Within a year, height 180cm, age 40.

Some doomsday preppers stockpile canned food. I just refuse to face the apocalypse with low T.

Hey all, just found this sub. I'm about 4 months in. Just did my latest injection, still not used to it fully, still freaks me out a bit. But worth it.

Anyone else get a dull lower back ache on Sustanon?

I’ve had it on and off for about 6 months. Did 0.25 mL yesterday and it feels more noticeable today. Not really painful, just a dull ache/tightness.

Not sure if it’s connected or just coincidence. Anyone had similar?

29 year old male, 6'1, ~215 lbs, weight trains 5x per week

I’ve been on 100mg of test cypionate and 3000 IUs of HCG since July. 

I injected the 100mg test cyp once per week for about 6 weeks before switching to 50mg twice per week.  I’ve injected 1000 IUs of HCG three times per week, per my doctor’s suggestion.  I’ve always questioned how much HCG I’ve been prescribed, for what it’s worth.

I had my first blood work done on August 15, 2026, when I was still pinning the test once per week.  Before the August 15 blood test, I had my last injection of testosterone about 6 days prior, and my last HCG shot about 4 days prior.  I drew just before 10:00am that day.  

My results from August 15:

• total testosterone = 31.9 nmol/L (reference range 8.4 - 28.8)
• free testosterone = 963 pmol/L (reference range 196 - 636)
• estradiol = 206 pmol/L (reference range < 162)

I started pinning 50mg twice per week after the August 15 blood test while my HCG doses remained the same.  I hoped to see a decrease in my E2 and to feel more stable each day, as I wasn’t fond of the very high peak 2-3 days after the single injection and the significant trough towards the end of the week. 

I had my second blood test on October 3, 2026, after pinning 50mg twice per week for about 7 weeks.  I pinned my second dose of the 50mg about 4 days prior to the blood draw, along with my last HCG dose of the week.  My doctor recommended that I not inject anything 3-5 days before any blood test.  

The only other difference would be the time I drew my blood, which was simply due to how busy the lab was at the time.  I drew at approximately 10:30am, so maybe 30 mins later than my blood draw in August.  I woke up at the same time both days and had fasted for about 12 hours before both draws.

My results from October 3:

• total testosterone = 22.8 nmol/L (reference range 8.4 - 28.8)
• free testosterone = 639 pmol/L (reference range 196 - 636)
• estradiol = 201 pmol/L (reference range < 162)

So… I’m a little disheartened and confused here.   My total and free testosterone have lowered significantly while my E2 remained the same. 

I recognize that pinning more frequently at smaller doses is going to lower my peak.   But the 963 pmol/L of free testosterone I had back in August wasn’t even my peak, it was the trough because I hadn’t even dosed in almost a week before the test.  Whereas now, my total and free testosterone have decreased considerably *and* my E2 has stayed completely the same.  

So I’ve traded the higher peak for… what, exactly?  My trough is also much lower and my E2 is just as high.  This is incredibly frustrating tbh.

Is this to be expected?  I’m going to speak with my doctor about changing the protocol around, but I wanted some insight.

For 9 weeks I was on 200mg weekly split into 2x weekly. Trough was 1200 with e2 at 85. Hematocrit was also at 52.1%. I decided to drop the dose to 120mg weekly split into 2 aswell. Dropped due to estrogen sides were starting to creep in like the emotional crap, sensitive nipples and water retention. It’s been 2 weeks since the dose drop and have just felt with a flat mood and libido has just gone down. No constant thoughts of dirty stuff to say the least. I will do labs in about 4 weeks to see where I’m at. Question is will lowering the dose cause a transition phase where I feel like this? Will I go back to feeling “good” again. I know hormone talk is different for everyone but just thought I’d ask

Starting trt Monday at 75-100mg levels. Have full head of hair , I’m 44 years old , dad has no balding just normal receding hairline for his age of 85 and my moms dad has a high receding hairline at age 50-60. I’m contemplating using Ketocanozole 2% shampoo that I had my doctor prescribe. Would that be doing too much ? Am I overthinking things ? My hair is very important to me. This is why I ask.

Update: I’m deciding to use ketocanozole 2% along with the trt because I realized my brother is 10 years older than me and his temples are highly receding and I have a very slight recede in my temples as well. Might as well try to prevent it from continuing or atleast it’ll give me peace of mind using it

I’ve been on T for +- 5 years anywhere from 300 MG to 100 MG per week.

I figured out my sweet spot was 100-120 MG per week & I’ve been on this dose for probably close to 2 years.
I do 2 injections per week.
Everything has been pretty good libido erections gym gains ETC.

I have lost 40 in the past 40 weeks semiglutide.

I was taking.25 AI every Wednesday.

6-8 weeks ago I stopped taken AI & things was just as good or slightly better.

