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Low libido while on TRT...

EddyStarkFit

EddyStarkFit

New member
My brothers in arms, has anyone here experienced persistent low libido while at TRT and felt as if the exogenous testosterone didn't behave as you natural testosterone in your body? If so, how did you come back from it?

Someone has been on weekly 1/2 to 1 ampule of either Sustanon 250 or Cypionate 200mg, had a SERM such as Clomiphene at 12,5mg EOD and recently added 316IU of hCG e times per week. They also used oxandrolone 15-25mg a day in cycles. Tried adding 100mg of masteron, which apparently made it worse. Added 20mg Pregnenolone + 25mg DHEA, 500mg of ashwagandha ksm-66, NAC, 4mg progesterone cream, oxytocin nasal sprays, vitamin D+K2+A+Mg. All sorts of supplements for boosting NO and lowering inflammation...

By the way, frequent SC pinning to avoid excess aromatization.

Current lab results
Total T = 620 ng/dL
Free T = 20,1 ng/dL
E2 = 33 pg/mL
SHBG = 12 nmol/L

Libido feels nonexistent most of the time, sex often is a burden. Completely unreliable to go out with someone for intimacy.
Stopping everything aside from the PCT elements for a month didn't really help much, although in the end of the first week it appeared to improve libido, only to be a short lived hope.

Also, concerta and oral minoxidil.

Any insights?
 
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Main reason I stopped self administered trt, eventually 200mg and homeostasis kicked in and I needed to raise to 250mg to get the feeling that 200mg use to give me. End of the day I didn't need it but I liked to have the full lean look. But my mistake taking it just for that. Yeah libido eventually tanked compared to being natural. Maybe should have ran hcg the whole time. Tried many things the 2nd year but not much luck for me.
 
I would recommend trying Dermacrine. oral DHEA and pregnenolone have such a short half life that it makes it almost worthless. Dermacrine is perfect for pairing with TRT

Just to confirm, you're not taking any 5a reductase inhibitors like finasteride ?

How long have you been on TRT? When did you drop the clomid?

What's your SHBG? your free test is pretty high, but your total is not
 
delsolrob said:
I would recommend trying Dermacrine. oral DHEA and pregnenolone have such a short half life that it makes it almost worthless. Dermacrine is perfect for pairing with TRT

Just to confirm, you're not taking any 5a reductase inhibitors like finasteride ?

How long have you been on TRT? When did you drop the clomid?

What's your SHBG? your free test is pretty high, but your total is not
Click to expand...
Good call on asking about 5a reductase meds. When I was younger and tried it my libido was crushed , thankfully it recovered. I asked about his free test as I read it as 20.1 , may e that comma is a typo. For me personally I went through a long period of depression and anxiety that tanked libido so sometimes it's something other than hormonal. On meds it's improved.
 
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I would get off all the extra stuff and just do Test and an AI (maybe) and slowly raise the Test to find a better Test level to be at, control/lower your Estrogen after that if needed. Doing that should fix your problem.

Throwing the “kitchen sink” at a problem is usually never a good idea.
 
delsolrob said:
I would recommend trying Dermacrine. oral DHEA and pregnenolone have such a short half life that it makes it almost worthless. Dermacrine is perfect for pairing with TRT

Just to confirm, you're not taking any 5a reductase inhibitors like finasteride ?

How long have you been on TRT? When did you drop the clomid?

What's your SHBG? your free test is pretty high, but your total is not
Click to expand...
No oral 5a reductase inhibitor, but using a 1% shampoo 2x a week. Oral and topical minoxidil for hairloss.

Back on TRT for almost 11 months now. Had been on TRT years ago, with the same weird libido situation. I am using clomid during TRT.

SHBG is low at 12 nmol/L
 
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BBiceps said:
I would get off all the extra stuff and just do Test and an AI (maybe) and slowly raise the Test to find a better Test level to be at, control/lower your Estrogen after that if needed. Doing that should fix your problem.

Throwing the “kitchen sink” at a problem is usually never a good idea.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I was resisting getting off anavar for the muscle and feel, but might be best.

I need to feel normal more than anything else. I'm just afraid to keep feeling this way while on exogenous T as I did the last time I was on.

As my natural levels also bring me issues, TRT is a medical prescription for me and I want to make it work.
 
EddyStarkFit said:
No oral 5a reductase inhibitor, but using a 1% shampoo 2x a week. Oral and topical minoxidil for hairloss.

