By what mechanism? That's not how it works. LH and FSH are suppressed when you're on TRT, but they stabilize after cessation. The question is, why would someone with clinical hypogonadism cease TRT?
> That's not how it works. LH and FSH are suppressed when you're on TRT, but they stabilize after cessation.
The testes atrophy over time when LH and FSH are suppressed. Even if LH and FSH return (which isn’t guaranteed) the testes need to be able to respond to those hormonal signals, but atrophied testes do not respond the same.
For someone with true intractable hypogonadism this hardly matters because they weren’t capable anyway. Many people prescribed TRT today don’t actually have intractable hypogonadism, though.
Body builders have some tricks to try to reverse this, but it’s not perfectly effective and even body builders know to cycle their steroids to avoid having prolonged periods of suppressed HPG axis activity. I was involved with weightlifting in my younger years but never dabbled with steroids or TRT. Everyone I know who did try testosterone or steroids thought they were doing it the safe way (HCG, PCT, limited cycle length) but became unable to produce enough endogenous testosterone by their 40s even with SERMs.
Men on TRT for years will have considerable testicular atrophy that is not totally reversible.
> The question is, why would someone with clinical hypogonadism cease TRT?
TRT is no longer limited to men with clinical hypogonadism. Men’s health clinics that advertise on social media, TV, and radio will prescribe to anyone who contacts them (and pays cash for the prescription and gear). In some surveys of patients on TRT, 1/4 of patients didn’t even have testosterone levels measured prior to initiation of TRT.
Can you share your longitudinal anecdata? I am considering going back on AAS for the QoL benefits, but would like to create a better mental model of long-term ramifications for testicular health.
It's my understanding that 40, it simply is expected that your hormones levels will be much lower (and that is not necessarily a bad thing). However my mind is failing to grasp what long-term damage TRT can do to the HPTA when not using an obscene amount of gear and on HCG.
Trying to figure out the mechanism. Perhaps receptor desensitization and epigenetic compensatory changes?
> Everyone I know who did try testosterone or steroids thought they were doing it the safe way (HCG, PCT, limited cycle length) but became unable to produce enough endogenous testosterone by their 40s even with SERMs.
Then your sample is either very limited or very weird, because I test my testosterone, and my friends who did multiple cycles in the past (10–15+ years ago, and not huge competition level doses) are also within the normal range.
> TRT is no longer limited to men with clinical hypogonadism. Men’s health clinics that advertise on social media, TV, and radio will prescribe to anyone who contacts them (and pays cash for the prescription and gear). In some surveys of patients on TRT, 1/4 of patients didn’t even have testosterone levels measured prior to initiation of TRT.
That's hugely problematic if true. They should be investigated and if found of wrongdoing, have their medical licenses revoked.
Aurornis|3 months ago
The testes atrophy over time when LH and FSH are suppressed. Even if LH and FSH return (which isn’t guaranteed) the testes need to be able to respond to those hormonal signals, but atrophied testes do not respond the same.
For someone with true intractable hypogonadism this hardly matters because they weren’t capable anyway. Many people prescribed TRT today don’t actually have intractable hypogonadism, though.
Body builders have some tricks to try to reverse this, but it’s not perfectly effective and even body builders know to cycle their steroids to avoid having prolonged periods of suppressed HPG axis activity. I was involved with weightlifting in my younger years but never dabbled with steroids or TRT. Everyone I know who did try testosterone or steroids thought they were doing it the safe way (HCG, PCT, limited cycle length) but became unable to produce enough endogenous testosterone by their 40s even with SERMs.
Men on TRT for years will have considerable testicular atrophy that is not totally reversible.
> The question is, why would someone with clinical hypogonadism cease TRT?
TRT is no longer limited to men with clinical hypogonadism. Men’s health clinics that advertise on social media, TV, and radio will prescribe to anyone who contacts them (and pays cash for the prescription and gear). In some surveys of patients on TRT, 1/4 of patients didn’t even have testosterone levels measured prior to initiation of TRT.
financltravsty|3 months ago
Can you share your longitudinal anecdata? I am considering going back on AAS for the QoL benefits, but would like to create a better mental model of long-term ramifications for testicular health.
It's my understanding that 40, it simply is expected that your hormones levels will be much lower (and that is not necessarily a bad thing). However my mind is failing to grasp what long-term damage TRT can do to the HPTA when not using an obscene amount of gear and on HCG.
Trying to figure out the mechanism. Perhaps receptor desensitization and epigenetic compensatory changes?
lossolo|3 months ago
Then your sample is either very limited or very weird, because I test my testosterone, and my friends who did multiple cycles in the past (10–15+ years ago, and not huge competition level doses) are also within the normal range.
mise_en_place|3 months ago
That's hugely problematic if true. They should be investigated and if found of wrongdoing, have their medical licenses revoked.