TRT and Testicular Health

Pharma / TRT Testosterone Replacement
1

Hey, so I’ve been on TRT for 3, almost 4 years with great success. I inject 2 x weely (45 units of testosterone cypionate each shot), and 2 x .5 mL of HCG per week. Now, obviously, I can’t get (affordable) HCG any more due to the FDA changing the rules.

So I was perusing the forum here, and realized that nobody is talking about HCG any more. Back when I started, the protocol specified HCG to prevent gonadal atrophy, but nobody seems to worry about that any more. Has HCG been proven unecessary? What are people doing now that we can’t buy HCG? Is everyone just comfortable with mini-nads?

Cheers!
–kravi

2

Testosterone is being introduced from an outside source, it’s super simple, if you want more or less T, adjust the dosage.

Most here are on TRT in isolation. HCG mostly causes additional side effects which is why it’s used for fertility purposes only.

Not everyone has mini-nads on TRT, most see small reduction in tesicular size.

Since I had a large tesicular size naturally, a small reduction isn’t the end of the world.

3

T dosing is measured in mg, not units. So I’ll asume your injecting .45 mL from a 100mg vial which would be 45mg twice weekly.

4

Thanks for the clarification! 45mg it is (I didn’t have access to the bottle when I wrote it at first, so was going from memory).

Does clomid give the same results as HCG (though working through a different mechanism)?

5

Clomid has the worst side effects profile of any other treatment for low-T and nobody in there right mind would recommended it.

Clomid is a female fertility drug and is pure synthetic estrogen and blocks the effects of estrogen at the receptors.

HCG mimics LH and only stimulates half of the testicles, while clomid increases LH by stimulating the pituitary and therefore testosterone, estrogen is increased as well, but the effects are blocked as the synthetic estrogen binds to the receptors.

You are in a bit of a pickle until there is a replacement or workaround for HCG. You can always get HCG from a retail pharmacy, but availability may be an issue.

6

Though some guys like the way they feel with hGC, it really is not necessary except for fertility or testicular atrophy. I don’t have many guys that use it for atrophy, but there are some. Some do not report atrophy, probably because their testicles were not particularly large to begin.

There are pharmacies are no longer making hCG, but it is still available and at a decent price.

7

It is necessary for fertility on HCG. I do not currently use it, and it is outrageously priced.

I used it for 1000 IU thrice per week with my TRT (100 mg per week) to have my kids.

I’ve had “mini-nads” since starting TRT in 2002. HCG did nothing to reverse it. I don’t mind it.

Has testicular atrophy ever affected anyone’s life?

8

I have seen more than one guy who complained of repeatedly pinching or catching a testicle in the inguinal canal. Jams it pretty good. They use hCG to prevent that.

But, yeah, you’re right, there are more that use it for cosmetic reasons than that reason.

1 Like
9

Jokes on you…

My testis were on the smaller side prior to trt regardless so I’ve had this happen before and after

Not sure if my case was primary, secondary or odd mix of both.

Seminal volume is very low… and to my recollection always has been to a degree. However this doesn’t particularly matter to me, if anything it’s a bonus as it equates to lees mess in the advent of nocturnal emissions that happen more often than I’d like them to as I have little to no privacy.

The small testicle fiasco does bother me as it is obvious they are smaller and hang higher than that of other men. It’ll be a dead giveaway something is wrong to most girls who care to examine.

If I could afford to try HCG I’d take it.

10

Right, I’ve seen guys similar to you. You’re not alone, not that it matters.

11

Would clomid NOT work for a case of secondary hypo?

12

By work do you mean getting good lab numbers or symptom relief?

13

I guess either.

If ones pituitary doesn’t function correctly (secondary), i’d think clomid wouldn’t help.

14

If you’re not worried about fertility I don’t see the need for it