Re: New member with a ton of questions

[Guest guest]

Hi Tim:

First off, you need to get a copy of the test results and post them

on the board, so you can get more specialized advice. There are

several different types of hypogonadism, and we can't tell which one

it is.

Most of the " causes " of hypogonadism are unknown. It just seems to

happen to some guys. While there are some things that are known to

bring it about, these things only happen in a very small percentage

of all cases. Its most likely going to be idiopathic, which means

you'll never know the " cause " .

But you can identify the " type " , which may help you in tailoring the

best treatment.

As far as treatments, there are really two main choices.

Testosterone replacement (such as Androgel), and a substance called

HCG, which fools your body into producing more of its own

testosterone. There are some other things that people also try, such

as Arimidex, Clomid, etc. in conjunction with or occasionally instead

of the main two, but really those main two are the only ones that

really are known to work alone, at least long term.

Whether HCG or replacement is the one to choose depends on personal

preference and your " type " of hypogonadism. The two main types of

hypogonadism are primary and secondary./ Primary means your body is

no longer capable of producing testosterone (i.e., your balls are

broken) and secondary means your body is capable of doing it, but for

some reason your pituitary isn't sending the testicles the necessary

instructions for doing so. Replacement is the only way to go if you

have primary, but most younger guys (and heck even most older guys)

have secondary, not primary, so HCG is an option, which acts like the

signal your pituitary isn't producing enough of.

There are some people who feel that HCG is the " way to go " if you are

secondary, but I don't think its that clear cut. Some seem to

erroneously believe that it is more natural, but its not. Both

choices are lifelong commitments (of course, you can switch between

them, but you'll always have to be on one or the other) unless you

have some miraculous recovery which I've never heard of happening

unless there is some clear cut underlying cause that is removed (like

a pituitary tumor or something).

HCG has two main advantages: your balls won't shrink on it (in fact

they will grow), and you will preserve your ability to have

children. It also has disadvantages though. The main one being that

its only available in injectable form, which is kind of a pain, even

if you don't mind needles. It also has to be kept refrigerated,

which is also annoying, especially if you want to go on vacation.

You also inject it once every 3 days or so, which can be hard to

remember (at least for me, I prefer things you do once a day so I can

develop a routine).

Testosterone replacement is easier to apply and use, but you will

likely shut down whatever production your body does produce, which

results in your balls shrinking a bit (not all that much on creams or

gels though, but enough to notice), and you will likely become

sterile, which probably is not permanent (there are drugs that can

counteract that once you decide to have kids) but one can never be

sure. That can be an advantage or disadvantage of course.

The key thing is feeling better. Sure it sucks that you will have to

be on some sort of medication the rest of your life, but so do

diabetics, and millions of other people who go on to live quite happy

lives.

But post your results and we can give more specialized tips. There

are always little things to do to help tweak your treatment so that

its the least instrusive and the most effective.

You've got a lot of questions. Maybe slow down and pick a few that

are most important to you. I think it would take a post the size of

a book to reply to all your questions

A lot of the little things you mentioned can be beneficial, but none

are a substitute for one of the two treatments I mentioned.

While I don't agree with everything stated in the book, and its

getting a bit outdated, you should pick up " The Testosterone

Syndrome " by Dr. Shippen. While its not perfect, its still the best

book to explain things.

> My name is Tim. I am 41 years old. I was having a problem with my

> libido. I went to my doctor to have my hormone levels checked.

She

> told me my Testostorne level was low. I did not ask her what my

> level was. I just took her word for it. She started me on

Androgel

> 1%. The frist week nothing happened. The second week I was a

raging

> lathario, and my energy level went way up. I am scared of taking

> this stuff though. I am frightened that my body will stop

producing

> its own Testosterone. I want to get my own natural Testosterone

> prodcution up so I can get off this stuff. To that I end I have a

> TON of questions.

>

> My questions are:

> What caused my Testerone level to dip so low? I know the level

goes

> down as you get older, but it should not get as low as mine did.

