How long should I wait?

Rausch

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Currently using clomid (under a doctor's orders) at 100mg/day to see if it restores pituitary function. Been on clomid for 7 weeks as I was tapering off Androgel. Been off the gel for about 10 days. Blood test on Friday revealed the following:

TOTAL TESTOTERONE: 183 ng/dL (350-890)
LH: 0.5 (1.5-9.3)
FSH: 3.0 (1.4-18.1)

Prior to this, on the gel, I was maintaining a total testosterone level between 600-700 ng/dL. My LH tested at 0.5 2 weeks prior to this test and my FSH was at 0.3. As you can see, I have secondary hypogonadism. FSH moved up some and LH didn't budge.

The question is: How long do I wait it out on the Clomid? When do I say "enough is enough" and go back on the gel?

I'm 25 years old and this whole situation is starting to kill the relationship I have with my wife.
 
JanSz

JanSz

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Currently using clomid (under a doctor's orders) at 100mg/day to see if it restores pituitary function. Been on clomid for 7 weeks as I was tapering off Androgel. Been off the gel for about 10 days. Blood test on Friday revealed the following:

TOTAL TESTOTERONE: 183 ng/dL (350-890)
LH: 0.5 (1.5-9.3)
FSH: 3.0 (1.4-18.1)

Prior to this, on the gel, I was maintaining a total testosterone level between 600-700 ng/dL. My LH tested at 0.5 2 weeks prior to this test and my FSH was at 0.3. As you can see, I have secondary hypogonadism. FSH moved up some and LH didn't budge.

The question is: How long do I wait it out on the Clomid? When do I say "enough is enough" and go back on the gel?

I'm 25 years old and this whole situation is starting to kill the relationship I have with my wife.
Have you been doing steroids?
Why this restart of HPTA.
 

Rausch

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Have you been doing steroids?
Why this restart of HPTA.
Jan - I have posted my history in other threads before. Yes, I did a testosterone enanthate cycle that lasted 30 weeks @ 500mg/wk from 2005-January 2006. I ran clomid (liquid research not pharmacy grade) for 4 months and stopped. Initially diagnosed with low test in February 2007 at 142 ng/dL. Started on 5g androgel and managed to stabilize around 600-700. Now, per my post, back down to 183 ng/dL only 10 days off the gel - and I tapered my way down off the gel.
 
JanSz

JanSz

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Jan - I have posted my history in other threads before. Yes, I did a testosterone enanthate cycle that lasted 30 weeks @ 500mg/wk from 2005-January 2006. I ran clomid (liquid research not pharmacy grade) for 4 months and stopped. Initially diagnosed with low test in February 2007 at 142 ng/dL. Started on 5g androgel and managed to stabilize around 600-700. Now, per my post, back down to 183 ng/dL only 10 days off the gel - and I tapered my way down off the gel.
I do not read everything.

I would do 380iu HCG E2D, every other day.
For 3 monts, then do these tests at Quest Diagnostics, blood drawn at Quest.

Estradiol, Free, LC/MS/MS (36169X)
Testosterone, Free, Bio/Total (LC/MS/MS)
Dihydrotestosterone, Free, Serum (36168X)

If you are ok, then, try to wean out of HCG

Continue another 2-3 monts if you have a doubts.

If you are not satisfied by 6th month,
continue HCG.

Add external testosterone as need to get BAT in top of range.

If DHT is very low, use transdermal, Androgel every day.
If DHT is ok, use injectable test, use E2D schedule.

.
 

rick055

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Philosophically speaking...

I'd give it a few months, play around with hCG, clomid, etc... and see where you are. 10 days is not long to be off of the gel, and I'd be willing to bet you're still suppressed to some degree.

Also - and bear in mind I've not read your other posts - you seem to think you're secondary. Why? Your LH/FSH is low, but that's exactly what you would expect to see being on exogenous T. Was your LH low before you started test? I don't quite understand the middle part of your post where you discuss this. And you wouldn't expect your LH/FSH to go up wile on test, just the opposite.

You just came off T, do your "post cycle", so to speak, and see how you are in a few months. I wouldn't judge anything today, because, though you tapered, you really just came off.

Get the "boys" up to their peak, see where you are, and then make the decision.

Good luck.
 

Rausch

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Philosophically speaking...

I'd give it a few months, play around with hCG, clomid, etc... and see where you are. 10 days is not long to be off of the gel, and I'd be willing to bet you're still suppressed to some degree.

Also - and bear in mind I've not read your other posts - you seem to think you're secondary. Why? Your LH/FSH is low, but that's exactly what you would expect to see being on exogenous T. Was your LH low before you started test? I don't quite understand the middle part of your post where you discuss this. And you wouldn't expect your LH/FSH to go up wile on test, just the opposite.

You just came off T, do your "post cycle", so to speak, and see how you are in a few months. I wouldn't judge anything today, because, though you tapered, you really just came off.

