"In 2013, a study encompassing insurance prescription data on more than 10 million men ages 40 and older from 2001 to 2011 was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Over that decade, androgen replacement therapy – testosterone prescribed in the form of topical gels, skin patches, pills and injections – more than tripled.
Then the trend reversed. Testosterone prescriptions for U.S. men ages 30 and older decreased by 48 percent overall from 2013 to 2016, according to findings published July 10, 2018, in JAMA after researchers revisited the database".
@anon10230041 Did you notice they changed their range?
Another shit piece if you ask me. They focus on a LOT of maybes for the “negative” stuff and glance over the fact that in the last study mentioned, where the average age of the men was 72, had improved sexual function in all aspects and had increased bone mass. They mention nothing of lean body mass gain or strength (other than walking distance improving). Also glaringly missing is the dose they were given (albeit esoteric for the piece) and their T levels before and after.
[quote=“NH_Watts, post:41, topic:245940, full:true”] Also glaringly missing is the dose they were given (albeit esoteric for the piece) and their T levels before and after.
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Read notes on the study. FWIW The men were <275 and used a gel that got them to 500.
“The testosterone preparation was AndroGel 1%. The placebo gel was similar in appearance, consistency, and aroma. The initial dose of AndroGel, 5 g daily, was adjusted, according to the serum testosterone concentrations, at months 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9, to keep the serum testosterone concentration within the normal range for young men. To maintain blinding when the dose was adjusted for a participant taking testosterone, the dose was also adjusted in a participant taking placebo.”
There’s got to be a huge percentage of men going private once they learn their doctor know next to nothing about TRT. Then you have those guys that straight quit TRT because of the doctors, thinking TRT doesn’t work.
A ton of those men have come back years later never having had proper testing, 200mg once every 2 weeks, no estrogen management or SHBG ever tested and or undiagnosed thyroid problems.
@systemlord Would love your input. I haven’t begun any treatment yet. TTL T 539 (range 250-827), Free T 81 (range 46-224), SHBG 32 (range 22-77). Any reactions?
You are underdosed on thyroid medication, testosterone levels are nothing to brag about. Below 500 is where men start to experience symptoms of low libido. A guy with lower SHBG might be able to get by with your Total T numbers, but midrange and higher SHBG men need more total testosterone to have the same free testosterone as a guy with lower SHBG.
Take my total testosterone and free testosterone as an example, a total testosterone of 677 sees my free testosterone 1.5 times (29 pg/mL range 6.8-21.5) the normal ranges. Your SHBG is exactly double so you need more total testosterone to equal the same free testosterone as myself.
“Q1: What was the main symptom/reason that convinced you to start on TRT? How low was your T level when you started?”
I had most of the symtoms but when when my wife started looking less interesting to me and ED set in. I went in. And tested at an ultra low 90
“Q2: What do you like the most about TRT?”
Besides the end of the ED issue. A clear head, a full nights sleep and my joints and muscles are rarely sore anymore.
“Q3: What do you like the least about TRT?”
Blood tests and I can think of a lot of tother hings I could do with the money I am spending.
“Q4: What is something that surprised you (i.e. something you didn’t expect before beginning treatment that happened to you)?”
The improvement in my supposedly destroyed knees
I have been on it for three years and at 61 years old I did not expect it to work half as well as it has. All I wanted was a wee bit of my old libido back. I got a lot more than that. But yes it is a pain in the ass and you do need to educate yourself. Only a small percentage of the medical community does replacement therapy well
This is interesting information as I continue to search out solid real life experiences with Therapies- I’ve been through hell with T-. Two gyneocomastia surgeries - 14 inches of scar tissue under arms, etc… yes two and one chest lift trying to repair. Now at Kaiser back on T but they refuse to prescribe estrogen blocker and allow HGH to help “fill” the wasting from the extreme tissue removal over my pecs due to the botched gyneo surgery. Looking for solid ideas as to doses that will create a steady increase in all the benefits while I try to repair the surgical mistakes. 55 yr old male- s. California based
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated-
I also have Kaiser, the endocrinology department is filled with quack doctors and refused me E blockers as well.
I was forced to go private to have my TRT managed by competent people that can prescribe AI’s (E-blocker), peptides, HGH and more. You tend to get experts in the field when going private as sick care doctors have very narrow guidelines that must be followed, often these guidelines are old and outdated.
Perhaps these guidelines will be update in 10 years. I went with a telemedicine clinic, Defy Medical is very reputable and recommended! Dr. Saya is the best around. I can provide dosing recommendation only after I see some labs results, a minimum Total T, Free T, estrogen and SHBG.
SHBG is an important one, it binds testosterone and estrogen and can dictate TRT protocols. Hope you had the glands removed when you had gyno surgery, if not it may have been for nothing.
Hi reddsdad, Welcome to the forum. If I may ask were you on T only when you got gyno or did you have it before your T therapy? Some if not many over weight guys have gyno and don’t even know it.
If you can post your blood info minus the personal info name addy doc that kind of stuff we can offer advice to get a proper protocol going. Just know everyone here is not on the same page and we have different opinions on what a proper protocol should look like. So I will recommend just taking notes and doing a lot of google searches to verify advice you get.
It’s nice having another older guy here TRT works different with us older guys (Im 65) than it does with these 20-30 YO’s
“If I may ask were you on T only when you got gyno or did you have it before your T therapy?”
Been there done that myself have the nipple scars to prove it.
I hope all the forum members pushing T only, No AI, No HCG, see this.
I’m keeping count it won’t be the last time we heard this from a new member getting bad advice.
