TRT for 25yo

Hey there.

So I had a ton of blood work done a couple of weeks ago, as part of a gastric and biopsy procedure I was having done. During a follow up consultation I was given the results of the blood work during which I was told that I had low T levels and to consider replacements therapy. When I asked a bit about my options, she said it may be a life long thing or that perhaps whoever I see could do a short term thing to boost levels back up again. Pretty sure thats not a thing, right? That sounds like it would just shut me down, then leave me hanging. Anyway, before I get into my questions, heres what the result sheet looks like.

Test Results Flag Reference
FREE T4 11.5 7.2 - 16.4 pmol/L
S-TSH 1.87 0.37 - 3.50 mIU/L
THYROID COMMENT
The thyroid results suggest EUTHYROIDISM.
Patients on thyroid replacement therapy.
- the dose is probably adequate.

T-TESTOSTERONE 7.39 9.9-27.8 nmol/L
PSA 0.54 0.01 - 2.50 ug/L

So, my questions:

Does that result really look that bad?

Is a urologist the right person to go to about this?

Online I see that 100-125mg is a typical weekly dose, when they aren't sticking people with once-every-3-months injections that I've been told about. Does 100-125mg per week sound adequate? Naturally, I'll attempt to get a better deal if I can. Thats if I do this at all.

Is HCG an option for testicular atrophy during replacement therapy, or is that reserved for short cycles only?

Just a note on past use - In 2011 I did 10 weeks of test cyp at 500mg a week, followed by a course of nolva and clomid after having let the blood levels diminish.

Any help/advice would be fantastic. Thanks guys.

Oh, and if it helps, my stats are - 6'3", 90-92kgs, around 15% BF.

I've been experiencing symptoms of varying depression, libido, general zest for things, and trouble sleeping for quite some time now.

I used to weigh 130kgs. Total fatty. I don't know if losing 40kgs rapidly can cause a drop is T levels or if its a result of the cycle I did some years back, but there you have it.

My diet is high fat, moderate protein, low carbs (I sleep better on a low carb diet), but for quite some time I was in a deficit in order to lose all that weight, and I yo-yo'd for a while as well which couldn't have been good for me. :oops:

How tall is 6'3" in metric?

193cm, I think.

Doctors are very quick to suggest testosterone injections but hormone replacement therapy should always be kept as a last resort and when every other possibility has been explored. The first thing you must do is investigate your HPTA (hypothalamic pituitary testicular axis) and find the weak link. Once you find the weak link you will know how to proceed to recover. The good news is that there are drugs available that are very effective at any problem you might have and if you know how to use them you have a very good chance of recovery. More good news is your symptoms are normal for someone with low testosterone levels and they will disappear almost immediately once you get your test levels high again.

Hey DQ, your situation sounds a like mine. Have a look here : www.anabolicsteroids.co.za/forum/2-anabo...lts-3-month-post-pct

Will update it. Basically did hcg therapy for 3 months, and in a waiting period to see if my natural HPTA has taken over. If not, TRT seems like the only way forward. I'm 26 at the moment BTW (only recently).

Hey, thanks for the response. I went to a urologist and he sent me back for more tests to determine whether or not its a problem in the brain or the testes, or something along those lines. I suppose thats what you mean by the weak link in the HPTA? So anyway, I'm waiting to hear back from them to make a follow up appointment. The thought of those symptoms being alleviated sounds great, even if it just means better sleep.

Your doctor is testing your brain for GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) and your testes for LH and FSH (Leutinising Hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone). These together make up the part of the HPTA that stimulates testosterone production.

Pyroclasm wrote: Your doctor is testing your brain for GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) and your testes for LH and FSH (Leutinising Hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone). These together make up the part of the HPTA that stimulates testosterone production.

The doc called with the results and says everything is ok, no need for TRT.
Looking at the Free T results, that still doesn't seem great compared to the 739. Does that look right?

T-Testosterone - Result: 21.04 ....... Reference: 9.9 - 27.8 nmol/L
Sex Hormone Bind. Globulin - Result: 51.02 ....... Reference: 14.5 - 48.4 nmol/L
Free Testosterone - Calculated - Result: 341.5 .......... Reference: 174 - 739 pmol/L

I wonder why my total test sunk so low during that previous test.

The results are perfect. All that worries me is that something might have influenced the results cause that is a massive difference. Did you take anything like Clomid or Nolvadex or any supplements before you took the new test?

Apparently diurnal variations are also large. Was one a fasted morning test and the other not?

Either way, I don't think you need to worry mate.

Pyroclasm wrote: The results are perfect.

Oh, fantastic! Thats great news.

Pyroclasm wrote: All that worries me is that something might have influenced the results cause that is a massive difference. Did you take anything like Clomid or Nolvadex or any supplements before you took the new test?

Nope, the only difference between the two tests was the amount of blood they took and the time of the day it was taken.

Furk wrote: Apparently diurnal variations are also large. Was one a fasted morning test and the other not?

Either way, I don't think you need to worry mate.

Yeah this one was fasted and taken at 9AM, the previous one was done at around 4:30PM along with a very long, very expensive list of other blood tests.


Thanks for chipping in guys. Its good to get opinions beyond the doctor's room.