# Low T after cessation of TRT **URL:** \ **Category:** Medical Q&A \[Moderated\]\ **Created:** [June 13, 2023, 5:59am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-t-after-cessation-of-trt/13591 "2023-06-13T05:59:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shipyaad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Shipyaad](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Shipyaad)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 5:59am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-t-after-cessation-of-trt/13591/1 "2023-06-13T05:59:27Z")
42/M here… So I went on TRT for a while, probably inappropriately, certainly without the full workup you gents described in your recent podcast. Got tired of how shady these people were, and wasn’t too fond of the side effects or shots or costs, so I just stopped about three months ago. And naturally, I gained some weight, libido tanked, and my workout recovery is much harder than before. Meanwhile, I’m now under the care of a new GP and have tested twice for low T. Last week at 184ng/dl. Today we did further tests - 212ng/dl total T, 5.4 calculated free. Sex hormone binding globulin measured 19. ​​​i do have reasonable compliance with the CPAP, and I need to lose some (a lot) of weight. I’m working at it. Alcohol consumption maybe a couple glasses of wine once a week. Anyway, I’m wondering if this is just… Carrying too much fat plus Ye Olde Beanbag Machine needing to wake up again after not having to work very hard for a year? How long should it take for normal T production to start up again - if it does at all? I’m a bit concerned that I might have made a permanent mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Austin\_Baraki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/austin_baraki/32/1095_2.png) [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 12:03pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-t-after-cessation-of-trt/13591/2 "2023-06-14T12:03:28Z")
> Anyway, I’m wondering if this is just… Carrying too much fat plus Ye Olde Beanbag Machine needing to wake up again after not having to work very hard for a year? How long should it take for normal T production to start up again - if it does at all? I’m a bit concerned that I might have made a permanent mistake.​ It’s hard to say for sure, since we don’t actually know anything about your original diagnosis. However, if you do not have true hypogonadism requiring TRT, then it is plausible that with some fat loss and time (usually on the order of several months) that things can pick back up again. If not, there are additional tools that can be used here, such as clomiphene, to help “re-start” things – assuming that they actually can, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Shipyaad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Shipyaad](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Shipyaad)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-t-after-cessation-of-trt/13591/3 "2023-06-14T18:02:08Z")
I don’t know that you could even call it a diagnosis. I had a single blood draw in the late afternoon at one of _those places_ and the next day I was getting shots. Since then I’ve learned how irresponsible those places are. I was on 1 ml shots for about fifteen months before quitting three months ago. Anyway, my actual physician spoke with the endocrinologist and they are now looking at pituitary gland hormones. Pretty interesting seeing this process play out exactly the same way you and Jordan had discussed in your recent podcast. > [@Austin\_Baraki](#): > > – assuming that they actually can, of course. …huh. So before I start worrying, I guess the question to ask is _how often does that happen?_ It would suck to have gone on T supplementation for elective reasons only to cause my own in-house T production to become permanently impaired as a result. Sure, maybe I would have got to that point eventually _anyway,_ but still. ---
**Author:** ![Austin\_Baraki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/austin_baraki/32/1095_2.png) [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-t-after-cessation-of-trt/13591/4 "2023-06-14T23:17:59Z")
> [@Shipyaad](#): > > …huh. So before I start worrying, I guess the question to ask is _how often does that happen?_ > > It would suck to have gone on T supplementation for elective reasons only to cause my own in-house T production to become permanently impaired as a result. Sure, maybe I would have got to that point eventually _anyway,_ but still. That is not what I meant, here. It is relatively unlikely that routine TRT dosing would lead to permanent impairment in someone who did not actually have hypogonadism to begin with. What I meant by “if they actually can” is that if the person _did_ actually have significant, irreversible hypogonadism, but was just inappropriately evaluated prior to starting treatment, I would obviously not expect things to “re-start” after stopping testosterone replacement. This is why accurate evaluation and diagnosis up front are so important. ---
**Author:** ![Shipyaad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Shipyaad](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Shipyaad)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-t-after-cessation-of-trt/13591/5 "2023-06-15T01:55:07Z")
> [@Austin\_Baraki](#): > > …if the person did actually have significant, irreversible hypogonadism, but was just inappropriately evaluated prior to starting treatment, I would obviously not expect things to “re-start” after stopping testosterone replacement. _snerk_ Well, that sounds exactly like the dumb kind of situation that I would get myself into! Thanks for clarifying - and for offering your expertise here.