Back on TRT for almost 11 months now. Had been on TRT years ago, with the same weird libido situation. I am using clomid during TRT.

SHBG is low at 12 nmol/L
Click to expand...
FYI Topical Minox caused insane libido/ED issues for me when I was in my mid 20s and it’s still never recovered fully 10 years later
 
EddyStarkFit said:
Thank you. I was resisting getting off anavar for the muscle and feel, but might be best.

I need to feel normal more than anything else. I'm just afraid to keep feeling this way while on exogenous T as I did the last time I was on.

As my natural levels also bring me issues, TRT is a medical prescription for me and I want to make it work.
Click to expand...
Figure out first how to feel good on Test alone before you add drugs. I saw that you said you’re using Clomid? It’s a possibility that you estrogen is too high or out of range because Clomid can raise estrogen. Are you using an AI?
 
Joshlm69 said:
FYI Topical Minox caused insane libido/ED issues for me when I was in my mid 20s and it’s still never recovered fully 10 years later
Click to expand...
****. Thank you for sharing, your experience is valuable as it gives me hope. You don't really find this written anywhere. I'll try coming off. Screw having hair.
 
BBiceps said:
Figure out first how to feel good on Test alone before you add drugs. I saw that you said you’re using Clomid? It’s a possibility that you estrogen is too high or out of range because Clomid can raise estrogen. Are you using an AI?
Click to expand...
No AI as I'mdoing frequent SC pins not to have that rollercoaster aromatization effect. And blood estrogen was @ 33pg/ml last week, supposed to be ok.
 
EddyStarkFit said:
No AI as I'mdoing frequent SC pins not to have that rollercoaster aromatization effect. And blood estrogen was @ 33pg/ml last week, supposed to be ok.
Click to expand...
Are you doing daily SUBQ test cyp? I am considering trying that as it should reduce the chance of polycythemia.
 
EddyStarkFit said:
****. Thank you for sharing, your experience is valuable as it gives me hope. You don't really find this written anywhere. I'll try coming off. Screw having hair.
Click to expand...
It also gave me dark circles under my eyes, made my stomach protrude also…it’s horrible stuff, I can’t believe it’s the norm now to just advise people to use mini + fin.

Yes it’s absolutely not worth having hair if your dick doesn’t work. You’re better off just using some Toppik hair fibre. Works amazing
 
I've had that plenty times with gf , could have been other factors as well. Neurotransmitters, low dopamine or serotonin could possibly effect this. Cortisol, stress, lack of sleep, yes even on trt. Not the end of the world if it's a 75 percent erection but 100 percent or close to it for longer is better

Cialis or Viagra is there for when erection quality is needed , these are good send for when she is in the mood
 
John Smeton said:
I've had that plenty times with gf , could have been other factors as well. Neurotransmitters, low dopamine or serotonin could possibly effect this. Cortisol, stress, lack of sleep, yes even on trt. Not the end of the world if it's a 75 percent erection but 100 percent or close to it for longer is better

Cialis or Viagra is there for when erection quality is needed , these are good send for when she is in the mood
Click to expand...
Cialis/Viagra doesn't work if he has no libido, you still need to have desire for C/V to work
 
John Smeton said:
I've had that plenty times with gf , could have been other factors as well. Neurotransmitters, low dopamine or serotonin could possibly effect this. Cortisol, stress, lack of sleep, yes even on trt. Not the end of the world if it's a 75 percent erection but 100 percent or close to it for longer is better

Cialis or Viagra is there for when erection quality is needed , these are good send for when she is in the mood
Click to expand...
Believe it or not, they don't make much difference. Years ago, when the problem was sleep and high e2 they helped.

Right now... only help to create a half ass e that doesnt really last.
 
Joshlm69 said:
It also gave me dark circles under my eyes, made my stomach protrude also…it’s horrible stuff, I can’t believe it’s the norm now to just advise people to use mini + fin.

Yes it’s absolutely not worth having hair if your dick doesn’t work. You’re better off just using some Toppik hair fibre. Works amazing
Click to expand...
I doubt it was the Minoxidil you got those sides from, Fina possibly because a lot of ppl get sides from that but very few get sides from Minoxidil, I used it now for a few months with no noticeable sides for an example.
 
