Avoid gel.
Agree with the above as gels just aren’t that strong (compounded creams are a different story). See what the doc says but request injections, specifically self-injections so you can manage your own care. I tried the Androgel (if that is the gel he is considering) and it didn’t have near the same strength as injections. I had a friend who liked Androgel initially but he had super low testosterone for like 10 years before finally getting treatment (he was early-40’s before starting on Androgel), so he would likely would have felt better on anything. He eventually switched to injections as well. Just a guess here, but I think many docs prescribe gels to older men as it takes so little of a testosterone bump to make them feel better and avoids the hassle of injections.
Remember when you start treatment, you may (or may not) have a “honeymoon” period where your body is making its own testosterone while you are also injecting. You need 6-8 weeks at least before evaluating your protocol as your own natural testosterone production will shutdown over that time. Your doc will likely request bloodwork at that time and you can go from there. Just my 2 cents but I would start with straight testosterone injections only so you are only dialing in one medication.
Well after ten weeks of gel I got my blood tested and these are the test my urologist ordered COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT, HEPATIC FUNCTION PANEL. I confused as why he didn’t order test to see where my testosterone etc were at. I’m waiting for a call back but pretty annoyed at maybe having to go again.
How do you feel? Any improvements?
There was for sure a honeymoon phase but I do feel better overall. I’m also sure I could feel better. I imagine there’s guys in their 40s on here that have it dialed in that feel better than me at 34. Gotta wait to hear back.
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Just got my test back and im about 400 testosterone. I got the results on the phone so I don’t have any other results yet until it posted online. I got an appointment with an endo instead of my urologist and it’s my first time seeing her. I would like to see those numbers higher though in sure she’ll say its fine or unhealthy to go higher dose. I’m just looking for help with what to say to her or what is normal levels for a 34 year old. Thanks.
I tried the Empower T cream which is some of the strongest available, testosterone levels dropped to 83 ng/dL just barely below my naturally low levels of 91 ng/dL.
Go for the T injections.
I would do injections if allowed. I was told to try gel and tha maybe injections. I think my urologist was checking with the endo and she seemed reluctant to do injections but I haven’t seen her in person. Today I am.
What total t is normal for a 34 year old on average?
Google says about 600 so I would want to be around that. I know how you feel isn’t directly related to total test but I need numbers to get my point across if I get push back.
The average is 679 ng/dL, but throw in disease and endocrine disrupting chemicals and see it drop lower.
This urologist reeks of inexperience and it doesn’t sound like she is the best choice to manage your TRT, if she was knowledgeable and experienced in TRT she would be pushing for injections because it’s the optimal choice and not postpone treatment while requesting guidance from an endo.
There TRT guru’s don’t bother with gels and creams anymore due to too many treatment failures, injections are guaranteed to get your levels into the therapeutic ranges. Gels and creams do have there place, when injections fail to provide good results, however these cases are not typical.
Thought I would update this post. I know alot of people told me not to use my endo/hospital. Well I’m now on injections once a week and it’s totally covered by my insurance plus my doctor is very local to me. So hopefully this helps people be patient if their body allows it.