Is TRT worth it?

[Municipal Waste]

I'd agree with the idea that there's a chance, not necessarily a good chance.

It's certainly a risk you take, but with time I'd say more people do recover than don't.

I'd definitely support this claim. In my experience more people will bounce back than not, however most people a. do not have bloodwork from before their cycle to actually proof it or b. if they do not bounce back it could be due to other reasons exercabting the issue, such as genetic factors coming into play at a later age for example.

My tests came back at 230 ng/dl before my first cycle and 280 ng/dl after being off for 6 months at a later date. Although technically "low test" I did not have any of the typical symptoms like low libido or depression, no drive.

However, if the plan is to come off the Testosterone it is not really a TRT... People should just say they will do a cycle and whatever happens happens.

 

[TeTe]

If you have a medical condition that's preventing your body from producing normal amounts of T.. then sure it's worth it.

Otherwise, don't take shortcuts. Eat better, drink less alcohol, work out regularly and try to get more sleep and your T levels will be just fine.

It's not a coincidence that in my mid 40s I'm in the mid 600 range of ng/dl of T. I don't drink alcohol, work out 5 hours a week, track calories and macros diligently in MFP and try to get at least 7 hours a sleep every night.

 

[TeTe]

You absolutely DO NOT need to do it for life. You can hop off like countless people have done in the past if the sides are too overwhelming or if you're trying to conceive.

The idea that it's a life sentence needs to disappear already.

The only time you may have to stay on it for life is if you abused steroids previously and you body can no longer produce T on it's own.

 

[TeTe]

Unless you have been diagnosed with low T by an actual doctor and are suffering from symptoms, I wouldn't really bother. Even if you had some mildly low T, I would first look into other factors that affect T production, like making sure you're not overweight, overly stressed, sleeping like shit, etc., before considering TRT.

This guy knows what he's talking about

 

[method115]

Unless you have been diagnosed with low T by an actual doctor and are suffering from symptoms, I wouldn't really bother. Even if you had some mildly low T, I would first look into other factors that affect T production, like making sure you're not overweight, overly stressed, sleeping like shit, etc., before considering TRT.

This is really important. I had my T dropping a lot because of positional sleep apnea. I can't sleep on my back. Once I started sleeping on my side and making sure I stayed on my side throughout the night I was good again but it took months.

I do plan to do TRT eventually but I'm holing out for as long as I can hoping to reach like 60-70 at least. My cousins in his 40's and already wants to be on it but I think it's to early at that age.

 

[Other]

Raisins... like literally the size of a raisin

 

[volodya]

6 foot 8
but im 8 foot 6 when im sitting on my wallet

6 foot 8, yeah right. I found actual footage of @zapataxiv

 

[pakimahi]

Man the "just sleep and train" crowd is just so f'n ignorant, it's ridiculous.. you sound like the kind of guys that would advice someone to "keep looking for the fire extinguisher" 20 minutes into a raging inferno.

 

[cincymma79]

The shrunken balls I’m talking

And do they come back when you stop


Asking for a friend

if you’re middle aged yes otherwise why entertain it

 

[EL CORINTHIAN]

Man the "just sleep and train" crowd is just so f'n ignorant, it's ridiculous.. you sound like the kind of guys that would advice someone to "keep looking for the fire extinguisher" 20 minutes into a raging inferno.

There's too many people who think they need TRT because their T isn't at the top of the reference range. More often than not a lot of these people can tighten up lifestyle factors that they think are already under control.

I've gotten readings as high as 850 ng/dl and some as low as 350 ng/dl. But I've consistently checked my T levels since I was in my early 20s and so I have that data. Guaranteed, some people would convince themselves they needed TRT based on the lower reading.


-Get your sleep in order
-Train with a recoverable volume/intensity
-Make sure your diet is in order
-And one that people tend to forget, get lean.
Like 15% bf.

 

[RichardHarrow]

Every time I get close to trying it, I read up on the side effects and get scared away.

The main thing I'm worried about is that your body stops producing testosterone, so basically once you're on it, you have to stay on it.

That's a deal breaker for me.

It's like sleeping with a dude. You do it once, and even if you hated it, you can never be "not gay" again.

