Men's Health Forum: This is a discussion on Dangers of TRT? within the Anabolic Steroids forums, part of the extensive steroid information at MESO-Rx; Originally Posted by 1cc
Is there any way to avoid Polycythemia when doing TRT ?
One of the reasons men ...
Location: Monterey, California, USA. See Profile for contact info.
Posts: 817
Rep Power: 4
TRT and Polycythemia
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1cc
Is there any way to avoid Polycythemia when doing TRT?
One of the reasons men usually have more red blood cells than women is the presence of testosterone. Testosterone increase the production of red blood cells.
One of the dangers of TRT is polycythemia. It can lead to congestive heart failure if it is not addresed.
Congestive heart failure is how some professional bicyclists who use erythropoietin (which stimulates red blood cell production) die. Thus one has to be careful with this condition.
Therapeutic phlebotomy, blood donation, reducing TRT are some of the options to address this problem. But reduction of TRT should be seriously considered.
__________________ Any statement I make on this site is for educational purposes only and will change as medical knowledge progresses. It does not constitute medical advice, does not substitute for proper medical evaluation from physician, does not create a doctor/patient relationship or liability. If you would like medical advice, please ask your doctor. Thank you.
If only testosterone is used in replacement therapy, a person does run the risk of causing atrophy of the testes and reduction in sperm production. This is because with the higher testosterone levels, the brain does not need to produce luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to increase testosterone production. The lower follicle stimulating hormone levels also reduce sperm production. If a person wants to have optimum fertility, while on testosterone replacement therapy, then it is important to supplement testosterone treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) treatment. HCG behaves in the human body like LH and FSH. It will keep the testes from atrophy, and maintain sperm production. SWALE has a great protocol to use as a starting point.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, in part or whole, but it is myunderstanding that HCG treatment essentially mimics LH but not FSH? So, the adverse effects on sperm production would persist on TRT + HCG only treatment. OTOH, HMG behaves more like FSH and would its inclusion would be indicated if fertility is of particular concern.
I thought that hCG was just a LH analogue too. But I have also read, that fertilty specialists will use hCG first in males to see if that brings about adequate fertilty, if this does not work then they add hMG. Perhaps this is because hMG has a stonger effect as it contains FSH? It would seem that hCG might work well for some men and not for others in this regard?
Should males on TRT have a drastically reduced ejaculate volume, even if hCG is added to the protocol?
Mine is much lower since being on testosterone, could this mean that my Oxytocin levels are low even though I use hCG? I suppose not producing any FSH doesnt help either!
Please correct me if I'm wrong, in part or whole, but it is myunderstanding that HCG treatment essentially mimics LH but not FSH? So, the adverse effects on sperm production would persist on TRT + HCG only treatment. OTOH, HMG behaves more like FSH and would its inclusion would be indicated if fertility is of particular concern.
I am on the TRT w/HCG protocol per Swale. I use Androgel pump with six pumps per day. Ejaculate volume stayed roughly the same but also was worried about fertility. Tried HMG and ejaculate volume shot up, and not a marginal difference but very obvious one. I can't testify to the motility or quality of the sperm obviously but I think it's something that should be looked into.
Did I just hijack this thread?
Well, for the original poster, I'm 47 and after my blook work showed low testosterone, my doctor put me on the Androgel. The difference in the quality of my life was tremendous. Energy level up, no more depression, strength improved and I want to go the gym again, etc. I'm never going off.
I'm on my fourth month now. What was surprising was the immediate relief I felt in the first week or so. After several weeks I felt so much better it was obvious something was working. It is a pain doing the daily gel thing though. I got my DR to prescibe some test injectable for times I go on vacation and don't want to hassle with the gel.
I am on the TRT w/HCG protocol per Swale. I use Androgel pump with six pumps per day. Ejaculate volume stayed roughly the same but also was worried about fertility. Tried HMG and ejaculate volume shot up, and not a marginal difference but very obvious one. I can't testify to the motility or quality of the sperm obviously but I think it's something that should be looked into.
Did I just hijack this thread?
Well, for the original poster, I'm 47 and after my blook work showed low testosterone, my doctor put me on the Androgel. The difference in the quality of my life was tremendous. Energy level up, no more depression, strength improved and I want to go the gym again, etc. I'm never going off.
How long did you try the hMG for Operator? I would imagine it was very expensive?
Since it contains FSH, this must be what improved your semen volume... as its meant to be a more powerfull fertility aid than hCG.
How long did you try the hMG for Operator? I would imagine it was very expensive?
Since it contains FSH, this must be what improved your semen volume... as its meant to be a more powerfull fertility aid than hCG.
Just one dose of 75IU, I have two more doses I have not used yet. I don't intend to use it regularly, it was just an experiment to see what would happen.
I was surprised by what happened with the one dose. Of course, I can't say this wasn't due to some natural variability of my body to produce ejaculate but I'd never seen volume like this before.
TRT and Polycythemia 
Linear Mode
