If you qualify for male HRT then this is your best bet. There are problems in that most MD's do not do this one right.
You need to have the following tests run and have them as part of your medical record.
1. Serum Testosterone level:
This is the single test that your MD has already run quite probably, but that still does not give a complete answer.
2. Free Floating Testosterone level: This test shows what is available for use.
3. DHT Level: This one determines if your liver is producing an enzyme called 5-alpha -reductase and if you are converting the appropriate quantity of what testosterone you make into DHT. If the conversion process is not working right, they can give you male HRT and it will not give you the help that you need as it should. If this is the case what they then do is to make up a transdermal DHT supplement or have a combo cream made up specifically for you. You get the anabolic effects from the regular Testosterone, but your secondary sex characteristics and performance in the sack are maintained by the DHT.
4. The next test you need is an estrogen level. Very often the estrogen level is raised if this is high you need to be placed on an anti-estrogen as well. This is a pill and easy to do.
5. The final thing is your prolactin level. If the prolactin is elevated again the effects of the testosterone you would be given would be greatly diminished.
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I had an interesting experience on this one myself. I have for years taken IC injections for ED. This was simple my So Cal MD was seen earlier this year. He did some blood work and came back with the real true answers. My testosterone levels were like yours in the cellar, (all of them) In addition I had elevated estrogen and prolactin levels.
I was thrown on a combo Testosterone cream, every 90 days I have to do a round of human chorionic gonadotropin to keep my testicles doing what they can, and I was placed on both estrogen and prolactin killers.
Surprise Surprise! Though not perfect, about ten days later I no longer needed injections consistently for ED. I still have a great supply for "special occasions" but, I can now use low dose daily tadalafil and things work just great.
I am a strong believer in male HRT, but, if it is done wrong and all the levels in your body are not brought under control the whole thing doesn't work right. I am in the eyes of some a "senior" at 57.
Pal, yes by all means do this, BUT, see to it that they balance everything or you have your body out of control with the treatments being over-ridden by other hormones still out of balance.
The steroids very likely are NOT the culprit here. Unless you took incredible dosages for a very prolonged period the pituitary axis is prone to trying to right itself. Most doing this go through a refractory period but the testicles do try and get going again.
This is more than likely that the cause was not the steroids, but instead some other thing that may have happened at a later time anyway. The only thing that steroid abuse would be likely to do would be to make it happen a wee bit sooner.
I wish you the best of luck on this one.
Tonkat may be effective, but the truth is that the good stuff will cost you a great deal more $$ than the HRT will.
