0.89 mlU/L

My Old Labs (Before TRT):
Total Testosterone: 12.3 nmol/L (355 ng/dL)
Free Testosterone: 263 pmol/L
LH: 3.5 IU/L FSH: 2.7 IU/L
Estradiol: 103 pmol/L
Prolactin: 6.2 ug/L
TSH: 1.24 mlU/L

Has anyone experienced Has anyone experienced a similar disconnect where your body responds physically with muscle growth, but your brain and libido completely ghost you even with good testosterone levels? Any advice or insights on my labs before I see my doc in 2 weeks would be hugely appreciated! I wanted to avoid increasing dose as I still get cystic acne at 39 years of age.

Also does Growth Hormone cause PSA to skyrocket? I3 months ago my test was 400 and they upped my dose from 120 to 160 a week. I started a growth cycle 3 months ago. What do you think?

Has anyone here discontinued finasteride and noticed improvements in their TRT experience or results?

I’ve always been someone who wanted to protect my hair, but I’m really starting to question whether blocking DHT could be negatively affecting my TRT experience and overall results.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Any thoughts or personal experiences would be appreciated.

So I'm running a higher than normal Test dose and am having high E2 symptoms. I haven't used an AI in such a long time I forgot how long it took to work.

Does anyone know if they get any improvement in symptoms even within 24-48 hours of taking?

44YO , 5”11 , 210 pounds, Male

I’m into my first ever trt dose and I just finished week 1 at 75mg a week which is divided into two shots a week with my doctor.

Am I good to start Reta at 2mg next week along with the trt injection you think? Or should I wait for the trt to fully saturate first in my body and then introduce Reta?

I’ve done Reta before several times just in case that info is needed. I’m just curious if Reta will interfere with me knowing what med is actually doing what or am I overthinking things ?

Thanks guys

Been pinning for 2 weeks now and I'm starting to feel it's not for me as every location of set up I've tried I've had really bad pain and aches that last not just a few days but for the week. Recently done my outer thigh and 3 days later and I can barely walk it's that hard and tight. I seem to get this no matter where I pin.

Firstly is this normal ?

Secondly any recommendations on what to do ?

For context I do 0.5 ml of 300mg testosterone enanthate Monday and Thursday. I've used inch needles and half inch needles and don't legs , bum and shoulder and all given similar results of pain and discomfort for days after.

Hi, I am going through a divorce. Today I had blood test and everything except Total Testosterone and Vitamin D is abnormal as per a lab technician. My T is 787 ng/dL and my vitamin D is 10.5 ng/mL. FSH is 2.58 mlU/mL. Vitamin B12 is 411 pg/mL

I am losing a lot of hair. Like 150-200 per day. It must be Telagen effluviam. Will visit a doctor soon

Is this testosterone high for my age? I heard excess gets converted into estrogen. So yeah, I have a bit of gyno although I am athletic build.

Is there any issues with backfilling testosterone?

I use 23g to pull out and use a 31g needle subq to inject.

Is there any downsides to this like testosterone becoming worse quality during that movement in between syringes or just anything to look out for?

Thanks

Looking to hear feedback and stories on people who started with total test levels around that mid range (400-600ish)
And decided to go to around that 1000 mark.
What differences did you feel, if any.

Also any one that may have had okay total test levels but below average or low free test that decided to jump on and get to top of the range.

For reference my total T bounces around 500-600
Free test has been in the 250 - 400 range (250 being bottom of reference range)
Cheers :)

A few sites are saying this can happen. Has anyone heard this?

these are my biomarkers from last month, i’m about to start test C was thinking of doing 300 test/week with novaldex, finasteride, and clomid for pct. Main concerns is avoiding gyno, balding, and infertility. my knowledge is limited and i’d love to hear some insight from people. thanks in advance! just looking to improve my physique, im 27 years old right now.

I started using testosterone gel about six months ago, and I feel my erections have diminished as I barely get hard any longer even with using Viagra. I've heard some people say that testosterone makes erectile dysfunction worse.

Really want to start but scaremongering has got me second guessing. I do not want to invalidate what you’re living if you have pfs, but it doesn’t look a real thing. I know what these people are going through is horrible, just can’t see the connection to the drug supported by evidence.
I bought tablets for at least 3 months.
What up with all the fuss about side effects?
It sounds horrible, but I look at it and I can’t see how it’s not just a non treatment related symptom. The stats are like changing from 2 to 3/100 respect to placebo in a population, as much. It’s hard to think at it as not being by chance.

