help -- restoring natural testosterone production

[Guest guest]

Hi,I am a 46 year old HIV+ man. I have been using compounded testosterone cream (200mg/ml once per day) for the last three years. I am not yet on HAART as my VL is very low (around 200) and my T cells are in the normal range (600 to 800) consistently. I've been POZ for almost 8 years. My total testosterone spikes to about 1500 about an hour after administration (this seems high) but I assume it levels off at a normal range. The effects that are concerning to me are (ironically) low libido, sometimes non-existant, and extreme testicular atrophy that has occurred over time since I started on the cream. I think this implies that I was producing some level of testosterone before the cream (suggesting secondary hypogonadism?).The reason for my post is that I would like to find a doctor in the Boston area who can determine if my hypogonadism can be reversed. I have read and heard that even after long-time testosterone supplementation (and associated hypogonadism), that with the proper protocol, the natural production of testosterone can come back.I've read both Testosterone: A Man's Guide by Vergel, and Anabolic Steroids A Question of Muscle, by Scally. The latter describes a test protocol to determine if the hypogonadism is Primary (testicular failure), secondary (hypothalmic-pituitary failure), or both. I am not convinced that I suffer from Primary hypogonadism as no such tests have been tried.Ideally I would like to find a doctor in Boston who is versed in HIV treatment as well as in hypogonadism and its treatment as mentioned above.I have talked to my doctor about this, but he is clearly uncomfortable to even try the tests suggested in Testosterone. I would like to find someone who can determine for sure if this is my fate.Thanks for reading and I would appreciate any references or advice on the matter. I'm sure there must be others out there who have, or are facing, this situation.AA