Should I give up on trt and try to return back to my natural levels? If so, is there a best way to go about doing this?
Just a bit of background - I have lost 40 lbs of weight since the end of 2017 in hopes of boosting my erections and sex drive. I lost the weight entirely through intermittent fasting (no food each day until after 6 pm). The fasting made me too weak for exercise, so I lost a bit of muscle too. I drink about 1 or 2 beers each week. I smoke medically prescribed marijuana for anxiety in moderation (about 1 gram a week or less).
I started trt a couple months ago in hopes of improving my energy and sex drive. Before starting, my wife and I usually had sex twice a day on average or 10 to 20 times each week. Before trt, I could maintain an erection for 45 minutes or so before it would soften or I would have to orgasm. After a couple months of trt and hcg, I can only have sex a couple times a week if I take 100 mg of sildenafil. My erections have gotten softer and softer and I am finishing quicker and quicker with each week that passes. I used to masturbate and look at porn a bit, but I haven’t done that at all in months. My wife is mad at me for getting into trt to begin with, and we’re both worried that going natural might not be an option anymore.
I go to a men’s health clinic for weekly injections of 200 mg of testosterone cypionate, and I use .50 ml of hcg twice a week at home. My first dose of hcg started on 12/17/19. I took the hcg to begin with in hopes it would increase my sex drive since the trt was killing it. I started taking 1 mg of Anastazole after my e2 came back a little high.
I took 1 mg Anastazole on 1/13/20, 1/16/20, 1/21/20, and 1/23/20. Since taking those, my sex drive has come to a screaming halt. My penis feels smaller and numb. From 2014 to the beginning of 2020, I cried exactly one time (while looking at my grandmother in her casket). In the last week, I’ve cried 5 times while feeling sorry for myself (not like me at all).
I have 3 sets of labs, and got blood drawn today for another one -
11/5/19
Initial labs
Age: 32
Height: 6’2
Weight: 170 lbs
Symptoms: Tired, no gains from exercise, grumpy, less interest in sex than before, occasional problems with obtaining and sustaining erections, occasional use of viagra since 2015.
Total Testosterone: 455
Calculated Free T: 6.46 ng/dL
Estradiol: 13.3 pg/mL
Weekly treatment of 200 mg of testosterone cypionate began on 11/12/19.
12/17/19
Weight: 176 lbs
Symptoms: Very low sex drive and more trouble obtaining and sustaining erections, but good overall energy and mood.
Total Testosterone: 471
Free Testosterone: 8.89
Estradiol: 14.5
Biweekly treatment of .50 ml of hcg began on 12/17/19.
1/6/20
Weight: 182 lbs
Symptoms: Even lower sex drive, even softer erections, but amazing energy and focus. Very little need for sleep at night (average of 4 hours or less). No fatigue at all.
Total Testosterone: 1063
Free Testosterone: 25
Estradiol: 51.6
First 1 mg tablet of Anastazole taken on 1/13/20.
