Thread: Dangers of TRT?
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Old 01-28-2006, 04:51 PM
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Default Fertility and Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Quote:
FROM ANONYMOUS: im 19 and have very low testosterone, sky high lh and fsh, caused by varicocele which degenerated my testicles.

i went on trt for 6 months which desimated my sperm count. ive know been off trt for several months and im going to start banking sperm as its gradually started to return (i had a recent analysis)

my question is whether it is a bad idea to take DIM/indolplex if im trying to bank. i have an incredibly low fertility and dont want to effect my chances. also would doing half a pack of testogel (2.5g) effect my HPTA to such an extent that it would effect fertility, (i dont have HCG)

as ive mentioned fertility is the key, but id quite like to improve my body a little if i can as well, and once ive banked i can hit the testogel hard.
Testosterone replacement therapy increases testosterone levels. This is sensed by the hypothalamus, which then reduces the release of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) from the Pituitary. Luteinizing Hormone is needed to increase testosterone production from the testes. Follicle Stimulating Hormone is needed to stimulate sperm production.

When a person has low testosterone and sperm production because of testicular hypofunction, the FSH and LH levels are very high because the brain is trying its hardest to stimulate testosterone production (which also increases sperm production). Testosterone replacement will reduce FSH and LH, causing a reduction in testosterone and sperm production.

There is more to the story...

Sperm production is also dependent on having adequate Estrogen Activity and Oxytocin Activity. Both are linked. Estrogen increases Oxytocin release. Estrogen stimulates sperm production and testicular size - just as FSH/LH and its analog HCG do. Oxytocin, itself, can increase sperm production and ejaculate volume. Ejaculate fluid itself is necessary for normal fertility - the sperm alone would be useless in normal sex.

High estrogen levels can reduce sex drive and can have other adverse effects - such as heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.

Low estrogen levels also can reduce sex drive and can have other adverse effects - such as high cholesterol levels, impaired memory - and low sperm production.

The use of DIM and I3C to reduce estrogen activity may seriously reduce sperm production just as reducing FSH and LH levels (from increasing testosterone levels) can do. If anything, it is important to maintain physiologic estrogen levels to maintain sperm production.

If a person has low testosterone levels, which can lead to low estrogen levels, it may be important to increase estrogen to normal physiologic levels to stimulate sperm production.

It is important to balance estrogen with normal progesterone levels - which helps protect the person from some of the risks of estrogen (blood clots, heart attacks, stroke).

Oxytocin may be considered to raise sperm production and ejaculate volume. However it is a non-usual and a nonstandard treatment even by TRT standards. It can be compounded into a nasal spray - the dose range is about 10-24 IU a day. It is highly important for this to be monitored by a physician. Oxytocin, at its worse, can raise blood pressure, can result in excessive fluid retention, and other potentially fatal risks (just as estrogen can lead to heart attack, stroke and blood clots). These can be monitored on exam and lab testing.
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Last edited by marianco; 01-28-2006 at 05:19 PM.
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