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Originally Posted by RaidersOftheCellar
I've been on and off TRT for 4 years (cypionate injections). At times it's been great but the effects always seem to taper off the longer I'm on it, with some fluctuations along the way. It's always been difficult for me to control estrogen and find the "sweet spot." I don't like using estrogen blockers because low E2 is way worse in my experience than high.
I just came off after 15 months of continuous use (had never been on longer than 4 months before this) because I was worried about complications and some blood tests that weren't ideal. I'm already regretting it and fighting the urge to go back, but I want to try the natural route for awhile. Thing is...it's impossible to mimic the body's natural balance when dumping in exogenous hormone.
From my experience, I think it's best to do relatively short cycles (3-4 months) with a 1-2 month break. Unless your body no longer produces testosterone. From what I've read lately, it seems that DIM might be a good alternative to estrogen blockers when on TRT. Anybody here use DIM?
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What was your protocol? When you are injecting testosterone your body will do what it needs to in order to keep HPTA balanced. This is why you do not run an aromatase inhibitor or try to lower estradiol unless it is causing an issue. On a true TRT dose of <200mg week, you shouldn't need anything as your levels should be at or under 1100ng/dl, and that's a generous helping. Anything above 1100 your doc will lower your dose as you are in supra-physiological levels area (baby cycles). As your testosterone levels rise and fall, estradiol should with it and that needs to happen. If your doctor had you one some stupid protocol like one shot every two weeks, or even just weekly, he is spiking you hormones like a rollercoaster and your system is going to be all F'ed up. More frequent smaller doses will yield smaller lulls and you will feel so much better than weekly or (god forbid) bi-weekly injections.
Cycles of 3-4 months with 'downtime' in between is a waste of time. Your shutting your boys down for the blast period then when you stop injecting you will feel like crap as ALL your hormone levels start dropping. Any new substantial amounts of muscle tissue you built on said 'elevated' hormone levels will not be there for much longer. This is why guys that know what they are talking about always mention that if you are making the decision to pin, its a life decision.
Any doc that wants to put you on HCG + an aromatase inhibitor for hormone replacement you need to walk back out of the office.