You can design and execute your own HRT program

I've been doing a HRT program for some time with great results. I have found that there is some very simple logic to the programs and you can design and execute your own. I did provide the below to another post, but reasoned it could stand alone due to interest from Members and their concerns.

Here are some simple quidelines if you want to do your own HRT program based on my experiences and stubborn opinions:

(1) Test is the foundation. A Doc won't give you an amount that shuts down your own system ... 125 p/w max ... usually test prop. Topicals are very popular and work. If your body is hungry for test, you are going to feel any amount.

(2) HGH is the partner ... about 15 iu p/month if from a Doc. Same logic - supplementation rather than complete substitution. IMO ... you can handle a bit more ... at least 1iu MTWThF with SatSun off. Budget is a concern here also.

(3) Anti-est ... small amount twice a week ... Tues, Sat. Ami is good.

(4) Diet. The Doc should take a good look at your diet with you and drive out the evil fats and junk sugars and flours. You are going to be able to eat more with 1, 2, 3 above in your system, gaining muscle and loosing fat.

(5) Exercise. Docs know little about this so you'll have to develop your own plan. I'd go for a simple 3 X 8-6, 3 exercises for majors and 2 for minors split. A bit of light aerobics ... 15-20 minutes.

(6) Recovery. You'll have more desire to train, your metabolism will speed up ... so you'll have to be very careful with recovery. Get your sleep and rest. No over training.

(7) Sexual response ... it will never be like a teen ager, but it will improve a lot as your body simply becomes more robust. Too much training and too little recovery will defeat you ... be smart!

(8) Blood testing every 3 months. This is your guideline ... look at everything including esto and test. Adjust accordingly.

HRT is not a cycle unless you bump up the dosages and add other aas, like orals and deca. It is a life long supplementation with robust health over 40 in mind.

Hmm, interesting.

Yes, you can design and execute your own HRT program and for 99% of us you will indeed need to do just that. Reason being? If you can even find a doctor in your area that deals with "male" HRT you will find that they really don't know what the hell they are doing. I don't know about you, but it seems to me that any sane person in their right mind will not want to be part of some doc's off the cuff experiment when your dealing with powerfull hormones that once started you may have to commit to taking for the rest of your life.

It's a serious issue that should not be rushed into or taken lightly. Be smart, do your own research, meet and talk with several doctors at length about the subject and based off the doctors recommendations and your own findings you can make informed decisions regarding your own care.

I've learned alot here on the board and through reading on my own throughout the past few months; yet it seems that I've merely scratched the surface of what I need and want to know and understand about HRT.

Regardless, I think this may be the start of a great knowledge base for male HRT here on Elite.

Best of luck bro's!!

Excellent post Lion....you covered the jist of it pretty concise. Key if you are a do-it-yourselfer is get in touch with your body. Learn how you react to hormonal changes. The idea as Lion says is not AAS use, but keeping things at the high end of normal. Balance.

I am 54, and a do it yourselfer for some time now. I have always been into health, longevity. Very in touch with my body. Have lived what many may term a squeaky clean lifestyle, proactive rather than reactive.

Been into health, a proponent of vitamins, minerals intake for many years, long before it became "fashionable". Even with this, I realized at some point that my hormonal balance was changing. As I always do, started researching, reading, and with good knowlege at hand, went through a bit of trial and error, have reached a happy place where things are under control. Feel better than I have in years, happy wife also.

Any good resources or doctors that you recommend through your experience ??

I found mine through the best compound pharmacy in the area, which I found using Google.
Anti-aging Drs and these pharms work in partnership.
I simply asked them for 3 Dr's doing this work and then interviewed them.

Good post L.

Hello. First post. Long story short: I'm 50, good health. Started a HRT program thru an online rejuvenation clinic. Not thrilled with their customer service at all. Had a hard time getting a copy of blood work. I have been trying to learn thru the web - but there's alot of conflicting info. Could you help me in determining whether I'm taking approx. correct amounts. Here's what Doc has prescibed.
Test cream 100MG/2CC 5%, 2xday (pharmacist said it is 87% effective)
Amour thyroid 30MG 1xday
clomiphene 51MGO 1xeod
(I purchased Jintropin HGH directly from manuf. Taking 1IU 2xday 6xweek

Blood work: Total Test: 540
Free Test: 96
Free & weakly bound: 214
Estadiol: 36
T-3: 3.2
IGF-1: 179

Follow up blood work in 3 weeks.

