Been on TRT for a little over three months. Was on HCG since day one, changing doses around trying to find the right one. The thing is, and I now realize how bone-headed this was, I was using sodium chloride to reconstitute the HCG. So roughly 3-4 weeks of it I was injecting water. Testicles have definitely shrunk over this time (weird fluctuations in testicle size over the past 3 months, as expected).
Now, I’m concerned that I’ve screwed my balls over. I’ve gotten bac water and will be using that going forward. However, I wonder if I’ve done lasting damage to my testicles and they won’t bounce back. Are my concerns valid?
I wouldn’t say it’s not an understandable concern. However, you’ll be fine with hCG and even if you stopped TRT and did nothing, you would regain your previous levels.
IMO no. Many of us started TRT mono and ran that for years. Everyone I have ever talked to that started HCG (800-1500iu/wk) reported their ball returning to their natural position and they gained some size but it was not much. Remember HCG only simulates LH for your interstitial cells of Leydig. It does nothing for FSH which controls your Sertoli cells.
reference:
What is the function of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells?
A Sertoli cell (a kind of sustentacular cell) is a “nurse” cell of the testicles that is part of a seminiferous tubule and helps in the process of spermatogenesis, the production of sperm. It is activated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted by the adenohypophysis, and has FSH receptor on its membranes.
In other words naddies will always have bigger balls, haha
That’s reassuring! Just need to be patient with it for now, I suppose (and stick with the bac water lol). Would you recommend starting with a higher weekly dosage for this first week and then scaling back into the normal dosage? For example: 1500 iu this week, then 1000iu/wk going forward
My Doc stared me on 800iu/wk and in 5 weeks my balls were swinging normal again. They were pulled tight up against my body and some nights I would get a sharp stabbing pain every now and them. I never really noticed my ball size changing but to be honest I never really measured them. I ask to go up to see if there was any more benefits so he let me try 1500. I saw no difference in 3 months so I went back to 800 and have been there for the last 2 years.
I have been on 1000iu hcg since Sept 11 or so. I just stopped this week as I was becoming really depressed for some reason. I suspect its a weird reaction from the HCG. I didn’t notice anything positive from it.
I still have 2 unused 5000iu vials, so I may try it again. Just waiting to see if the depression clears from stopping hcg.