Posted by MarkinBoston on November 21, 2000, at 16:43:00
In reply to Re: get a testosterone level check, posted by SLS on November 20, 2000, at 20:54:42
> What about using HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)?
>
> I think chronic testosterone administration allows for testicular atrophy. Not sure.
>
> - ScottDepends. If LH is high, then the gonads arn't producing enough, so supplimenting would up the t, the pituitary would sense this and lower LH accordingly. If LH remains in a normal range, then the gonads will continue to be exercised. If LH goes below normal, then the gonads won't be trying to produce testosterone. Note the feedback system usually responds within 15 minutes, so values are up and down in addition to a daily rhythm.
For most, non-elderly men, chronic testosterone supplimentation will result in atrophy. One reason athletes "cycle" on and off steroids, another is to reset the desensitization of receptors to anabolic hormones - much like we would become desensitized to benzos or dopamine agonists.
HCG seems only to be used for boys with delayed puberty and not many shots of it. Most of these hormones have short half-lives and only athletes are determined enough to put up with daily IM injections. Older folks with money who want to stay young will also inject daily, usually with Human Growth Hormone.
Clomid also stimulates testosterone production and is used by athletes when they end a cycle - it helps start up their own production again when they withdraw supplimentation. The FDA approved use is for women wishing fertility. It ups FSH levels, and increases sperm counts in men besides stimulating egg production in women.
poster:MarkinBoston
thread:48591
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001115/msgs/49189.html