I wonder if you actually read the article.
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I am happy for your friends whos sperm count recovered and successfully achieved a pregnancy with their partners. However, thats just a handful of guys and that might just not be representative for everybody. In the study that I linked a total of 66 men where investigated, and thats only one study. Statistically speaking the higher the number of subjects the better it reflects the entire population. In addition such studies are controled for cofounding factors - its just a different level of evidence.
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If you and your partner are in the 20s it doesnt really matter if your sperm count recovers within 3 months or 18 months - there is plently of time left to make babies. Its different if you and your partner are in the late 30s. Lets say you start TRT at age 35, meet the woman of your life and 3 years down the road you decide to start a family. It makes a hell of a difference if you achieve reasonable fertility within 3 months or within 18 months as the fertility of your soulmate in her late 30s is literally dropping by the month. With posting this article i try to send the message ‘be realistic - it can take longer if you have been on TRT for years and you are in your late 30s - you might not be as lucky as dextermorgans friends so you better start with that hCG sooner than later or your time ticking soulmate will get sad, angry and frustrated’.
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It is very rare, but there are reports of permanent infertility due to steroid abuse. Yes i know its different to TRT, but in the sense that your testis shut down its not. Use it or loose it. And dont forget that after cessation of TRT the sperm count returns eventually, but it might only return to subnormal levels which may requires you to get some help from assissted reproduction (ART like IVF) which are very costly.