Swingers Forum - Low Testostone

I'm thinkin I might have low T and going to get the blood work done to find out. If I'm on the low side I'm hoping for feedback with experiences or thoughts with what meds seem best ...patches, cream, pellets, injections, other???

Most of the patients at clinic I work at either do the gels or injections. Most work really well just depends on your preference and what your insurance will allow

don't do tester one! once you start on it your testicles will stop producing it and you Will always have to take it. there is a clinic inSLC area that specializes in erectile disfinction and low t issues. you can look it up online, or they advertise the n KNRS RADIO. the station can give you the numbers. they will look at your situation and give you valid non-t replacement therapies. My doc highly recommended not using T-replacement unless I wanted my nuts to shrink up and never produceT by themselves

Here's my thought, if you have really low T, you have to decide on really small teaticles or no libido, weight gain, fatigue, anorgasmia, muscle loss, etc. To me, it's a no brainer. Mrs.Pants always reminds me that practically NO ONE is searching for a man with big balls. What difference do big balls make? I had huge balls all my life. They shrunk by 3/4 in size. But now I don't have erection issues, my work outs are very productive, I even notice I am slightly more aggresive lately. Not alpha aggressive, just more willing to go for what I want. I feel like a man again.

The reason i'm saying to check your thyroid nodules, they control about 90% of most body functions.

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to testosterone and low T. I have read several of them in this thread. First of all, if you take testosterone, your body does not stop producing it. It is also lowest in the morning, not in the afternoon. I have been on testosterone therapy for about a year and a half. It's one of the best things I have done for myself. I have more energy, I have lost weight, and just generally feel better. My erections are stronger, at times they are like I am in my 20's again, and I definitely have more sex drive. There are possible side effects. I personally don't get any of the bad ones. It can cause high blood pressure and angry outbursts. My only side effects are hair growth, and occasional acne. Not a bad trade off for me. I take the injections. They are the easiest way for me to take it. With the gels, you have to put it on, then can't have physical contact with anyone for an hour or two. Not sure about the pellets because I haven't tried them. The shots are painful at first because they are intramuscular, and the liquid is thick (think vegetable oil). I use a 1 1/2 inch 20 gauge needle to inject mine. It has to go all the way in. After time, it doesn't hurt nearly as much, because as it turns out, testosterone helps with pain tolerance. Now the shots don't really bother me or hurt much at all. Definitely talk to your doctor and get all of the necessary blood work. Also, make sure your girl likes hairy chests, because you will probably have one. Good luck! Feel free to message me if you have questions you don't want to ask in an open forum.

POET_RAYL wrote:

Really small testical don't = low T! alcohol use & or heavy metals may complex issue. Genetic abnormalities that result in abnormal function of the hormones from the brain and pituitary that control the testes. Tumor, trauma, or radiation that involve the pituitary gland's control of the testesto where you can get Hypogonadism. It may occur due to a signaling problem between the brain and testes. Hypogonadism, also known as Low Testosterone, can be caused by certain medical conditions which causes a problem with the testes or the parts of the brain that regulate the testes. Other signs of possible issues is like low energy lack of interest in wanting to do sex
Also need to take into affect that high blood pleasure,Depression, Diate can also act like low T.
My best advice would get full thyroid nodules check since it can also act like a low T if that's out of wack so getting a full physical sounds like a good thing. Can't just rule one thing since most symptoms are simular to each other.

You are correct. But hormone replacement therapy DOES equal small testicals, which is what I was saying

Well when i was thinking my T was low found out that one my of thyroid glands wasn't doing what it should have for me gaining weight and stamina energies. but for natural T changing what you eat and and drink can regulate your levels to wear your not low and can improve thyroid and low T issues.

MYOHMY wrote:

As others have expressed, before you go chemical, explore what other factors may contribute to your feelings and stamina.

One potential factor is pornography. Viewing porn, particularly in video form and with time and frequency, can inhibit normal sexual function. Something about how we're wired. Masturbation with video pornography appears to be particularly impactful on the male libido. Here's a decent site on it that doesn't attempt to moralize about the ethics of it: Your Brain On Porn

Another potential factor claimed by some Chinese practitioners is that males should always orgasm as often as he wishes, but should NOT ejaculate as frequently as he ages. There are different ways to accomplish this, including breathing techniques (requires more dedication), the angle and pressure at which your penis is when you orgasm (how you penetrate her as you orgasm can limit or stop the flow), pressing a particular point between your scrotum and anus firmly (but not too hard) to stop the flow, etc.

If you have been circumcised, you may also feel less sensation as you age. There are ways to regrow (not just stretch) your foreskin without surgery. Here is a decent site on it. I like it because the founder tried it on himself first years ago: TLC Tugger Foreskin Restoration

Then there is diet, exercise, various forms of stress, etc. Once you start the chemical process, you may have increased difficulty going back to natural.