Or so I've heard.... From a friend

 

[ssBaldy]

The shrunken balls I’m talking

And do they come back when you stop


Asking for a friend

You take chorionic gonadotropin if you want to make babies, this way your balls stay the same.
In short, if you really need TRT, it is worth every penny. If your T is at a good level by itself, no reason to do it.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

I qualify for TRT. My only issue is with having to pin. Don't really want to pin for the rest of my life

 

[pakimahi]

There's too many people who think they need TRT because their T isn't at the top of the reference range. More often than not a lot of these people can tighten up lifestyle factors that they think are already under control.

I've gotten readings as high as 850 ng/dl and some as low as 350 ng/dl. But I've consistently checked my T levels since I was in my early 20s and so I have that data. Guaranteed, some people would convince themselves they needed TRT based on the lower reading.


-Get your sleep in order
-Train with a recoverable volume/intensity
-Make sure your diet is in order
-And one that people tend to forget, get lean.
Like 15% bf.

in other words you have never been hypogonadal considering those values. So of course, you have never needed it. And I hope you never do. But for hypogonadal 'sleeping, lifting heavy , d, zinc/mag', this is just not the advice to give. Should rather be a standard disclaimer, before any real advice is offered.

 

[EL CORINTHIAN]

in other words you have never been hypogonadal considering those values. So of course, you have never needed it. And I hope you never do. But for hypogonadal 'sleeping, lifting heavy , d, zinc/mag', this is just not the advice to give. Should rather be a standard disclaimer, before any real advice is offered.

It's not a cure for truly hypogonadal cases but that can only be known once those factors have been addressed. Optimizing lifestyle factors should be the first line of defense and then exploring any other underlying issues. It 100% should be the first thing you tell someone who's hypogonadal.

Do you have a thyroid issue? Varicoceles? Autoimmune disorders? Diabetes? Morbidly obese? Severely malnourished? Alcohol/drug abuse? Chronically underslept?

If you've turned every stone over, then you can go ahead and get some TRT.

 

[Jack Reacheround]

If you have to do steroids, you are a pussy. There, I said it.

 

[SoSo]

I qualify for TRT. My only issue is with having to pin. Don't really want to pin for the rest of my life

*edit*
Wet phone reply.

*double edit*
I'm prescribed opioids for, unfortunately, multiple reasons, and I've needed to be on TRT since 37 or 38. Tests coming back at 180-200 over the preceding 2 years before I started. Since starting TRT, I'm consistently testing at 700-800 while taking 200mg per week. Feel better and can actually sleep. Balls are fine. I have started thinning on top a little these past 6 months even though I don't remember any real thinning/hair loss on either side of my family. Started propecia last week to get ahead of it. Supposedly no crazy drug interactions and no real side effects except possibly lowering my blood pressure. Which isn't a bad thing as I've had high for my age BP since I first ever had it taken when I was 19.

I do blow loads sooner now instead of been able to go like the Energizer bunny. These days, I'll just drink a few or slap one out beforehand if I want a marathon session. That's probably the biggest side effect I noticed pretty soon after started supplementing. As of the past 6 months, the hair thinning out is the biggest side effect, although if the propecia does its job, the hair will be fine. Think the only reason I can notice is because I keep the dome at a #3 at the longest up top.

*triple edit*
Have been IM injecting TRT for 4 or 5 years now.

 

[rocketskates]

Every time I get close to trying it, I read up on the side effects and get scared away.

The main thing I'm worried about is that your body stops producing testosterone, so basically once you're on it, you have to stay on it.

That's a deal breaker for me.

It's like sleeping with a dude. You do it once, and even if you hated it, you can never be "not gay" again.

Or so I've heard.... From a friend

Your body will start producing its own test again after a few weeks; but, you’re correct that those weeks are absolute hell. While you’re on it, it’s amazing. I’ll probably get back on it soon.

Also, I didn’t notice much ball shrinkage. I already have kids so I’m not worried about it anyway.

 

[HeffDoesWant]

The shrunken balls I’m talking

And do they come back when you stop


Asking for a friend

Thinking back i can't recall a time physical ball size effected my life either positively or negatively.

What could have effected me is not being able or having difficulty having kids.

Never taken it, never would unless a doctor prescribed it.

 

[bean88]

Maybe worth it if you are genuinely low T and have tried natural fixes first (healthy diet high in fat, regular exercise, solid sleep, low or no alcohol etc)

I tried testosterone when I was stupid in my late 20s and hated the side effects - bloating, puffy nips, shrunken balls, ED when coming off etc.

I am on the low end of normal testosterone level wise and have been for years but it would still take a hell of a lot for me to want to have to manage that stuff for life