> What caused this?

> Are there long term negative effects from taking Testosterone

> replacement? What are they?

> Will taking this stuff slowly kill off my body's own natural

> prodcution of Testosterone?

> Should I start looking for ways to increase my body's own natural

> prodcution of Testosterone?

> What is the normal range for Testosterone?

> Shuold I be cycling on and off this Androgel stuff?

> My doctor wants to wait 6 months before she does another blood

> test. Should I wait this long or should get another test done

> sooner?

> Do I need to get more sleep?

> Do I need to reduce stress?

> Do I need more sex?

> Should I go to another doctor? Perhaps an endocrinologist?

> What role does diet play in Testosterone production?

> Should I eat more fat?

> Should I eat more saturated fat?

> Does a high proten diet help natual Testosterone production?

> Should I eat more beef?

> Do I need to exercise more?

> I hear that aerobic exercise kills Testosterone. Is this True?

> I hear that weight training increases Testosterone production. Is

> this true?

> Does being overly fat hurt my Testerone production?

> Should I take HCG, or Clomid to increase natural testosterone

> production?

> Are there any supplements that help?

> Should I take DHEA?

> Should Take ZMA?

> What else affects the body's natural production of Testosterone?

> What books, web sites, etc should I be reading to get more

> information on stimulating my natural Testosterone production?

[Guest guest]

Wow. That just about sums up all of our questions at one time or

another.. and welcome. Let me try some of your quesitons on..

Why so low? Well, hard call. It could be anything from testecular

pailure (primary hypogonadism) to an issue at the pituitary

(secondary). Sounds scarry but likely it's just an effect of

something else. The first thing you need to do is buy and read, then

re-read, The Testosterone Syndrom by Dr. Eugene Shippen. This will

give you a good, although dated, primer on this subject.

TRT will certainly shut down your current T production but in all

honesty, if it's not there already there may not be much to shut

down. I had the same reservations about TRT you did. I " discovered "

my T issues about 14 months ago. I'm 38, younger than you, and

wondered the same thing. If I can get my levels back to normal will

that suffice? Well, in my case, it didn't. The primary focus of

that sort of therapy is Clomid (clomiphine citrate). Clomid helps

your hypothalimus and pitutary to recognize a shortage of T and send

the signals to your testes to produce more. If this stimulation does

not work for you then you may have primary hypogonadism. With me it

helped, just not enough.

Long term negative effects? Not very many. There use to be several

accepted medical opinions that TRT would stimulate cancer growth and

cause prostate cancer but recent scientific research has shown that

it's Estrogen, and not Testosterone that causes this. We have many

members on this board who have been receiving TRT for 20 or 30 years

with no problems. Healthy T levels help you maintain good bone

density, healthy cells all over your body, reduce your chance of

heart attack among other good things.

TRT will certainly shut down your natural productions.

As for stimulating natural T production you need to read Shippen. He

claims that in many cases if a man can control his Estrogen he can

increase his Free T without the need of TRT.

Normal range for Testosterone varies but on average you will find

reference ranges from 200-1000 ng/dl. Understand that this range is

for ALL men tested, even those of advanced age and those not

necessarily healthy. Your goal should be to shoot for somewhere in

the upper quartile. My " natural " production was 128 ng/dl. On

Clomid I could raise that to around 600 ng/dl. On Gel I acheived

similar results. On pellets (currently) I am above the reference

range and feel like I was 17 again. The key is really not total T

(serum testosterone) but your free and bioavailable T. Bioavailable

T is that T that circulates freely and is loosly bound to albumin.

(don't worry about the science right now, you will pick it up).

There is no need to cycle the gel. Personally I would want her to

test you in 6 weeks, not 6 months.

Sleep? Well, how much sleep do you currently get? Your body's

natural T production occurs mostly at night. If you are not sleeping

much that can cause low T.