But in order to go the more natural routes, you will have do determine whether you are willing to first slow down and not try to rush everything. A pill may provide a quick-fix. But is it really right for you?

No offense to the Chinese, but my Urologist said it is crucial for men over a certain age to "clean the pipes" frequently to avoid prostate problems. While not ejaculating may increase desire, it might cause "plumbing issues" which trump libido, if you ask men over 40! Haha nobody likes to get up to pee 4 times a night!

"But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow"- John Lennon

Dragonboy, they have done studies that show lifting free weights increases testosterone. I always feel a boost after a work out. It throws out a ton of endorphins as well.

ERASEDPANTS wrote:

[quote=POET_RAYL]The reason i'm saying to check your thyroid nodules, they control about 90% of most body functions.

Just an FYI, "thyroid nodules" are a condition of the thyroid gland. They are growths or bumps on your thyroid. Also, I think you were thinking of the pituitary gland that controls 90% of the hormones in the body, not the thyroid? Although the thyroid is an important gland in metabolism and temperature regulation, the thyroid itself is controlled by the pituitary gland. Yeah, I am a bit pedantic, but I was in medicine for 20+ years. I can't help myself.

As I stated before, Don't Use Testosterone Replacement Therapy...... It may be that you are a little out of wack and need to for lack of a better term need to jump-start the hormone cycle. I had this problem and went to my doc who recommended using a process by Dr Shira Miller who has done extensive study in this area. Her published article can be found at:
http://shiramillermd.com/blog/clomid-men-testosterone-alternative.html. This worked 100% for me after 30 days of treatment where 90 or 120 days were recommended. The great thing is that once you go through this treatment you don't have to keep taking any hormones that could have serious side effects. This all has to do with how our bodies determine what and when hormones need to be made in the body. The science is solid behind it and it has extremely low side effects. My doctor recommends this procedure for all his male patients who are suffering libido and erectile dysfunction issues first before going to testosterone therapy, which is NOT reversible! My libido is now off the chart and performance is so much more enhanced.

I also mentioned in another post a clinic in SL that uses similar approaches. Their web site looks a bit weird in that they look like snake oil salesmen, but they are totally legit and I have a few friends who went to them with remarkable results and NO testosterone. Here is their website:

http://www.physiciansed.com/Saltlakecity/

Also according to Dr Miller, the Thyroid is not in control of this process Not the Thyroid, Sorry Poet got your anatomy functions. The Pituitary Gland is. The context of her article is posted below for those who do not want to go to the link. Or search for "clomid for men" on the internet. And EARECURIOUS, your statement is wrong (not to pic a fight I wanna play nice but accurate info is better than inaccurate info) if you take testosterone, your other glands will sense that it has it (whether artificial or not) and the testes will SHUT-DOWN and will NOT produce testosterone ever again and thew will cease to function glandularly, but may still produce semen, or not. You will have to take it for life....

(By the way there are now more women with mustaches than ever before, a side effect of their partners using testosterone creams... LOL just kidding on the mustache thing, but testosterone therapy, especially topicals will or could spread to the lady or kids by contacting the place you put it on.)

A Testosterone Therapy Alternative for Men with Low Testosterone Levels

Whether you are a 30, 50, 80 or even 110 year old man, having low testosterone levels (hypogonadism) is neither fun nor healthy. The symptoms of low testosterone in men range from lack of energy, depressed mood, loss of vitality, muscle atrophy (sarcopenia), muscles aches, low libido, erectile dysfunction, and weight gain...to bone loss (osteopenia), osteoporosis, mild anemia, increased risk of Alzheimer's, increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer, and increased risk of death due to all causes.1

As you may know, low testosterone in men may be caused by problems in the testes (or gonads). This is called primary hypogonadism and can be brought on by the mumps, testicular trauma, or testicular cancer, etc., and can only be treated with testosterone replacement therapy. However, the more common causes of low testosterone/hypogonadism result from problems in the pituitary gland and/or hypothalamus in a man's brain. Low testosterone levels caused by such "brain problems" are collectively described as secondary hypogonadism or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and may result from depression/anxiety, head trauma, iron overload, anabolic steroid overdosing, diabetes, sleep deprivation, or some medications.

Traditionally, if low testosterone is diagnosed, testosterone replacement therapy is prescribed, and it most commonly comes in the form of a cream, gel, pellet, patch, and by injection. And although these types of therapy are effective, some methods are better than others, and there are side-effects with all of them. For example, testicular shrinkage, gynecomastia (breast enlargement), low sperm count/sterility, and polycythemia (overproduction of red blood cells) are common side-effects of testosterone replacement therapy (for many sufferers, these side-effects are mostly treatable or considered "worth it" by the patient).

