If you think about it… the majority of men are taking once weekly injections… we just never hear about it because they feel great and are not on these forums looking for symptom relief. I wonder if the people who can’t handle higher dosages are just a minority. From most labs I have seen, 50 mg twice weekly only gets most to around 600ng/dl… with my TT to Free T ratio, I just don’t think that is enough. My next injection is sunday… should I start 75mg twice weekly or do you think 60mg is a more reasonable increase? Thanks for your input.
Exactly, 100% correct. Anyone doubting such should hang out at a gym, doesn’t even have to be a real gym these days, could be a health club with a bunch of machines and shiny stuff with mirrors, and hang out, get to know the regulars, and talk to the meatheads on testosterone. See what they tell you.
This is also correct, maybe not 100% of the time, but over 90%.
From the dozens of labs, I have to agree… my pre TRT total T level was 382 compared to a Free T of 5ng/dl… at 600ng/dl TT I would barely be at midrange Free T…
As a side note: My dad takes 200 mg weekly, he is 1100 TT and 280 Free T. Once injection a week. No complaints from him
I’ve already said 75mg. I’m not patient however.
Sexual wise, how are you with your E2 at 50? I think KSMAN scared a lot of people into thinking a E2 higher than 22 has detrimental effects. I think E2 matters most in relation to T levels. A E2 of 50 with TT of 900 is fine however a E2 of 50 in the presence of a 400 TT might cause symptoms.
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Fine. Always have been, even back in the 70s and 80s when using AAS for PEDs and taking up to 800mg test weekly. Who knows what E2 was then?
Yes, that is the prevailing thought of guys like Neal Rouzier and the hundreds, or thousands, of doctors he has trained.
I think so many just worry and worry and that is why they never dial in on a protocol. Maybe the majority of us including myself are overthinkers.
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When I did 50 mg twice weekly this got my TT to 697, FT 29.6 (6.8-21.5), your SHBG wasn’t tested but I guessing is some around midrange. I would be surprised if your levels are low, but every now and again I see some needing a lot more to get testosterone elevated.
The itchy nipple is a transient effect that a lot of men experience only briefly. I would wait for labs before doing anything because it would be a shame to see good levels and changing things could upset the balance your body is trying to achieve.
Also remember you may actually have good levels and you are waiting for your body to adapt to these higher hormone levels. TRT is not like drugs where the effect is instantaneous, it takes time to repair tissue and feeling good comes later.
SHBG is 30 pre TRT.
You can ascertain SHBG levels by looking at the Total T to Free T ratios, that’s how I arrived at midrange SHBG levels. This basically tells me how your SHBG binds androgens. There was this one guy who had SHBG in the low 30’s and his Free T was very low as if his SHBG was double the value, this tells me his SHBG binds androgen very strongly.
Look at my labs, my total was 382ng/dl and free t was 5 ng/dl… This would mean my SHBG binds strongly correct? If you double the numbers… I would need closer to 1000ng/dl to reach close to 20ng/dl free T. Very similar to the situation you posted above. Due to my SHBG binding more strongly would you still be suprised to see my Free T lower on my current protocol?
I’m going based off 54 (46-224) lab value, but HPTA sensitivity is another factor in how much testosterone you’ll require. I don’t think your SHBG binds too strongly, only moderately so.
54pg/ml on a scale of (46-224) is low low. Most reference ranges in PG/ML cut off at 70 pg/ml. My Free T levels are 1.5% free
I think you are right. Just go on TRT and enjoy the benefits.
Check this one out, guy takes 200mg once a week. Labs were drawn at mid week. I’d guess maybe 1200-1400 and 60-70 E2 at trough? Feels great. 45y/o divorced, new girlfriend now………………
You cannot compare ranges with other lab companies, you are confined to the ranges that your lab company uses. For instance Labcorp ranges are 6.8-21.5 pg/mL, 54 pg/mL would put you well over the top of the ranges and this is why you can’t compare, welcome to a world with no standards.
Labcorp is referring to ng/dl, it is thought to be typo from my reading about the subject.
Well today is by far the worst day… Terrible mood, anxious, no libido, no motivation to do anything. I’ve noticed over the past couple of days this getting gradually worse. Today is 2 days after my last injection of 50mg. I have to say today takes my symptoms to a whole new extreme… Everything has slowly been going down hill since about the start of the 3rd week of TRT (most likely when my own production quit). My injection is due tomorrow but I am half tempted to inject 75mg when I get home under the assumption that my current dosage is too low. I still can’t believe my labs are not back yet
For all we know levels are too high.
I know, but if that was the case then why did I feel so much better when I had both exogenous and endogenous levels? Levels then were presumably much higher. I’m just extremely irritated that my doctor seems to have no sense of urgency here in providing me with my lab results.
I meant estrogen levels could be too high, sorry for the confusion.