Low libido may not be due to low testosterone (CNN article)

[solo47]

It's all in the mind, that abstract, relational space through which we experience life. I shot up all sorts of shit from Test to Mast to HCG that usually drives me over the edge with lust, but then went for drinks with professional colleagues. Couldn't help but note the tension across my belly. My habit routines & relational protocol were causing me to suppress the increased animal drives within me. I had to suppress any lusty thoughts/feelings as well as the tendency to mock stupid things that got said. Of course, extra Test will add to your sex drive — IF you're in a position that your natural libido would have roused to the challenge anyway! Test will not overcome psychological inhibitions. And some gents have those built deeply in from way back.

Solo

[chap]

Actually I think that they are actually clued in to the realities of the complexities of libido. Many many guys go into trt thinking that it will be the answer to all libido issues forever, and then find out that their libido was actually stronger and erection and ejaculatory function were much better while natural with low testosterone, then compared to anything they are able to achieve with any trt program.

It should be required reading for those considering hrt, that many men are very dissatisfied with hrt. Check out all the threads on here about guys wanting off hrt and attempting recovery. Also check out all the threads on here about guys continually having to adjust and experiment with their hrt protocals and never seeming to be able to find a perfect solution. It is not an easy simple perfect solution, far from it.

[love_en]

Originally Posted by chap

Actually I think that they are actually clued in to the realities of the complexities of libido. Many many guys go into trt thinking that it will be the answer to all libido issues forever, and then find out that their libido was actually stronger and erection and ejaculatory function were much better while natural with low testosterone, then compared to anything they are able to achieve with any trt program.

It should be required reading for those considering hrt, that many men are very dissatisfied with hrt. Check out all the threads on here about guys wanting off hrt and attempting recovery. Also check out all the threads on here about guys continually having to adjust and experiment with their hrt protocals and never seeming to be able to find a perfect solution. It is not an easy simple perfect solution, far from it.

A common issue I keep on seeing in those of us who do not miraculously go back to normal after going on TRT is adrenal and thyroid insufficiency. The problem is doctors have the same ignorance and stubborness concerning those problems as they do low T. Because of the flawed reference ranges for thyroid and adrenal tests, along with the head up the ass mentality of the AACE, there are many of us who do have problems in those areas. For example, I had a response to an ACTH stim test that would have scared the crap out of Dr Jeffries. My cortisol did not double from baseline, it only went 10 points up. I think that is called low adrenal reserve. I have had problems long before I knew what testosterone or cortisol were. I was always underweight and I had a severe reaction to warm weather. Which meant that 8 months out of the year I would be in various states of malaise. Hawaii was not paradise for me back then.

I know Phil is finding out that he is adrenal insufficient due to being hypopituitary. Because of doctors taking reference ranges as gospel and their prejudice against supplementing corticosteroids, someone like him or myself is all too often passed off as normal. I have said this before, we should not have to suffer because doctors do not know how to properly prescribe Armour thyroid or they overdose people on prednisone and are phobic of hydrocortisone due to the side effects they see from that overdose.

[chap]

bottom line is that I think it is good to see an article like this one, as it counters the widely held belief that going on hrt and injecting testosterone would be the answer to all male problems

many still believe that, and many of us did believe that at one time until we found out the hard way

[Sunkist]

Originally Posted by love_en

That states my point exactly. First impression of this study suggests an anti-TRT agenda. My anger towards the researchers stems from their innocent or deliberate support of the anti-TRT agenda. Not to mention the omission of the other critical factors affecting libido.

Well said. That is the first thing my paranoia picked out. Many of us here are as you say still trying to figure it out, but we are ahead of the game. The agenda is what bothers me. I don't want to go back however... the depression was the worst before TRT.