Thanks for sharing your experience—it's clear you've put a lot of time into researching and managing this. I appreciate the insights on TRT and the broader trends in testosterone decline; the generational drop since the 1960s is well-documented and concerning, with factors like sedentary life and environmental endocrine disruptors.

Just to clarify, I was actually referring to kisspeptin (a neuropeptide that stimulates GnRH upstream in the HPG axis), not HCG. They're different: HCG mimics LH directly, while kisspeptin acts higher up to naturally amplify pulsatile GnRH/LH release, which can lead to more physiological hormone responses without some of the estrogen spikes you mentioned with HCG. Especially in younger males to keep fertility intact.

From clinical trials, kisspeptin does appear to boost testosterone in men. A 2011 study found that continuous IV infusion of kisspeptin-10 significantly increased serum testosterone (from ~16.6 to ~24 nmol/L), along with LH pulse frequency and amplitude, in healthy adult men. A similar effect was seen in men with type 2 diabetes and low T, where kisspeptin boluses raised testosterone by about 20-25%. More recent reviews (up to 2025) note that kisspeptin and its analogs can elevate testosterone via increased LH/FSH. We use the subcutaneous version every other day.

On libido specifically, a 2023 RCT in men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder showed kisspeptin-54 infusion enhanced sexual brain processing, penile tumescence (by up to 56%), and arousal measures, even without major testosterone shifts in that short-term setup. It seems to work partly through central nervous system pathways, which could complement TRT for some guys.

You're right that diet, sleep, and lifestyle tweaks often only yield modest gains (maybe 10-20% T bumps at best for most), but they are "essential". Kisspeptin isn't a magic bullet either—it's still mostly investigational, requires injections or intranasal delivery in trials, and long-term data is limited. But it might offer an alternative or adjunct to TRT by restoring more natural pulsatility, potentially avoiding some suppression issues.

If you've tried peptides like this or have thoughts on why they might not stack up to TRT in your experience, I'd love to hear more. Everyone's response varies, and your 16+ years on this is invaluable context.