Low T at 25

[GymBuilder]

Here's the deal I've gotten blood work done twice, both were a few months after cycles (4-5 months) and I've had lower then normal levels. I know it take months, if not years to recover, however I've always felt like my levels were a bit lower then normal (last 3-4 years).

First time = Test, serum (391) Test range of 280-800
First time = Test, serum (270) Test range of 249-836

I'm planning to get a third test done 6-7 months after my cycle.

Now off cycle, or even just 2 weeks after a cycle I feel like my sex drive is real low, which sucks because I love my wife to death. I plan to have kids so I think TRT isn't in line just yet but what would you recommend? I really would rather do self TRT and watch it myself, because my insurance won't cover this and when I get my new job if I had TRT on my list I most likely would be denied insurance for that.

The low t wouldn't have been from the 2 cycles I have done, possibly PHs ran back when I didn't know much however maybe I just have naturally low T. I do take vicodin for back pain from a car accident years ago, which I know can lower T levels.

Basically, what would you recommend? Really seeing a doctor about this is kind of out of the question and I know what I'm doing as well if I ever did TRT, I would research a ton more and get blood work done often.

 

[waynecross88]

when did you start taking phs and roughly how many cycles of themm did you do? And were they done with any sort of pct?

 

[OneWheyOrAnother]

Here's the deal I've gotten blood work done twice, both were a few months after cycles (4-5 months) and I've had lower then normal levels. I know it take months, if not years to recover, however I've always felt like my levels were a bit lower then normal (last 3-4 years).

First time = Test, serum (391) Test range of 280-800
First time = Test, serum (270) Test range of 249-836

I'm planning to get a third test done 6-7 months after my cycle.

Now off cycle, or even just 2 weeks after a cycle I feel like my sex drive is real low, which sucks because I love my wife to death. I plan to have kids so I think TRT isn't in line just yet but what would you recommend? I really would rather do self TRT and watch it myself, because my insurance won't cover this and when I get my new job if I had TRT on my list I most likely would be denied insurance for that.

The low t wouldn't have been from the 2 cycles I have done, possibly PHs ran back when I didn't know much however maybe I just have naturally low T. I do take vicodin for back pain from a car accident years ago, which I know can lower T levels.

Basically, what would you recommend? Really seeing a doctor about this is kind of out of the question and I know what I'm doing as well if I ever did TRT, I would research a ton more and get blood work done often.

What types of cycles did you do? What did your PCT look like ?

 

[Built]

What % bodyfat are you currently?

 

[GMO]

Here's the deal I've gotten blood work done twice, both were a few months after cycles (4-5 months) and I've had lower then normal levels. I know it take months, if not years to recover, however I've always felt like my levels were a bit lower then normal (last 3-4 years).

First time = Test, serum (391) Test range of 280-800
First time = Test, serum (270) Test range of 249-836

I'm planning to get a third test done 6-7 months after my cycle.

Now off cycle, or even just 2 weeks after a cycle I feel like my sex drive is real low, which sucks because I love my wife to death. I plan to have kids so I think TRT isn't in line just yet but what would you recommend? I really would rather do self TRT and watch it myself, because my insurance won't cover this and when I get my new job if I had TRT on my list I most likely would be denied insurance for that.

The low t wouldn't have been from the 2 cycles I have done, possibly PHs ran back when I didn't know much however maybe I just have naturally low T. I do take vicodin for back pain from a car accident years ago, which I know can lower T levels.

Basically, what would you recommend? Really seeing a doctor about this is kind of out of the question and I know what I'm doing as well if I ever did TRT, I would research a ton more and get blood work done often.

If you started cycling too young before your endrocrine system was fully developed, that could be the cause for your current low-T levels. And yes, PH cycles do count as they shut down natural test production. Unfortunately, if this is indeed the case, it may be something you struggle with for the rest of your life. This is exactly why we advocate for staying away from AAS use until around 25 years of age.

I would stay away from gear for a while and let your natural levels rebound, if they can. Keep getting blood work done every few months to see how your body is or is not recovering, then go from there. I would only look into TRT as a last resort at your age. You have a lot of years left to live...

 

[OneWheyOrAnother]

If you started cycling too young before your endrocrine system was fully developed, that could be the cause for your current low-T levels. And yes, PH cycles do count as they shut down natural test production. Unfortunately, if this is indeed the case, it may be something you struggle with for the rest of your life. This is exactly why we advocate for staying away from AAS use until around 25 years of age.

I would stay away from gear for a while and let your natural levels rebound, if they can. Keep getting blood work done every few months to see how your body is or is not recovering, then go from there. I would only look into TRT as a last resort at your age. You have a lot of years left to live...

Agreed. This is why I think it's a tragedy that so many girls go on oral contraceptives at a young age. They may not be true AAS, but any type of hormone replacement therapy will hurt developing males or females, especially at young ages.

I recently told my girlfriend that I would rather use a condom than damage her endocrine system, perhaps permanently. She has decided to discontinue her use of BC as of this package.

 

[keith1569]

Agreed. This is why I think it's a tragedy that so many girls go on oral contraceptives at a young age. They may not be true AAS, but any type of hormone replacement therapy will hurt developing males or females, especially at young ages.

I recently told my girlfriend that I would rather use a condom than damage her endocrine system, perhaps permanently. She has decided to discontinue her use of BC as of this package.

never really thought about BC being bad for girls starting young..makes since thouhg..my wife didnt get on em till she was like 19..my friend is a pharmacist and says many girls that are like 14 are on it..just how young that is surprises me

 

[Built]

Oral contraceptives are oral steroids - and they permanently impact upon a woman's endocrine system.

