Uncle Flo (imported) wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2006 8:31 am From my experience I find that I don't have the same emotional values or the same sexual desires as I remember having before my "T" levels crashed.

I also have developed some physical effects that are new to me, such as skin problems and vastly increased body hair. The overall desireable effects seem to be diminishing with the passage of time (in my case only about a year). My ability to erect and ejaculate, which peaked a month after begining HRT is now diminishing once again although desire is not. Serum testosterone levels are holding steady at 480-500. Contrast that with 75 before HRT (described to me both as prepubertal and as adult female level). In the tests I've been given the expected range is 350-850. The endocrinologist I've seen said that the "T" used in HRT is not identical with the naturally occuring sort and so the results are more variable. Does this help? --FLO--

Hi Unc:

Yes, thanks. I'm on HRT for life so I'm curious how others are doing on it.

I would agree that my "wiring" is different with HRT vrs having low Testoeterone. My outlook on life is different. For me more positive more energy etc. My first impression was the HRT me was a bit "alien" but it quickly became my new "normal" It helps that I once had (I think) normal levels so as things changed I was able to put a rational bit of thinking on it and say "Oh, yes... This is me - as in the old me." Some of it was easier the second time around. Like going thru puberty without making as big a fool of myself!

Uncle Flo - I'm sorry to hear your having impotence issues. PLEASE see that your doctor knows. This can be a sign of serious illness. In my case its just a problem with Blood Pressure meds. Getting both your sex drive and impotence fixed up can be a very wonderfull thing! BTW my urologist said that the testes produce more then just sperm and testosterone. When I asked him "exactly what" he wasn't very clear. I "thought" male HRT was bio identical *Unlike some female HRT which is based on Mr Ed the talking Horse.

BTW I DO get the problems with extra hair. I'm starting to feel like Sasquatch. I was trying to keep it down but a few weeks ago I decided to let it all grow and see what I end up looking like. *Which I assume will be a large ape...

Rapid development of secondary hair, far beyond your normal is to be expected with HRT use, almost universally. It will also aggravate any male pattern baldness issues. Some folks even see an increase in acne and oily skin.

Bio-identical testosterone means that only the testosterone component is bio-identical. The urologist was correct in saying that the testes produce more than just sperm and testosterone. My numbers may be off, but I understand that the testes produce something on the order of 25-26 different substances. With all of them gone, whatever they are (their functions are not apparently fully understood), it would seem only reasonable that many correllary (sp?) functions would be missing or incomplete. Such is the life of a castrate on HRT, or anyone who is hypogonadic and using HRT.

I have the same issue with diminishing effect of HRT (when on it) of reduced erecting capacity. Seems to be a common issue.