Stress? Well, how stressed are you? If you think you are stressed

then certainly. I think most everyone here will attest to stress

being a factor in potentially lowering T.

Sex? .... See above... I personally could ALWAYS use more sex :-)

New Doc? Maybe. Maybe not. I would look at the links/files section

of our group's home page and print off a copy of the AACE guidelines

for hypogonadism and take them to your current doc. Sounds like she

is more than willing to go the TRT route. That is a MAJOR feat as

many will tell you. talk to her about the stimulation testing

described in that document. Tell her your concerns. There are

several things you should have done WAY before going on TRT. Primary

is a PSA test to make sure you are not in the danger zone for

prostate cancer. It's possible she already did that but, find out.

An endochronologist is usually VERY good at ruling out nasty things

like cancer and such but I found mine to be a failure at treating

Andropause. Especially at my age.

Should you eat more fat? How much do you eat now? If you

drastically restrict your diet of fats then by all means you should

look at including the essential fats back into your diet. If not,

then don't sweat it.

Should you eat more saturated fat? I dooubt it but, in reference to

my above statement, if you are depriving your body of saturated fats

then you need to consider adding " some " back in. Your body cannot

produce saturated fats on it's own.

Does a high proten diet help natual Testosterone production? No. I

have had both a high carbohydrate diet (during competition) and a

high protien diet (currently) and neither effect testosterone

production.

Should you eat more beef? Beef will only increase your iron and

natural creatine levels. Not T.

Do you need to exercise more? How much do you exercise now?

Exercise in and of it'self WILL NOT increase your testosterone.

Extreme exercise will actually lower it. I exercise moderately 4

times per week and strenuously once per week (soccer).

Does being overly fat hurt my Testerone production? YES and

Possibly... Being overly fat causes an increase in aromatase.

Aromatase is the enzyme that converts your hard earned T into

Estrogen. Too much Estrogen in your system is interperated by your

hypothalimus as a sufficient androgen level causing your natural T to

be shut down. Being fat will hurt you in many ways, including on the

T and E level.

Should you take HCG, or Clomid to increase natural testosterone? Only

under a doctors suppervision. hCG will stimulate your testes to

produce T but wsill do nothing to help you maintain that production.

Are there any supplements that help? Certainly. But I don't have the

stength left after this long reply... Perhaps another post... Or

another member...

Should you take DHEA? Only if you are defficient. If you have an

over abundance of aromatase adding in DHEA will just cause more

conversion into estrogen. In this case DHEA converts to E1

(Estrone).

Should you Take ZMA? As long as you are not takign too much zinc in

your other suppliments then I would.

Wow Tim. Hope all of this helps. Lots of questions. Glad you are

looking for answers. Please feel free to do a search on my posts

(y) and you will see a progression that I followed that may help

you shortcut some of the pain. You are right where I was 14 months

ago and now I am very happy with my solution.

Regards,

y

> My name is Tim. I am 41 years old. I was having a problem with my

> libido. I went to my doctor to have my hormone levels checked.

She

> told me my Testostorne level was low. I did not ask her what my

> level was. I just took her word for it. She started me on

Androgel

> 1%. The frist week nothing happened. The second week I was a

raging

> lathario, and my energy level went way up. I am scared of taking

> this stuff though. I am frightened that my body will stop

producing

> its own Testosterone. I want to get my own natural Testosterone

> prodcution up so I can get off this stuff. To that I end I have a

> TON of questions.

>

> My questions are:

> What caused my Testerone level to dip so low? I know the level

goes

> down as you get older, but it should not get as low as mine did.

> What caused this?

> Are there long term negative effects from taking Testosterone

> replacement? What are they?

> Will taking this stuff slowly kill off my body's own natural

> prodcution of Testosterone?

> Should I start looking for ways to increase my body's own natural

> prodcution of Testosterone?

> What is the normal range for Testosterone?

> Shuold I be cycling on and off this Androgel stuff?

> My doctor wants to wait 6 months before she does another blood

> test. Should I wait this long or should get another test done

> sooner?