However, specifically due to the sterility side-effect, such testosterone treatments aren't a good option for men who want to have children. In these (usually young) hypogonadal men, clomiphene citrate (CC pill, or Clomid) and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) have been used (by specialists) for decades to increase testosterone production, increase sperm production, and increase fertility. Both these therapies effectively help signal the testes to produce testosterone and thereby increase testosterone levels (assuming of course the cause of the initial problem is not in the testes' ability to make testosterone). See "David" below for an oversimplified diagram of how clomiphene, HCG, and testosterone work within the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.

Clomid_Testosterone_Alternative_David50knee.jpg
In a healthy male, the pituitary gland in the brain releases luteinizing hormone (LH) into the blood stream, which signals the testes to “GO” and produce testosterone. After testosterone has been produced it naturally converts to some estrogen (yes, there’s estrogen in men too) and this estrogen acts as a “STOP” signal to the pituitary to stop making LH. It is a delicate system of checks and balances which I have simplified here for our purposes.

Clomid (clomiphene citrate, or CC pill) works by blocking estrogen at the pituitary and hypothalamus. Thus, the usual estrogen message to "STOP" production of LH is essentially silenced, and therefore the pituitary makes more LH and there is an increased "GO" signal to produce testosterone in the testes. HCG works by mimicking LH, which also increases the "GO" signal to produce more testosterone in the testes. Prescribing testosterone for a man, however, does the opposite of what clomiphene and HCG do.

With traditional testosterone replacement therapy, the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary) gets the message that there is plenty of testosterone being made in the testes, so much so that it doesn't need to make anymore. Subsequently, the pituitary stops producing LH, and the natural production of testosterone (and sperm) in the testes ceases, which is why traditional testosterone replacement results in testicular shrinkage and low sperm count...a man's testosterone and sperm manufacturing plant is essentially shut off.

Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) and/or HCG do not turn off the testosterone manufacturing plant but rather turn it back on or reboot it. While some hypogonadal men require continuous use of clomiphene, for others it can be used for a 3-6 month time period and then discontinued. And, the checks and balances system is not interrupted, so there aren't the testosterone replacement side-effects which occur due to intentional or unintentional testosterone overdosing. Most interestingly, although it used to be thought that clomiphene and/or HCG only worked on young men, in the past decade or so it has been used effectively in older men too.

The 5 Main Reasons Clomiphene Citrate (CC pill, or Clomid) May be a Good Alternative to Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Men with Low Testosterone Due to Secondary Hypogonadism:

1. Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) stimulates the body's own production of testosterone

2. Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) doesn't interfere with the body's checks and balances of testosterone

3. Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) comes as a pill easily administered by mouth

4. Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) is generic and very cheap2

5. Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) has little side-effects and low risk of developing these side-effects3

The 5 Main Reasons Clomiphene Citrate (CC pill, or Clomid) is Not Usually Prescribed to Men with Low Testosterone Due to Secondary Hypogonadism:

1. Most doctors aren't aware of the efficacy and safety of clomiphene use in men

2. Most doctors think of Clomid as a "women's drug" to increase fertility

3. Clomid is FDA approved only for use in women

4. Clomid use in men is considered "off label"

5. Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) is now generic and really inexpensive so it's not advertised very much

Note: HCG is more commonly known and prescribed for secondary hypogonadism in men but it involves injection and is expensive, so if clomiphene works alone I think that is preferred.


The 4 Main Risks of Using Clomiphene Citrate (CC pill, or Clomid) in Men with Low Testosterone Due to Secondary Hypogonadism:

1. Very rarely, visual changes may occur which are reversible with discontinuation

2. In older men, there is a reported increased risk of pyospermia (a noninfectious increase in white blood cells in semen, with unseen detriment)

3. Clomiphene citrate (CC pill) is a drug which is not bioidentical. This means it's molecular structure doesn't mimic a compound naturally found in the human body. And, correspondingly, clomiphene citrate (CC pill) doesn't have a known natural function in the human body and thus may at some point manifest a currently unknown side-effect in men. This latter, however, is a theoretical risk because for more than 40 years clomiphene use in men has only shown the risks above.

4. Clomiphene may not work...especially in older men who in addition to secondary hypogonadism may also have primary hypogonadism; or in men with an unresolved chronic disease4

In conclusion, in the appropriate male patient, clomiphene citrate (CC pill, or Clomid) may be a good alternative to both short and long-term testosterone replacement therapy. Regardless, just like testosterone replacement, clomiphene citrate (CC pill) must be administered and monitored by a competent physician.

Fuck you, WIFE! Can't a guy have an off day?!!?