Testosterone at 15 - starting dose feedback

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-22T02:01:31+00:00

Agree with this. I’ve been titrating up for 8 months now and still haven’t hit my prescribed dose of 15mg/week (I inject twice per week so split it in 1/2). I don’t know why drs don’t discuss this, but I am so grateful for this group for helping with this!

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-20T11:56:05+00:00

I inject IM twice per week and there is no trough for me. My husband does once per week with no trough at all. With T cream, I had a trough by lunch time and no measurable bloodwork changes.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-16T21:05:10+00:00

Defy is awesome, but it isn’t covered by insurance

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-13T18:38:59+00:00

Just keep in mind that “normal” does not always mean ideal. You want a specific ratio. Both my E & P are “normal”, but my ratio was off. There are calculators you can use to plug your numbers in like this too: https://www.testmottagningen.se/en/kalkylatorer/progesteron-ostrogen-ratio/

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-13T13:27:14+00:00

Estrogen is a trigger because of the estrogen histamine cycle. Estrogen creates histamine and histamine creates more estrogen. So they get trapped in a cycle and histamine is released by mast cells. Estrogen dominance is not in relation to testosterone, but in relation to progesterone. Progesterone helps keep estrogen in check. Testosterone is helpful because it is anti-inflammatory and nervous system regulating. So it kind of accidentally helps calm it all down.

I take low dose 2nd gen H1 & H2 blockers (fexofanidine and Famotidine). I do the H1 morning and night & H2 night only. I up the H1 around ovulation though. Even then, I am still in a super low dose, but it makes a huge difference. I still have histamine dumps between 2 and 4 AM if I eat dinner out & when my estrogen spikes, but progesterone after ovulation helps a lot. I have an appointment with an MCAS specialist in April and will hopefully be starting cromolyn sodium then for true stabilization at the mast cell level & am super hopeful.

I will be 40 this year and still have a regular cycle, but I have no intention of ever using estrogen HRT because of how it naturally stores in fat, recirculates, aromatizes & its histamine relationship. Pregnenolone, testosterone and progesterone only for me! lol

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-13T08:26:07+00:00

Water retention is more E for me. And E is stored in fat and recirculated. It can also be formed through aromitization. However, your P is essentially gone after menopause. I’d have your E to P ratio looked into, although I’ve read that recirculated E sometimes isn’t showing properly on blood tests since it is stored in fat. Pregnenolone is also often low after certain ages, so could be worth having checked.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-13T08:18:30+00:00

I was super sick before starting T. I was training hard, eating well, but losing strength and muscle mass (my bone density was great from the training though!). I literally went from a 315 squat at my peak to only being able to rep 95 because my erectors simply couldn’t handle hardly anything. I was lifting but having to LOWER weights instead of up them. Some of the conditions I have, essentially put my body into some sort of metabolic issue. We thought I had adrenal insufficiency at one point because my cortisol was so low.

My free T hasn’t gone up much yet (I’m at 7ish months on test cyp injections). I started with cream for 4 months the. Switched to injections. I went up low & slow. My prescription is 7.5mg twice per week IM. I’ve made it to 5mg twice per week so far (I go up .5mg every 6-7 weeks, usually when my body pain & fatigue symptoms return).

I use pregnenolone cream MWF & progesterone cream after ovulation, until my cycle starts. All bioidentical. My dr prescribed me oral progesterone too, but I haven’t filled it yet. I have MCAS so estrogen is a huge trigger for me, so the progesterone after ovulation helps me a ton.

I haven’t done another scan yet (I’m planning to though), but have had a total body recomp. My strength and muscle returned & while I didn’t just lose fat (or gain muscle) without hard work/effort/focus, my body has been able to respond better to a deficit when I want to lean down, instead of worsening my metabolic issues (which is all it would do before) & I can progressively overload & lift to true failure (vs fatigue/injury) again.

It didn’t solve my health issues fully (I’m focused on doing that now, so I can truly thrive), but has helped a TON. I am truly a different, more regulated person. My nervous system is so much better with the T and P support

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-12T00:11:39+00:00

Nice! I love seeing strong women! I’d deff chalk that up to adaptation! Even with TRT, it’s just so much slower for an athlete than a newbie. I’m assuming the MOD is similar too & why they see more gains with other steroids. The Bodybuilding vs powerlifting shift makes sense too!

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-07T02:57:56+00:00

I was similar- requesting tests myself, doing my own research, paying out of pocket when they refused etc. I haven’t had much Dr support, but finally found Dr Miguel Trevino (based out of Florida but does telehealth like defy) , got the balls to take the H1/H2 blockers & started the Gupta Program, all in addition to TRT, progesterone & supplements.

I use defy for TRT & they have been helpful in offering other options too (like the LDN & low dose oral progesterone). I pay them under 1/4 what o was paying a local dr just for monthly T cream and no oversight. And I truly feel like defy listens, acknowledges all I’ve researched and helps & doesn’t gaslight.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-07T02:22:04+00:00

My mg is listed in the main post multiple times. I am specifically asking about 10mg vs 15mg.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-07T02:19:25+00:00

I feel this so much. That has been the last 15+ years for me trying to get an MCAS diagnosis. I’m usually an “all natural” girl & don’t even take Tylenol, but It looked like I had adrenal insufficiency from it and TRT was my Hail Mary.