> Do I need to get more sleep?

> Do I need to reduce stress?

> Do I need more sex?

> Should I go to another doctor? Perhaps an endocrinologist?

> What role does diet play in Testosterone production?

> Should I eat more fat?

> Should I eat more saturated fat?

> Does a high proten diet help natual Testosterone production?

> Should I eat more beef?

> Do I need to exercise more?

> I hear that aerobic exercise kills Testosterone. Is this True?

> I hear that weight training increases Testosterone production. Is

> this true?

> Does being overly fat hurt my Testerone production?

> Should I take HCG, or Clomid to increase natural testosterone

> production?

> Are there any supplements that help?

> Should I take DHEA?

> Should Take ZMA?

> What else affects the body's natural production of Testosterone?

> What books, web sites, etc should I be reading to get more

> information on stimulating my natural Testosterone production?

[Guest guest]

Hmmm....I am not sure about this (but willing to learn), here was an

abstract I found, it doesn't seem to differentiate between

prolactinoma and microadenomas:

Here is an abstract:

J Urol. 2003 Sep;170(3):795-8. Related Articles, Links

Comment in:

J Urol. 2003 Sep;170(3):803.

The value of pituitary magnetic resonance imaging in men with

hypogonadism.

Rhoden EL, Estrada C, Levine L, Morgentaler A.

Division of Urology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Men's

Health Boston, One Brookline Place, Suite 624, Brookline, MA 02445,

USA.

PURPOSE: We assessed the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging

(MRI) of the brain in the evaluation of hypogonadal men with a

variety of endocrine patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 51

men with low levels of total testosterone (TT) or free testosterone

(FT) underwent MRI. Erectile dysfunction and/or decreased libido were

present in 43 (84.3%) of cases and infertility in 8 (15.7%). Serum

prolactin (PRL) was obtained in all cases. Low levels of TT and FT

were defined as less than 300 and 1.5 ng/dl, respectively. Markedly

low levels of TT were defined as less than 200 ng/dl. RESULTS: In 38

of 51 (74.5%) men the MRI was normal. A small pituitary gland (the

partially empty sella syndrome) was noted in 9 (17.6%) cases and

microadenoma was noted in 4 (7.8%). Prolactin levels were greater

than twice the upper limit of normal in 3 of 4 (75%) cases of

adenoma, and low FT was noted in all 4 cases. An additional case of

adenoma was identified in a man with markedly decreased TT and normal

PRL. All men with adenoma presented with the combination of erectile

dysfunction and decreased libido. Among men without adenomas the

highest PRL value was always less than twice the upper limit of

normal. Overall, only 1 of 17 men with markedly decreased TT (less

than 200 ng/dl) demonstrated adenoma. None of the 17 men with low

luteinizing hormone with low TT or FT had an adenoma or

pituitary/hypothalamic mass. CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of

identifying pituitary adenoma by MRI is high if PRL levels are more

than twice the upper limit of normal. Medically significant

abnormalities are identified in only a small percentage of

hypogonadal men with low luteinizing hormone or if TT levels are

markedly decreased. The decision to obtain MRI in these latter cases

should be based on individual circumstances.

> The prolactinoma and microadenomas are different. You can have the

> later without high Prolactin. Worth looking for in secondary cases.

> Per the guidelines and textbooks anyway.

>

> >

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 00:40:04 -0000, you wrote:

>Hmmm....I am not sure about this (but willing to learn), here was an

>abstract I found, it doesn't seem to differentiate between

>prolactinoma and microadenomas:

The mistake is mine. I went back to my endocrinology book and

prolactinoma is one type of pituitary adenoma.

A look on line reveals adenoma is shorthand for tumor in a gland.

As the pituitary has several different regions and the effects depend

on what region the tumor is in, and if the tumor results in greater

production or less production of the hormone affected - there's a lot

of variability.

