Educate me on the real world pros/cons and experiences. My most recent bloodwork shows normal levels but lower than normal free testosterone levels. Obviously, the web is rife with information in varying degrees but in my humble opinion, the average information at SF is above reproach.

Best Advice: Figure out what your current and long-term goals are (i.e. reasons for taking it now as well as 5 or 10 years down the road). Also, talk to your significant other as this will affect them.

Several friends have tried and gone off it:

Made them hornier but significant other was interested in less sex not more. It made them even more frustrated with their relationship.

Bad blood test results (i.e. cholesterol egregiously spiked) and told by doc to stop. You can have blood results (hematocrit or hemoglobin level was too high) where stopping isn't enough and you need to go donate blood that day.

Transdermal gel didn't do anything for them and weren't willing to do shots or implants

On a positive note, one friend went on testosterone about same time his wife went on HRT and he was very pleased with the more frequent sex.

I've been on it 8 or 9 years:

My reason for going on it is kind of unusual. I was having 11 to 15 migraines per month and nothing was working as far as migraine prevention. My urologist ran the testosterone panel and I came back slightly low, and shared the results with neurologist specializing in migraines. Their response was "hormones can play a role in migraines so it's worth a shot as nothing else is working." It didn't prevent migraines but I sure felt better so stayed on it.

I can't do any transdermal gels or patches as I get horrific rashes.

I tried the shots first, but at the time the urologist wouldn't write a prescription for self-administer so I had to go there. Tried 5 weeks then 4 weeks then 3 weeks before I felt like I had the right frequency. However, the 1.5 to 2 hour round trip to a doctor's office to sit in a waiting room and then sit in an exam room was too much for having a very demanding job.

I switched to implants and would get 6 months to 10 months out of an implant. It was much more money and wasn't pleasant for about 72 hours but it was an amazing steady feeling even better than shots at 3 weeks. I did that for years, but had 4 problems: (1) my ass was turning into a checkerboard as new spot every time so I was running out of space (next was stomach) (2) I had 9 of 10 pellets stay in once and the 10th pellet came back out (3) I had 9 of 10 pellets stay in once but 10th pellet wouldn't come all the way out and caused an infection (4) manufacturer ended up running out of supply and was on back order getting my levels too low.

Urologist switched his policy of self-administering so I've been giving myself a shot once every 2 weeks and evenness feels as good as implants. Much cheaper and much more convenient. I have zero fear of needles so I have not found a downside.

Urologist tests me once every 3 months for levels which is good

I see a hematologist once per year (for different reasons) and he has concerns despite urologist office having more than one hundred TRT patients and no increase in cancer rates. He runs more extensive labs and always inquires if I've ever been told after a lab result to donate blood that day.

I feel great and was chasing my ex around like I was an 18 year old. I'd do it a gain, but sure wish I could've went straight to self-administered shots.

A little nervous on how poorly I'd feel if I ever had to go off it. My one buddy who was told to stop after first blood test said he felt worse after stopping than before starting.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

I have Osteopenia (low bone density) and have been on Testosterone for six months. Insurance pays for the vials and my wife is good with giving the shots. My Testosterone levels have evened out, and I now get them every three weeks. I do not anticipate stopping the shots. I will cross that bridge if it happens.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret

This is the kind of real world experience I’m hoping to tap into- much appreciated. At this stage (61) the only real concern for me is joint and skeletal health.

Along with the little missus, I’m in the gym pretty much every day it’s open. The other exercise you mention is a daily thing also…

My doc says I’m in the top 1% for my age group and beyond. My similarly aged peers agree. When we looked at my last bloodwork, he didn’t seem to think the testosterone vs. free testosterone was of as big a concern as I imagined and advocated against it at this juncture. Physically I feel fine, strong, and mobile but more and more feel it in my bones as it were. My joints aren’t as forgiving as they once were (obviously) and the aches and pains take a little longer to abate. Bone density loss is a concern as well. In short, my interest is mostly directed at being able to keep up this lifestyle unimpeded by infirmity as long as possible.

I’m getting my blood drawn with a testosterone level test in about a week which will at minimum give me some idea where my levels are headed when compared to 2 years ago. My biggest concerns on the matter are the various potential health issues such as enlarged prostate, higher risk for cancer (debatable depending on where you look), blood clot potential, etc.

I felt far too aggressive with transdermal gel treatment.

The testes may shrink without anything to produce, irreversibly.

I went a little different route. Low(ish) and MD said we should talk T replacement. I did the intraweb search and decided to try DHEA supplement. MD said 100mg is fine. 6 months in and lost 10 pounds, good balanced agro, T level is up closer to mid point (versus lower normal range).

I tore both my labrums, and two different tendons in my right arm. Despite eating like a nutritionist, and training like an athlete the body just got old or tired of it. After the 2nd tendon tear in my dominant arm at my ortho’s suggestion I was at 296. That’s 1 gram of protein per body lb per day and lifting 4 days a week, and the lifting creates testosterone. And I was taking an OTC supplement to boost T.

My ortho had tried to get me on it probably 7-8 years prior. He fixed both tendon tears with stem cells, and one of my labrums with stem. The tendon tears were worse the surgery I had on one labrum. Torn tendons take forever to heal, even with stem cells and I had enough and got on TRT.

So far so good. About 2 years in. No injuries. I “feel” better and don’t feel like I’m in my 50’s. Last blood work I was at 600 and that was taking .5 from the vial. Ortho wants me at 800 so authorized me to go to .75. I had previously tried a full 1 out of the vial but it spiked my t to over 1000.

I may have to give blood periodically to even things out as my BP is slightly up but overall I was kicking myself for not going on it much sooner. I don’t like needles, at all, and that was my reluctance. But I spent at least 1000 hours on my own research. Dr. Andrew Huberman, whom I consider a leader on men’s health, he went on it, and that was the coffin nail for me. It will improve your health but you will need routine blood work to dial it in and don’t be surprised if you have to give blood every now and then. And what convinced me was that original 296 with the amount of lifting I was doing. I started researching what low T causes. It can cause Cancer and a long list of ailments and problems as T is key for men’s health.

The delta variant of Covid gave me permanent sleep issues. If I could get my sleep back to prior, I would tell you I “feel” 33 years old and I’ve got 2 decades on that number. My ortho did say once I went on it, and right in front of a nurse “Your balls could shrink but if that happens let me know as there is a prescription for that. And it may make you sterile.” I just laughed and said for me that’s great if I’m shooting blanks! Less reason for contraception. And my balls could use some shrinking.