BBiceps said:
I doubt it was the Minoxidil you got those sides from, Fina possibly because a lot of ppl get sides from that but very few get sides from Minoxidil, I used it now for a few months with no noticeable sides for an example.
Click to expand...
I definitely did get those sides from the mini. Plenty of people also get those sides online, specifically from the product I used. “Rogaine Max Strength”. The stomach/dark circles disappeared a couple of weeks after ceasing but the sexual sides did not. Again there are thousands of comments mirroring the exact same thing
 
Is anyone going to pay attention to the blood work? Because that's where the answers are probably hiding. Not always tho.

My questions
#1. If you have been taking 200-250mg of test per week and your total test is 600 then I'm going to assume it's ugl self prescribed because your gear is significantly underdosed. On 150mg I'm in the 900's, on 1ml per week Im over 1500. Or, you may just respond poorly to testosterone because that does happen sometimes.

#2. How long have you been on for, if it's been years and you've never supplemented with DHEA or pregnenolone then that could be an issue like was mentioned. What you may need to take some HCG to kick things back into gear first.

#3. 316iu of HCG? Try 500-1000 every other day for 2 weeks and then start supplementing with DHEA and Pregnenolone.
Screenshot_20250724-073115.webp
Screenshot_20250724-073140.webp


#4. There's also the possibility that this has nothing to do with TRT and it's more mental, brain chemicals play a big role.

Getting an erection is actually one of the most complicated function in the human body.

Screenshot_20250724-073012.webp
 
Joshlm69 said:
I definitely did get those sides from the mini. Plenty of people also get those sides online, specifically from the product I used. “Rogaine Max Strength”. The stomach/dark circles disappeared a couple of weeks after ceasing but the sexual sides did not. Again there are thousands of comments mirroring the exact same thing
Click to expand...
You could be an outlier but most do not get those sides from Minoxidil (like me for an example). I stayed away from Finastride because of the sides and only used Minoxidil in pill form because of the low sides.

I can’t speak for Rogine’s product because I never tried it but maybe it was something else in that product you could not take, I highly doubt you got all those sides from Minoxidil by itself.
 
BBiceps said:
You could be an outlier but most do not get those sides from Minoxidil (like me for an example). I stayed away from Finastride because of the sides and only used Minoxidil in pill form because of the low sides.

I can’t speak for Rogine’s product because I never tried it but maybe it was something else in that product you could not take, I highly doubt you got all those sides from Minoxidil by itself.
Click to expand...
Did you get any sides from the oral Minox? Did you get regrowth? I am planning on starting it soon
 
BBiceps said:
You could be an outlier but most do not get those sides from Minoxidil (like me for an example). I stayed away from Finastride because of the sides and only used Minoxidil in pill form because of the low sides.

I can’t speak for Rogine’s product because I never tried it but maybe it was something else in that product you could not take, I highly doubt you got all those sides from Minoxidil by itself.
Click to expand...

ROGAINE EXTRA STRENGTH (FOR MEN): Side Effects, Reviews by Patients - AskaPatient.com

Consumer ratings and reviews for ROGAINE EXTRA STRENGTH (FOR MEN) (MINOXIDIL). Includes 318 patient ratings with average score of 1.6, comments, side effects, dosage, sex, age, time taken.
www.askapatient.com
 
Smont said:
Is anyone going to pay attention to the blood work? Because that's where the answers are probably hiding. Not always tho.

My questions
#1. If you have been taking 200-250mg of test per week and your total test is 600 then I'm going to assume it's ugl self prescribed because your gear is significantly underdosed. On 150mg I'm in the 900's, on 1ml per week Im over 1500. Or, you may just respond poorly to testosterone because that does happen sometimes.

#2. How long have you been on for, if it's been years and you've never supplemented with DHEA or pregnenolone then that could be an issue like was mentioned. What you may need to take some HCG to kick things back into gear first.

#3. 316iu of HCG? Try 500-1000 every other day for 2 weeks and then start supplementing with DHEA and Pregnenolone. View attachment 253792View attachment 253793

#4. There's also the possibility that this has nothing to do with TRT and it's more mental, brain chemicals play a big role.

Getting an erection is actually one of the most complicated function in the human body.

View attachment 253791
Click to expand...
This is exactly why anyone on TRT should be running a low to moderate dose of Dermacrine - it wasn't designed for TRT - but it may as well have been
 
zaareleq said:
Did you get any sides from the oral Minox? Did you get regrowth? I am planning on starting it soon
Click to expand...
No sides, it’s not common to get sides from oral Minox. It’s hard to say how much regrowth from that alone because I also used GHK-CU but it’s definitely a difference, my hair is noticeably fuller/thicker than before I started.
 