?'s: I have no idea how much testosterone the above equates to.
Do I need to be taking so much clomid.
I've read HGH depressed thyroid activity. Is that why I'm taking thyroid med?

To sum it up. I'm trying to learn, but it would be nice to know if what I am taking is at least in the ball park of other longevity programs.

Thanks much.





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Lifterforlife said:

Excellent post Lion....you covered the jist of it pretty concise. Key if you are a do-it-yourselfer is get in touch with your body. Learn how you react to hormonal changes. The idea as Lion says is not AAS use, but keeping things at the high end of normal. Balance.

I am 54, and a do it yourselfer for some time now. I have always been into health, longevity. Very in touch with my body. Have lived what many may term a squeaky clean lifestyle, proactive rather than reactive.

Been into health, a proponent of vitamins, minerals intake for many years, long before it became "fashionable". Even with this, I realized at some point that my hormonal balance was changing. As I always do, started researching, reading, and with good knowlege at hand, went through a bit of trial and error, have reached a happy place where things are under control. Feel better than I have in years, happy wife also.

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I know u posted this a long tome back Lion but great work. I'm recovering from a crash, been out of the gym for 2 months can't stand it anymore ready to go back, but I also want to be healed up. It's lower back problems sciatic nerve and i have never had any problems like this I mean unreal pain shooting down my leg, They say surgery i say bulls--t, anyone know if hgh will help heal something like this?

motodawg said:

I know u posted this a long tome back Lion but great work. I'm recovering from a crash, been out of the gym for 2 months can't stand it anymore ready to go back, but I also want to be healed up. It's lower back problems sciatic nerve and i have never had any problems like this I mean unreal pain shooting down my leg, They say surgery i say bulls--t, anyone know if hgh will help heal something like this?

Click to expand...

Low dosage HGH and test, together with diet, exercise and recovery is going to improve your overall system. You'll see it in your blood testing results. Not the cover of Flex ... better measured health.

For you, this means that you will recover more rapidly from injury. However, you've got a jammed major nerve problem that needs help. Obviously something is pressing on it. My Dr is into acupuncture and prolotherapy and could really give you relief. Surgery should be last option. No chiro either.

How about doing a Google search for your local area and see if you have a prolotherapy - acupuncture person ... an MD or DO ... around?

Sorry to bump an old thread but this is still the basic reference for HRT here on EF. Mods- please consider giving a sticky to this one or better yet make Lion compile an updated version to sticky-

I'm wondering if you had any info on EQ as a component of HRT. My thinking is it might make a substitute for GH as it has little to no aromatization, increases red blood count and lends itself to long term use. By it's nature it woud be more anabolic than GH as it is similar in chemical structure to dianabol (but of course w/o the 17a alkylated chain) thus possibly more useful to those of us into strength training. It would also be less expensive. Although generic GH has brought lowered prices, UG EQ is dirt cheap and may be more effective at a reduced HRT size dosage- say 150 mg. per week. Do you think even this much would still constitute a cycle?

Anyway, my story in this is that I'm planning my first cycle in a few years, which will be test+EQ. I was toying with the idea of going straight into HRT after my PCT using EQ in place of the GH. Originally I thought to do it as a test run but may stick with it a while if I like the results. Thought I'd ask here first before finalizing my plans.

any of you guys been given the gel by your doc?

heavy_duty said:

any of you guys been given the gel by your doc?

