Testosterone Replacement Therapy

This is a bit if an old thread, but im new and just now scrolling through, and thought I'd throw my .02 in as i recently started testosterone therapy.

I just turned 40, however in the last year my sex drive and energy levels had dropped signifigently. I went back to a midnight shift on my job, so just sort of blew it off to fully adjust to that lifestyle (sleeping patterns, eating patterns, ect).

I visited my PCP one other time a couple years ago for the same thing. Ran blood tests, then he blew it off. Same results this time around. However this time, unlike last time, I didnt just let it slide. It was putting a real strain on my marriage, and was def taking an emotional toll on my wife. Who could blame her? We were only having once every month or two. It was a hard thing to discuss, I'll be honest. I'm 40, in pretty good shape and fairly muscular with an alpha personality (except to my wife, I always put her first), and I have to have discussions about possible low T levels.

So I contacted a 3rd party company local to where I live in Pittsburgh, PA. And I can't speak highly enough about them. I was given my own contact person who did an amazing job discussion this from every angle. I went and had additional bloodwork drawn to test for things my PCP never did. I then had a zoom meetinh with a doctor who reviewed my results with me, and discussed a plan set up for me. Not only do they work towards raising my T levels to an acceptable range, they also work with long term goals/effects in mind. I have 2 additional perscriptions that came in my kit, one to manage estrogen production (which raises with T production and prevents side effects such as 'man boobs' (I'm not a doctor), as well as managing your current testicular health. Also, i will have blood work done every 4 months as part of the program to check levels and for any additional side effects such as a raised red blood cell count (which can cause the clots/heart attack/ect), which is managed simply by donating blood whixh I do anyway. Its pricy and I have gym friends who can get me it at a fraction of the cost, but with no additional managing perscriptions or anything. I simply put into an HSA account every paycheck to cover it.

I feel great, and while my sex drive is strong, its not beyond where it left off when everything started going downhill.

So, regardless of your age and how uncomfortable of a conversation it can be, if you have concerns, speak up. Sorry for the long post!

 

Curious how the estrogen blocker will work for you. I’ve been on TRT and it doesn’t seem to be working for me. I think I need the estrogen blocker.
Do you know what one your DR put you on?

 

I’ve been on testosterone replacement therapy off and on for 19 years since I was 50 back then the main thing I noticed was difficulty getting an erection and my sex drive had lessened at first I used patches for 4 or 5 years then went to a cream for 4 or 5 years and then injections my testicles never got smaller but they just didn’t produce testosterone or sperm , it’s called Hypogonadism my testosterone was almost zero and with the injections once a week it stays at 568 and normal levels are 300 to 1200 but now I feel horny all the time but no sex partner so masturbation is my only outlet

 

I asked my doc about this but it was just about the time the check engine light came on this year for a bunch of other things, including a couple of minor surgeries. She said to wait until the rest of my health settled down and then we'd talk about it. Sex drive is no issue. Erection hardness and longevity are as well as very low energy. Pills or shots for the erection. She recommended spending a lot less time at work for the energy issue but that likely won't happen. So, we'll see.