What are ‘optimal’ test levels supposed to feel like?

[SlamSumTest]

I seem to test consistently in the low normal range since my early 20s (230-450). I’ve done a couple of cycles with PCTs and levels have bounced back to the pre cycle level. The thing is I’ve always been very fit, athletic & muscular since my teens and don’t look like a ‘low test’ guy lol.

That said I’ve struggled a lot with low libido/drive since my teens and early 20s and it’s resulted in issues in the bedroom. Doctors chalk it up to it being in my head and psychological.

I’m 26 now and not sure how to rule this out, I’ve tried TRT doses (125mg) and have felt a slight boost but not how the common folk describe how someone in their 20s should feel. I want to have a high sex drive for obvious reasons.

If you were low normal/hypogonadal and optimized your levels, what was your experience? Did you need to dial in estrogen? HCG?

 

[Cman90]

I also never bounced back fully after my first couple cycles. Stayed around 400 ng/dl. I noticed my libido would go through fazes though.

In the summer time when I would cut down and get decently lean, 11-13% body fat, my libido would be nuked. When I would re-enter a calorie surplus and put some fat on I would notice a significant increase in libido and even some acne. Those are the only things I noticed that affected it.

Did you get labs done while on that TRT dose? It could have not been enough. Also need to make sure your e2 and prolactin are dialed as those can affect libido greatly.

When I've ran larger amounts of test I get so horny I've regrettably fucked some pretty fugly women lol. I also did some enclo only to try to get my test up and that also gave me crazy libido and fat loads too. But enclo is not good to run for long periods of time.

 

[Elektrobot]

I seem to test consistently in the low normal range since my early 20s (230-450). I’ve done a couple of cycles with PCTs and levels have bounced back to the pre cycle level. The thing is I’ve always been very fit, athletic & muscular since my teens and don’t look like a ‘low test’ guy lol.

That said I’ve struggled a lot with low libido/drive since my teens and early 20s and it’s resulted in issues in the bedroom. Doctors chalk it up to it being in my head and psychological.

I’m 26 now and not sure how to rule this out, I’ve tried TRT doses (125mg) and have felt a slight boost but not how the common folk describe how someone in their 20s should feel. I want to have a high sex drive for obvious reasons.

If you were low normal/hypogonadal and optimized your levels, what was your experience? Did you need to dial in estrogen? HCG?

Low libido is a blessing that not all of us get.

Have you thought that maybe you are depressed?

What's your environment like? Are you often around people you are attracted to? Or are you just home alone a lot?

Do you have low drive in other aspects of your life?

 

[SlamSumTest]

Low libido is a blessing that not all of us get.

Have you thought that maybe you are depressed?

What's your environment like? Are you often around people you are attracted to? Or are you just home alone a lot?

Do you have low drive in other aspects of your life?

hmm I had a lot of potentially fun/good opportunities with women in my early 20s but my low libido ruined it for me, not a good look.

I do believe I have depression though I don’t know the clinical definition, I’ve had the blues in general for as long as I can remember but manage to mask it and side step it

My social life used to be a lot more vibrant but I’ve slowly retracted. My friend group had a lot of great looking women around but it was a feedback loop of feeling like no one was showing interest causing me to pull away and ‘not see the point’. These days I still have friends who invite me out to do stuff but I’d just stay in as I don’t see the point or have as much fun. Don’t really participate in any of my hobbies anymore (again, feels like a drag and chore).

As far as drive in other aspects of life’s, I’m pretty successful in my corporate job and have climbed it well given my salary for my age; recently studied for a certification and passed it (felt good). Also started a little side biz that has helped fill a void in terms of having something to build towards

 

[xrayphoton13]

I didn't realize I had low test until I had it tested. I was in the low 200s. Never had libido issues or problems with erections. That said get a prescription to tadalafil. It's dirt cheap. 5mg a day. Should take care of those issues. Sometimes it can be psychological. Sometimes it can be high BP. So many different causes for erection issues.
Low libido could be low testosterone or just the woman you're with.
Im on trt now. Differences are subtle but I notice I'm not so tired and worn out in the evening. I don't lose steam midway through a task. It's really just more energy that I notice. I didn't see a difference in thinking or acting or bedroom.

 

[Slowww]

When my natural test level was 670 I felt much more energetic and quite reasonably motivated. Actually when I am on trt that gets me below 1000, I feel my best, just normal energy, libido is not super high, moderate and easy to deal with. I’ve experimented with super low doses before and ended at loke 100 and actually I felt totally fine, great energy and libido was totally normal, same as like 600s natural. I didn’t even know my test was so low but I went in for routine blood work and found it was much lower than expected so I had to add a little more gear.

HCG makes libido much better no matter what ime.

More anabolics and going over the 1000 threshold for me makes me feel sluggish in comparison but also makes libido higher.