Low testosterone

[StreetDragster]

Ta for that.
I've also just noticed optimale have partner clinics too, few of those nearby too.

Cheers

[xx99xx]

Thumb pricks are ok to dip your toe but they aren't that accurate. If you have the usual symptoms a GP should be able to sort out a proper blood test (after the usual waiting time).

If your thumb prick result comes back low you'd need to get a proper test done anyway so I'd just save the time and expense and go straight to GP.

[272BHP]

xx99xx said:

If your thumb prick result comes back low you'd need to get a proper test done anyway so I'd just save the time and expense and go straight to GP.

I would say that if you can possibly afford it then bite the bullet and test privately - no need to add to the pressure on the NHS with this unless funds do not allow.

[Legacywr]

The NHS test won’t be as thorough as these clinics require.

[Big Rig]

Had my results, these look to be fairly normal readings?

[pteron]

Big Rig said:

The doctor told me the ramipril should actually help with the ED…

That's different to what my doctor says - whilst the reduction in hypertension should reduce the chance of ED, it is a known but rare side effect of ACE2 inhibitors. My doc switched me to an ARB instead which has been shown to be beneficial - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC81095...

[Big Rig]

pteron said:

That's different to what my doctor says - whilst the reduction in hypertension should reduce the chance of ED, it is a known but rare side effect of ACE2 inhibitors. My doc switched me to an ARB instead which has been shown to be beneficial - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC81095...

I switched to an ARB 3 weeks ago (Losartan 25mg daily) have not seen a difference as of yet.

[StreetDragster]

Hi all,

Now that some time has past, could any of those on TRT treatment advise on how it has worked and did it work as described?

Were your energy levels low and are now better? By how much? The same after the initial increase?
Same really for muscle definition, libido, ED, and all the other stuff higher T is supposed to assist with?

What's your dosage and chosen delivery method? Any side effects?


I've had a round of blood tests now, I'm low-T, and i have a consultation this week with the doctor presumably where the risks, dose, method etc are going to be discussed.
I'm aware that I'm dealing with a private company, and its in their best interests to get me on the subscription, so i want some real world feedback over the longer term, hopefully past any placebo effects.
I suspect i will be on injections a few times a week.

Thanks

[Legacywr]

StreetDragster said:

Hi all,

Now that some time has past, could any of those on TRT treatment advise on how it has worked and did it work as described?

Were your energy levels low and are now better? By how much? The same after the initial increase?
Same really for muscle definition, libido, ED, and all the other stuff higher T is supposed to assist with?

What's your dosage and chosen delivery method? Any side effects?


I've had a round of blood tests now, I'm low-T, and i have a consultation this week with the doctor presumably where the risks, dose, method etc are going to be discussed.
I'm aware that I'm dealing with a private company, and its in their best interests to get me on the subscription, so i want some real world feedback over the longer term, hopefully past any placebo effects.
I suspect i will be on injections a few times a week.

Thanks

Ist thing for us to ask is, what drove you to get your T tested?

[8Ace]

simons123 said:

About 10 years ago I had severe mumps meaning recently I have found out I produce no sperm which was obviously devastating when I found this out. My FSH is 56 (average should be between 1-12) and my testostrone was only 6. NHS have offered zero help as expected so I went to see the world's leading male fertility uroligist in London. Because I had sperm before the mumps there is a chance I could reproduce sperm again by blocking my estrogen to increase my T. I will take a sperm analysis in the next few weeks and hopefully I will have some sperm again to freeze if not then an operation is required to get the sperm from the testes directly. There are many cases I've read where Anastrozole has been successful for the need I require, hence why I was planning to take them for up to 6 months. The fact my T has trebled in a month means they are doing something.

Hi Simon. Don't often come on here but wanted to reply as I had basically the same issue. Mumps as a child meant that we needed ICSI to conceive as I was producing hardly any of the

Anyway, we were lucky to have children on the second go and I never gave it another thought until I started getting hot flashes. You expect to be tired after twins so thought it was normal, until I started getting hot flushes ion a weekly basis. I had private healthcare from my work so had a bloodtest on the NHS and saw an endocrinologist privately. My t level was 2.9, roughly that of Pharoah Rameses II.

I also had very high FSH and LH (i think) as my pituitary was basically producing lots of these hormones, to try and force production of T, but it couldn't do any more.

I started on Testogel and it's been lifechanging. All hormone levels are now in range and I have a much better general lease of life and put on probably a stone of muscle. The side effects are infertility (fine by me at this stage!) is distinct shrinkage, but who cares about that. For me this is an upside, as I'm less likely to get my knackers caught in anything.

The one issue I've had is availability. I have a recurring prescription of 1 sachet of testogel a day, but I'm in the middle of a periodic drought. This means I have to ask the doctor seperately, each month, for testogel in a bottle. Same stuff, but as it's not on my repeat prescription it's more of a faff to get hold of.

[Scabutz]

For people getting this privately what are the costs like, and does anyone get it covered under private medical insurance?

I have been treated by the NHS for a number of years. The service is as expected, I have an annual blood test and appointment, the dose gets adjusted based on what the blood test says, not how I feel.

But the biggest problem I have is the doctor is a complete tt. Always finds some way to bk me on any sort of lifestyle choice. She asked if I drank alcohol once, I answered honestly and said I have phases where I dont drink at all and times when I drink more than the recommended amount. She wrote to my doctor saying "I had admitted to heavy drinking".

I have my annual check up on Friday and I am dreading it. Want to go and see someone who doesnt treat me like a child

[Legacywr]

Scabutz said:

For people getting this privately what are the costs like, and does anyone get it covered under private medical insurance?

