mrt (imported) wrote: Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:04 pm Forgive me for saying it but I don't agree. A male who goes through Andropause (Male Menopause) or has Hypogonadism (Testes that stop working) is not a post-menopausal female. We have similar things going on in our life changes but the end result is just not the same even with the physical similarities.

What interests me more is the male who has Hypogonadism (or has completed Andropause/viropause) and goes on HRT thus reversing the situation. Ditto for females with low or not hormones. Its a weird and wonderful world we are moving into.

Hypogonadism is how I started on the path I'm on now. I was diagnosed ~6years ago and very willingly accepted a HRT regime (testosterone - initially depo testosterone injections; more recently AndroGel). However, I'd always had physical testicular issues, and they were also the cause of apparent shut down of the testicles. I lost the functioning of one testicle at age 12 as a result of repair of a major inguinal hernia. At age 23, the head urologist at the hospital that was connected to the university I was then attending (U. of Pennsylvania) suggested I consider castration. His diagnosis was that my testicular pain problems were caused by scar tissue from numerous infections of the epididymis of my testicles, and the problem would only worsen with time. Its cause was mainly that I had very short, practically non-existent cords connecting the testicles to my body, and the infections were the result of the testicles mostly residing in my inguinal canals. Following the hypogonadism diagnosis and the knowledge that I'd likely be on testosterone the rest of my life, I decided to respond to the earlier prognosis. I ended up having them amputated. It was the best decision I ever made. No pain! And for the first time in years I began functioning as a normal male - except without balls. Orgasms are the same as before. My balllessness is not an issue with my current BF, nor with other lovers or sexual partners I've had since castration. The current BF luvs me w/o balls. We can have sex without being cautious about touching them.

The changes I had after loosing my right testicle were just terrible.I was never warned by the doctors that this would happen..but they were morons who did not want rock the boat after they screwed up twice a simple hernia surgery. Two days after the third hernia repair and the testicle removal I slept 16 hours a day and hot flashes hourly. If I moved a little faster another hot flash. The body adjusted somehow and even know with 5mg Androgel patch the T is still only 135mg. Hot flashes are gone but the energy is also. I just went to see my Urologist Dr. Brenner who doubled the patches and has to fight Pacific"don't"care of Arizona to Aprove Androgel. He promised he will get me to the 500-600 range. We shall see.Huevon.

Huevon,

We've messaged each other before. They will never prescribe enough androgel to get you feeling really good. 500-600 on androgel isn't going to feel like 500-600 natural T. You need to be about 2000 on androgel to really feel good. The reason is that the absorption is so up and down.

YOU REALLY, REALLY NEED INJECTIONS - twice a week at least. Then you can use androgel as a supplement. I'm telling you, man. I've been through this crap for 30 years and it wasn't until recently that I'm finally feel great. I found an awesome clinic. My insurance pays a little and I pay the rest - who cares, I feel great. People spend $80 a month on Starbucks without even knowing it, but they poop a hammer when you tell them what T costs... but it makes you feel so good. Okay, I'm not blowing my personal horn but people should know how great testosterone is - I'm 49, I train at least two hours a day and I can't wait to get up in the morning to do it. My cholesterol is 138 and my bodyfat is between 10-12%. I just had a CAT scan - perfect. I have almost 18 inch arms and I exercise with my heart rate at about 170 with occasional peaks as high as 190. I can have sex at least three times a day. Anyway, I'm not saying that to blow my horn but to tell people how important testosterone to energy and zest for life.

I sincerely hope you get to see how great you can feel, Heuvon.

Best Wishes,

DocT

Its true, if it's outside testosterone, the level needs to be somewhat higher than what a man has with his own natural testosterone.