I’m a 5’ 2", 110 pound, 54 year old woman and former bodybuilding competitor. I am currently on bio identical hormone replacement therapy for menopause. For about a year I’ve been on 2.5 ml of test-cyp - once a week injections. Most of that time I’ve noticed consistent water retention that has never gone away. I feel really good, otherwise, on the TRT - no ups and downs, good energy and results in the gym. Just the awful water retention in the mid section, obliques, and some in my feet. We’ve ruled out causes like estrogen, progesterone, water, and salt. I’ve adjusted all of those things and am also working with a holistic dietitian and a naturopath who specializes in athletes. I have no thyroid but that is also balanced so we’ve ruled that out also as a cause for the water retention.
My naturopath would like me to increase my test dose to 3 ml but I’m afraid to in case that’s the culprit for water retention. Periodically I’ll try some over the counter diuretics but no results. Does anyone know if the other forms of injectable test are any better? I have used other delivery methods (troche and creme) but never got good results in the gym. I love the injectable just not the water retention. I have also been on Sermorilen 3 x per week for about 8 months. Seeing great results from that too but I don’t think it’s known for water retention. Does anyone have any ideas?
What is that in milligrams?
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Sorry, about 80 miligrams…
That’s a lot of testosterone for a woman. Do you know what your lab values are?
It’s no wonder you’re having issues, even 20mg of T cyp per week is on the upper end of the range for most females and may cause masculinizing side effects. It’s considered a steroid dose for females and excess steroid could lower likelihood of pregnancy, it can atrophy and cause thinning of the uterus.
Most females do well to split to smaller, more frequent, doses to avoid larger peaks. Obviously your doctor doesn’t believe in running labs to check levels, if he had he would have noticed insane testosterone levels for a woman. Stupid doctor!
80mg weekly is enough to get me to 600+ Total T, that would be normal for me, not for you. Women are much more sensitive to androgens than men which is why women need less testosterone.
Defy Medical (local and online service) has knowledge in treating women for TRT.
Ok, I rechecked the bottle. I left out an important component. The overall strength is 25 mg (5ml). My dose is .2 and a half ML. So that converts to about 12.5 mg. So I think I’m with appropriate ranges but still having water retention. No other side affects.
So 12.5 mg a week? That sounds appropriate. You still might try multiple shots a week instead of all at once. Try splitting into 2 shots a week, 6.25mg. It’s what men do in similar situations, but usually it’s water retention from estrogen.
Google “Water Retention Caused by Testosterone May Have Nothing to Do with Estradiol”
Yes. 12.5 a week. I did suspect estrogen and, at the time I was on biest, a combination of estrogens and one normally causes water retention. So two weeks ago I was taken off of biest and put on only estradiol, which normally doesn’t cause water retention. Still retaining water. If water retention was due to estrogen, wouldn’t I see a difference by now? Or would it take awhile? I’ll explore the twice a week suggestion for the injection.