Joshlm69 said:

ROGAINE EXTRA STRENGTH (FOR MEN): Side Effects, Reviews by Patients - AskaPatient.com

Consumer ratings and reviews for ROGAINE EXTRA STRENGTH (FOR MEN) (MINOXIDIL). Includes 318 patient ratings with average score of 1.6, comments, side effects, dosage, sex, age, time taken.
www.askapatient.com
Click to expand...
Once again, it’s not common to get sides from oral Minoxidil by itself.

I know it’s a hit or miss with Rogaine, who knows what other stuff they have in that formula and no wonder why you got sides from that if you thought it was an oral formula and used it as such.
 
BBiceps said:
No sides, it’s not common to get sides from oral Minox. It’s hard to say how much regrowth from that alone because I also used GHK-CU but it’s definitely a difference, my hair is noticeably fuller/thicker than before I started.
Click to expand...
Topical GHK-CU?
 
BBiceps said:
Once again, it’s not common to get sides from oral Minoxidil by itself.

I know it’s a hit or miss with Rogaine, who knows what other stuff they have in that formula and no wonder why you got sides from that if you thought it was an oral formula and used it as such.
Click to expand...
I never stated it was oral mini that messed me up, just shared my experience. Glad that you didn’t encounter any sides with oral though 👍
 
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delsolrob said:
This is exactly why anyone on TRT should be running a low to moderate dose of Dermacrine - it wasn't designed for TRT - but it may as well have been
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I can't disagree 1 bit, I been using 3 pumps/day on and off for years now. I actually originally found dermacrine like 12-15 years ago? I'm not great with a timelines my memory sucks lol. But I used to use it alongside of hdrol and epistane cycles at 5-6pumps. Wasn't till about 5 years ago when I decided to go TRT for life I started using it again.
 
Is there more blood work or was that everything tested. I actually mixed up 2 threads. When I was saying is anyone going to pay attention to the blood work I was thinking it was showing some blood work from a different thread that was all messed up
 
I stay around 1100-1200 total t
240 t cyp pinned eod
3 pumps dermacrine
tribulus
pine pollen
Tongkat Ali
Macca root
5mg tada ed or extra on sex days
.25mg anastrozole every 5ish days
 
skrug91 said:
I stay around 1100-1200 total t
240 t cyp pinned eod
3 pumps dermacrine
tribulus
pine pollen
Tongkat Ali
Macca root
5mg tada ed or extra on sex days
.25mg anastrozole every 5ish days
Click to expand...
I'm surprised your T isn't higher with that much T plus the other supps
 
Gentlemen, just so you know. I got libido to revive after spending barely a week off everything, followed by reengaging with these / all pharma presc:
  • Sustanon daily SC injections, total 0,5mL (88mg pure T) week
  • Oxandrolone 12,5mg preworkout / 4 times a week
  • Pregnenolone 30mg ED
  • Tadalafil 5mg ED
  • Clomid 12,5mg EOD
  • hCG 316IU + 0,125mg Caber twice a week
  • D3,K2,NAC,Aswagandha,Maca+

In two days I felt energetic, cocky and alive. On the fourth day after initially recovering libido, I was down again, feeling dull and unresponsive to sexual stimuli.

Found similar issues reported on Reddit. There's a few of us with hard to explain libido issues, while presenting normal labs while on cycle or TRT. So I consider it worthy to keep digging.

Preparing to drop oxandrolone, as I should've done from the start.
Just ordered some Proviron and PT-141, will keep you updated.
 
EddyStarkFit said:
Gentlemen, just so you know. I got libido to revive after spending barely a week off everything, followed by reengaging with these / all pharma presc:
  • Sustanon daily SC injections, total 0,5mL (88mg pure T) week
  • Oxandrolone 12,5mg preworkout / 4 times a week
  • Pregnenolone 30mg ED
  • Tadalafil 5mg ED
  • Clomid 12,5mg EOD
  • hCG 316IU + 0,125mg Caber twice a week
  • D3,K2,NAC,Aswagandha,Maca+

In two days I felt energetic, cocky and alive. On the fourth day after initially recovering libido, I was down again, feeling dull and unresponsive to sexual stimuli.

Found similar issues reported on Reddit. There's a few of us with hard to explain libido issues, while presenting normal labs while on cycle or TRT. So I consider it worthy to keep digging.

Preparing to drop oxandrolone, as I should've done from the start.
Just ordered some Proviron and PT-141, will keep you updated.
Click to expand...
Why are you taking so much extra stuff?

