Dr John Crisler did a podcast with Jay Campbell and stated he also thinks it it is not needed. My clinic in Boston is Dr. Abraham Morgantaler’s clinic and I met with him and asked him about this. He said he wouldn’t worry about it until HCT was at 55,and even then he would look at the individual and whether or not they are symptomatic. Morgantaler is the guy whose research has changed views on a lot of the alleged dangers of TRT.
What was your HCT before you started TRT? I was at 46 before getting on, probably because I have been working out consistently since 1967. I ran 60 miles per week for over a decade in the mids 1970s to the 1980s. This can also raise HCT. My hematocrit is at 49 now, many would think it’s getting high, but it is only up 3 points. Morgantaler’s opinion, and I agree with it, is that too many clinics micromanage the whole process, adding HCG, AI, and phlebotomy too soon. I wonder if doctors do this to make money. Testosterone cypionate is very cheap and I think that’s why so many doctors start you with gels, HCG, and AI. Why do this if a guy is not symptomatic? Money and profit maybe?
And, as far as HCG is concerned, guys are told that it is needed so testicles don’t shrink. I’ve been on TRT for two years and the shrinkage is minimal. In fact, I never mentioned it as a potential side effect to my wife and she has never noticed any change. Trust me, after 31years she has become very familiar with how they look.