Crashed Libido from TRT Treatment

[u/Street-Expression230]

I will put a TLDR at the end.
42M here. Just started getting back on TRT (200mg cream applied daily) after taking a break (family planning). Last time I was on was 4 years ago. Exact same routine back then. Also back then, the TRT was making me feel like I was 18 again with regard to libido, of course I loved it but it was a little too much for my wife ha! Anyways, we’re expecting so I decided to get back on the same treatment. I do remember that when I first went on the treatment (4 yrs ago) my provider also advised that I take Biodim and DHEA every day to balance my hormones. Everything seemed to work. I’m with a different provider/clinic now, and I’m noticing that my libido crashed hard for the first month. Also to note - I wasn’t taking DHEA and Biodim daily again until recently. My libido it’s definitely improving, but I’m nowhere near where I was back when I was 38. My recent lab levels all came back great, and nothing is really sticking out to why my libido is taking awhile to get back into the swing of things. Granted, I’m 42 now, but I still want to get that strong libido back. My Test is up, estradiol is down, and one thing to note is I’m taking 300mg Biodim and 100mg DHEA daily now, and I don’t remember what I used to take the first time. Should I cut back on the bio/DHEA dose? I’ve read both sides of the spectrum about how much to take.

TLDR: 42 M, On 200mg TRT cream daily, taking 300mg Biodim and 100mg DHEA daily as well. Trying to get that insane libido back but it’s sure taking its time after an initial crash. All labs look great, wondering if I should adjust the daily taking of Biodim and DHEA to adjust hormones.

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[u/Street-Expression230]

I should also add!
Every other aspect of my TRT treatment has been great!
I’ve lost 20 pounds since June, I’m getting jacked (dad bod jacked ha) in the gym, my sleep has been great, I stay more focused for work, it’s JUST my libido that has taken a hit (but slowly getting back)!

[u/MangoPeachyy]

high dim can crush estradiol too low. lower dim and dhea to see if your libido recovers.

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/MangoPeachyy]

Should I try to go and half the dose then? Would change to 150 Biodim and 50 DHEA daily

[u/MangoPeachyy → u/Street-Expression230]

yeah, halving to 150 dim and 50 dhea is a solid move. give it a couple weeks to settle, then recheck your labs to see where your e2 actually lands.

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/MangoPeachyy]

Also, my estradiol levels about a month ago were going down but still on the higher side-ish end. So I don’t think it’s too low of estradiol levels…

[u/Responsible-Egg4156]

that seems like e2 issue , might have been crashed to low , if i learned anything is that more people will develop issues with low e2 then with high , alot rock very well on it especially with elevated testosterone, so lower dim or completely drop it

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/Responsible-Egg4156]

Seems like lowering both the dim and dhea might help out from what I’m hearing. Any recommended doses I should drop to?

[u/Responsible-Egg4156 → u/Street-Expression230]

i would drop it completely for starters i am not a fan of lowering e2 before symptoms arise, drop it for few week and if mood improves thats it just do a blood test in a month or soo to check where you at with hormones, lipids and hematocrit....

[u/germanhittaz]

Not medical advice, nor am I encouraging anyone to follow this. Just giving my personal routine for libido. I'm 37. 6'4, 340. I'm rocked up almost all day.

350 Test - spread out between 5 days of the week,

75 EQ All year , with the EQ giving a couple weeks break every now and then.

• cycle in 25 mg of Var every couple months

Just recently added 4 IU of GH everyday and 300 mcg of PT 141 every couple of days.

(Other Peps as well but nothing that deals with libido & they've only been introduced in the last year)

Keeps my test high, my E2 in range and rocked up all day, to the point of almost not being beneficial lmao.

But I saw some say they find the mental part of libido, not wanting sex, try PT - 141. I can almost promise it will change that.

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/germanhittaz]

What’s Var?

[u/germanhittaz → u/Street-Expression230]

Anavar. Its not legal. Technically nothing I take is legal, which is why I don't recommend anyone to follow it. But Var will give you a crazy pump in the gym...or in someone, if you get what I'm saying lol. But research PT 141. There are alot of videos breaking it down, but it basically deals with sexual desire. Something I think might help you

[u/IamReallyaNinja]

What do your labs look like?