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Not me. I was given a prescription and took it to CVS (big chain store). They filled it from huge supply on the shelf.

fortunatesun said:

Sorry to bump an old thread but this is still the basic reference for HRT here on EF. Mods- please consider giving a sticky to this one or better yet make Lion compile an updated version to sticky-

I'm wondering if you had any info on EQ as a component of HRT. My thinking is it might make a substitute for GH as it has little to no aromatization, increases red blood count and lends itself to long term use. By it's nature it woud be more anabolic than GH as it is similar in chemical structure to dianabol (but of course w/o the 17a alkylated chain) thus possibly more useful to those of us into strength training. It would also be less expensive. Although generic GH has brought lowered prices, UG EQ is dirt cheap and may be more effective at a reduced HRT size dosage- say 150 mg. per week. Do you think even this much would still constitute a cycle?

Anyway, my story in this is that I'm planning my first cycle in a few years, which will be test+EQ. I was toying with the idea of going straight into HRT after my PCT using EQ in place of the GH. Originally I thought to do it as a test run but may stick with it a while if I like the results. Thought I'd ask here first before finalizing my plans.

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I read this over and think that EQ is a fine partner for test, but it is not a sub for HGH.

Test p + EQ + dbol+ HGH + a-dex would be terrific cycle stack.

Thanks for your insight. Guess I'll listen to he who knows, though I'm not a fan of d-bol. I'm going to front load the test prop and EQ instead. If I do any orals it will be anavar at the end for a final blaze of glory.

hey bud, thanks for the helpful info you're always providing.

One question: are you sure that a low dose test won't shut you down? I would think that it could be a function of a lot of different variables, and for older guys in the 40s and up, a long term low dose test could and most likely would shut you down. Wouldn't doing HCG with the test be a good idea to prevent testicular atrophy and further boost your test levels?

I'm curious to know your thoughts.

tommyguns2 said:

hey bud, thanks for the helpful info you're always providing.

One question: are you sure that a low dose test won't shut you down? I would think that it could be a function of a lot of different variables, and for older guys in the 40s and up, a long term low dose test could and most likely would shut you down. Wouldn't doing HCG with the test be a good idea to prevent testicular atrophy and further boost your test levels?

I'm curious to know your thoughts.

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I agree. 100mg of test eth/cyp/prop per week will shut the boys down, shrink them and that can hurt. Research shows that HCG 250IU subq EOD will maintain baseline functioning. You want vials, not amps. Large doses are harmful. HCG also seems to improve mood and sense of well being; but that might be in part due to the tests that the HCG causes the testes to produce.

I feel that HCG is not optional.

So the foundation might be test+HCD+arimidex(anastrozole). Injections beat any transdermals. As for self injections, for these small amounts of test, test cyp will draw up in a #29 .5ml .5" insulin syringe. Inject in the vastus lateralis and carefully avoid veins in the skin.

example: I found that .28mg (0.14ml) injected EOD feels the best in terms of consistent levels. Tried 0.07ml ED and that was not as good. Weekly injections are hormone roller coasters that leave you empty for the 2nd half of the week.

Docs who want injections every two weeks need to find another profession.

Costs: most pharmacies are very expensive. But at Sam's club (USA) with a business membership, 10,000 IU HCG costs $16.25, 10ml of 200mg/ml test cyp costs $42-43. So that's all cheap. Insulin syringes are $100 per box of 100. 100 23 gauge 3ml 1.5" are $18. The major costs will be lab work and doctor consults. Transdermals are very expensive, if not covered by insurance, you had better go with injections. Arimidex is very expensive, $8-10 per 1mg tablet and most insurance probably does not cover. So "research chems" at a fraction of the cost may be your only option, even if you have a script in hand.

TRT can be the beginning of a much better life.

KSman said:

I agree. 100mg of test eth/cyp/prop per week will shut the boys down, shrink them and that can hurt. Research shows that HCG 250IU subq EOD will maintain baseline functioning. You want vials, not amps. Large doses are harmful. HCG also seems to improve mood and sense of well being; but that might be in part due to the tests that the HCG causes the testes to produce.

I feel that HCG is not optional.

So the foundation might be test+HCD+arimidex(anastrozole). Injections beat any transdermals. As for self injections, for these small amounts of test, test cyp will draw up in a #29 .5ml .5" insulin syringe. Inject in the vastus lateralis and carefully avoid veins in the skin.

example: I found that .28mg (0.14ml) injected EOD feels the best in terms of consistent levels. Tried 0.07ml ED and that was not as good. Weekly injections are hormone roller coasters that leave you empty for the 2nd half of the week.