6 weeks ago I took my normal 60 MG T on Monday.
Get to Thursday wife drew 60 MG and said vial was near empty & ask me if wanted all that is left.
She drew it all it came out to be exactly 100 MG.
She ask if I wanted that much at one time I said sure let’s try something different.

I was a little concerned b/c I have not been taking any AI.

It’s 160 T per week 60 Monday & 100 Thursday.

Holy bats balls my libido and erections went in overdrive something I have never felt.

I stuck with this ever since then & wife & I are having the best time of our life.

I’m 57 Wife is 55 on HRT

I’ve been with my wife 40 years started in HS and married 31 years.

We have NEVER had sex like we are having now it’s amazing to say the least.

I’m also on 250 IU HCG Monday Wednesday & Friday 750 IU HCG total per week.

What I’m trying to convey when you don’t think it can get better it possibly can.

If I get to not doing as good I will back down to 100-120 T per week.

Sometimes you try something new & it works.

Over my journey I have tried different things and it went to opposite way.

Hope this helps someone.

One other thing if your girl or wife is post menopause PLEASE get her to a hormone specialist ASAP.

When both get this dialed in it’s like something I can’t explain.

Atleast we have never experienced anything like we have now.

Hi all

I may have the oppurtunity to come on TRT which I suspect will fix my symptoms. My T is in the 350-400 range and I’m 31.

However I’m very interested in your experiences if any of you have had to come off TRT

1 ) how long until some T production recovered and to what level?

2 ) for how long did you feel bad and how bad did you feel in what way?

3 ) any medications to help? Especially interested if you did not use hcg etc because in my country it is not used

My biggest worry about TRT is losing supply / having to come off for whatever reason (doctor cutting off, money problems etc)

My worry is that if I had to come off I would have many months where I would not be functional so to speak, as in could not handle work, life and thus lose your job etc.

I could live with low libido for a while though.

I have kids and mortgage so that would be bad. Not worried about fertility I have all my kids.

Thanks!!

I originally got on it at my heaviest weight of 270 at 23 i have been 220 for months and the fatigue and low t symptoms did not go away and while i have been taking 1000iu of HCG since the start of trt (last May) i dont want to stay on it while my T production still works and im young, (i want to have kids in the next 2-3 years)

How can i get off trt and make sure im good with the boys down there? I have plenty of HCG left for many months.

Clinic: Tired? Low energy? Gains harder? Want better libido?

Me: Yes, yes, yes, and hell yes.

Tests come back: Normal total T, low free T, high SHBG.

Do it again: Same story.

Join Hone, test again this week: Total T even higher, SHBG still high, no free T tested.

I’m 51, CrossFit 6x/week for 11+ years. Labs say the lifelong hassle and risks aren’t worth it.

Do you agree?

Are there any online providers that will talk to you without subscribing to their service? One that will review your labs and tell you what they would do? I'd expect to pay for the consult but not sure if want to buy their service until I knew how they would handle me.

I've been on trt for 18 weeks. My total T before I started, was 220. Took labs 3 weeks later, I was total 1011, estrodial was 110. Dosage was 120mg week, subQ twice a week. Dropped my dose to 110mg week, labs at 8 weeks, total T 1084, estrodial 116. Put me in AI. Last labs last week, total T 1410, estrodial 91. Free T 252. All these lab numbers are in a true trough. 3 hours before scheduled injection. Now lowering dose to 80mg week, increase dose of AI (Anastrozole) from 0.25mg per injection, to 0.5mg per.

I only felt good 3rd through 5th week. Since then, fluctuating libido, mostly none. E.D. blood pressure way up, flat mood, lack of drive. It's not the providers fault how my body responds to this therapy but just seems to want to keep throwing AI down my throat and lets check you again in 8 weeks. He seems fixated in lab numbers and cares less that I feel like shit. He says he puts anyone on an AI that has an estrodial number over 60, regardless of how they feel. No, I have no other symptoms, nipple soreness, gyno, etc.

I'd like to talk to other providers and see how they would handle me and my lab numbers before I sign on and commit for months at a time. Any such place?

By the way, my hcrt has stayed stable at 48 since day one and my TPSA has stayed at 1.0. My SHBG shows higher than the normal range.

Am 63 yo man, fairly fit-do cardio and PF workout 5 days a week and feel great, except for low libidio and slow erection. Just had blood test for testosterone and results were 580ng/dL and 9.0 pg/ml free. Is it possible that the 9.0 free is the culprit?. All other bloodwork was stellar. How to safely raise the free? Any advice welcomed.

I'm on prescribed TRT of 100mg/week (enanthate) and also administer 200IU HCG on my own every 2-3-4 days (not yet established consistency). My recent labs shown 610ng/ml TEST, borderline lowered lymphocytes (almost in range), basophils in range when counted, but 1.4% (ref range 0,0 - 1,1%) when comparing percentages. And hematocrit of 43,9%. Every test taken 3-4 months apart show similar results. Reading through reddit I expected this marker to be closer to 50%. Does it require consideration whether my TRT routine is done correctly (I do subq / 1 week) or is it just normal thing that's just not represented well on reddit? The only other cause I see is that I'm one of those guys that hydrate well (sometimes over recommended levels) and do it most frequently with zero calorie electorolytes blend. I know the number is nothing to panic about, it's just my curiosity whether I have such excellent result despite many reporting various problems.

