Too much HCG?

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I am new to the group, but I have lurked around similiar message

boards for a while. I was diagnosed with hypogonadism in 2005 at the

age of 28 (now almost 32). At the time, my test reults were as a

follows:

Testosterone, total 241ng/dl (ref: 189-1111 ng/dl)

% Free Testosterone 2.01% (ref: 1.1-2.8%)

Testosterone, Free 48.5 pg/ml (ref: 40-150 pg/ml)

FSH 2.7 MIU/ML (ref: 1.6-8.0 miu/ml)

LH 2.6 MIU/ML (1.5-9.3 miu/ml)

Prolactin 6.2 NG/ML (2-18 ng/ml)

Note that I had only been off TRT for 3 days when these results

occurred. I had a total T level of 141 ng/dl before starting any TRT

in 2005 (ref: 400-1080).

I was prescribed HCG by a urologist in mid-2006 because I desired

fertility at the time, but now it's very unlikely that I'll want

kids. I have been injecting IM between 800 and 1000 units of HCG

twice weekly since then. My libido and feeling of well-being would

only increase satisfactorily with doses that high. I felt better

during that time period than I have in years, but in the last couple

of months I haven't felt as good (decreased libido, testicular pain,

anxiety). Plus, I've had some strange irregular heartbeat issues

that occurred after lifting weights. I wore a holter monitor for a

day and they determined that it was nothing serious.

I have been working with an endo who isn't terribly helpful and as a

result haven't had very thorough testing. To make a long story

short, no doctor has ever confirmed whether or not I have secondary

or primary hypogonadism. I did have a Clomid stimulation test in

2005 that resulted in a double of my testosterone level (to 455 ng/dl

and a sharp increase in FSH and LH), so I have always assumed that I

it was secondary hypo.

My latest T level in late November was 463 ng/dl (range: 241-827). My

T level has never been more than 600 ng/dl since I went on HCG

therapy (also not while on Androgel or T cream). I still feel pretty

good, but my concern at this point is that I am losing the progress

I've made over the past few years. I am also taking 100 mg of zinc a

day, and just started taking 100mg of DIM each day.

I understand that there is the risk of desensitization of the Leydig

cells with using this much HCG, but based on my experience I never

found a good enough T level and subjective feeling by taking smaller,

less frequent doses. My thought is that since I don't want to have

kids it's worth the risk to desensitize the testicles and feel good

for quite a while and then move to TRT.

All that being said, here are my questions:

1) Does anyone have experience with taking this much HCG for so

long? At what point would the testicles become desensitized? I have

tried to go off the HCG a few times and my testicles shrivel and

atrophy in a very short period of time, but come back strong each

time I start taking the HCG again.

2) Is it probably a better idea to switch back to TRT at this point?

If so, what would you recommend in terms of testing and therapy?

3) Is 100 mg of zinc a day too much to take?

Thanks for your time and I appreciate the opporutnity to share my

experiences.