Hypo,
I understand what your saying but your info regarding Androgel goes against everything I was told by my endocrinologist, a leading doc in his field here in CA.
I will have my labs drawn to show my test/estrogen levels while on Androgel compared with pre-treatment for comparison.
Also in theory, any increase in estrogen levels should make no difference. If you've already had surgery like myself and removed all of the glandular tissue, there will be nothing left that can be stimulated by estrogen.
-Gynesaur
That is as maybe, but I have seen one of the worlds leading experts on Androgens and hypogonadism and I have read the all the published books (of the last 5 years) of all the leading Andrologists and endocrinologists in this field in the world and I can tell you for an absolute fact that frequent low dose testosterone ethanate or cyprionate injections convert in lower amounts to estradiol via aromatase than Androgel.
This is not even in debate amongst the worlds leading experts.
I have studies in front of me that show the elevations typically seen in estradiol on 5g and 10g of Androgel respectively and they are higher than that seen in many other forms of treatment.
Tell your endocrinologist to obtain a copy of Malcolm Carruthers (M.D, FRCPATH, MRCGP) book Androgen Deficiency In The Adult Male causes, Diagnosis and treatment and turn to page 169 and he will see the stated effect.
Only the old style protocol for injections is worse for testosterone to estrogen conversion. The old style protocol was to have 250mgs of testosterone ethanate or cyprionate injected every two to three weeks. This elevated testosterone into the supraphysilogical range and caused excessive conversion to estradiol.
Your specialist may think that this is how injections should still be given, if so his thinking is outdated.
The modern protocol of 100mgs every seven days or so means than testosterone levels are not overtly raised above the normal range and subsequently estradiol levels are not elevated to anywhere near the kind of levels seen in the old protocol or with that seen on Androgel which via its transdermal route is more affected by aromatase in the skin.
I have been involved with support groups dealing with these matters for the last two years and what I am telling you is a well known fact in knowledgeable circles.
You would seriously benefit from joining the hypogonadism forum and sharing your situation with other guys like yourself- some of the men there have been dealing with this problem for over twenty years- and they will tell you just as I have done.
If you didn't have gynecomastia to start with then Androgel potentially might be a good option, but I very much doubt it given you have already shown a propensity to convert testosterone to estrogen- hence my thinking regarding the injections.
But please don't take my word for it join the forum and tap into a wealth of experience and knowledge on the matter.
There is even a top specialist at the site who can answer your questions.
Regarding any rise in estrogens and your other comments.
First of all gynecomastia can come back if the underlying problem that caused it in the first place remains, namely a hormone imbalance.
There have been many men who have had multiple surgeries because of this fact.
It is virtually impossible for a surgeon to say they have 100% removed all glandular tissue, any that is left behind can be acted upon by any hormone imbalance.
That said you might be lucky and all the glandular mass has been removed, I hope so, or I hope that the estradiol does not become a problem, I am after all not here to be a merchant of doom but rather to try and help.
Forgetting about the gynecomastia, elevated estradiol blocks androgen receptor sites which can reduce the crucial free testosterone level, which can mean that you do not get full benefit of testosterone replacement therapy if estradiol is elevated.
Not only that but elevated estrogen causes problems in its own right, it can significantly lower libido, cause erection difficulties, cause emotional instability and cause a statistically significant rise in many cancers including prostate cancer and finally is often an issue in the benign but awful condition of the prostate known as BPH- this can be a particular issue with Androgel in some men given the fact that Androgel also causes significant rises in dihydrotestosterone that are not seen in other modalities of treatment.
Obviously you can do what you want as is your prerogative, I am not here to argue just help.
Check out the forum and the other site I detailed for yourself and come to your own conclusions as is fit and proper.
All the best.