Quote: (09-06-2017 09:39 AM)MikeS Wrote:
Quote: (09-05-2017 07:15 PM)DamienCasanova Wrote:
Quote: (09-02-2017 02:29 PM)Sidney Crosby Wrote:
I wouldn't even want to look like that guy.
When I'm 30+, I'd consider something like TRT if I was on the low side.
Legit question, What are the reasons not to do TRT?
I'm 40 and I don't think I would consider using TRT until I legitimately start feeling effects of low T (it's been my impression that quite a lot of TRT proponents in their 30s or 40s are probably in the average range but, understandably, want a boost towards the natural max range. It's not like testosterone for the average man drops like a rock once you hit middle age, graphs I've seen of the decline suggests it's something like 1% per year after 30).
My main reason - aside from having no idea yet how easy it may or may not be to get it prescribed here in Europe (lots of the first hand experiences appear to be from Americans, although I might have overlooked something there?) - is that from what I understand you should expect your natural testosterone production to be shut down for good.
It's not guaranteed that you will be able to get off TRT - if for some reason that became necessary - and end up back at your previous low to mid T.
So you are then essentially in need of testosterone from cooperative doctors and pharmacies for the rest of your life - which if you're only 30 or 40 is, statistically, quite a long time.
What if you travel a lot, or move to another country (as I have done once and could very well do again in the future one or several times)? Are you guaranteed to find the needed cooperation everywhere you go?
If not, then I guess there's always the black market, but that's most definitely not something I would be eager to delve into for years or decades of my life for crucial medicine.
Good post Mike, geography is an important distinction to make as it has a big impact on the options available to you. It's a lot easier to get on and stay on TRT in the states than it is here in the UK. Here your choices are limited to trying to get it on the NHS which is by all accounts very difficult, using gel treatments which I've heard are not as effective, or trying to get it on the black market which makes it a much riskier proposition, both in terms of quality and long term availability.
I don't think it's any coincidence that the proponents of TRT on this thread are from across the pond.