Finally figured out my main issue

[Gutterpump]

Finally figured out my main issue (varicocele)

So after years of searching, I finally had a general practitioner discover a varicocele on my left side (typical location)... Something even my urologist didn't find and endo didn't, even after searching around.

I have an appointment coming up with a fertility specialist in my urological center. They're going to do an ultrasound, semen analysis and possible surgery for it.

So with the varicocele and pituitary microadenoma that I have, I guess I was basically screwed from all sides - top and bottom. At least now I know

I've been on TRT for a few years now. I guess this means after the surgery, my HCG may work better? Also, I assume I would remain on TRT since it's been ongoing a few years already?

Currently I am on HCG monotherapy again until I join a new local clinic due to new laws against shipping meds out of state. My last clinic was not in NY. I'm not sure what's going on with the monotherapy as I've just taken new labs yesterday to see what it's doing for me, but I swear I am having the most painful night time erections right now, for a few weeks or so.. the type of wood that won't go away even if I will it... I've almost been thinking it's priapism but it's not, I don't think. Been back on monotherapy for a month or so. 150-200iu HCG eod, 12.5mg aromasin eod.

I'll post up my hcg monotherapy labs in a week when I get them, in case people want to see. I don't expect them to be great since I have the varicocele.

 

[Gutterpump]

Any thoughts here? Am I too old to expect that treating the varicocele now will bring back normal testicular function? Pretty sure I've had this for a very long time.

 

[v4lu3s]

i did not get testicular function back. then again i had a stage 3 on one side and stage 2 on the right. i had them for 20+ years before being treated. pre surgery my left nut was slightly smaller than my right. post surgery my right nut is a LOT larger, and my left is smaller and softer than before. my total testosterone is unchanged at around 300...but my total estrogen dropped by over 50% giving me a better test/estrogen ratio. maybe you will get lucky...maybe not. I think the restoration of function is a lot more common in younger guys.

 

[Gutterpump]

Yeah that's what I thought. Well I'd be happy if it improved fertility at least and helped my hCG work a bit better.

I mentioned varicocele to my Dr 5 years ago and he never had it checked. He stopped once we found the microadenoma. Still can't believe it was a GP who found it, and not even my own regular DR or urologist or even the endo I used to see. My urologist yesterday even told me it will only effect fertility, and not test... which is incorrect. He is a pretty good urologist here in NYC as well. I guess I need to print him some articles for when I go in next. They should know these things.

 

[DragonRider]

i did not get testicular function back. then again i had a stage 3 on one side and stage 2 on the right. i had them for 20+ years before being treated. pre surgery my left nut was slightly smaller than my right. post surgery my right nut is a LOT larger, and my left is smaller and softer than before. my total testosterone is unchanged at around 300...but my total estrogen dropped by over 50% giving me a better test/estrogen ratio. maybe you will get lucky...maybe not. I think the restoration of function is a lot more common in younger guys.

I've had mine for at least 40 years that I'm aware of. Mine was so obvious, I brought it to the attention of my doctor when I was about 13. From the posts I've read, it seems even the young guys don't get a significant rise in testosterone, but maybe the successes never post.

 

[DragonRider]

Well I'd be happy if it improved fertility at least and helped my hCG work a bit better.

Mine never affected fertility that I'm aware of, but it might explain why I have 3 girls and no boys.

 

[Gutterpump]

True, I've heard that having lower test means higher chance of having girls and not a boy.

Thanks for the feedback though. Did you have any noticeable changes with anything after having the varicocele fixed?

I'm a lil worried for surgery. Since I'm on HC, I guess I need to tell them so that they'll give me a shot of cortisone to deal with the stress of surgery. I'm not doctor supervised though with my HC therapy, so I'm not sure how the Dr's will react to this.

 

[v4lu3s]

since i got surgery i have had slightly more energy, a bit better sex drive, nuts that are a lot more sensitive to pain, reduction in the size of the varicocele. I had laparascopic surgery April 25 of this year. As far as blood work the only thing that changed was the drop in estradiol. I am going back for on more set of labs before I go to the urologist for TRT. I can literally take a nap every 3 hours and still sleep 7-10 hours at night without a problem. It used to be I had no energy at all between naps, but its a little better.

 

[Gutterpump]

Have you looked into adrenals as well?
I used to be the same way with energy until I started HC therapy

 

[v4lu3s]

It is something i am going to look into, with total test at 300 and dropping though i kind of have a problem that can be pretty easily addressed with a doctor who I get along with.

 

[Gutterpump]

It is something i am going to look into, with total test at 300 and dropping though i kind of have a problem that can be pretty easily addressed with a doctor who I get along with.

Good luck and I hope all works out for you. I was in a similar situation with test at 300, and simply adding more test didn't do the trick. Just something to keep in mind.. It's a tangled web

I get an ultrasound and possible surgery next month. Hoping for better response from hcg, larger loads and improvement in fertility (if it turns out to be a current issue)