I’ve been on HCG, dosage is 1250iu 3x week.
Just got a blood test done
Total testosterone: 24,8nmol/l (10-38)
Translated to US units it’s 715.28ng/dl so pretty nice number IMO.
Estrogen: 0,16nmol/l (<0,15).
Didn’t get free testosterone this time, because my shbg is always around 30, so I’ll get a good picture from total T number.
Problem is, even though my testosterone is fine, I still feel like shit. I’m tired, bloated (especially on my face and armpits), I get a lot more heart palpitations than I normally do, and also slight brain fog.
I’ve read that HCG can trigger palpitations.
is my dosage too high? Clearly it gives me estrogenic sides because of the bloating.
As a positive side I do get an insane pump at the gym, which I think is most likely because of the water retention.
Any ideas what I could try? My dr is pretty open minded.
- Decrease your hCG dose and add testosterone.
- Discontinue hCG and take testosterone.
- Discontinue hCG and take clomiphene.
- Continue hCG and add an aromatase inhibitor.
- Continue hCG and take clomiphene.
Those are options you could do, not necessarily should do.
2 Likes
What does your blood pressure sit at typically?
If it were me I’d half the dose of HCG and test again in 4 weeks. Personally I get shocking high e2 symptoms if I inject >1000IU in one shot. From what I’ve read 500-750IU every other day is a typical monotherapy dose. Everyone is different right enough.
2 Likes
That is probably the best option, depending on your feelings about taking testosterone.
1 Like
Thanks for the answer.
1. Decrease your hCG dose and add testosterone.
Sadly my dr told me that the authorities that control prescriptions, have denied doctors from prescribing hhcg with testosterone, its either testosterone or hcg mono. It’s weird. Same goes for AI use with trt. Doctors are forbidden to give AI with trt where I live.
2. Discontinue hCG and take testosterone.
This would be the optimal, but I’m trying to keep my fertility for now, because me and my girlfriend are thinking about making a baby in near future (obviously I need to feel ok before that)
3. Discontinue hCG and take clomiphene.
This might be the one I have to try, since clomiphene works quite well for me. For some reason it gives me arrhythmia tho… I have no idea why, and neither does my dr. (My heart has been checked multiple times by multiple cardiologist and should be fine. Obviously arrhythmias and palpitations still suck, and I try to keep away from things that aggrevate them.
Still clomiphene might be the best choice.
4. Continue hCG and add an aromatase inhibitor.
Sadly AI use is forbidden where I live. Sucks.
5. Continue hCG and take clomiphene.
Idk… I would rather take one or the other, and not both.
Around 120/80, I’m on a blood pressure med called candezartan.
Yeah I’m guessing a lower dose would be better regarding my sides. I’m just worried my T will decrease with it. Kinda considering either a lower dose hcg or switching to clomiphene.
I found this study about hcg monotherapy:
They were prescribed an average of 2000 IU hCG weekly
“Our study indicated that hCG monotherapy is a safe and efficacious treatment option for patients with symptoms of hypogonadism who do not desire fertility”
Crazy how my original script is to take 2500iu 2x/week lol, apparently its pretty common where I live.
You might feel better with lower T and lower e2. No use having some magical number but feeling like shit. Getting that e2 down will probably help your blood pressure too.
IMO HCG is a better route that clomid. It’s not worth the eye risk.
For what it’s worth 500IU eod got me 600ng/dl and mid e2. Felt pretty good on it. I had about 450ng/dl TT naturally for reference.
Good luck
1 Like
HCG isn’t a good treatment for low-T and should only be used when fertility is a concern.
If TRT is off the table for OP due to fertility concerns personally I’d rather HCG than clomid.
I read this a lot, what are the draw backs of HCG mono? Just generally poor symptom resolution?
It just doesn’t produce good treatment outcomes, HCG stimulates only half of the testes. Also as men age the testes become less efficient.
2 Likes
Actually I feel like hcg blurred my vision a bit. After googling I found that it can affect vision.
Idk it might just be because of brain fog tho. I think lower dose is worth a try.
1 Like
Fluid retention in the brain can affect vision by putting pressure onto the optic nerve and might be the source of the brain fog.
I experience these symptoms on TRT when not on some form of diuretic.
1 Like
Damn, that sounds terrible. I’ll have to talk to my doc about this when I see him on Wednesday.