I recently had my bloods done and the results were;

Haematocrit (HCT) - 0.563 L/L
Haemoglobin (HGB) - 176 g/L
Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) - 6.21

I tried to donate blood but it’s always a challenge to find a vain and even when they did, it just wouldn’t flow. The nurse actually showed me that the blood had quickly clotted (it was handing out the needle when she took it out).

I’m assuming this isn’t a great sign but does anyone have any tips to get it flowing? I tried a couple of pints of water prior.

Thanks.

Hey guys just putting a feeler out there. Anyone doing Cypionate Injections every 4th day? I know it's not super common. I switched from E3.5 days to E4D and things have been a lot better. The trough feels like I'm not accumulating as much estrogen. Even been able to tolerate some HCG finally with E4D. Anyone else have this experience?

i am in my 50’s injecting testostorone cypionate prescribed to me 100mg weekly, intra muscular(thigh) for about six month. Testosterone has doubled to about 500-600. Hematocirt was up to 53 down to 51 now. The last two times i injected, the next day i felt funny much of the day. One day my bp dropped, second number down to 46 came back up an hour later. Since that first day time i have tried to hydrate a lot more but again this week felt a bit out of it the day after, feel like i can feel blow flow at times in my body and a bit loopy. Curious if others experience this, last time it went away after a day or two. Thanks

Hello,

I've been injecting IM but the lumps and pain last for over a week, sometimes I can still feel the lump/knot after two weeks. I just switched to Subq and it's doing the same thing.

IM: anywhere I've injected

SubQ: only tried my stomach so far.

I will say, they seem to get worse as my vial gets lower Self healing, 200 vial, 0.5 twice a week but I'll start micro dosing SubQ if this pain and swelling improves.

I've followed all injection, storage, prep instructions.

Any help/insight is greatly appreciated

Where did you start you script for hCG from or is it ugl?

Is it covered under insurance for you (if not ugl)?

What have you noticed being on hCG either independently or along side TRT is applicable?

Has fertility come back after going away on TRT from hCG?

Any other advice for someone seeking to start hCG after 2 years of therapeutic TRT?

Thank you guys!

I did 14 mg testosterone cypionate daily for 6 weeks and felt great sexually. High libido, excellent erections, and could stay hard after ejaculation and go again. Total T was around 500 ng/dL, so we increased my dose.

I switched to 36 mg EOD, and within 10 days developed nipple sensitivity and pain. Ironically, my libido and erections were still great while my nipples hurt.

My doctor offered switching back to daily injections or taking an AI. I wanted to avoid an AI, so I switched to 18 mg daily.

About 10 days later, the nipple pain disappeared, but so did my libido and erection quality. Sex became difficult, and I recently struggled to get and keep erection.

Both 36 mg EOD and 18 mg daily average 126 mg/week, compared with my original 98 mg/week. Would you ride out 18 mg daily longer?
I’m trying to avoid an AI and find a dose that maintains good libido and erections without side effects. I haven’t confirmed that my estradiol is elevated. Recent labs still looked good.

Anyone experienced something similar?

30 M, started my Trt around may this year,but just checked my blood work last week and T its around 650ng/dL buts still fighting fatigue. My thinking was when i fix the T i will regain the energy but seems not the case , but have had a feeling of being neglected ,on follow ups since we do it online. What are options here ..just quit current?

I am taking testosterone gel 1.62%. I have heard I could apply it to my testicles for a better erection. Would anyone recommend a certain amount? One pump? Two pumps?

would really appreciate some advice,

Ive been blasting and cruising test e for nearly 2 years now and decided to stop a month ago no problems except ive had 1 blood test throughout the whole procees, i know stupid, started pct 2 weeks ago (nolvadex) 20mg with the last few days i went to 10mg and im a mess im about ready to jump off a bridge, thing is i dont like heights 😅 have insomnia, brain fog, low libido NO libido should I say.

Ive got a blood test booked in thats my first thing to do here but ive got 2 questions im hoping someone could answer,

Is it the nolvadex that messed me up here?

Is fobbing the pct off and just going trt dose an option, ill go trt for life 🤷‍♂️