Then there's micro or macro adenomas - small or large. Prolactinoma

seem to often be large.

http://www.google.com/search?q=define:Adenoma

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/prolact/prolact.htm

And wow - look at this:

Autopsy studies indicate that 25 percent of the U.S. population have

small pituitary tumors. Forty percent of these pituitary tumors

produce prolactin, but most are not considered clinically significant.

Clinically significant pituitary tumors affect the health of

approximately 14 out of 100,000 people.

[Guest guest]

Retro,

you wrote>> " Autopsy studies indicate that 25 percent of the U.S.

population have small pituitary tumors. Forty percent of these

pituitary tumors produce prolactin, but most are not considered

clinically significant. Clinically significant pituitary tumors

affect the health of approximately 14 out of 100,000 people. "

Thanks for posting this, as several members wanted a reference to my

earlier assertion.

The only other thing I would add here is that the statement that only

14 out of 100,000 people are clinically afected by these adenomas is

misleading. No definitive studies have been done on hypogonadal males

and the prevelance of pituitary adenomas. In fact, our disease is

often misdiagnosed (or never diagnosed at all), treated

inappropriately or with predjudice by many physicians, and has hardly

been researched at all. With this in mind, I would expect the real

numbers to be much higher.

Regards,

K4

>

> >Hmmm....I am not sure about this (but willing to learn), here was

an

> >abstract I found, it doesn't seem to differentiate between

> >prolactinoma and microadenomas:

>

>

> The mistake is mine. I went back to my endocrinology book and

> prolactinoma is one type of pituitary adenoma.

>

> A look on line reveals adenoma is shorthand for tumor in a gland.

>

> As the pituitary has several different regions and the effects

depend

> on what region the tumor is in, and if the tumor results in greater

> production or less production of the hormone affected - there's a

lot

> of variability.

>

> Then there's micro or macro adenomas - small or large. Prolactinoma

> seem to often be large.

>

> http://www.google.com/search?q=define:Adenoma

>

> http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/prolact/prolact.htm

>

> And wow - look at this:

> Autopsy studies indicate that 25 percent of the U.S. population

have

> small pituitary tumors. Forty percent of these pituitary tumors

> produce prolactin, but most are not considered clinically

significant.

> Clinically significant pituitary tumors affect the health of

> approximately 14 out of 100,000 people.

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 04:24:17 -0000, you wrote:

>

>Not only that, but I understand that blood values of other hormones

>would be out of whack too. If you've got a tumor on your pituitary,

>odds are its not going to be limited to affecting LH values only.

Hmm. this is one of my peeves. My doctor did the MRI, (partially empty

sella - possibly indicating some die back of the pituitary) and beyond

testing prolactin,FH, LH and thyroid hormones -didn't look further.

It would seem logical if you're looking for cause - it would seem to

me- to look for GnRH (which tells pituitary to produce LH and FH) and

also look for growth hormone, etc.

But I'm finding folks are more interested in diagnosing condition than

cause. Once they know its secondary hypo they know what to prescribe

(supposedly) and stop there. But my reading would seem to indicate

low growth hormone can have effects similar to low T. You might fix

one problem but not see results because of the other.

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 04:24:17 -0000, you wrote:

>Either way, though, the post I was remarking on implied that

>pituitary tumors was the only cause of secondary hypogonadism, which

>I think we all agree is very wrong.

Sure there's the high iron, for another cause.

[Guest guest]

I got my test results.

In Range Out of Range Reference Range

TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL 403 241-827 NG/DL

PSA, TOTAL 2.1 < OR = 4.0 NG/ML

My question now is why did my doctor put me on Androgel when

according to the test results my Testosterone is the reference

range? The Androgel has improved my libido, and given me more

energy, but do I really need it?

> > My name is Tim. I am 41 years old. I was having a problem with

my

> > libido. I went to my doctor to have my hormone levels checked.

