I briefly started TRT without HCG, and noticed a tremendous increase in libido and confidence.
I added HCG, but as some of you know, stupidly decided to mess with my E2 at the same time. I feel like I was more cool and collected (and able to control my emotions/actions extremely well) before HCG, but more euphoric and ramped up (not more energy per say, but like you might feel from amphetamines) on it. Possibly more anxious too.
In fact, on T alone, I reached this mental state I had never felt before, where I was just naturally confident, in control of myself, not anxious, and feeling just “right.” My girlfriend absolutely loved me during that period. All the time I’d spent over the years in therapy and working on myself became irrelevant, as everything just seemed natural.
I’m just curious, do most guys like HCG? For those who don’t, what are the downsides, aside from an increased risk of elevated E2?
Fertility now is of no concern, but might be in 5-10 years. Maybe never even (I’m almost 35 already and have never really wanted kids).
I’d say from my reading that it’s about a 50/50 split.
Most that don’t like it just notice feeling “off” in general. The benefits are really just maintaining fertility and preventing atrophy, which a lot of guys don’t experience anyway.
There is some research pointing to elevated levels of LH (which is what HCG does) being beneficial for adrenal and brain functions too.
Gyno takes an elevated prolactin, along with a severely elevated E2 for a year or so. Even then, some say that you have to be genetically prone to gyno as well. I couldn’t say for sure.
You’re more than likely going to feel off even with just test until you stick with it consistently and long enough to stabilize.
I really think for me it ramped up my adrenals. When I was on it I always felt “on” if that makes sense like almost always in a fight or flight mode but not as extreme. I think that’s why it raised my bp and resting heart rate.
I got gyno with an E2 of 11 pg/mL. Needless to say it wasn’t caused by the E2. The E2 was just a number I happened to be measuring and one that every told me was the equivalent of the boogyman. I know better now.
I won’t say you’re off your rocker, lol, but I do find it hard to believe. I’ve never seen a documented case of actual gyno that didn’t involve higher levels of estrogen, well…at least way higher in comparison to the levels of testosterone. If you were at 11pg/mL then your Testosterone must have been completely tanked at 0 for quite some time for this condition to develop.
One more question (just trying to understand your particular scenario)…Did you have this clinically confirmed that it was gyno (glandular breast tissue development) as opposed to just normal adipose (fatty) tissue?
My E2 (non sensitive) was 13 pg/mL. My total testosterone was 227 ng/dL. Prolactin was 14 ng/mL. At this point you’ll say, “It was the prolactin!”. Current levels are E2 43 (sensitive), total 1035, free 28, and prolactin 14. Hasn’t budged yet the gyno shrunk down. It was glandular. When I was tested I was really lean and barely had any fat on my body. Had it checked by two doctors, both of whom suggested surgery. No longer necessary. Also, the gyno was worse while I was taking an AI if you can believe that.