testicle atrophy & Orchiectomy

[gjvr2001]

After 2 days on 10gms of Testim, I had a sexual and violent dream that was kind of weird. I hope I adjust to the increased doseage and can build up to a regular T level without too many like that. I plan on going back down to 5mg after the recommended 2 weeks of 10mg. I will then have a couple of weeks on 5 mg before my labs. I hope I can get a decent level without having to stay on the 10 mg level as it is very expensive. I have had the benefit of losing a couple of pounds so maybe can think of it as a weightloss program which would make it a better deal.

[nullorchis]

If some of your functions have shut down in the interim, it will take time for the testosterone to reactive/rejuvenate your systems. Give it a fair chance to work.

When I started on T from being low, it was a few months later that my thinking really started to crystallize and I felt sharper.

Please keep in mind if the Testim doesn't seem to work or you get low scores on it, you may need to go the injection route instead...some men can't absorb it properly. In my case it caused rashes wherever I applied it.

I just noticed this info. Since starting Androgel, my Interest or ability in sex has not returned so that is good. I'm not as confused and indecisive as I was when my T level first dropped, but I still get tired quickly, and don't quite have the interest in doing things that I usually like to do. I am using a full dose of Androgel daily (1%). I don't seem to remember things as easily as I did when I had natural T production. Maybe this is the best I can hope for. I don't want so much T that interest or ability in sex is aroused. Will be getting a T level test next month.

Not adverse to injections but not as a routine. I read a new product has been introduced; you apply it underarm like deodorant and it is absorbed quicker and better, and reduces risk of you transferring the testosterone off of your skin to others. I will have to inquire on some of the other boards to see if anyone is using it and its effectiveness.

[sduyck_2000]

i have been on androgel for many years

almost 11 years i think

it does nothing for libido ..at least for me

still suffer the fatigue as well ..chalk that up to just being old

[Batman]

i have been on androgel for many years

almost 11 years i think

it does nothing for libido ..at least for me

still suffer the fatigue as well ..chalk that up to just being old

Have you had your estrogen levels checked (sensitive array)? TRT can drive up your E levels which will negate a lot of the benefits of being on testosterone.

I highly recommend the Yahoo group hypognadism2 for anyone who is on or needs to go on TRT

[gjvr2001]

I finally went to a different urologist and explained that I wanted to try to get something cheaper than the Tstim and he prescribed and administered a 1 ml Testosterone Cyp. shot and ran a lab before to check my T level. I just received the lab results and I was at 777 frrom the testim that I had been on prior to the shot. I will be administering the shots myself every 2 weeks. I got a bottle of 10 ml for about $107 which should last about 4 1/2 months so it should be an affordable means of getting the necessary T. I did get a little acne but that is a minor side effect. I am going to have another lab around the 1st of April and hope to find out what my T level is on the shot. I have been able to have erections in the morning and with a little vardenifil was able to have intercourse with my wife but I didn't orgasm. Maybe that will come later but at least I am making some progress. I have been feeling more energetic and generally a better general wellness. It still takes a long time to orgasm but the ejaculate volume has increased somewhat.

[Batman]

Good deal! Only thing is that 200mg every other week is older school thinking, and by the end of the 2nd week before your next injection you'll feel kind of crappy. This also drives up Estrogen more. See if he'll let you do it once a week at 100mg/.5ml

If you posted this to the Yahoo site, I'm already being redundant.

Glad to hear you are on the mend

[gjvr2001]

Thanks for reminding me. I was thinking of doing that. I just want to find out what my labs will tell me so that I can figure out what each treatment will give me as far as T levels go. It's good to be making some progress. I am looking forward to results from upcoming test on Friday. I plan on injecting in my thigh as it is easier to reach than the gluteus max. At least I think it would be.

[Batman]

Thanks for reminding me. I was thinking of doing that. I just want to find out what my labs will tell me so that I can figure out what each treatment will give me as far as T levels go. It's good to be making some progress. I am looking forward to results from upcoming test on Friday. I plan on injecting in my thigh as it is easier to reach than the gluteus max. At least I think it would be.

I do alternating thighs. I also take a 1/4 pill of Armidex (now generic) twice a week to keep the estrogen in check. If you are testing your estrogen level as well as T, make sure they are doing the sensitive test for men (I write "sensitive" after estrogen on my test form).

Good Luck!

