Lab Results, Explains My Problems

Pharma TRT
1

So I knew my Testosterone to Estradiol ratio had to be off but my results from my last panel really shocked me at how bad it was. My libido and nocturnal erection frequency have been quite low, energy and mood have been hit or miss but I have maintained the mass I originally put on. Anyways heres my recent saliva test which was strictly BioA T and Estradiol…

E2: 4.63 (<2.5)
BioA T: 199.5 (142-350)

What the hell no wonder my libido has been shitty! Thats an awful T-E ratio… Ideally id like to see it at something like T=300-330 and E 1.7ish but thats a long way off.

Current protocol 50mg T cyp IM E3D, 250iu Hcg day prior

I will add roughly 1.5months ago before switching to IM via doctors request from subQ and adding hcg my T was at 240 and E was at 2.60 roughly 2.5months in to treatment
Where should I go from here guys!? All your knowledge is welcome and appreciated!

2

Check out some of the stickies. New guys and protocols are likely a good choice for you.

Probably the next best step is to add an AI like anastrozole (brand name arimidex). Usual dose is 0.5-1mg/wk in divided doses (E3D or EOD). Even at 50mg/wk my E2 skyrocketed to twice the recommended range.

3

I will DEFINATELY be adding an AI… But that being said my Test is still way to low. I wonder why my E2 is so bloody high I have like 10% bodyfat.

4

[quote]casler wrote:
I will DEFINATELY be adding an AI… But that being said my Test is still way to low. I wonder why my E2 is so bloody high I have like 10% bodyfat.[/quote]

Because the aromatase enzyme is everywhere not just adipose tissue.

5

Yea thats true, what does your protocol look like and how effective has it been for you?

6

Try T SC EOD and see if you feel better. - you cannot argue with results.

If doc thought that IM would improve E2, that definitely did not.

Lab results changed. But did lab timing change?

7

I suspect you have low Cortisol. I believe that can cause a downregulation in Testosterone (by increasing T → E2). Have you had Cortisol checked?

8

Ksman- No lab timing stayed nearly identical. Could my elevated E be one of the reasons my T has dropped? If im injecting EOD (hcg same time) what is the best way to go about arimidex, should I take .25mg with every shot to begin? In the past the smaller the injection quantity the less side effects so I am open to trying this.

Kris-Last time I had my cortisol it was on the high side of normal, but this was also at a super stressful point. I just started university and was working 4 days a week with a girlfriend etc. I feel its come down since then but if anything I need to lower it which also may play a part in my current level.

9

So I had a really good talk with my doc over the phone earlier today about my results and whats next. We decided to start arimidex, switch back to subQ were going to do 40mg Cyp and 200iu hcg EOD with 0.25mg arimidex to start and recheck in a month. She also told me she has had a lot of success with progesterone which I thought was completely a female hormone.

She explained it has a balancing relationship with estrogen when ones high the other is low, when I first met my doc and got a comprehensive test we did progesterone and mine was 3.0 (<100)…May be one of the reasons im converting so much. I looked into it online and there is a lot of good things said about progesterone while on TRT which looks hopeful for me. Once I get an idea of my numbers and how I feel with the AI and more frequent injections I think we will give it a go. We are also going to be taking some natural vitamins/herbs to lower cortisol as mine is higher then desirable.

Should be interesting

10

The more I look into progesterone the more hopeful it looks! Id like to quote a few different sites here:

“Men also need progesterone for good health and full sexual function. It should be the first hormone that men (and women) use to treat any problems caused by a deficiency or imbalance of sex hormones.”

“Progesterone helps to balance and neutralise the powerful effects of excess estrogen in both men and women. Without sufficient progesterone in the body, estrogen becomes harmful and out of control (unopposed estrogen or estrogen dominance).”

“Most of the studies out there suggest progesterone in men has a similar effect to the male hormone testosterone. Like testosterone, progesterone enhances your libido, improves your mood, helps keep your weight down and increases muscle mass, gives you more energy, stronger bones, stronger erections and a whole host of other health benefits. Progesterone also increases levels of testosterone in your body and enhances its effects. At the same time, it reduces estrogen and antagonizes its effects.”

I admit I pulled those all from google, and Im posting them as much for myself to see again but it does seem rather promising and worth a shot…

11

Progesterone is created in the adrenals and is one step before cortisol. Men do not need much progesterone and don’t need it to balance E2. With some low cortisol guys I suggest a small amount of KAL brand [2%] progesterone which you can get at amazon and might be good for GF is she has bad periods and/or PMS. Guys taking some progesterone are really trying to see if it has any positive effect. This is not tried and true. If one has adequate progesterone to support cortisol production in the adrenals, more will not help.

With women, progesterone balances E2. With men, testosterone balances E2, so we do not need much progesterone. In natural guys, increased progesterone levels might be a negative feedback on the HPTA and T levels would decrease.

We know that some will freely convert added progesterone to cortisol and some will not. Some women find that progesterone promotes good sleep. Others get wakeful from cortisol release and need to take progesterone at a different time of day. If you apply at night and sleep is adversely affected, you would know. Such effects might not be obvious during the day.