I am brand new to T Nation but I have lurked on this site for a while. This is my first post and I would like to get people’s take… especially Ksman if you have the time. Background: I am 34 and have been on test cyp for 15 months. My endo said I should have no need for HCG unless my wife and I decide we want to make a baby. He also said I can pretty much do that any time… also said ditch the arimidex because my E2 is tanked now, so I did that quickly… however…
Before seeing him, I started TRT at an anti aging clinic and the doc there was all about adding HCG. He prescribed me some after I started freaking out about having my balls shrink up close to my body pre-puberty style… I was insecure about that for some reason when I first noticed.
The HCG spiked serum T far over normal range, E2 shot up into the high 40s, and my nipples were sensitive… Was hyper-emotional and certain I would be looking like Bob from Fight Club or having my first period before too long, but I ended up getting Arimidex to get the E2 down. I then decided I didn’t care about the shrunken ballsack issue as much as I cared about avoiding gyno so dropped the HCG. The doc ws cool about experimenting to get to the best levels with the least side effects.
Since getting a endo who takes insurance, I have read that when dialed in, T, HCG, and Arimidex,
can be better in the long term and guys feel better overall with that regimen… Maybe I just freaked out and did not give it long enough? Maybe I should try again? My endocrinologist sees things differently, so I would like to have this conversation with him when I am more well-read and understand all benefits and risks.
Lots of differing professional opinions on this subject… with seemingly logical reasoning to back each of them up.
Can someone link to some good reading material about this and/or share some personal anecdotes?
Thanks in advance for any assistance or advice you can provide.
The HCG spiked serum T far over normal range, E2 shot up into the high 40’s??? What DOSEAGE exactly was you on of HCG and was it twice weekly? 500IU each shot or 1000IU? i can only imagine it increased your testosterone SO high in not so much time because you was on a GIANT dose of HCG?
Could of taken Arimidex on HCG too, which is very powerful A.I to reduce Man Boobs from HCG Gyno? would of stopped it probably. Also how did you feel on HCG apart from the Hormone spike, did you feel mentally better and did it make you more sexual active or not?
I was taking 1,000iu/wk, which the doctor prescribed… upon doing a lot of reading subsequently, I learned that 250 2x/wk is more than enough. I was all over the place mentally… I did not feel better… I was moody and overly emotional about nothing, which is a bit out of character for me. I attribute it to the e2 and now believe that happened only because the dose was too high. At the time, I just assumed the doc knew what he was doing 100% and HCG just did not agree with me. I got on Arimidex to get the e2 down, which worked and knocked out all the issues I was having then… thought processes returned to the norm and breast buds shrunk and disappeared. Still more fat in the side chest area than I would prefer… maybe a small portion is residual gyno, but I have seen much worse.
Upon cessation of HCG and stabilizing e2 around 20, I now believe I should have discontinued Arimidex too, but no one told me that at the time. Had the common sense to get e2 tested again and I was <5. Naturally, I have not taken Anastrozole since… learned a lot by trial and error. I am currently fairly stable on 0.35cc 2x/wk of test cyp 200mg/ml, good levels, low e2 symptoms are no longer present for the most part, but I am still having erection consistency issues. Sometimes things are great and sometimes I am just left wondering what the hell is going on with my endocrine system.
Wondering if a reasonable dose of HCG would be beneficial and if so, what would be the primary benefits over my current T cyp standalone regimen.
250mgs of HCG 2x/wk Should have a small effect on TRT levels with an equally small effect on E2 levels. If your goal is to keep your balls looking like they belong to a post adolescent that should be enough.
The testosterone hcg arimidex protocol you are talking about is the standard with all the testosterone replacement clinics that I have knowledge of. And it has worked wonders with me these last three years. In my case it now takes me a little more TRT a week to achieve the same levels as I did at first, 250mgs twice a week of HCG is enough and my need for arimidex has gone from 1mg a week to .125mg a week. It looks like I am going to drop it all together. Some have their own protocols that are different. But they are the minority. The one thing that is most agreed on is that you need adjust your protocols based on test results and how you feel.
Your endocrinologist sees things differently. In what way?
Do you have full recent test results? If not you need them and if so, post them.
Tell him you want to conceive. Someday you might and it is easier to keep your testicles working than it is to turn them back on after they have done nothing for years.
If you have a fairly low percentage of body fat. I think your E2 is low because your testosterone and free testosterone levels are low average. No you sure as hell do not need arimidex. But with your new dosages you might. Keep an eye on it. Also you should only change one thing at a time. Not sure why your doctor did that. Im guessing he just did not want to need to see you again so soon so he tried to get it prefect in a single shot
