IMHO I think it's great that it's an open discussion in the landscape now and the stigma is being addressed. Women undergo hormone therapy from a young age with birth control. Melatonin is a form of hormone control. It's an accepted treatment for women going through menopause and the elderly with various ailments. I'm only 41, but plan on probably starting TRT within the next couple years at a minimal effective dose. I may change my mind by then, or even after, but a lot of the fears I'm seeing voiced here seem to be based on the preconceived notion that all PEDs are bad mostly because of heavy usage or crazy cycles (pro wrestlers, pro bodybuilders, almost ANY olympian). PEDs as a term covers a very broad spectrum, from your typical testosterone to things that simply give you an endurance boost like EPO. As an athlete that's never competing in a sport that regulates it, and if it (test) can improve my quality of life overall, why not at least consider it? I feel fine, and my T levels are OK for my age (actually naturally went up from 523 to 593 since starting strongman training), but minimal effective dose of T doesn't seem to pose much long-term health risk. I'm cautious though and have no qualms changing my mind otherwise. You get regular bloodwork to make sure you are staying healthy. With proper balance the chances of things like gynecomastia, cardiovascular, or liver problems are almost non-existent. Guys go "off cycle" and are not completely shut down if smart about it, so it's not impossible to come off it without serious long term damage. I just think it shouldn't be demonized and openly discussed so the fears that rightfully surround the use of these drugs are sussed out, can be better researched and monitored. My .02
There are studies that show T levels don’t decline much after age 40.
The diagnosis of hypogonadism in human males includes identification of low serum testosterone levels, and hence there is an underlying assumption that normal ranges of testosterone for the healthy population are known for all ages. However, to our knowledge, ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
We are also being told 900s are top for healthy male level. Below a study which includes a graph that shows T level dist for male, female population. ( Not only it again validates that levels don’t have to go down with age, but also, 900s could be very rare)
Limited information is available about testosterone concentrations representative of the general US population, especially children, women, and non-Hispanic Asians.We obtained nationally representative data for total testosterone (totalT), measured with ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
I believe marketers play with our perceptions and minds repeating 900 is the top of the range. It might be like me saying, human height can go up to 8 foot 1 inch.
Although it is true, you create a mis leading perception. I have taken a class from Stanford on this phenomenon. It is always done to manipulate things without telling lie. Your T level is with in top of the scale. Its like in my opinion calling. 6 foot 8 inch guy, kind of short, because there is a man above 8 foot.
I know I am in deep waters. An expert can easily chime in and share credible analysis, and eveything and prove me wrong.
But I know corporate business quite well. TRT is a big market a very big market. Don’t blindly trust even the researches that comes from seemingly reputable resources.
Just think twice before jumping on the wagon.
I will not test my T levels if not required medically. This might sound very uneducated, bro science, old school….
Indeed I have a scientific point of view that no large corporation will make money so it is under-spoken.
Placebo effect is well known and studied. It even works for lifters. There are many studies on this.
Plus, learn how to harness the placebo effect for self-improvement.
jamesclear.com
Many things are mental including T level related symptoms. I have no symptoms associated to low T levels. If I test my T and see it is lets say, 200 sth. Although it is normal, once I hear that my T levels are at lower range, I will start to see all the symptoms.
There are sths that don’t need to fix if not broken.
With that, any male above age 40, will continue to get, an information flow on how TRT is the next gem. If you have never go to Google’s or Facebook’s marketing tools ( need a special subscription) you will be shocked to see how easy it is to address certain demographics when u want to pump some information.