SHBG increases 400% while on, and while it drops upon cessation, it never returns to normal. The risk of estrogen-sensitive cancers, depression, and type II diabetes is increased, and testosterone levels never return to normal because of the permanently elevated SHBG.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16409223

Fun, hey?

 

[keith1569]

Damn I thought mabe it had something to do with sex drive. When my wife was off BC for like 8 months her sex drive didn't return to.what it used to be before she was on it. Thanks for the info built

Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G

 

[GymBuilder]

I did PHs starting at 16ish, at the time didn't know anything and was told it was a supplement. Fast forward to my early 20s I did 2-3 cycles of PHs, x-tren, e-stane, p-plex all with proper PCT and on cycle supps. I've done 2 AAS cycle one with test, and the other with test and dbol, both with proper supps and PCT.

Had I known the info I know now, I would have never touched PHs when I was younger but it is what it is and I can thank poor research and stupid people at the gym, but I can't put the blame on anyone but myself.

My BF is roughly 13%.

 

[Built]

Damn I thought mabe it had something to do with sex drive. When my wife was off BC for like 8 months her sex drive didn't return to.what it used to be before she was on it. Thanks for the info built

Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G

When I went in for testing a few years ago, my testosterone was below the low level of normal - I was well into post-menopausal levels. (As an aside, the reference ranges for female testosterone are the same for "on oral contraceptive" as they are for "post-menopausal").

I didn't get my sex drive back until I went on transdermal testosterone a few years ago.

Test. It really is best. ♥

 

[TGB1987]

Did you use HCG while on your cycles or after? I had lower level T before I ever used steroids. I think it was from a prohormone cycle I did when I was 18. I had no idea I was using an oral steroid. My T level when I was 22 before I used steroids was in the low 400s . Since I found this out I started running cycles because I planned on doing this for the rest of life. I would of never used steroids had my Test levels been naturally higher. I knew once I started that this was going to be a lifetime commitment. I have accepted that. Hopefully you can rebound your test before it is too late. You really only have two chouices try to get your test back to normal or got on TRT. I would recommend running Clomid, Aromasin, and HCG to try and restart your test. There is a new drug (Peptide) That may be of interest to you. It is called Triptorelin. Triptorelin is in the experimental phases right now. They claim it can restart your test in one shot. There was a great article about it in Muscular Development Magazine in the July issue. I read it yesterday. It has been used on one guy that was 25 years old with success. He had AAS inducsed Hypogonadism and this restored his natural leves in one shot. I would look at this as a last resort. Now what is kind of strange to me is Triptorelin is used to treat prostate cancer and actually can chemically castrate males.

Here is what Triptorelin is used for medically now

What is triptorelin?

Triptorelin is a man-made form of a hormone that regulates many processes in the body. Triptorelin overstimulates the body's own production of certain hormones, which causes that production to shut down temporarily.
Triptorelin is used to treat the symptoms of prostate cancer. Triptorelin treats only the symptoms of prostate cancer and does not treat the cancer itself. Use any other medications your doctor has prescribed to best treat your condition.
Triptorelin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

I suggest that you weigh your options and try a standart PCT again first. If that doesn't work then maybe ask a doctor about this. If you go and ask the doctor about this bring some evidence to show them the other use Triptorelin has. I suggest you pick up the Muscular Development Magazine because there was a lot information there and resources to start researching if you are interested in trying it out.

 

[GymBuilder]

I used it on cycle. First time 500ui a week and the second 1000ui a week. I've read that people do the hcg/clomid cycle but it doesn't fix it, it just boosts while on and then it goes back to what is was before. Is this not true? Maybe some studies to back it up? I'd be curious to run a HCG cycle (not sure how long) with clomid and then a few months later test my levels. I was thinking of waiting 6-7 months from my cycle and then testing, I figure if in 7 months it's roughly the same as the 2 other times I just have low T.

I would talk to a doctor, but again it wouldn't be covered and I don't have the job I plan to do for the rest of my life meaning I would be switching insurances and with TRT on there it would possibly screw me over. I would much rather do self TRT, watch my levels and do bloodwork often. I find that people on here are just as knowledgeable as doctors, just my view.

 

[TGB1987]

I understand where you are coming from with not wanting to screw yourself on the insurance. Yes many doctors are not up on a lot of the facts about AAS and HRT but some are and they can be very helpful hard to find also. Yes you can do it on your own by asking questions on here but will it be better or worse is hard to say. The most important thing is to stay up with your blood work and make changes as needed. Aromasin should be used IMO. Aromasin is very good at lowering estrogen and causing the body to produce test through the negative feedback loop. Clomid is great but can act as an estrogen in parts of the body and can cause an estrogen rebound when you stop use which will shut down Test production if the body senses that estro is too high. This is where Aromasin comes in again. Aromasin is a suicide inhibitor which will prevent estrogen rebound. HCG clomid and Aromasin is what I would recommend. Now finding what dose of HCG to use for such a reboot would be little more controversial. I would consider seeking out HeavyIron or CT as to what they would suggest as far as HCG dose because I am not really sure what to recommend for your situation. I would think it would be a higher dose for 14 days and then stop use and continue with clomid and aromasin for 4 more weeks and then bloodwork would be my guess. Only thing I am not sure of is the HCG because there are many different ways people use it. I use it on cycle at a low dose or not at all but I know it can be used in higher doses for short peroids as a jumpstart as well.

 

[GMO]

I believe it was CT who posted a test recovery cycle some months ago that included hcg and hmg. It was a great protocol...I would PM him if I were you.

 

[GymBuilder]

Basically seems like since I got low levels at some point I will be on TRT. It sucks but with a low sex drive and the feeling I have on cycle is way better. I wouldn't do TRT for a least a few more years because I know it is a life-long thing.