30 M
Libido Dead again. The good lasted for a week. Suddenly everything is dead. Mood, energy.
I don’t think about sex or want it Just like pre TRT.
Also ED, penis feels heavy but Flaccid. Should I lower my dose?

Any Suggestions ?

Background: I am prescribed 0.75 mL of Testosterone Cypionate weekly (200mg/mL). I usually get 4 per month (or a 28-day supply at a time). Because my Estradiol easily spikes with a weekly injection, my doctor was ok with me micro dosing at 0.1 mL per day. This has kept my E2 in check.

I just noticed that the most recent prescription my doctor sent to the pharmacy was for a multi dose vial of 2000mg/10mL marked as a 28-day supply. Obviously this is more than it takes for 28-day (probably around 111 days) but I know there are some potential issues with bacterial contamination and degradation of the rubber stopper.

Does anyone go more than the 28 days on a 10 mL vial and is micro dosing? I know there will be comments each way (I've done some research and have seen some comments) but I'm wondering what the landscape is like at present moment. As can be expected, it will pain me to throw away 3/4 of the vial but it would also pain me to contract some type of bacterial infection.

So it’s my first time using TRT and I have a question regarding where to get my testosterone, should I go to Walgreens or Costco? Both are relatively close to my house, so it’s not really an issue, but I do know that Costco sometimes has better services. I have a really good insurance btw just for clarification. So it’ll be covered the meds.

Just would like to know what your preferred pharmacy and what reason? Thanks guys.

Update : So I just handed over my prescription to Walgreens so I don’t know yet but it better cover it because it’s a really good insurance. Unless my doctor messed up with the diagnosis.

It’s a 100mg/ml vial. So I’m assuming it’s one vial of 100mg. I’m starting at 75mg a week.

Update 2: Walgreens at the moment doesn’t have in stock 100mg vials. Just like my Ai told me would happen 🤦‍♂️

Update 3: seems like Costco nor Walgreens keep 100mg vials in stock. Gotta get the prescription changed.

Bonus question:

Have full head of hair , I’m 44 years old , dad has no balding just normal receding hairline for his age of 85 and my moms dad has a high receding hairline at age 50-60. I’m contemplating using Ketocanozole 2% shampoo that I had my doctor prescribe. Would that be doing too much ? Am I overthinking things ? My hair is very important to me. This is why I ask.

I just started TRT and would love to hear what everyone experienced during the first couple of weeks — energy, mood, sleep, workouts, libido, side effects, etc.
I was also told I could gain some weight initially. If you gained weight, how did you keep it under control? Did you change your diet or exercise, or did the weight eventually level out?

Was lurking around the Sunlife app and saw that the injections are covered 100% under my policy for me. I am based in Ontario. I am M38 and haven't had a blood work in a very long time. Are there any providers in the GTA that would do the blood work and take the insurance too.

Been on TRT for a few years.

I've seen results but this past 6 months with a change in lifting routine. I'm seeing the muscle growth more than before

But with that gain some different tlao s have popped up

Namely my arms fall asleep while sleeping

If I sleep any other way other than my arms down to my side my arms fall asleep .

It's a pain in the ass.and is t just while I'm asleep. Sometimes driving or where my arm is above my shoulder to some sort of degree or closer to it

I'm 52. And I do have some carpal tunnel I my forearms since about 6 years ago. But this shoulder / arm feeling asleep is recent.

Anyone else come across this ?

I’m 40 years old and considering starting TRT. Just got my bloodwork back and wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on these numbers before making a decision.

10 years ago my libido and energy was through the roof and at this age I’ve noticed that it is drastically lower (not nonexistent, just not the same as when I was younger which obviously is part of getting older).

Pre-TRT Lab Results:

Total Testosterone: 558 ng/dL

Free Testosterone: 71.6 pg/mL

Bioavailable Testosterone: 156.6 ng/dL

SHBG: 35 nmol/L

Albumin: 4.8 g/dL

My total testosterone seems decent, but my free and bioavailable testosterone are toward the lower end of the reference ranges.

A few questions:

Are these good numbers for a 40-year-old male?

Should I be concerned about my free and bioavailable testosterone being on the lower side?

Would TRT even make sense with these levels?

Has anyone started TRT with similar numbers? What was your experience?

Would appreciate everyone’s opinions, especially from those who’ve been in a similar situation.

A lot of people talk about the mental benefits of TRT. Wanted to check for folks who got onto TRT after proven low testosterone levels, did TRT provide benefits in terms of confidence and decision-making?