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Ok that's fair but the PEDs you're referring to have absolutely NOTHING to do with testosterone replacement therapy. Again, this is not running a cycle of steroids, it's a treatment for low T to get you back into normal ranges. To make those comparisons really isn't fair.
This is correct and also,
This thread ought to be in Health and Wellness and not the Exercise part of the forum.
An important note with Testosterone as many physiological and medical issues is:
Individuality
An adult of X age may have lower T numbers withing normal range and feel fine and have no negative symptoms whereas another person with the exact same numbers may exhibit all of the negative symptoms of low T.
One has to find the optimal number or range that makes the negative symptoms go away and add the positive aspects to one's life.
This thread ought to be in Health and Wellness and not the Exercise part of the forum.
In a way it belongs here. Most men who look into TRT are in the fitness space, exercise regularly and are more concerned with what TRT will mean for their gym lifts and physical appearance than overall their longevity.
I think it's no surprise that the people posting in this thread (me included) are regular gym addicts.
Unless you had some unfortunate medical condition (testicular cancer, something similar), most people don't explore TRT for anything more than vanity reasons.
An important note with Testosterone as many physiological and medical issues is:
Individuality
An adult of X age may have lower T numbers withing normal range and feel fine and have no negative symptoms whereas another person with the exact same numbers may exhibit all of the negative symptoms of low T.
One has to find the optimal number or range that makes the negative symptoms go away and add the positive aspects to one's life.
In most cases, people with T levels (without any medical history of endocrine problems) in the lower end of the normal range can boost their T levels by 50% just through lifestyle changes (diet + exercise). Of course, they will never get to the same levels of T if they inject, but this should be stated.
My T levels can fluctuate quite a bit based on my lifestyle (sleep, diet, exercise, stress).
Your body has some genetic set point it likes to keep your T at. This is why when you inject, it converts some to estrogen and shuts off your own body's production of T.
I'm cautioning those who are younger than 50, who are on the lower end of the normal ranges (and where this can be fixed with diet and exercise) from making a life altering decision to get on TRT. They will be taking testosterone injections for the rest of their life and using other drugs to manage those side effects.
If you had testicular cancer and/or are above 50, and want to try TRT, maybe it's fine.
My reason to get on it because my numbers were already in the toilet. I had symptoms of low T.
Like I mentioned, I am overweight, but not huge, and have terrible sleep apnea that goes back to even when I was a teenager, living at home with my parents. I'd raise the roof then. I'm reasonably active - walk at least a couple miles most days, weight train couple times a week, avid hiker and outdoors guy. I do drink quite a bit.
I had a full blood panel last week, and all that came back within the normal range.
If you are "spinning your wheels" without treatment, get on T and feel better, it's unlikely your personal baseline has changed much. You weren't making enough prior, you sure won't be making enough afterward
I started on HCV - which raises T but it technically not T replacement and then switched to Nebido and am now doing Androgel gel b/c I'm travelling and have lapsed in my time frame the Nebido shot that I get every 10 weeks.
Androgel have worked the best...not too intense such as HCV and not too low as in Nebido.
Note* - this is very individualistic and I'm only talking about my experience.
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I've done a ton of research on this for the last year or so. I'll be 45 this year, and for now, I'm waiting. Without going into pros/cons, those have been debated ad nauseum, my decision, for now, is based on one thing; it's not medically necessary. My overall test levels are anywhere between low 500s to low 600s, free is 8-12. I'm cutting now, so they're towards the lower range.
And that's my advice to anyone, unless it's medically necessary, don't do it. It is a lifelong therapy. Yes, one can get off of it, but not without significant tradeoffs. If however, you're very low, experiencing ton of side effects, it could indeed be life changing.
I am going to assume there are a lot of positives associated with certain people
using TRT...that is monitored by a knowledgeable specialist.
I hope that does not mean that the people taking TRT cast-aside the idea that there can and probably will be negatives attached to their steroid use.
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