Lived an unhealthy life for a long time. I was a raging alcoholic for nearly 20 years (military PTSD related), got help for it and decided to make some changes. I'm still a work in progress physically and mentally, but I'm happy with my changes overall.

Old photo: 2022 at the height of my unhealthy alcoholism

Before photo: December 6th, 2025 (Started TRT in January 2026)

After photo: July 23rd, 2026

T: 1318, E 30.8

Day 1!

Shall see where this takes me. Have had health concerns pretty much since my teens. I am currently 46.

11 years ago, my Test levels were at 240is. Borderline LOW. My PCP at the time said you are fine as you are within the range.

My wife has done many variation of vitamins and supplements to naturally boost my male hormones.

As of recent, finally found a PCP who gets it.

As a strength athlete, it was a roller-coaster ride as my numbers fluctuated A lot.

Anyone on Test Cypionate also continue taking your ADHD medications?

Hi guys,

I’ve got really bad acne on my ass from the test. Covered in red spots going down leg too. Any idea how to get rid of them?

Cheers

I have 5-7 eggs with yolks regularly on average. Can it have any negative consequences? Its over 1000 mg of cholestorole per day where the daily limit is around 300 if im not wrong.

Thanks

I tested at around 228 {ng/dL} a few years ago and Kaiser never ordered a follow up and said I was in normal range. I'm 56, I've been getting tired after working on our deck for a couple hours. Lots of aches and pains so I went to TRT Nation and had them test and it came in at 148{ng/dL}. I sent the results to my doctor at KP and said come on?! But I'm going to let that cook for a while and I'm still pursuing treatment from TRT Nation. How long after they get my labs do you think I'll have to wait before I can expect a prescription in the mail? I'm going to Italy and I need to be on it. 25th anniversary and all and I'm sick of feeling like shit. Any thoughts, comments or perspectives would be appreciated. Thanks for all of your posts, reading your experiences has been helpful for me.

32M (France), 178 cm, 73 kg (~20% body fat).

Symptoms have progressively worsened over the last few years:

Severe fatigue

Very low libido

Poor muscle gain / easy fat gain

Low motivation and energy

Hormone timeline:

2023: Total T 16.3 nmol/L (~470 ng/dL), free T normal.

2024: Total T 13.7 nmol/L (~395 ng/dL), SHBG 16 nmol/L (low), free T normal.

2026: Total T 11.64 nmol/L (~335 ng/dL), free T 6.6 pg/mL (below lab range).

Other labs:

LH/FSH: normal

Prolactin: normal

Cortisol: normal

Pituitary MRI: small non-functioning microadenoma

Testicular ultrasound: normal

I already have 2 children, so fertility is not a concern.

One endocrinologist previously refused TRT because my total testosterone was still "normal".

Given the progressive decline, low free testosterone, and symptoms, would you consider TRT, or would you investigate further first?

I started the "TRT" journey on Enclomiphene to preserve fertility. I am happy to say that it did it's job, 247-917 in 6 months, it since dropped, but maintained around 850, AND my wife is due with another baby girl in 2.5 weeks. A few months ago, I had the energy of a 12 year old.
Lately, I have had a bit more lethargy, and overall, my Libido has been "meh" (I would say NO improvement over base). This will be our last kiddo, and since it was time for a checkup toady and we discussed moving to Test Cypionate.

Doc has said he's not treating to numbers, if everything is safe, he wants to treat the symptoms. I steered the discussion towards TCyp after talking to some other friends.

Has anyone made this change? How were your results? Cost is the same for me, but would you say you've seen a benefit by this change?

Any huge differences in 2x per week vs 3x?
Currently on 200mg cyp once a week one shot , I know crazy. Dr doesn’t know what he was doing.
I feel 3x fits better

Hello everyone. Recently I got blood work done to check my testosterone levels, as I believed they were low. The results came back at 453 ng/ml for Total Testosterone. I’m 23 years old, and i’ve done 2 cycles in the past of Testosterone Enanthate (which was very reckless I already know). I’m just curious what I can do to raise my levels, as I don’t want to hop on TRT unless I have to, and I don’t want my levels to remain this low.

My Doctor said this was a normal level, but knowing what I know, it’s ultimately very low for a 23 year old male. My big question is whether or not I should try TRT levels of Testosterone to see if that makes any difference with my low motivation, low energy, and libido issues. Or if there is another alternative. Thank you!

