My Battle with Low Libido and Low T - Lab Results Inside

[rimseb]

Hey everyone, I’m a 32 year old male that has been suffering from low libido and low T for the last 5 years.

I’ve done endless blood tests and seen many doctors but all of them brushed it off saying it’s mental, stress etc etc.

Im not going to post all the lab tests since there are way too many, but my Total T , Free T have always been on the low side ( varying from 300 to 380 ng/dl , range 300-1080 ).

Also my TSH has always been on the very low end, 0.35 iUI/mL - 0.49 iUI / ml , range 0.35 - 4.94 ).

My main symptom has been low sex drive followed in a smaller extend by fatigue , dry skin, brittle nails.
I have to add Im fairly active and fit. I workout 5 times a week , 1.76m at 76kg and my strength overall is pretty good.

Fast forward to Dec 2018, I repeat my lab tests and this time both my Total T and Free T are under the norm. My TSH is again at a lowish level at 0.49. Also a bone densitometry showed I have osteopenia ( at the very initial phases ).

Finally my doctor decides to start me on Clomid 50mg EOD. After the end of the first month, he asked me to do 50mg every three days for the second month and 50 mg every 4 days the third month.

To make things easier, I have put in a table my lab tests before , during and after the treatment.

While my Total T and Free T shot up, so did the estradiol.

As for my symptoms, nothing really changed. I feel I am progressing faster at the gym but the libido is exactly the same as before treatment.

Finally, yesterday I went to (yet) another doctor and he thinks clomid is good for fertility but not for libido. He asked me to stop clomid entirely for 2 weeks and then start TRT injecting Nebido 1000mg every 3 months.

I am really at a loss here since this has been going on for way too long and I can’t find a doctor to solve my problem.

Thoughts are greatly appreciated!

 

[Beau]

Subbed

 

[rimseb]

Anyone with similar experience with Clomid and TRT has any input on this?

 

[ChocolateClen]

Damn that’s impressive how well that worked. No idea how to combat the estradiol though. Subbing for info

 

[Beau]

If you want to try some things that are not pharma, you might try chrysin, I3C and/or DIM

 

[hairygrandpa]

Wow. The clomid protocol was something new to me.

I would follow the advise of the first doc, he clearly knew how to handle your test problem.
Why would you need TRT when the clomid protocol worked awesome?
If only libido is a problem, there are a lot of things to try.
I would take 2x 25mg proviron/d. This would up free test, lower shbg, up libido and curb estrogenic sides.

 

[rimseb]

Wow. The clomid protocol was something new to me.

I would follow the advise of the first doc, he clearly knew how to handle your test problem.
Why would you need TRT when the clomid protocol worked awesome?
If only libido is a problem, there are a lot of things to try.
I would take 2x 25mg proviron/d. This would up free test, lower shbg, up libido and curb estrogenic sides.

Because even the first doctor after these results said the estrogen is fine, doesn't need to be lowered and let's just continue by lowering the dose. So no real solution to my main problem.

 

[Matthersby]

It’s time to look at a few things.
Do you simply just want to be on TRT? Because that wouldn’t be hard to do. It’s for life but if you’re ready for that, it’s just a matter of finding somewhere that fits your budget. Libido is more complicated than having high or low test or E. Mine has been **** this last 5 months and my test is 1126 and I was running one of the most libido friendly drugs ever. Herbal supplements help tremendously. Irwin naturals makes one called steel libido that’s incredibly effective.
I’m an advocate of TRT for those who know the pretty scary risks of it and are prepared for the responsibilities and hurdles. There are many of both.
It’s gonna be hard to help you without knowing exactly what you want. To avoid TRT or find a doctor to put you on it, or just help your libido.
I have seen just Clomid change guys lives for a full year in the low T department so that doesn’t surprise me.

 

[rimseb]

It’s time to look at a few things.
Do you simply just want to be on TRT? Because that wouldn’t be hard to do. It’s for life but if you’re ready for that, it’s just a matter of finding somewhere that fits your budget. Libido is more complicated than having high or low test or E. Mine has been **** this last 5 months and my test is 1126 and I was running one of the most libido friendly drugs ever. Herbal supplements help tremendously. Irwin naturals makes one called steel libido that’s incredibly effective.
I’m an advocate of TRT for those who know the pretty scary risks of it and are prepared for the responsibilities and hurdles. There are many of both.
It’s gonna be hard to help you without knowing exactly what you want. To avoid TRT or find a doctor to put you on it, or just help your libido.
I have seen just Clomid change guys lives for a full year in the low T department so that doesn’t surprise me.

My only goal is just to fix my libido. Ideally I want to avoid TRT for as long as possible since I want to preserve my fertility. That's the reason why I haven't started it for the last 5 years even though my libido was nearly non existent. So if you have any suggestions how to fix it or know any doctors specialised in this it would be very welcome.

 

[Matthersby]

I like mucuna pruriens and several of the herbs listed in Steel Libido and a small dose of Pramiprexole, like 1/10 of 1mg at night and that works for me.