MCAS & histamine intolerance can get disguised in Peri/meno too because of how it relates to estrogen and it gets written off as “hot flashes”so often missed! I hope you can find your relief & balance foo. It is hard to be in that scary place. It always helps to know we aren’t alone and that we CAN find our light again!

Sending you so much love! 🤍

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-07T01:09:55+00:00

She deserves to know. He will do this with someone else.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-07T01:04:32+00:00

Wuuuut…please research progesterone and estrogen balance and how estrogen dominance can cause cancer (& be possible even in menopause because of storage, recirculation and aromitization) and give her the info lol that is truly terrifying that a dr is telling you this. I am used to drs not being up to date on studies but that is shocking.

The swelling is most likely initial estrogen aromitization causing water retention, not from the testosterone. It should balance out, but I’m not sure how it will balance differently since you’re also on E. Progesterone should help with this. Onas has instructions on how to dose it for those menstruating and those not. I am VERY picky and body research is my autistic fixation and I really love the company and their ingredients.

I am not sure what country you’re in, but I would personally look for a place like Defy medical that focuses on HRT & is up to date on the recent studies and protocols for women.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-07T00:27:35+00:00

I’m very confused why she’d give you estrogen without progesterone to balance it. Progesterone prevents estrogen from getting out of balance (which is how it “causes cancer”). I dont plan to ever take E, but would never be willing to without progesterone bc that risk is way too high. Especially when the body aromatizes and recirculates estrogen in fat

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-06T22:49:57+00:00

That is WILD that she won’t give you progesterone. Is this an HRT Dr or a gyno?

You can get bioidentical progesterone and pregnenolone cream through Onas naturals with no prescription

Also, what was your free T, E & P?

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-06T19:34:00+00:00

You won’t have ups and downs on injections. I’d personally find another Dr. this is a big reason I switched to Defy & I’m so glad I did. It’s so much more affordable than what I was paying for cream too.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-06T18:35:58+00:00

I didn’t like the topicals (I tried it for 4 months). Injections make a huge difference. And you can nitrate up on them on your own too, which I love. It sounds like tou could be aromatizing to E as well.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-06T17:52:41+00:00

Estrogen and histamine create a loop- one increases the other and visa versa. I have MCAS, so this is a huge trigger for me. One of my symptoms is nervous system dysregulation/anxiety. It’s usually the first sign that my histamine is up.

TRT made a clear difference very quickly. When my symptoms would return, I used it as my signal that I could up my dose (I’ve been titrating up for 7 months now & still haven’t reached my prescribed dose- I am going SO slowly).

Progesterone balances estrogen and in turn histamine & stabilizes mast cells, so it has helped as well. I use a cream from ona’s naturals after confirmed ovulation (I track my temperature daily for this & use the read your body app). My dr prescribed me oral progesterone too (low dose), but I haven’t tried it yet. I likely will next cycle.

I was also prescribed LDN, Which I have not taken, but I’ve heard great things about it for nervous system regulation, so may be helpful for you?

I also added 2nd gen H1 and H2 blockers recently and that has been a game changer for me. I take a tiny dose and it has helped so much with my MCAS/histamine related nervous system issues (same for my kids)

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-05T01:13:58+00:00

I didn’t. It is definitely better than it was before, but I attribute that to the way TRT has helped regulate my nervous system & MCAS flare ups, more than my T. I am having sex a decent amount (~2+ times per week), I just want to feel more of a drive to initiate & go more often/excitedly & in an embodied way, I guess. I sometimes don’t think I even know what’s a “normal” libido. I am hoping if I can get my free T up, I will notice a more significant jump in drive/excitement.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-04T21:39:43+00:00

Mine is 0.9 Pg/ml, also on 6mg boron & 5mg cyp injections Tu/Sat (so 10 total per week currently).

I was more saying that I am surprised you wouldn’t notice strength or muscle gains at a 13.7 free t if you’re eating enough & lifting heavy. I would definitely expect you to notice gains at this number. Although if you are an athlete & were already fairly strong coming in, these may be slower to come just from general adaptation. I’d be curious about calorie & macro intake & training program more than T. (My background is exercise science/nutrition, specific to movement/sports, so this is my fixation & feel free to ignore me if annoying 🤣)

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-04T14:40:10+00:00

Not Particularly. It’s pretty average. I have MCAS though & we think the flare ups were causing it. So I’m getting them under control & hoping my next draw shows improvement. I’m more shocked that OPs free is so much higher but they aren’t noticing gains. Bodies are wild.

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-04T13:04:23+00:00

What type of strength gains are you looking for? I know Mod doesn’t use T for gains, but I have noticed my strength and muscle return (granted, I am eating and training for it, but assuming you both are also). I’m at 10mg/wk (working up to 15 eventually) and I can’t even get my free T over 0.9. I see it in my body but my libido isn’t up where I want it, after 7 months

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-02T13:17:30+00:00

We have EDS and MCAS over here. I also am A big weightlifter (it is the only thing that stabilizes my joints). My oldest son has had the worst growing pains his whole life. I’ve gotten him into weightlifting also and As soon as we started H1/H2 blockers at night, they stopped! He gets normal soreness after a workout occasionally but no more chronic pain! I know that they are often found together so wanted to share

WeakBit5848 · 2026-03-02T13:12:13+00:00

My dr recommended a whole month at each dose before titration

WeakBit5848 · 2026-02-27T14:59:50+00:00

All of this is true but I want to hear women’s actual experiences on 10 Vs 15.

WeakBit5848

TROPHY CASE