I have been treated by the NHS for a number of years. The service is as expected, I have an annual blood test and appointment, the dose gets adjusted based on what the blood test says, not how I feel.

But the biggest problem I have is the doctor is a complete tt. Always finds some way to bk me on any sort of lifestyle choice. She asked if I drank alcohol once, I answered honestly and said I have phases where I dont drink at all and times when I drink more than the recommended amount. She wrote to my doctor saying "I had admitted to heavy drinking".

I have my annual check up on Friday and I am dreading it. Want to go and see someone who doesnt treat me like a child

Are you on a T supplement already?

[Scabutz]

Legacywr said:

Are you on a T supplement already?

Yes Testogel.

[Legacywr]

Scabutz said:

Legacywr said:

Are you on a T supplement already?

Yes Testogel.

That used to make me feel unwell, I then went on to Tostran, which was good.

The injectable T supplied by these clinics is better. I think I'm paying £130pm.

[272BHP]

Pricing depends on what treatment is required.

As a rough guide some clinics all in cost could be around 800 a year if you do not require additional medications on top of the testosterone. More expensive clinics could be 1500 and beyond.

Blood tests are not usually included so budget another 350 a year for those unless you have an understanding GP

[simons123]

8Ace said:

simons123 said:

About 10 years ago I had severe mumps meaning recently I have found out I produce no sperm which was obviously devastating when I found this out. My FSH is 56 (average should be between 1-12) and my testostrone was only 6. NHS have offered zero help as expected so I went to see the world's leading male fertility uroligist in London. Because I had sperm before the mumps there is a chance I could reproduce sperm again by blocking my estrogen to increase my T. I will take a sperm analysis in the next few weeks and hopefully I will have some sperm again to freeze if not then an operation is required to get the sperm from the testes directly. There are many cases I've read where Anastrozole has been successful for the need I require, hence why I was planning to take them for up to 6 months. The fact my T has trebled in a month means they are doing something.

Hi Simon. Don't often come on here but wanted to reply as I had basically the same issue. Mumps as a child meant that we needed ICSI to conceive as I was producing hardly any of the

Anyway, we were lucky to have children on the second go and I never gave it another thought until I started getting hot flashes. You expect to be tired after twins so thought it was normal, until I started getting hot flushes ion a weekly basis. I had private healthcare from my work so had a bloodtest on the NHS and saw an endocrinologist privately. My t level was 2.9, roughly that of Pharoah Rameses II.

I also had very high FSH and LH (i think) as my pituitary was basically producing lots of these hormones, to try and force production of T, but it couldn't do any more.

I started on Testogel and it's been lifechanging. All hormone levels are now in range and I have a much better general lease of life and put on probably a stone of muscle. The side effects are infertility (fine by me at this stage!) is distinct shrinkage, but who cares about that. For me this is an upside, as I'm less likely to get my knackers caught in anything.

The one issue I've had is availability. I have a recurring prescription of 1 sachet of testogel a day, but I'm in the middle of a periodic drought. This means I have to ask the doctor seperately, each month, for testogel in a bottle. Same stuff, but as it's not on my repeat prescription it's more of a faff to get hold of.

Thanks for the reply man....yeah I'm afraid because of the mumps it wont be possible for me to have biological children which obviously me and my wife were devastated about...so will have to go the donor route via IVF. Weirdly I feel okay about it now as least I have an answer, as long as we have a healthy child then that's all that matters not DNA. It sucks but it's the cards we have been dealt and it could be ALOT worse I guess.

Anyway are you getting your Testogel from the NHS or private? If private may I ask where from and how much it costs you?

[BoloH4wes]

Is anyone else having trouble getting hold of Cypionate at the moment? Optimale are saying their deliveries from the states have been blocked by the DEA (!) and have given me a small amount of Testex to keep me going and are now offering Enanthate until they have Cypionate which i'm not keen on.

[272BHP]

BoloH4wes said:

Is anyone else having trouble getting hold of Cypionate at the moment? Optimale are saying their deliveries from the states have been blocked by the DEA (!) and have given me a small amount of Testex to keep me going and are now offering Enanthate until they have Cypionate which i'm not keen on.

Any reason for not liking Enanthate?

They are similar acting esters unless your body reacts differently to the oils. Enanthate does have the advantage of not crashing as much as Cypionate.

[popeyewhite]

BoloH4wes said:

Is anyone else having trouble getting hold of Cypionate at the moment? Optimale are saying their deliveries from the states have been blocked by the DEA (!) and have given me a small amount of Testex to keep me going and are now offering Enanthate until they have Cypionate which i'm not keen on.

A quick Google for 'buy test cyp' results in a number of potential sources.

[BoloH4wes]

272BHP said:

BoloH4wes said:

Is anyone else having trouble getting hold of Cypionate at the moment? Optimale are saying their deliveries from the states have been blocked by the DEA (!) and have given me a small amount of Testex to keep me going and are now offering Enanthate until they have Cypionate which i'm not keen on.

Any reason for not liking Enanthate?

They are similar acting esters unless your body reacts differently to the oils. Enanthate does have the advantage of not crashing as much as Cypionate.

Yeah it's the oil really, bit more of a faff to inject and slightly more uncomfortable

popeyewhite said:

BoloH4wes said:

Is anyone else having trouble getting hold of Cypionate at the moment? Optimale are saying their deliveries from the states have been blocked by the DEA (!) and have given me a small amount of Testex to keep me going and are now offering Enanthate until they have Cypionate which i'm not keen on.

A quick Google for 'buy test cyp' results in a number of potential sources.

Thanks, I think i'll avoid OutlookIndia and UK Steroids Shop

It's more to see if this is an Optimale issue or a wider supply problem.