> She

> > told me my Testostorne level was low. I did not ask her what my

> > level was. I just took her word for it. She started me on

> Androgel

> > 1%. The frist week nothing happened. The second week I was a

> raging

> > lathario, and my energy level went way up. I am scared of taking

> > this stuff though. I am frightened that my body will stop

> producing

> > its own Testosterone. I want to get my own natural Testosterone

> > prodcution up so I can get off this stuff. To that I end I have

a

> > TON of questions.

> >

> > My questions are:

> > What caused my Testerone level to dip so low? I know the level

> goes

> > down as you get older, but it should not get as low as mine did.

> > What caused this?

> > Are there long term negative effects from taking Testosterone

> > replacement? What are they?

> > Will taking this stuff slowly kill off my body's own natural

> > prodcution of Testosterone?

> > Should I start looking for ways to increase my body's own natural

> > prodcution of Testosterone?

> > What is the normal range for Testosterone?

> > Shuold I be cycling on and off this Androgel stuff?

> > My doctor wants to wait 6 months before she does another blood

> > test. Should I wait this long or should get another test done

> > sooner?

> > Do I need to get more sleep?

> > Do I need to reduce stress?

> > Do I need more sex?

> > Should I go to another doctor? Perhaps an endocrinologist?

> > What role does diet play in Testosterone production?

> > Should I eat more fat?

> > Should I eat more saturated fat?

> > Does a high proten diet help natual Testosterone production?

> > Should I eat more beef?

> > Do I need to exercise more?

> > I hear that aerobic exercise kills Testosterone. Is this True?

> > I hear that weight training increases Testosterone production.

Is

> > this true?

> > Does being overly fat hurt my Testerone production?

> > Should I take HCG, or Clomid to increase natural testosterone

> > production?

> > Are there any supplements that help?

> > Should I take DHEA?

> > Should Take ZMA?

> > What else affects the body's natural production of Testosterone?

> > What books, web sites, etc should I be reading to get more

> > information on stimulating my natural Testosterone production?

[Guest guest]

Remember - the reference range (if you can call it that) is for ALL

men in ALL age groups - from 19 to 90! Normal for a 40 year old is in

the 600-700 range. Also, each man has a different " normal " range. You

have to find the level that's best for you...

Regards,

K4

> > > My name is Tim. I am 41 years old. I was having a problem

with

> my

> > > libido. I went to my doctor to have my hormone levels

checked.

> > She

> > > told me my Testostorne level was low. I did not ask her what

my

> > > level was. I just took her word for it. She started me on

> > Androgel

> > > 1%. The frist week nothing happened. The second week I was a

> > raging

> > > lathario, and my energy level went way up. I am scared of

taking

> > > this stuff though. I am frightened that my body will stop

> > producing

> > > its own Testosterone. I want to get my own natural

Testosterone

> > > prodcution up so I can get off this stuff. To that I end I

have

> a

> > > TON of questions.

> > >

> > > My questions are:

> > > What caused my Testerone level to dip so low? I know the

level

> > goes

> > > down as you get older, but it should not get as low as mine

did.

> > > What caused this?

> > > Are there long term negative effects from taking Testosterone

> > > replacement? What are they?

> > > Will taking this stuff slowly kill off my body's own natural

> > > prodcution of Testosterone?

> > > Should I start looking for ways to increase my body's own

natural

> > > prodcution of Testosterone?

> > > What is the normal range for Testosterone?

> > > Shuold I be cycling on and off this Androgel stuff?

> > > My doctor wants to wait 6 months before she does another blood

> > > test. Should I wait this long or should get another test done

> > > sooner?

> > > Do I need to get more sleep?

> > > Do I need to reduce stress?

> > > Do I need more sex?

> > > Should I go to another doctor? Perhaps an endocrinologist?

> > > What role does diet play in Testosterone production?

> > > Should I eat more fat?

> > > Should I eat more saturated fat?

> > > Does a high proten diet help natual Testosterone production?

> > > Should I eat more beef?

> > > Do I need to exercise more?