Get the "boys" up to their peak, see where you are, and then make the decision.

Good luck.
My FSH and LH tested low before I went on TRT. They were almost unreadable a year after being off the steroid cycle. I'm relatively sure that counts as secondary hypogonadism.
 

rick055

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My FSH and LH tested low before I went on TRT. They were almost unreadable a year after being off the steroid cycle. I'm relatively sure that counts as secondary hypogonadism.
Yep, that would be secondary. I couldn't make out from the post exactly when the tests were.

I also think that changes the calculus a little. From what I understand, primary hypogonadism is more responsive to treatment, which may mean you wait less to begin your TRT.
 
JanSz

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Yep, that would be secondary. I couldn't make out from the post exactly when the tests were.

I also think that changes the calculus a little. From what I understand, primary hypogonadism is more responsive to treatment, which may mean you wait less to begin your TRT.
Primary-- testicles cannot produce
Secondary-- testicles are ok but do not have an order to produce.

he looks like secondary.

He is not loosing much time if he goes, as I advised in post above, with HCG trial.
If that does not work, without skipping a beat, he just adds T.
But it already looks that he is on HCG forever.

I would not go for any Clomid or some such.
 

anyman

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You are far too young to go it alone on this.

I highly suggest you contact a specialist, like Dr' John Crisler in Lansing, Michigan. He is said to be very well versed in situations like yours.

You've too much to lose to **** around and chase wrong paths.
 

Rausch

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Primary-- testicles cannot produce
Secondary-- testicles are ok but do not have an order to produce.

he looks like secondary.

He is not loosing much time if he goes, as I advised in post above, with HCG trial.
If that does not work, without skipping a beat, he just adds T.
But it already looks that he is on HCG forever.

I would not go for any Clomid or some such.
Wouldnt HCG serve to suppress normal LH production, since it acts as an LH agent?
 

Rausch

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I highly suggest you contact a specialist, like Dr' John Crisler in Lansing, Michigan. He is said to be very well versed in situations like yours.

You've too much to lose to **** around and chase wrong paths.
I've been working with an endocrinologist at Duke University. Not all of us can afford the luxury of having a renowned industry professional to consult.
 

Rausch

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Yep, that would be secondary. I couldn't make out from the post exactly when the tests were.

I also think that changes the calculus a little. From what I understand, primary hypogonadism is more responsive to treatment, which may mean you wait less to begin your TRT.
I'm trying to figure out what you meant by your last statement. You said PRIMARY hypogonadism is more responsive to treatment. What does that mean for me - keeping in mind that I suffer from secondary hypogonadism?
 

anyman

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I do not think DR. Crisler charges are excessive. In fact, airfare may be more.

I've been working with an endocrinologist at Duke University. Not all of us can afford the luxury of having a renowned industry professional to consult.
The last I recall his charges were pretty reasonable, something like $300 for an initial consult. Airfare is likely more, depending on where you live.

Either way, as I see you can't afford NOT to get the best help you can even if that means something else has to be put off. We're talking about you and your body- is there anything more valuable than that? Let's say the whole experience costs, say $1k. Not much, is it? Amortize that over the rest of your life and possibility that your health could be restored. Seems like a good investment to me. Find a way to get the money. The 50 year old you will kick you in what's left of your balls if you don't at least try.
 

rick055

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Wouldnt HCG serve to suppress normal LH production, since it acts as an LH agent?
Yes, LH would serve to suppress endogenous LH, but it is the treatment of choice for secondary hypogonadism. Since (as long as you are also not primary) your testes work but are just not getting enough of the chemical messenger (LH) from the pituitary to be stimulated to action, you replace what's missing.

But, being secondary, you are already suppressed.

That said, not all people get a satisfactory response (QOL, not labs) with just hCG and usually try hCG + test.
 

rick055

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I'm trying to figure out what you meant by your last statement. You said PRIMARY hypogonadism is more responsive to treatment. What does that mean for me - keeping in mind that I suffer from secondary hypogonadism?
My understanding - bearing in mind I'm no expert - is that, if you're secondary, there's really not much you can do to try to get the pituitary to secrete more LH, so a diagnosis usually means that you start hCG.

Sometimes, in primary hypogonadism, doctors will try to stimulate the testes or use clomid to see if endogenous production can get ramped up, but I don't even think many of these are successful.

So said another way, I believe that if you are secondary, the route is a little more clear. Certainly your endocrinologist would know better.

As far as what anyman said, and although I appreciate the economic component, I agree with him 100%. You might want to check with your insurance company about getting reimbursed for an out-of-network doctor. I would think your meds would be covered regardless, and the only question becomes the $300 initial consultation fee and the $50 follow up office visits. But really, when you see a specialist, you usually have a co-pay close to the $50. It's just worth thinking about is all.

Dr. John is one of the best, this is what he does.
 

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