Edited: 9/26/2015 as per advice for new guys sticky.
Age 32
Height 5’10"
Weight 205lbs
Waist 36"
Hair growth: Average hair growth on arms and legs not coarse or thick, light hair growth on chest and abdomen, no back hair. Can grow facial hair but not thick or dense.
Hairline is receding on the corners, have same hairline as father and both grandfather’s.
Body fat distribution: I mostly carry fat around my midsection this began in my mid 20’s, love handles are the first to come and the last to go when dieting down. Arms and legs stay fairly muscular looking no matter my bf%
Health conditions: Seasonal allergies, chronic sinusitis. Use claritin, fluctonosal nasel steroid, and augmentin or amoxicillin if alergies turn into a sinus infection. Never used any hair loss drugs, prohormones, or AAS drugs.
Initial labs drawn at 1730 Date 9-11-2015 ran by lab corp
Total testosterone 82 ng/dl (348-1197) Low
Estradiol 11.0 pg/ml (7.6-42.6)
PSA 0.2 ng/ml (0.0-4.0)
Hemoglobin 14.8 g/dl (12.6-17.7)
Prolactin 9.8 ng/mL (4.0-15.2)
FSH 3.5 mIU/mL (1.5-12.4)
These were my initial findings. Leading up to the decision to have my levels checked I was showing some symptoms of hypogonadism low libido, weak erections, fear of losing erections, hit or miss waking erections, no spontaneous erections, weight gain, fatigue. These symptoms seemed to manifest rather gradually from my mid 20’s till now. Not sure whether or not it could be related, from adolescence until 31 I’ve had very regular nocturnal emissions (1-2 times a week) regardless of sexual activity, since I’ve began training hard again these have ceased which is completely fine by me but is outside of my “normal”.
Diet and nutrition: At the beginning of 2015 I weighed 256 lbs, at which point I decided to get back into competition shape as a new years resolution. I’ve been steadily losing 1-2 lbs/week with carb cycling and weight training, I’ve intentionally kept the fat loss slow and steady in an attempt to retain as much muscle as possible, I still incorporate enough carbohydrates to keep up my workout intensity and still get a pump. Currently my average calorie intake is 2370/day with ratios of 50% protein, 30% carbs, and 20% fat. As stated above I’m now at 205 lbs and roughly 10% body fat (according to the calipers) Throughout the diet process I’ve tried to only keep the calorie deficit around 200 below my BMR. Back in 2009 when I decided to enter a natural bodybuilding contest, I began the process weighing 254 lbs on 2/1/2009 and by 5/15/2009 I was down to 184 lbs. I started with an Atkins style diet and dropped 33 lbs in the first month. Looking back this may have started the ball rolling for hormone problems.
Training: I began weight training when I was 15 and trained very hard until I was 19. I then got married and work took priority over training. A few years later I found a new job that allowed for regular training and picked back up on training at age 26. I competed twice in 2009 and kept training hard until almost 2011 when it became a strain on my family and marriage. I trained intermittently between 2011 and 2015. I now train an average of 5 days a week from 1-1.5 hours each day, I train each body part once a week and sometimes twice for whichever lagging body part I feel needs the emphasis. I go to failure or beyond on the last set of nearly every exercise.
My aching balls: I was diagnosed with a varicocell on my left testicle at around 11-12 years old, doctor checked it out said it was common and not to worry, it aches from time to time. I’ve never had any testicular trauma. I do get a dull ache in my testicles and pelvis with a fever. (KSman I’m particularly interested in the correlation between this symtom and low testosterone)
This is the first time I’ve ever had testosterone levels checked, my intention was to establish a baseline for future testosterone levels, from my labs it looks like the future is here. I thought I would have been on the low side of normal but not 82! At this time it appears that I will be going on testosterone.
I went into my PCP on 9-17-2015 for an annual physical, the prior test was done at an “anti aging clinic”. I showed him my first test and discussed TRT, at that point I brought up the use of hCG and anastozole in conjunction with testosterone cypionate, he didn’t balk at the idea, said the hCG “made sense” but said he would look into it. He tells me to do two more testosterone level checks before he will prescribe the testosterone.
The second test was pulled at 1100 on 9-17-2015 and was 163 ng/dl. The Dr. personally called my wife with my testosterone number, and made mention that all he could find about hCG was it’s use in fertility treatment not specifically TRT. I get the feeling he will work with me if I could get him some more information on the subject. I’ve done some digging but haven’t found any “clinical trials” per say on the subject. If you guys have any good links or reading material for me to share with the doctor I would really appreciate it.
I’m going for my third draw on Monday 9-21-2015 early morning and fasting, will set up an appointment for Tuesday or Wednesday to discuss the protocol further. It looks like the testosterone should be no problem, should I just take it one step at a time with him, with the stipulation that we treat unacceptable estradiol levels and testicular atrophy should it occur? Or just source my own hCG and anastrozole and self regulate in conjunction with the prescribed testosterone?
Thanks for any advice, couldn’t have imagined I’d be going down this road at 32 years old but looks like I am.