Hello everyone! First post here; to briefly introduce myself, I am a 32 year old male, 5’10" 189lbs. I am in good shape. On a novice strength training program and am still making LP after over 5 months on it. I want to take my training and my life in general to the next level and have repeatedly been pointed towards TRT.
I live in Upstate NY, and unfortunately the closest anti-aging clinic is in Brooklyn, NY. I’ve heard some say that physicians who specialize in treating HIV patients are the ones to go to (perhaps because HIV patients are sometimes prescribed HGH?). But in any case, does that mean I’m screwed unless I’m willing to drive 6 hours to Brooklyn, or is there a better way?
An endocrinologist or urologist can absolutely handle TRT. Research them just like you’d do for any other doctor or specialist, but guys have done just fine with those.
Telemedicine (online clinics) are another popular route if you, again, do your homework on the place you’re working with to avoid shady practitioners.
Has your general practitioner already run bloodwork to reveal low T or is it just something you’re curious about? Currently having any symptoms?
By whom? You dont just go on TRT to take it to the next level. Even at 32, and having just started lifting, you have years that you can grow and increase LBM naturally before trying to push your testosterone up (which comes with its own host of problems). Like Chris mentioned above do you have blood work results?
Chris already gave you good advice on the doctors.
Blockquote Has your general practitioner already run bloodwork to reveal low T or is it just something you’re curious about? Currently having any symptoms?
I’ll be honest, it is just something that I’m curious about, and I suspect that my T levels would be in the normal range. However, if I understand correctly this doesn’t mean I can’t still benefit from TRT, right?
Blockquote By whom? You dont just go on TRT to take it to the next level. Even at 32, and having just started lifting, you have years that you can grow and increase LBM naturally before trying to push your testosterone up (which comes with its own host of problems). Like Chris mentioned above do you have blood work results?
I agree with you, sir, but it can’t hurt to give it a try and see what it does for me, right? If I don’t see results I like, or even worse if problems arise from the TRT I can just stop.
No, not correct. Using “TRT” when you have normal Test levels means you’re doing a steroid cycle, which drastically changes the risk:reward in every way - physiologically, legally, etc.
Again, no. That’s not how it works. At all. Get a basic hormone panel done ASAP. That’ll clue you in to what’s going internally and proceed accordingly.
No, not correct. Using “TRT” when you have normal Test levels means you’re doing a steroid cycle, which drastically changes the risk:reward in every way - physiologically, legally, etc.
I thought that you can have test levels in the normal range but, in my example, have levels appropriate for someone that is 62, not 32?
It would help to know your levels… Get a blood test and end the debate
Go to discountlabs (dot) com and search for pre-trt blood test. It’ll have a list of what to test for. Take that to your doc and have him test for those things.
If you were what is considered “normal” in lab range but truly more in line with the average 60 year old then, yes, you could benefit. If you are not suffering symptoms though, and I saw no mention of any, just the “I want to take my training and my life in general to the next level”, that is not what TRT is. To me sounds more like you want to try a cycle that is doctor approved. If you are already healthy, symptom free and have decent numbers taking them a little higher in physiological range will not benefit much, if at all. You would have to take above and beyond what is normal to get results. If you have symptoms that is a different story all together.
I agree though, get labs done. That way if you are symptom free you know where you are and if issues arrive later you have a baseline. If you do have symptoms, then you also know where to go from there.
Making the decision to start TRT without lab work is premature, if your levels are optimal, then TRT may not show benefit and only provides negatives like shutdown down your HPTA.
Maybe your levels are suboptimal, maybe not, but if SHBG is on the higher end and FT midrange or lower, you may show benefit on TRT, but if symptoms are not present then I would focus on diet and training because all the testosterone in the world will do nothing if diet and training are inadequate.
Discount Labs is the place to go, they have a men’s hormone panel checking all the relevant blood biomarkers.
You want the Testosterone, Free, Equilibrium Ultrafiltration With Total Testosterone, LC/MS- No Upper Limit, the Equilibrium Ultrafiltration is the gold standard for testing TT and FT levels. If sex drive and erectile strength is fine skip prolactin testing.
Tested I recommend if you really want detailed info.