[quote]KSman wrote:
WE NEED A STRONGER STATEMENT HERE.
For really low levels of T, these “natural methods” will simply be ineffective as well as having a horrible cost:benefit ratio.
There are no negative side effects to TRT when done properly. AI keeps E down which is a positive change for the prostate. E is the biggest driver of BPH. Lower E also improves mood, clarity of thought and avoids any possibility of gyno. Lowering E can improve urine flow for many who have the typical age related prostate changes [which were probably cause by increased E and E:T ratios].
HCG maintains the function and health of the testes, as well as fertility and sexual self image. Maintaining the the testes also maintains the principle source of pregnenolone in males, which is important for mental health as the brain uses pregnenolone to produce important [non systemic] neural steroids.
TRT improves insulin sensitivity and can eliminate the need for insulin drugs or insulin for some. That has huge effects on QOL and life expectancy.
TRT improves endothelial function which has profound QOL and life expectancy effects for the brain, arteries, kidneys and liver; things that are greatly threatened by “hardening/scarring of the arteries” - diminished blood circulation. Some ED problems are from damage to blood vessels in the penis.
Where there are symptoms of problems from increased E2 levels or atrophy of the testes, this is a side effect of a doctor that simply has no idea of what he/she is doing. They are simply doing things wrong and have not learned or refuse to learn.
The challenge is finding the right doctor. We need to attribute side effects to doctors, not TRT/HRT.
Proper TRT/HRT is increasing T and keeping E in balance. Increasing T leads to very little LH and hCG is used in place of LH as part of hormone restoration. T, E and hCG [in place of LH] -all need to be managed, like three legs of a tripod.
Some will suffer more hair loss, but for those, they are programed for that in response to normal levels of DHT. When T is restored, DHT is also restored. Note that E has more negative effects on the prostate than DHT or T. Taking anti DHT drugs can cause profound harm for few. We see this reported here, but doctors and drug companies will not disclose any of that.
TRT done right as T+hCG+AI really does not have any negative side effects.
The side effects of doing nothing about otherwise age driven decreases in T and increases in E are loss of insulin sensitivity or frank diabetes, arterial disease, loss of QOL, disability, heart attacks, ED, loss of libido, stokes, mental decline, apathy/passiveness, loss of a sex life, muscle wasting, fat gain, loss of a sense of well-being.
Many things typically attributed to age are simply driven by correctable hormone changes. These can be substantially corrected or avoided.
It is hard to get the full picture out when the web and media do not. Very few will ever understand or even know that there are such things to be understood. Ignorance and apathy will prevail.
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Thanks so much for the information you provide. It is extremely helpful. To be honest until I found this site I thought I was the only one dealing with these issues. I didn’t realize other people were going through the samethings I’m feeling and seeing.