> > > I hear that aerobic exercise kills Testosterone. Is this

True?

> > > I hear that weight training increases Testosterone production.

> Is

> > > this true?

> > > Does being overly fat hurt my Testerone production?

> > > Should I take HCG, or Clomid to increase natural testosterone

> > > production?

> > > Are there any supplements that help?

> > > Should I take DHEA?

> > > Should Take ZMA?

> > > What else affects the body's natural production of Testosterone?

> > > What books, web sites, etc should I be reading to get more

> > > information on stimulating my natural Testosterone production?

[Guest guest]

403 is in the iffy range. If you have a lot of related symptoms, you

probably do absolutely need to do something about your hormones.

Jumping to Androgel is a very big decision though. Please go through

the archives on this forum and read post. Also, try and read some of

my post from the past, I have addressed this issue a few times.

There could be a variety of causes for your low testosterone and a

variety of possible solutions. Read up on HCG and Clomid as well.

Learn the difference between primary and secondary hypo. Read " the

testosterone syndrome " by Eugene Shippen. TRT is a lifetime

commitment. Your natural T production completely shuts off when your

body senses any exogenous T (liek the kind you get from androgel).

Armyguy

-- In , timmcdearmon1 <no_reply@y...>

wrote:

> I got my test results.

>

> In Range Out of Range Reference Range

> TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL 403 241-827 NG/DL

> PSA, TOTAL 2.1 < OR = 4.0 NG/ML

>

> My question now is why did my doctor put me on Androgel when

> according to the test results my Testosterone is the reference

> range? The Androgel has improved my libido, and given me more

> energy, but do I really need it?

>

>

> > > My name is Tim. I am 41 years old. I was having a problem

with

> my

> > > libido. I went to my doctor to have my hormone levels

checked.

> > She

> > > told me my Testostorne level was low. I did not ask her what

my

> > > level was. I just took her word for it. She started me on

> > Androgel

> > > 1%. The frist week nothing happened. The second week I was a

> > raging

> > > lathario, and my energy level went way up. I am scared of

taking

> > > this stuff though. I am frightened that my body will stop

> > producing

> > > its own Testosterone. I want to get my own natural

Testosterone

> > > prodcution up so I can get off this stuff. To that I end I

have

> a

> > > TON of questions.

> > >

> > > My questions are:

> > > What caused my Testerone level to dip so low? I know the

level

> > goes

> > > down as you get older, but it should not get as low as mine

did.

> > > What caused this?

> > > Are there long term negative effects from taking Testosterone

> > > replacement? What are they?

> > > Will taking this stuff slowly kill off my body's own natural

> > > prodcution of Testosterone?

> > > Should I start looking for ways to increase my body's own

natural

> > > prodcution of Testosterone?

> > > What is the normal range for Testosterone?

> > > Shuold I be cycling on and off this Androgel stuff?

> > > My doctor wants to wait 6 months before she does another blood

> > > test. Should I wait this long or should get another test

done

> > > sooner?

> > > Do I need to get more sleep?

> > > Do I need to reduce stress?

> > > Do I need more sex?

> > > Should I go to another doctor? Perhaps an endocrinologist?

> > > What role does diet play in Testosterone production?

> > > Should I eat more fat?

> > > Should I eat more saturated fat?

> > > Does a high proten diet help natual Testosterone production?

> > > Should I eat more beef?

> > > Do I need to exercise more?

> > > I hear that aerobic exercise kills Testosterone. Is this

True?

> > > I hear that weight training increases Testosterone

production.

> Is

> > > this true?

> > > Does being overly fat hurt my Testerone production?

> > > Should I take HCG, or Clomid to increase natural testosterone

> > > production?

> > > Are there any supplements that help?

> > > Should I take DHEA?

> > > Should Take ZMA?

> > > What else affects the body's natural production of

Testosterone?

> > > What books, web sites, etc should I be reading to get more

> > > information on stimulating my natural Testosterone production?