It’s really no reason for the Anavar, Clomid, HCG, Caber (WTF?), with all that it’s no wonder you have issues. Just do true TRT (just Test) for a few months before you add other drugs.
 
Anavar messes with your SHGB, so that alone can destroy your libido. But you’re taking so much stuff it’s literally impossible to tell you what’s causing it.

As bicep said cut back to only TRT. That way when you eventually add in one thing at a time you’ll be able to identity how it reacts with your body
 
Update

New lab. Total T = 1350ng/dL (250-830ng/dL). It was the only test prescribed for now.

I was having bad headaches with redness on the upper body, noticed that dosing hCG would cause this effect up to a day later, so that's probably an elevation in estradiol which in turn suppresses nitric oxide... Turns out Proviron and PT-141 won't do jack s# in this situation. Used 2mg of exemestane and it got a lot better.

Back to the game:
  • Sustanon injections EOD, total 0,5mL (88mg pure T) week
  • hCG 316IU twice a week
  • Clomid 12,5mg EOD
  • NPP 100mg a week - MODAY / THURSDAY
  • Oxandrolone 12,5mg / preworkout 5 times a week
  • hCG 316IU + 1mg exemestane - MODAY / THURSDAY
  • Proviron 12,5mg ED - morning
  • Tadalafil 5mg ED
  • Aswagandha, Berberine, Maca+
 
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EddyStarkFit said:
Update

New lab. Total T = 1350ng/dL (250-830ng/dL). It was the only test prescribed for now.

I was having bad headaches with redness on the upper body, noticed that dosing hCG would cause this effect up to a day later, so that's probably an elevation in estradiol which in turn suppresses nitric oxide... Turns out Proviron and PT-141 won't do jack s# in this situation. Used 2mg of exemestane and it got a lot better.

Back to the game:
  • Sustanon injections EOD, total 0,5mL (88mg pure T) week
  • Clomid 12,5mg EOD
  • NPP 100mg a week - MODAY / THURSDAY
  • Oxandrolone 12,5mg / preworkout 5 times a week
  • hCG 316IU + 1mg exemestane - MODAY / THURSDAY
  • Proviron 12,5mg ED - morning
  • Tadalafil 5mg ED
  • Aswagandha, Berberine, Maca+
Click to expand...
What’s the reasoning for taking clomid while on test? Wouldn’t it just be better to dial in your t/e on only test?
 
Joshlm69 said:
What’s the reasoning for taking clomid while on test? Wouldn’t it just be better to dial in your t/e on only test?
Click to expand...
My problem is that I was actually never able to maintain normal physiology while on exogenous testosterone. Even though after quitting the low T levels give me other side effects, libido goes up quite remarkably, and I can't make sense of it. So I'm trying to maintain endogenous production to some extent with a low dose SERM, preventing shutdown while on TRT.

Otherwise I'd go high dose T for a while, work, build my body and my personal life.
 
My options seem to be, maintaining regular libido and living with low T sides (cardio-respiratory, muscle mass, hair loss, mental) in perpetuity; or having those other factors under control to some extend at the expense of libido shutdown.

If anyone has other insights.. I'm open.
 
Clomid will make your e2 continue to rise over time. I really think you should ditch it completely and focus on getting your test dialed in
 
mase1 said:
Why no hcg? Maybe I missed that
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Sorry, I forgot to include it. Currently back at 316IU twice a week on Mon-Thurs.
Painful headaches a day after made me want to quit. Maybe excess aromatization.. Used 2mg of Examestane with the last pin. No headaches at least. Still going nuts.
 
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Joshlm69 said:
Clomid will make your e2 continue to rise over time. I really think you should ditch it completely and focus on getting your test dialed in
Click to expand...
I fear doing this, mainly because I don't have the memory of doing T and having it work out as well as endogenous T. So even though I need TRT in the moment, I still want to keep the option of quitting without dealing with shutdown.
 
EddyStarkFit said:
I fear doing this, mainly because I don't have the memory of doing T and having it work out as well as endogenous T. So even though I need TRT in the moment, I still want to keep the option of quitting without dealing with shutdown.
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Clomid doesn’t work like that, you will still be shut down if you take Clomid while taking Test. HCG will keep you balls active though, you can keep using that but Clomid is a waste during a Test cycle.
 
Agreed, HCG is literally the only thing that will keep your balls working while taking exogenous test. Clomid definitely doesn’t work like that & I’m not sure where you read that it did
 
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