Thanks for the detailed reply.
In the meantime, while I wait to hear back from the doctor, will the first dose or two (or several) of
Androgel have any negative effect on my fertility (if I have decent fertility at all given my
testosterone level) or would I only have to worry about prolonged use?
Probably not, in studies using testosterone ias a male contraceptive (in Europe) I believe it took weeks to go to zero. But everyone is different and you're pretty low to begin with If I'm infertile now, would
TRT help, hurt even more, or just leave it as it is?
Hurt. I asked my doc the same question. "If I'm low and test is needed for sperm maturation, will adding test be beneficial? Answer is no, exogenous T shuts you down. Assuming that I'm already infertile, would it be better to start
hCG now as opposed to waiting until I need it?
Matter of opinion, I would start now. As an added benefit you maintain you baseline testosterone production, avoid sometimes painful atrophy If my MRI is normal, how do I know if my hypogonadism is primary (hCg off-label) or secondary (hCG on-label)? The endocrinologist seemed to think it from my pituitary (secondary, right?), but didn't explain why.
By a measure of hormon releasing hormones. If your LH comes back very low, your pituitary is not sending out enough releasing hormone versus primary where you are getting enough releasing hormone but your nuts are not responding to it If it IS secondary, why is he opposed to using
hCG?
No idea. Is it because the testosterone is the primary issue, I'm probably infertile now, and if I eventually do need to deal with infertility, I could just take hCG then?
hCG isn't just for fertility. It is also used, on label, to raise testosterone levels in hypogonadotropic (secondary) hypogonadism. Some people report that the don't feel much better on hCG (and hCG has a limit to how much it can raise T on it's own), so maybe that's why. GOOD LUCK!!
Also:
- What do the posters here think about the headache issue?
beyond me, maybe pituitary???
- How long after starting
TRT will I feel/notice any benefits/changes?
depends, it is not a magic pill that works instantly
- Should I also be seeing a urologist regularly?
At least a baseline consult. Have a digital rectal to monitor changes in prostate
This is all very confusing and frustrating.
Yes it is, but we're here with you.
Thanks again!