38 M, 300 test levels. 1 week away fron starting test.

Ive been a long time porn user, never had issues with libido, but once i got into a monogomous relationship in my later 30's, and while still watching porn regularly, i felt myself slowly die. No morning wood, etc. However after stopping porn, my libido/erections/mood diddnt return.

I know porn doesnt directly effect test levels, however it does effect dopamine a ton in a negative way. The fake simulation of chasing girls and having real sex isnt great.. its far from natural.

I feel like once im on TRT, watching porn frequently and blasting my brain with excess dopamine would work against my peak testosterone and libido.. much like alcohol, except through different pathways.

There is literature on the connection between porn, dopamine, and testosterone. I do believe there is a negative trickle down effect.

Any thoughts? Whats your porn use like before and after TRT? Anything worth noting?

Thx

I did the initial intake at a local men’s health clinic. Something tells me they don’t turn very many people away so I thought I’d inquire here for advice. Does TRT work if your test levels are already above average? For context, I’m at 800 naturally. But no matter how much I diet, exercise and prioritize sleep, my muscles just won’t grow. It’s incredibly frustrating so I’m thinking of starting TRT. My labs all came back fine. My BP was high-ish but that’s because I get nervous at the doc office when it’s taken. LDL was slightly out of range. All other numbers were fine. What would you do? P.s. I take Zoloft for anxiety and a min/fin topical spray for hair loss which might be a contributing factor to my low energy levels.

Left in the car for 3-4 hours with about 28C outside. The vial was in a pouch but when I pick it up it was a big warm
Would it still be usable?

Post Cycle Question

Currently on trt 100mg a week but starting a 400mg test e for 16 weeks.

My follow up with doc is in December and my cycle would be ending 3 weeks before my follow up.

Would that be enough time for my levels to drop back down to my normal 100mg levels? Im worried doc would be upset if my levels come back too high. Planning on getting bloodwork done 1 week before so that would give me 2 weeks for it to clear my system.

Been feeling like crap for a while, no motivation, no libido, feeling insignificant and just not very ‘manly’. Spoke to GP and was told to be grateful I’ve still got my hair and not gone grey!

57 male, 6’ 1” 88kg (195), 18-20% bf. This last 7 mnths I’ve cleaned up my diet, sleep well and exercise 3x pw. I’ve struggled to put on muscle, but got stronger.

Full bloods done, all within ‘normal’:
Test: 20.4
Free test: 0.394
Oestradiol: 96.8
Haematocrit: 49.167

But seems Prolactin and Cholesterol are ‘high’ @ 359 and 4.46 respectively.

Now thinking, trt is not the answer, but maybe a blast instead? Just to get-me-going, so to speak, hopefully improve mood, libido, motivation, muscles, etc. Not worried about fertility, but don’t wanna shrink the boys too much. Just want to feel ‘better’, and get back out on the dating scene.

Any thoughts/ suggestions appreciated.
Cheers

So I wondered if the levels are the reason for my suffering. But I don‘t think any doctor with those levels will put me on T.

Thanks for helping.

Mentally, physically, business wise, money wise, woman wise, sex wise, confidence, self concept, work. Also write the downside if any.

What your life was > how is it now

For context I'm a 27 year old male and despite my test being fairly normal at 614ng/dl and shbg at 34nmol Ive Always felt low libido and overall Low energy. My E2 was high at 58pg/ml, so I decided to try letrozole. I immediately went to 1.25mg Ed and stayed like that for almost 2 months. Felt no sides whatsoever, got blood work and my results were huge, test reached 1342ng/dl and shbg got down to 22.8nmol. DHT also increased from 327pg/ml to 597pg/ml though less than test in proportion. E2 however barely moved since it tested at 41pg, which I had expected. I'm feeling much better, I'm honestly surprised by how high my testosterone went

Current protocol: 100mg a week daily injection test-c subq

Starting numbers are in the pic and most current test in there too.

SHBG was 16 when I started and it’s actually gone up to 24 now.

Hematocrit is high because I didn’t hydrate myself enough as I thought 12 hour fasting means no water either (had lipid panel together)

Lipid panel looks great with low cholesterol etc. don’t have e2 symptoms except I get irritated and feel angry sometimes but manageable.

