| Wanderer 2006-07-25, 8:22 am |
| On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 08:04:20 -0400, Lobsterboy wrote
(in article <1153829060.359845.248650@s13g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> ):
>
> Wanderer ha escrito:
>
>
> A year ago I had my testosterone in serum checked, and it was 3,61
> mcg/l (normal range according to the lab 3-15). However, the range
> doesenīt take in account that testosterone levels vary a lot depending
> on age, so the "normal" amount for a 20 year old guy isnīt the same
> for a guy in his fifties. Since Iīm 29, I consider that Iīm quite
> below the normal levels.
>
> I felt pretty depressed at the time, and I had begun taking St. Johnīs
> Wort a month or so before the test. I helped with depression, but did
> nothing for my sex drive. After I had my T checked I began taking
> Tribulus Terrestris, 800 g. per day of a brand that had 40% saponins. I
> didnīt cycle it, just took it all days. At the beginning I felt a
> little improvement, but few days later it was the same.
>
> 3 Weeks ago I switched from St. Johnīs Wort to Ginko Biloba. I donīt
> feel depressed, and now I feel my head is more clear, and I donīt get
> sleepy early in the night or after meals like it used to happen. Iīve
> taking a new tribulus brand for 6 weeks, that has 70% saponins (the
> strongest I found), 5 days in 2 out, but the results have been the
> same: a small improvement the first days and then back to "normal".
>
> This week I finish with Tribulus. Next week Iīll receive my order of
> ALC, and will begin to take it the following week. Itīs a supplement
> which is supposed to help the body to burn the fat to get energy and
> increase testosterone. Having a body mass index of 30 (technically,
> Iīm obese, though I just look like I have to lose a few kg.), probably
> doesenīt help much to have a healthy sex drive, either.
>
> For the last year Iīve also taken a multi-vitamin, that has a bit of
> all vitamins, zinc, magnesium...the usual stuff for this sort of thing.
>
If your testosterone is low and yours is very low for your age I
seriously doubt whether vitamins and herbs are going to help much. I've tried
all the ones you mention, and many others, with very little if any effect.
Did the doctor measure your bioavailable T (sometimes called free T)? This is
a very important number -- even if your T is within "normal" ranges, if your
bioavailable T is low, you will have every symptom of low testosterone (and
it sounds like you have every one of them).
I suggest you find a doctor who specializes in male sexuality issues, and see
what effect some form of T supplementation has on your libido and mood. I
suspect that HCG would the the logical place to start for you (since it
encourages your body to resume normal T production), but that's between you
and your doctor. Finding a qualified practitioner who specializes in hormonal
therapy for men is more than half the battle. Cycling through overhyped
nostrums is much more expensive, and much less helpful in finding a real
solution. Saponins schmaponins. According to surveys, most of these products
don't have a fraction of the potency they claim on the label.
Wanderer
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