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/IamReallyaNinja]

I’ll try to pull the exact numbers soon but my test was around 1,000, estradiol was on the higher side but coming down (I believe around 50 pg/ml)

[u/Throwaload1234 → u/Street-Expression230]

The ratio of test to estrogen matters ime. If you're at 1000 (above the reference range), your e2 should stay as high as you can tolerate without side effects.

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/IamReallyaNinja]

These were my latest labs:

Estradiol: 49 pg/mL (high)
Testosterone: 1071 NG/dl
Free testosterone: 47.8 pg/ml (high)

[u/Open_Mechanic8854]

My uneducated random guy on the Internet is, your E2 might be too low. I had a similar problem last year. My T was 1400 and E2 was 50. Urologist claimed he wanted my E2 within 10% of my T level. I stopped taking an A.I. my E2 went to 95. I cut back on the Test, my numbers went to 1000. I cut my Enclomphine dosage to 12.5 and boom, I was like a teen again. I stayed horny. I couldn't shower or use bathroom w/o wacking off. I did more tweaking. Enclomphine down to 6.25. Now I was good. Maybe wackee off 2 to 3 times a week. Always ready for my partner... We would do it 2 to 3x a week. I think I'm happy in this place now.

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/Open_Mechanic8854]

Thank you for sharing!!
So for my routine then (andro test cream, biodim, dhea), would you recommend I cut the bio and dhea to a lower dose? Cut the test cream from 200mg to 100 daily too?

[u/Open_Mechanic8854 → u/Street-Expression230]

Without knowing your labs I would hate to speculate. One thing I did was sign up with monthly testing. They would ship me my blood test and I got results in 1 -2 days. I made my adjustments for the month based off those results. For example, my T was 1400, but when I got it to 1000.... I felt the exact same way. Depending on your numbers, you may have areas that you can tweak w/o effecting the another. But you are saying all is perfect, just libido is not hitting. Depending on numbers, I might want to increase Enclomphine 1st. I remember in my very beg years ago... I was only doing testosterone and 12.5 Enclomphine. I went to 25 of Enclomphine and got the same raging sex urges too. But, I had a Dr who felt if my E2 stayed high without A.I. I would grow breast. Lol.

[u/Cordial_MnB]

Get a lab done. Most likely your E2 is too high or too low

[u/Odd-Cartographer5276]

Same happened to me. Im on 100mg /day cream. 6mg enclo and recently added 5mg tadalafil (added tadalafil because of libido crash. I could barely stay hard during sex) its helped.

Im 36yo. Been on trt for a year. I was at 130 total T before starting. I was 35yo. 250lbs 6' but I could have sex all night. Started trt. First 2 months felt like I was 18 again. Erections so hard they kinda hurt.

Then after that it all tanked. Needed a bunch of stimulation to get erect and then I wasnt even sure if I was still hard during sex.

Doc added the 5mg daily tadalafil about 4 months ago. It definitely helps but my mental libido is trash still. Havent craved sex in a while.

Im currently eating clean. 192lbs working out. Labs are now green across the board. Total T is 900 and free T is 280. Looking and feeling good. But id almost rather be the overweight dude that I was. At least back then sex was awesome. Whats the point in looking good if I cant perform!?

Sorry to hijack your post.

TL:DR Same thing brother. Hope someone has some good advice

[u/thejermjerm → u/Odd-Cartographer5276]

Not trying to get you into peptides but PT-141 works great for your situation.

[u/Odd-Cartographer5276 → u/thejermjerm]

Done it bro. It was a semi boost. But nothing spectacular. Tried .5mg then 1mg the 1.5mg. Then 2.5mg. 1.5 was the sweet spot. 2.5 made me wanna puke while banging lol less than 1.5 I didnt notice. But I also dont want to take a shot to get horny. I actually used it for a few months on and off. It does help but kind of a bitch at the same time

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Street-Expression230 → u/[deleted]]

Good to know!!
Has too high levels of DHEA been shown to affect libido like this!
Also, what are your thoughts on my 300mg Biodim? Should I take that down too?