[gjvr2001]

I don't know whether they test for Estrogen so I'll have to check with urologist to see if they do and then ask how my levels are. i checked Arimidex prices at drugstore.com and it looks pretty pricey but if you only need 1/4 mg I might be able to handle it. Especially if I can cut costs on going to shots from the gels. Thanks for the heads up onEstrogen and sensitive, as I plan on going in tomorrow to get the T levels checked again so I'll ask the lab if they do that as part of the test. I think I should ask for complete copies of any lab work I get as I am seeing two different urologists and both probably need to know what is going on. I hope I can not offend either doctor but I need one that will work with me on cost control. I think I will be able to get my Testosterone Cyp thru the VA but they wouldn't do the Testim gel. I don't have drug covrage except through the VA. My VA dr had me do a sleep apnea test and also wants me to see a cardiologist. I plan on asking the heart dr about the side effects of cozaar, propanalol, lovastatin and gemfibrozil that were all prescribed by my VA doc. Maybe there may be some alternatives that will keep my BP and cholesterol under control without the side effects of lowered libido and impotence. I just got some policosonol which is supposed to lower cholesterol so am hoping I can maybe get off the lovastatin and gemfibrozil. Just would like to take as few drugs as possible to stay alive and healthy.

[Joel9146]

I had an orchiectomy 7 weeks ago by my Urologist in a hospital in Houston. My testicle atrophy was the cause.

I had terrible swelling from surgery because of the atrophy and that the testicles had scaring that attached to the sides of the scrotum.

Finally the sewlling is 100% gone away and I am so glad the surgery was done.

[Testman29]

I have never heard abut testicles having to be cut off just because of atrophy from outside testosterone use. Yes, they have less blood supply, just like a preteen boy's does, but that means nothing. They're supposed to have less blood supply because they aren't being used.

As on the testosterone HRT. The best I have ever in my life felt was when I was actually using BOTH injectable and the bio-identical testosterone gel. I know an expert HRT doc who uses this approach if the men complain from that the shots and gel suck. So I gave it a try and, BAM! Felt 18 again. I don't know why theres such an effect, as I have used larger amounts of injectable, all the way up to what you guys wouldn't believe, and everywhere in between, and I didn't feel like that! I have also used varying doses of the bio-identical cream or gel. But when the two are combined it was just awesome. BTW, I have used 5000mg/wk of the Cypionate shots and even that wasn't as good as the low dose shot/gel combo. My dose of that was 200mg/wk of the shot (Cypionate) and 2.5 grams per day of Androgel. My testosterone level would have been rather high but not off the charts. Top of chart but still perfectly fine for a doc to prescribe this dose. Also, to make things more complicated (!!!!) There's even differences in the types of shots. Ex: Propionate vs Cypionate. That's one reason why Sustanon (brand name for a testosterone shot not available in the States) is known to be better than Cypionate. When mixing different forms of testosterone together, they tend to produce a synergistic effect. Sustanon actually has 4 different testosterones all together. 250mg/ml Unfortunately, it would not be legal to import even with a prescription, due to some of the forms of testosterone not having been studied by the FDA. But, anyway, I was going to say a compounding pharmacy can mix up Cypionate and Propionate together and it would work better than just one by themselves. Propionate also works at a lower dose than Cypionate.

[Joel9146]

I started this post almost two years ago.

I had my bilateral orchiectomy last March (8 months ago). My T level now days is virtually nothing (33 which is low even for a woman).

The surgery was a result of the shrinkage and my only regret is that I wih I had done this DECADES ago. I did not even have to ask for it, the Doctor suggested in (Urologist).

The libido is NOT gone as I had hoped, but it is far far less than before.

As far as complications, I had swelling for a few weeks (very LONG weeks), but after that I have had No Problems.

In no way do I suggest this for anyone else, that is up to them, but as far as I am concerned it has been excellent!!!

Good luck to all,
Joel in Houston

[nullorchis]

From what I have read an atrophied testicle can be more prone to the development of a tumor. And a tumor can be benign, or cancerous.
So in the interest of being on the safe side of avoiding the development of a cancerous tumor, an atrophied testicle (which is most likely not working anyway), will be removed as a routine procedure. Just what I read somewhere. Can't provide documented evidence this is true.

[feedback]

My testicles are atrophied and ride very high in my scrotum but my doctor see's no problem with leaving them as is. I was hoping they would recommend removing them but no such luck.

[unencumbered]

My testicles are atrophied and ride very high in my scrotum but my doctor see's no problem with leaving them as is. I was hoping they would recommend removing them but no such luck.

There would have to be more of a reason to remove them. Perhaps if they were so high that they were actually recessed and that they were cause excruciating pain might be a reason, assuming that they were also non-functional or producing very little T.