UROLOGY EXPERT FORUM
Testosterone replacement

Testosterone replacement


  Hi,
  I would like to get a second opinion(or third, or even fourth) on a problem I have:
  I am a 27 yr old married male. I'm very tall and lean(6'3" 170 lbs.), physically active, with no history of serious illness/problem of any kind. About 10 months ago I defintely noticed having a decreased sex drive and trouble having erections. I felt like I had got down to about 30%(these are averaged estimations. I had good days and bad ones) of my normal sex drive and erection. I also found it very hard to sleep, was depressed, easily fatigued, and was moody. I did have alot of stress at the time(work, home, & money) and felt that might have something to do with everything. I was refered by my general physican to a Urologist a had a blood tests done.
  5/29/97 My results were:
  LH level was 4.1 (I was told 2 - 18 is normal)
  Prolactin level was 5.8 (I was told 3 - 16 is normal)
  FSH level was 6.1 (I was told 1.5 - 18 is normal)
  TSH level was 1.4 (I was told .4 - 7.6 is normal)
  Testosterone level was 471 (I was told 490-990 is normal)
  8/5/97 My testosterone level was taken again and was at 355.
  8/22/97 I began taking a 200mg testosterone injection every three weeks. I felt after 3 shots this brought me up to around 40-50% and felt better but still not great.
  10/22/97 I felt at about 50-60% normal. My Urologist raised the amout of injection I was getting to 300mg every three weeks.
  1/7/98 I felt that I had stopped improving and hit a plateau around 60%. My testosterone level was taken again and was at 292.
  1/28/98 After still feeling at about 60%, my Urologist raised the amout of injection I was getting to 400mg every three weeks. a few days after the 2nd shot I felt alot better(75% of normal, rested, focused, happier, and best I felt in a long while!), but a week before my next shot was to be given, I felt like I slumped down to 30% normal(worst I felt in a long while!). This happened after the next shot also.
  3/26/98(today) After talking to my Urologist, she decided that we should stay with 400mg, but go to getting the injections every two weeks(instead of three).
  Well, this is where we're at now. My life is going very good except for this. I am not really stressed anymore(marriage is better than ever, work is less stressful, and I've gotten a raise & promotion!), so I don't think that has anything to do with my present condition. It seems, from what I understand, that my testicles are just not producing testosterone. I am concerned why it seems that my testosterone level has gradually been decreasing with each test. What does that mean? I would appreciate any comments, opinions, or ideas on what else we(my Urologist and I) should be looking for/doing. I feel that we have to make a brake thru soon before this drives me crazy. I'm too young to be having these problems. I'm frustrated and tired of not feeling myself.
  Thanks,
  David
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Dear David,
Your symptoms are not uncommon. Certainly sexual interest and ability have  hormonal bases but as you commented, may also have roots in our emotion. It can be quite difficult separating the two at times. The use of
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