Smoking is listed already, but I’m wondering if nicotine (by itself) should be included. The below cites are admittedly not from in vivo human studies, but they still seem to caution against things like e-cigs, smokeless tobacco, etc. I assume this also indicates that hcg response could be compromised, but please chime in if I’m off on that.
“We conclude that nicotine and cotinine competitively inhibit multiple steps in testosterone biosynthesis.” Nicotine and cotinine inhibit rat testis androgen biosynthesis in vitro, Yeh J1, Barbieri RL, Friedman AJ, J Steroid Biochem. 1989
“The objectives of this study were to determine if nicotine and cotinine, two alkaloid products of cigarettes, affect luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated steroidogenesis in isolated adult mouse Leydig cells. …These results suggest that nicotine and cotinine either affect intracellular calcium content or block the effects of calcium on steroidogenesis in mouse Leydig cells” Nicotine and cotinine inhibit steroidogenesis in mouse Leydig cells, TR Patterson, JD Stringham, AW Meikle - Life sciences, 1990
There was an article in the Wall Street Journal today about the FDA taking a harder look at TRT. I post it here because a big issue appears to be that many who have been prescribed TRT apparently had no baseline lab results showing low T in the first place. This is why threads like this are so important. Even after a low T lab result, you want make damn sure it isn’t attributable to something simple you can fix.
The downside for legitimate low-T suffers sounds like it could be that we’ll be having a harder time getting T prescribed and getting it covered by insurance. In any event, don’t get on TRT without checking the boxes first. It’ll save you a lot of headache if you could have avoided going on (it’s really a “once your on, it ain’t easy going off” type of med), and it may help you deal with any tighter restrictions we face in the future.
The evidence driving this is lacking because the FDA is seeking evidence [either way] that does not yet exist.
And if they find problems, the conclusions are still meaningless if the complete protocols and other patient health records are not at hand. For instance, there might be a pattern of issues where E2 is not managed VS general population or those who use an AI. Also infrequent T injections VS frequent. So the prospects of anything like this been done right are remote.
I know injury to the testicles can cause issues with testosterone production, so here’s my question. About three years ago I developed a slipped disc in my back in the L4 and L5 vertebrae. This area of the spine is closely related to the reproductive organs. During the approximate 6-8 months I had the slipped disc, I had a constant pain in my left testicle. The area of the slipped disc was the left side of my spine. Does anyone have any information pertaining to this? Would a slipped disc causing nut pain be enough to cause my low test? Any info is appreciated.
In theory, what you suggest might be possible. If your pre-TRT LH/FSH indicated that you had primary hypogonadism, that lends support to your premise. If you have secondary hypogonadism, your lower spine can’t be a cause of that. Do you have a hernia?
No hernia, KSman. Just the slipped disc and nut/leg pain that followed. I’ve racked my brain trying to establish a cause for my condition, but this is the best I can come up with so far. Also, in high school, it was considered “fun” to sack tap others when they weren’t looking. I doubt that is the cause though, as I only started developing the symptoms around 30.
[quote]arrowheadcase wrote:
I know injury to the testicles can cause issues with testosterone production, so here’s my question. About three years ago I developed a slipped disc in my back in the L4 and L5 vertebrae. This area of the spine is closely related to the reproductive organs. During the approximate 6-8 months I had the slipped disc, I had a constant pain in my left testicle. The area of the slipped disc was the left side of my spine. Does anyone have any information pertaining to this? Would a slipped disc causing nut pain be enough to cause my low test? Any info is appreciated.
So glad I found this community.[/quote]
This might be sciatica:
In short, pressing the nerve in the spine causes feeling of pain in another parts of the body, usually legs, buttocks, etc. I head lower back pain associated with pain in the pelvis, including the testes.
I’d say it’s more likely that low T causes back issues than vice versa. Low T results in loosing the muscle that supports the spine and this causes back problems.
Dont know if mentioned before,but doing nothing in the gym or excersise wise… Once I had a t level of 474,which imo is low at 24. Well ,a few years later,i was on a cut,low cal,virtually no carb,high fat.Worked out hiit,took creatine and of course my multis, went to a doc. Not only was I insulin sensitive,(im assuming to the duration of the low carb diet,) my t-levels were at 714>i cant recall the free t levels right now,but it was up there.
I also abstain from teflon pans,plastics,fast food, and anything else not natural or good for the body. Now im eating a ton,gaining weight.Have not got hormones checked,but will come feb.
Is it possible that an extremely stressful/ traumatic childhood/ constant traumatic events, can cause hormonal imbalances? Both my Uro and psychiatrist said that as a child grows, if under a lot of mental sress, cause make the body not develop correctly.
(T.M.I WARNING)
I ask because even since I was a teenager I never had morning wood, clear semen, small testies etc…
I have seen stress mess up adult males. Development could be affected. I don’t thing that I could find any hard data specifically linked to sexual development. Blows to the head can damage the pituitary at any age.
[quote]KSman wrote:
I have seen stress mess up adult males. Development could be affected. I don’t thing that I could find any hard data specifically linked to sexual development. Blows to the head can damage the pituitary at any age.[/quote]
At 22 I experienced 2 very serious near death experiences that My brain literally shut out until 2014. Since 23, that’s when I started to really notice my body mass, fat cells, energy levels, mood swings etc etc change drastically.
I was sitting down one day and LITERALLY the traumatic events just… started coming back to me as if it had just happened… Weird how the mind acts sometimes.
Take this to your own thread. - please
Sorry to hear about your painful deja view. Maybe this is the time to project the horror and blame back to the source and see what healing you can have focusing on doing what you can mentally and medically for your self. A difficult situation for sure.
I get the message that physical and emotional trauma may have lead to many problems for you, including hormone and sexual health.
We also have war VETs that are severely affected and we have had their case threads here.
We have not focused on these specific aspects in this thread before.
It is good that we have these problems referenced now as concerns.
Meanwhile, I present this: Google Scholar
And I am too much of a coward to read these things. My heart goes out to you!