Docs who want injections every two weeks need to find another profession.

Costs: most pharmacies are very expensive. But at Sam's club (USA) with a business membership, 10,000 IU HCG costs $16.25, 10ml of 200mg/ml test cyp costs $42-43. So that's all cheap. Insulin syringes are $100 per box of 100. 100 23 gauge 3ml 1.5" are $18. The major costs will be lab work and doctor consults. Transdermals are very expensive, if not covered by insurance, you had better go with injections. Arimidex is very expensive, $8-10 per 1mg tablet and most insurance probably does not cover. So "research chems" at a fraction of the cost may be your only option, even if you have a script in hand.

TRT can be the beginning of a much better life.

Click to expand...

Wait a minute! I want to make sure I understand.

Low dosage test wiil result in your testicles not producing testo and they will shrink?

I disagree and I'm looking at the evidence right now. So is my devoted SO who had her brains fucked out Friday and Sat night , thank you very much. My testes have never shrunk on either HRT or a cycle. Never. There is fluctuation, but every male has that.

On top of this, my blood test panels say my levels are above the range in both cases. I also have plenty of very fertile swimmers as I am a tested donor for a bank.

Remember, I'm 63 and should have no action at all. Instead, I'm functioning extremely well thanks in a great part to modern thinking at the University of Michigan and my Doctor.

What don't I understand or fail to see?

Sounds like you have an HPTA that operates differently than most, which is a good thing for you! But when you say that you haven't experienced any shrinkage even on cycle, I'm assuming that you equate lack of shrinkage with lack of shutdown, which may be correct. However, for most people, a cycle will certainly shut you down and cause testicular atrophy, and low dose test can shut down at least some of us.

I don't think that HPTA shutdown = loss of libido. After all, you could be on 1g test per week, be completely shut down re your HPTA, and have an excellent libido due to the large amount of exogenous test.

I think a low doese HCG is a relatively simple and inexpensive addition to HRT/TRT. I think throwing that in the mix would be helpful to many and harmful to no one. I think you need to keep the HCG dose low (below 500IUs) to prevent the leydig cells from becoming desensitized.

Just my $0.02.

thelion2005 said:

Wait a minute! I want to make sure I understand.

Low dosage test wiil result in your testicles not producing testo and they will shrink?

I disagree and I'm looking at the evidence right now. So is my devoted SO who had her brains fucked out Friday and Sat night , thank you very much. My testes have never shrunk on either HRT or a cycle. Never. There is fluctuation, but every male has that.

On top of this, my blood test panels say my levels are above the range in both cases. I also have plenty of very fertile swimmers as I am a tested donor for a bank.

Remember, I'm 63 and should have no action at all. Instead, I'm functioning extremely well thanks in a great part to modern thinking at the University of Michigan and my Doctor.

What don't I understand or fail to see?

Click to expand...

ttt

tommyguns2 said:

Sounds like you have an HPTA that operates differently than most, which is a good thing for you! But when you say that you haven't experienced any shrinkage even on cycle, I'm assuming that you equate lack of shrinkage with lack of shutdown, which may be correct. However, for most people, a cycle will certainly shut you down and cause testicular atrophy, and low dose test can shut down at least some of us.

I don't think that HPTA shutdown = loss of libido. After all, you could be on 1g test per week, be completely shut down re your HPTA, and have an excellent libido due to the large amount of exogenous test.

I think a low doese HCG is a relatively simple and inexpensive addition to HRT/TRT. I think throwing that in the mix would be helpful to many and harmful to no one. I think you need to keep the HCG dose low (below 500IUs) to prevent the leydig cells from becoming desensitized.

Just my $0.02.

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I think its been pretty well proven that taking any amount of test will shut you down. I have seen many men tak a tiny amount of androgel and come out with lower test than they started with, becuse they are shut down. The addition of HCG was a huge improvement in my HRT program. I see and two very well trained HRT docs and have been on 100mg/wk cyp, some Adex, HCG, and GH for some time now and life's alot better!

Cool thread bump