Struggling with Libido on TRT

Hey, just joined here trying to learn more and wanted to throw out a question and see if anyone had advice.

Started trt on 150mg/wk test-c split twice a week about 6 months ago. After about 3 months labs came back at 1250TT (240-950), 362FT (47-244), SHBG 25 (13.3-89.5), and E2 54 (0-56).

I started having some ED issues a couple months in that cialis fixed, but wanted to resolve the issue. I was concerned about E2 being high because I read way too much online about E2 causing issues at my level. I dropped to 120mg split into twice a week and my E2 dropped to 51 a month later. About this time the cialis wasn’t working as much, and my libido started dropping too. I just lost all interest in sex. I panicked and started taking .25mg anastrozole with each test dose to get me working again. I’m in the gym a lot and have a lot of muscle but I’m still sitting at 22% BF (down from about 30%). I figured since I was fat I was aromatizing more than most people and needed the AI. Seemed to help some at first but libido started fading again. It seemed like I felt the best right before my next test injection. Follow up labs after dropping to 120mg and adding AI had everything about the same but E2 dropped to 27. Unfortunately I didn’t really feel a lot better. I started feeling worse with my overall mood too. To make things more complicated I started on hcg at 1000iu/week for mostly cosmetic reasons, but read that keeping natural function of my own system could be better for overall health. I told the Doc my wife misses my big balls so they set me up on novarel. Doc was a chick by the way so that was a fun conversation.

Most of what I’ve read online from others with more experience was with my high free test and lower SHBG I should be dropping my dose to help keep my E2 where my body is happier. Part of my problem is I’m chasing gains in the gym and losing fat. It’s made me reluctant to drop test dosage. Now I’m reading that the small difference in test won’t make a huge difference in the gym unless I’m doing an actual cycle.

So…as I’m typing this it sounds even more retarded but I’ve been in a panic. Over the last 3 weeks I’ve cut out the AI and dropped to 100mg a week for Test, and staying on the hcg. I’m hoping this is a more sensible approach and going to try to ride it out a couple months, get new labs, and see how I feel. I was feeling pretty off this morning and took .25mg anastrozole and within 3 hours or so my mood picked way up. Way more productive at work and feel like I could take life by the hair and skull fuck it. I obviously don’t really know where to go from here now.

I get I’ve been all over the place on this and totally recognize I need to settle into a protocol and give myself time to stabilize. I’m planning on doing that at my current 100mg a week, no AI, and 1000iu hcg a week. My hope is after a couple months the E2 issue will work itself out. I just figured I’d reach out and see if that would be going in the right direction finally or if I’m way off. I know that’s a lot of info but wanted to throw out as much as I could in case it made a difference.

If it matters I’m 47. Diet is mostly high protein with a few shit meals here and there. Lift pretty heavy and cardio 3 times a week.

This is the problem. There is no way to help you because of this.

Your T levels are really high considering you pin 2x a week you don’t have much of a trough. My first pick would have been simply lowering your dose. High E2 isn’t necessarily bad especially in the presence of High T which you have.

Make a change - Wait 6-8 weeks.
Make another change - Wait another 6-8 weeks.

Your body needs a lot of time to adjust to any new dose. If you keep changing dose + AI you’ll never know what’s working for you.

Stick with 100mg per week and then reassess later on.

Low SHBG and struggling with TRT seem to go hand in hand. Best of luck bud

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Thanks. I really appreciate the replies. I guess I need to just accept that I need to ride this out a while with a reasonable protocol and see how I feel.

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I started at 120 mg weekly about 7 months ago. Split twice weekly (60 mg/60mg). Test cyp. My labs at 10 weeks were even higher than yours on TT/FT.

I, understandably, felt great. I’d fight and fuck all day long at age 43 was how I felt.

But, H&H jumped up a bit, estrogen was around 64. Provider felt it was best to drop to 100mg weekly, which I have now done since. I feel good, mostly like my mid-30’s vs early 20’s at the 120mg. Sex drive is ok but not “line em up!” type libido at 120mg.

That’s very subjective but I can only use my impressions of myself. Other biomarkers are beautiful, including my liver despite my fondness for the drink. In my youth.

However, miss the measly 120mg. Because it’s how I felt I “should feel” on the Big T!!! Right?! Veins should be bulging, dick like a railroad tie, Hulk level strength, etc.

Ok. I’m being hyperbolic deliberately because even though I knew thats not how it will be or should be, but there’s always a part of me that WANTS that feeling. And I got a taste. I’m a hyper-responder to anything remotely anabolic even creatine so that bit of extra T had my dopamine (and aggressive, overly blunt tendencies) zipping.

I’ve competed in wrestling, Olympic lifting (before that Crossfit thing came around), and powerlifting for close to 20 years total.

I remember being a (subjective) stud puppy, 24 year old with naturally high test and at my most muscular, strongest. I felt powerful all around. It was great.

I’ll never be that again even with all the special sauce. BUT, that thought still tickles at me…just get some UGL test and work around my provider. Just a nibble. Nothing huge. “Just one cycle”. Right? Right?!

That’s the next question and I suppose you, all of us really, just need to own our decision then move forward. If any of us is just chasing that little bit, hey, fucking cool. But accept that and be prepared for consequences. I would fucking love to be at that levels but psychiatrist and biological indicators say not the best idea.

That wasn’t meant to be a lecture. And I’m not saying the above is implied towards you. I was speaking in the broad context.

I guess what I’m going for is what has already been said more succinctly by smarter, more experienced folks here: go low and slow. For now. Patience.

I’m sorry this is happening but it will improve. I road that wave for almost the full 8 weeks after my 1st dosage change. It improves.

Totally didn’t take that as a lecture and hit pretty close to home. The shitty part of this is I started trt chasing my youth. My T was low around 350 or so but symptoms were more just feeling old and not in the fight anymore. Getting back into the gym after 10 years and my joints and tendons hurt more than my muscles. I wanted to improve recovery and snap back into shape like I did in my 20s. First month on T and I felt like I wanted to grab life by the hair and skull fuck it. That’s a hard feeling to not keep chasing

I really struggled with the “just one cycle” mentality to jump start me but I know it wouldn’t end. I’d see results and keep going. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, just bad for someone pushing 50. I’m running circles around workout buddies that are 15 years younger than me as it is. Just makes me want to take it a step further. Trt was kind of the compromise for me.

As fun as it is to indulge in self destructive behavior for temporary gain I should probably focus more on long term well-being. Drop my dose to 100mg and wait it out.

I’m glad I found this place and I really appreciate the support. Every bit of me wants to run a couple cycles and see what I’m really capable right now but I know the best thing going forward is to back down on the dose and just try to feel good and enjoy life. When my hormones have fired right on trt I’ve felt amazing. Attitude towards life couldn’t be better and the wife couldn’t walk right. It was just short lived and I’ve jacked around with everything I’m taking to get that feeling back. Hopefully things fall in line in a couple months.

Thanks again for the responses. If anything it’s encouraging to know I’m not the only one fighting to get this right.

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