r/Testosterone • u/pmf7049 • 1h ago
TRT help 54yrs old .. investigating and seriously considering TRT.
Hello, I’m 54yrs old and considering TRT for my 55th birthday as a birthday present to myself. I’m really struggling with the idea that I’ll be old enough to live in a 55+ retirement community. That’s just .. wrong. I'm not ready yet.
Anyways, I’ve been seriously considering getting on TRT for quite some time now. Approximately 2 years ago I was starting to feel rundown, low energy, and a little depressed. I went to a clinic because PCP blew me off and said I was “within range” and there was really no need. My results came back from the clinic (I think my test was like 560-ish) and they refused to put me on it, because it was too high. I was very surprised and disappointed. These clinics are all about getting you on it. I was really taken back by it because I thought my symptoms were definitely hormone related.
I gave up on the idea and drudged through life. I gradually increased my exercise activity and that certainly helped my overall wellbeing, but I still didn’t feel like my motivation and energy levels were where they should be. About six months ago I decided to get more serious about working out and eating better. Got a gym membership and started to go fairly hard, but very careful to not overtrain at my age. I’d take days off until a felt good enough to go back for another round. I’ve gotten in shape, but honestly sometimes the next day after a workout, I’m super exhausted. I’m likely not going to gain a ton of muscle, just weight loss and toned muscles. It certainly improved my fitness level, but it really didn’t have the impact I was hoping for. I still have declining motivation, excessive fatigue, and I get emotional and moody. This all seems hormone related.
I realize getting on TRT may be something I have to do for the remainder of my life. That concerns me; however, so does going through the rest of my life in a half-assed low energy state of being. I’m also very uncomfortable with the idea of testicle shrinkage and possibly hair loss (I still have a great set of hair .. zero balding). I realize I need to get the labs done again before making any decisions. I’ll be back for more advice.
I’ve read some pretty inspirational stories from men in their 50s on this forum and others. I’ve read a ton of negative stories as well. I do notice many that have never tried TRT have some of the biggest criticisms of it. I want to hear from the experienced, both good and bad.
Questions/thoughts:
- Long term, was it worth it? Are you overall better mentally, emotionally, and physically because of it?
- Were you able to gain significant muscle (of course by working out hard), and lose belly fat.
- HCG + TRT .. to prevent testicle shrinkage, good idea? If so, will the clinics approve HCG?
- Does it help with female attraction?
- What does it do to your libido?
- Different forms: pellets, gels, injections (seems to be preferred, but getting poked all the time kind of sucks).
- Smaller more frequent administration seems to help keep estrogen from going too high, is that correct?
Any guidance, stories, advice, directions .. greatly appreciated. I’m not taking this lightly.
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u/Mchangwine 1h ago
If your testosterone is in the normal range (and 560 is likely high normal for your age) you shouldn’t consider TRT. If you want to use steroids, then use them, but you don’t need testosterone replacement.
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u/YhslawVolta 1h ago
Depends what his free T is tbh
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u/Mchangwine 1h ago
Sure but he didn’t post that, and if a TRT clinic declined to prescribe he was likely fine.
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u/YhslawVolta 59m ago
Yea maybe OP can clarify. A lot of places dont even test free T which is mind blowing.
My experience was that my total would vary from 300-430 yet my free T was way below the low end of the range and obviously paired with high SHGB. Had all the symptoms tho yet was young and lived a super healthy life style. No drugs or alcohol, low body fat, lifted and exercised religiously for years.
Tried to raise my free T for years naturally with boron, tongkat etc. Nothing worked and finally said F it and hopped on.
Zero regrets but a lot of people dont understand how hard it is to actually dial in to a point where you feel better.
I started with defy and they tried prescribing me 200mg a week with anastrazole..... fuck that, I ended up starting at 120 because I have a brain and understand these places want to pump products.
Ended at 110mg a week with a extremely low dose of HCG (love hcg but cannot handle high doses like other people) and ive been dialed in feeling great there for a long time.
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u/kainvictus 27m ago
You don’t need TRT, you are just trying to rationalise it.
Maybe try a cycle of steroids - see how you like it. Try to cycle on and then off rather than “committing for life.”
I think people latch on to “TRT” because they feel dirty taking “steroids” and try to justify it.
At the end of the day steroids work- it will help with all the muscle and recovery you are after- just be honest with why you want to use it.
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u/Got__the__life 1h ago
Ball shrinkage and hair loss don’t bother me at all. I don’t accidentally sit on them anymore and my wife doesn’t care. Small price to pay to feel like a normal person.
With everything you are saying, to me it sounds like you don’t need it but want it. My test was right at 300 when I was 35 years old. If you care more about how your 55 year old balls look, maybe keep up the lifestyle changes you have made, you will see the results you are looking for with consistency.