Seems like most come here with low libido and arousal and begin their trt protocols.
Next comes the honeymoon period where they get good results. Then it seems to go away and libido is worse than before trt.
Most would say it’s your e2 is not at a desirable range. But is it really shbg instead? Doesn’t shbg lower itself when trt is implemented? If that’s off, especially if too low, you’re test receptors won’t catch the test circulating in your body.
I know there isn’t much we can do to alter shbg except to work with it by adjusting frequency of shots.
Just talking out loud and still trying to figure things out, arousal wise.
My initial thought is that it can have an effect, but not as much as you are thinking. A properly designed protocol should lead to sufficient free test whether you are high (me) or low (you) SHBG. This would not lead to the issues you are having imo
I always am high FT with my lowerish shbg (around 23-27). My e2 isn’t bad either, always around high 20s.
I know my lack of arousal isn’t psychological, bc I have had spurts, albeit rare, of arousal.
Kind of theorizing needing eod injections of much loser doses… like 25mg eod test. That should keep e2 lower and fresh test coming in. Also should help stabilize shbg as I’m not introducing larger test amounts.
Give it a whirl. I know there are protocols for these things but who’s to say you won’t feel better on a different one? Despite high shbg I am trialing an eod schedule because I know I have felt good on that before with cycle doses so why not. Also I am sensitive to estrogen so it will help with that.
Can you order a blood draw kit to have on standby to draw bloods when you are feeling good during honeymoon period? Be interesting to see what is going on then and how it differs to when you stabilise
I thoughts about that… Have a blood draw when I have arousal. (day of). just to see what my numbers look like.
When I tried eod protocol a few months ago (I only went a few weeks on it) I felt much more energetic in the gym and more sociable. I just didn’t have the arousal reaction I was looking for, so I abandoned ship and went back to trying a weekly shot thinking I needed more e2 to feel arousal.
Maybe, as @systemlord said, I should’ve waited longer on the eod protocol, as maybe libido and arousal were going to come later on. Shouldn’t mental clarity, energy, AND libido all occur together? Or is it possible to feel clarity at one protocol without libido, and libido at another protocol without clarity?
Idk about all together… but I have read some things can take a while. You should def give it 6-8 weeks before changing again. And try not to stress, it can’t help
Low SHBG can make TRT challenging because when Total T drops only by a small amount, Free T drops even more dramatically and it is for this reason libido is elusive. When I scored a Total T of 496, Free T was at the top of the range, drop my Total T down only 125 ng/dL and Free T is now midrange.
So your receptors don’t have adequate levels to grab ahold of for very long and libido suffers, if you maintain that Free T and keep it stable at the top of the range for many months, say hello to your libido.
It can take a year for libido to fully turn on provided you maintain stable levels throughout that entire time. The more stable your levels, the higher your levels are over the course of time, keeping the average levels higher.
I think your body is very smart. I believe truly that if you quit throwing a different pitch every few weeks, and let your body adapt to the pitch you’re throwing it now, it may very well hit one out of the park for you.
Every time I try it I can’t seem to get anxiety so I quit and go back down. I know I should just give it more time and let my body adjust to the higher estrogen level
Is this because you’ve lost sensitivity, so climaxing is harder?
My hornyness is directly proportional to my T lvl.
TRT has done nothing for my ED. That takes a NO stack with cialas.
It’s my arousal response. And yes, sensitivity is down a lot.
You know that feeling when you’re w a woman and you’re fooling around the then just NEED to continue? Like you just have to get laid? It’s a physical feeling and erection is included. That’s whats lacking.
I get erections ok. Just don’t stay long at all. It’s like I’m a bit indifferent to sex. I want to want to have sex? Make sense?
Viagra and my no stack work ok. Just wanna be normal though and FEEL like I need to get laid physically.
When I was doing 50mg twice weekly there was no libido or erections even with perfect numbers, Total T was 677 and FT 29. Now injecting 20mg EOD Total T 496 and FT 20 libido and erection are present.
It’s because my levels aren’t swinging as much on an EOD protocol.
I am in the camp “The lower your SHGB is the lower your E2 needs to be.” I don’t believe there is one magic number like 22 or 30 that everyone should shoot for.
You say you are going back to EOD. Did you have this problem back when you were on that protocol?
If we are starting an office pool put me in the it with it will make no difference. Twice a week vs EOD. We are talking about T cyp, right? With its 40 days to steady state and 8 day half life.