 

[hairygrandpa]

I would buy RC exemestane. 12.5mg once a week until dropping the clomid. I also would follow
Matthersby 's advise and get some:

Irwin naturals makes one called steel libido that’s incredibly effective.

...if I can't source proviron.

 

[rimseb]

I like mucuna pruriens and several of the herbs listed in Steel Libido and a small dose of Pramiprexole, like 1/10 of 1mg at night and that works for me.

Thanks, going to give that a go!

 

[ironranger]

You mentioned you have brittle finger nails, low libido?
Have you had your zinc levels tested?
Zinc, if you are deficient will cause both these symptoms......
Do some research on zinc

 

[rimseb]

You mentioned you have brittle finger nails, low libido?
Have you had your zinc levels tested?
Zinc, if you are deficient will cause both these symptoms......
Do some research on zinc

Yes, they were good since I take ZMA every day before sleep.

 

[ohiostate2827]

I run aromasin eod 12.5mg to keep libido high.. 3 grams a maca a day works great too

 

[sammpedd88]

I run aromasin eod 12.5mg to keep libido high.. 3 grams a maca a day works great too

How long have you been taking maca?

 

[Mzakif]

Subbed

 

[rimseb]

I run aromasin eod 12.5mg to keep libido high.. 3 grams a maca a day works great too

For how long you've been taking it and did you notice any difference before and after you started it on libido?

 

[ohiostate2827]

For how long you've been taking it and did you notice any difference before and after you started it on libido?

Been on for about 2 months.. nice libido boost in about 2 days.. still going strong.. maca great

 

[ohiostate2827]

How long have you been taking maca?

Maca for about 2 months.. my woman likes taking maca as well

 

[rimseb]

Ok, a quick update.

The last doctor told me to stop Clomid for about 20 days and then do a first shot of Nebid 1000mg.

So here's how my numbers look like 20 days after stopping clomid:

Total T: 6.5 ng/mL
Free T: 27.81 pg/mL
Estradiol: 44 pg/mL
LH: 5.10 mIU/mL
FSH: 2.80 mIU / mL
SHBG: 63 nMol/L
DHT: 116.52 pg/ml ( range 250-990)

So apart from DHT being very under the norm, the rest looks pretty OK.

Anyone has any idea how come Clomid raised Total T / Free T / E2 and SHBG but not DHT at all?

 

[Carnivorecon]

Ok, a quick update.

The last doctor told me to stop Clomid for about 20 days and then do a first shot of Nebid 1000mg.

So here's how my numbers look like 20 days after stopping clomid:

Total T: 6.5 ng/mL
Free T: 27.81 pg/mL
Estradiol: 44 pg/mL
LH: 5.10 mIU/mL
FSH: 2.80 mIU / mL
SHBG: 63 nMol/L
DHT: 116.52 pg/ml ( range 250-990)

So apart from DHT being very under the norm, the rest looks pretty OK.

Anyone has any idea how come Clomid raised Total T / Free T / E2 and SHBG but not DHT at all?

Either naturally or due to something you take, you have low levels of 5 alpha reductase, thus very little test is converted to dht. Just a thought

 

[thebigt]

Either naturally or due to something you take, you have low levels of 5 alpha reductase, thus very little test is converted to dht. Just a thought

which could also explain high estrogen/low libido.

 

[rimseb]

Either naturally or due to something you take, you have low levels of 5 alpha reductase, thus very little test is converted to dht. Just a thought

Yeah that seems like the case. Not sure what to do to increase the DHT levels though.

 

[barische]

take creatine and eat sorghum to increase 5a reductase

 

[Beau]

take creatine and eat sorghum to increase 5a reductase

And Boron

 

[barische]

And Boron

Correct yes

 

[DaeshDontSurf]

only have practical experience with us doctors - trying to "tune" with nebido = no clue. too bad can't do cypionate/enanthate in small injections e.o.d to start and check after few months and go from there.

50mg/day clomid a lot for guy starting at 300 i say. most us trt docs i know use 12.5mg/day, *maybe* 25mg. 50mg only used for 2 weeks usually, for totally suppressed drug user. there is estrogen as part of clomid molecule. but if you were at 93 with t at 1200, unless crazy nipple problem, i not worry personally. i definitely not try to lower the 44 estrogen though!

yes, the dht weird - like above, 5ar make dht. totally skeptical that "natty" things raise dht... but since you VERY GOOD with bloodwork, can't hurt to try i guess. in us, trt doc can give oxandrolone legally.

did you ever fix thyroid? that big thing to get right for all problems mentioned - i actually would have start there first.

 

[rimseb]

Ok another update here.

I waited two more weeks to see how things would change after stoping Clomid.

Here are the values for T and Est.

Total T: 4.96 ng / mL ( 3-10.8 )
Estradiol: 18 pg/mL ( 11-44 )

Looks like both fell but Estradiol a bit faster.

Also, during this time I had a phone consultation with Dr. Abraham Morgentaler ( author of Testosterone for Life ).
He believes also that I should be on TRT and agrees with my local urologist that Nebid is a good start.

So today I'm going in for my first injection and hopefully will help.

Will keep you updated on how things go.