Free and total T came back clinically low on several tests (b/t 250-300 total, free was 7 or 8)
Doc put me on TRT before ruling out primary or secondary hypogonadism
Was on 100mg test cypionate for about 2 years
Mostly felt great (inc. libido, self-esteem, confidence, energy, all but cured my little bouts of depression and anxiety)
Only side effects were that I was noticeably more impatient and angrier than before (this, I think, was either me not being used to having all this energy, and something I needed to learn to control, or TRT made me deficient in DHEA and pregnenolone)
Decided to hop off so I could rule out primary or secondary, hence the above lab results
Questions:
If I’m secondary, what’s the next step, rule out a pituitary tumor?
Given that my DHEA sulfate appears to be borderline low-normal, is it likely that TRT would make me deficient in DHEA, and therefore be responsible for some of the side effects I stated in my backstory?
Should I get back on TRT, or try HCG monotherapy first?
Trying hcg will certainly confirm if you are secondary.
HCG should increase your t nicely if not you are primary.
How old r u?
Did they check prolactin?
If you were deficienct in t and then went to normal levels that would make you more of a man in a sense. Maybe a bit more aggressive.
With hypogonadism always good to MRI pituitary and check testes via ultrasound.
Dhea was 194 I assume. Dhea I believe is made by adrenals. You can check cortisol levels to rule out adrenal fatigue or issues. Adequate cholesterol levels should keep your dhea in line.
I personally am fine with keeping dhea in normal range even if low normal. And my Dr said same thing. If goes low then I may supp with some low dose dhea.
Low testosterone can make men docile, men are supposed to be appropriately aggressive. TRT took my iron and vitamin D deficiency to the extreme, 6 months after starting TRT the rug got pulled out from underneath me.
There are probably other hormones or minerals out of balance.
If he said he doesnt prescribe it he’s not going to based on any facts you give him. He us following his medical rule book and hcg is off label I believe. You will just piss him off asking a 2nd or 3rd time. You are better of aquiring it on your own online or using a Dr that prescribes it as part of their normal protocol.
The aggression was more likely E2 related. It went up with the test. It is way more likely to cause that than testosterone in spite of the common viewpoint regarding aggression and men.