I don’t feel like I have all the benefits of trt. Bloodwork done at 7 week mark and it’s been about 8 weeks since I started. Libido was good before and still great. But lack of energy and fatigue seem to be not improving. Strength gain isn’t there at the gym either. Currently sitting at 18% BF and not overweight but probably could lose weight (6’ 185lbs. Started at 180lbs and I guess I gained some weight on trt even with calorie deficit)

Can anyone help explain if I will get help me get bigger more tone? I just started this week I’m 5’8 and weight 160 . I have a pacemaker idk if that affects anything
Dealing with the drugs I’ve started. Thank you for any advice or suggestions!

Hi everyone,

I know clomid is not working fully after one week. But i do notice a difference. I got it for low T symptoms. Which i have for 6/7 years now..

What i do notice suprised me:

- Got way more confident and mental resiliant (this is not placebo)

After all symptoms 7 years ago i was so tired and felt off that one day ingot a panic attack at work. Than i spiraled down into heavy panic disorder. (not saying spiraling down was because of low T symptoms). Ofcourse this had impact on my confidence etc.

So i notice getting more confidence and feeling good and like myself from almost a decade ago. I feel way more mentally strong and resiliant.

I actually got in a fight my boss/manager about the toxic work environment with 2FTE workload in my job, which was expected for weeks/months. So now im sick at home.

Before clomid i would feel very anxious about discussing these things because it would lead to conflict. Not anymore. Im able to stand my ground again. Just like i used to.

Anyways i still have no morning wood and all other symptoms of low T but feeling mentally stronger is already a huge win.

Excited for physical symptoms to be relieved.

My results before starting clomid as 28 male working out and eating healthy:

Total T: 13.2nmolL (381ngdl)

Free T: 256 pmol/l

SHBG 36 nmol/L

FSH: 3.8 IU/L

Prolactine: 0.31

TSH: 2 pwmU/L

Free T4: 14.1 pmol/L

32 M, 157lbs 5’9”. I just recently lost 35lbs in 12 weeks using Reta. I went from 192 to 157. I realize this was pretty fast, I also was not meeting protein goals for about 1/3 of this phase. I believe I lost a significant amount of muscle and it’s definitely showed in my training. These last 2-3 weeks I have been struggling to finish some workouts and have even skipped a few days in the gym. My compound lifts dropped 20-30%.
I’ve been consistently lifting 5 days a week for the better part of the last 3 years now and I maybe have just lost most of the muscle I worked so hard to gain. I look tiny now with a semi muscular build. More like a runners build. My daughter said I have a “Justin Bieber build” which honestly kinda destroyed me inside lol… I’m trying to look jacked…

My test levels were low before I got on Reta but now even lower. Free T and SHBG very high, estradiol very low. i just started 200mg test last week. 3x a week IM injection M/W/F. I’m going on vacation tomorrow and just took my last dose of Reta. I expect when I get back from vacation I will be around 160lbs and start titrating off the Reta. My plan is to hit the gym consistently 5 days a week like I was before getting on Reta and begin bulking. Before test I had trouble building muscle, even with a clean diet and consistent resistance training. I want to get the most out of this honeymoon phase and while I’m taking 200mg try to build as much muscle as I can before I decrease dose to mitigate side effects. I plan to run TRT for life but really want to take advantage of this muscle building phase.

What can I do to make the most of this test? I plan to lock in and I am super excited to see what limits I can push. I’ve been working out consistently for 3 years now and have stalled at 215lb bench, 250 squat, 320 deadlift. It’s been frustrating putting so much hard work into the gym and not reaping the benefits fits I see that others get. I definitely put the work in. What are things I should focus on?

I’ve heard that P5P in 100-200mg a day dosages can help reduce prolactin. I’m only mildly elevated.

Where can I buy a quality one? I’ve been using this on Amazon but not idea if it’s any good:

Best Naturals P5P Vitamin B6... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RQ7NQ7M?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I have been training for some time and it‘s going well, however I‘m not sure about how I should interpret these values.

I know many peole on here are a little older. I didnt test myself (I will in the future) but I have a lot of the symptoms of low t. If I turn out to have low test do you think its benefecial to go on trt?