Transdermal, creams or gels are not appropriate where you can transferring T by contact to breasts, children and babies. You need to self-inject T and read stickies for more info.
You absolutely need to fix your hormone levels. TRT or fix a repairable testicular vascular problem, or resolve a cause of low LH/FSH. You have low T, but do not have a root cause.
TRT or resolution will make a huge difference in you life. So take action.
Please test LH/FSH before starting TRT, cannot do after that.
Also test prolactin if the problem has been gradually happening.
Labs:
TT
FT
E2
LH/FSH
prolactin
TSH
CBC
fasting cholesterol
fasting glucose
Note that hugging babies or recent orgasm can increase prolactin above base levels.
If a sudden change, possible from a blow to the head that damaged pituitary. - not recoverable.
Your T levels are low enough to explain ED and libido.
You can also be down if you stopped using iodized salt, critical for thyroid function. Iodine is vital during pregnancy, nursing and for child development. See below for evaluation of overall thyroid function via oral body temperatures. Check you and mom.
You should post all labs with ranges. Not just what hormones you think are important. If “normal” we still need to see.
Please read the stickies found here: About the T Replacement Category - #2 by KSman
- advice for new guys - need more info about you
- things that damage your hormones
- protocol for injections
- finding a TRT doc
Evaluate your overall thyroid function by checking oral body temperatures as per the thyroid basics sticky. Thyroid hormone fT3 is what gets the job done and it regulates mitochondrial activity, the source of ATP which is the universal currency of cellular energy. This is part of the body’s temperature control loop. This can get messed up if you are iodine deficient. In many countries, you need to be using iodized salt. Other countries add iodine to dairy or bread.
KSman is simply a regular member on this site. Nothing more other than highly active.
I can be a bit abrupt in my replies and recommendations. I have a lot of ground to cover as this forum has become much more active in the last two years. I can’t follow threads that go deep over time. You need to respond to all of my points and requests as soon as possible before you fall off of my radar. The worse problems are guys who ignore issues re thyroid, body temperatures, history of iodized salt. Please do not piss people off saying that lab results are normal, we need lab number and ranges.
The value that you get out of this process and forum depends on your effort and performance. The bulk of your learning is reading/studying the suggested stickies.