Sub lngual testosterone

I've been using minox for a few months now with mediocre results. Ive been lurking on this sub but I rarely see anyone mention things that are huge for your overall beard growth. Cardio, weightlifting, diet, sunlight, etc. Minox is definitely what helps grow new hairs, but I've found that the effort to stay healthy has helped my beard grow so much faster, better and more dense.
For context, I've been unable to exercise since the beginning of my minox journey due to a back injury. I still have the injury but I decided to take up walking to start my fitness journey again. I'd wake up and first thing in the morning I'd get in about an hour of cardio walking outside shirtless and absorb tons of sunlight. I did this for 2 weeks and I've seen more beard growth in these 2 weeks than any time during my journey. I didn't know that just doing cardio had benefits toward my beard growth during this time. I was just trying to exercise because ive been out of shape.
I came to find out after doing a bit of research that just walking everyday and absorbing sunlight can significantly boost your testosterone naturally. Not only that, but cardio helps blood circulation to your face which helps promote hair growth too. Tripple whammy! Wish I would have done this from the start. If I'm able to see exponential growth just from sunlight and brisk walks in 2 weeks, I can't wait until I'm fully recovered and start lifting heavy weights on top of my morning walks.
Note: Diet probably plays a big role in beard growth too but I haven't done any research on it yet.

There are varying opinions on how long your body and blood will hold onto TRT. Some sources suggest it peaks and leaves within 10 days, others say 12-16 days, and some studies show that synthetic testosterone can be traceable for up to two months. I got my blood test 11-13 days after administering my very first 100mg shot SubQ.
🩸 My levels were 424 ng/dl on a 197-740 ng/dl test. (Pre trt)
🩸Two weeks later, my levels were 880 ng/dl on a 294-900 ng/dl range.
How long can your blood panel stay affected and elevated by TRT administration at 50-250 mg?

So I’ve gotten blood work done every month for six months and my testosterone levels are consistently between 180-205. I know this is very low yet somehow I have decent muscle mass and strength. I bench 285 for 4-6 reps, have 19.5” arms, abs, and am 6’1 (185cm) about 215lbs ~18% body fat. So my question is, why is this? Is there a chance the blood work is reading something wrong? Or do I just have high androgen receptors? Also I have been working out consistently for five years (I’m 30). I have guys asking if I’m on steroids and they think I’m lying when I say I have sub 200 ng/dL. Anyone know why this is? Additional question: Should I still start trt or would that just ruin what I have going on?

My estradiol level came back at a 8.3pg/mL. I am a 20 year old female and on birth control. Is that normal level? It was not for my lab but my doctor was not concerned, she said it was my BC. I’ve been struggling with weight gain, fatigue and low libido. Thyroid levels are “in range”. She did not test my testosterone.
I know this is a testosterone sub but I’m very desperate for any help at this point.

This was created as a place to feel welcome, and to discuss and talk about all things TRT in Australia.
We have an influx of clinics opening up here, with an influx of new people to TRT, and it's only growing
(did you know GP prescribed testosterone has risen over 500% in the last 10yrs worldwide...)
Below is a breakdown of TRT, clinics and bloodwork.
TYPES OF TRT
There are a few methods of TRT in Australia and the world.
Injectable testosterone -- this is the standard type of TRT method with the most amount of research and usage to date. Typically injected Intra-Muscularly, but with more data showing that SubQ injections are just as effective and could potentially have lower side effects due to the slower release
Testosterone Cream & Gel -- Topical ointments can be great due to not having to inject weekly, daily etc, just apply and carry on, but, with topicals, especially Gel - the risk of transfer to other people is very high, you also don't know how much is actually getting absorbed into your skin, and generally you aren't allowed to swim for 6hrs post application
Enclomiphene & Clomid -- This tablet form of TRT has some popularity as it doesn't shut down your natural production and helps to raise it instead, it is also one step even easier than topicals but the overall effectiveness and long term use aren't fully understood and anecdotally seem to be less effective over time and may stop working.
HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) - another injectable form of TRT but instead of replacing the bodies natural production with an exogenous source, HCG will instead stimulate LH production, almost "forcing" the body to produce naturally -- HCG is often used alongside injectable testosterone to maintain testicular function and natural production
** Some people have success with all forms of TRT, but anecdotally, injectable TRT is still the king of testosterone.
CLINICS
If you are looking for a reputable clinic, below are some clinics that are recommended by Aussies;
PHC - Performance Health Clinic * No yearly or ongoing fees, a pay as you go service, with a more hands off approach + bloodwork every 3mths + cost of medication
EMC - Enhanced Mens Clinic *$1000 yearly fee + bloodwork every 3mths + cost of medication
Primal Zone *$350 initial consult, $100 bloodwork review + cost of medication
The Functional Doctors - over 40s clinic * Bloodwork every 3mths ($300 panel must be done) + $300 consults every 3mths + cost of medication
XY Theraputics - Over 40s clinic * Byo bloodwork or $210 in-house panel. Start up; $299=consult and blood tests $150=consult plus BYO bloodwork - ongoing costs $92 consult and review
TRT Australia * Yearly $860, Quarterly $240, Semi-Annualy $480 - Includes medication, bloodwork review (BYO blood), check-ins
PRIVATE BLOODWORK If you have a good GP that will do bloodwork, that can be a lifesaver, but if not, these companies are trusted and can usually have results within 24hrs.
iMedical * Recommended tests to get before starting your journey are Sports BB2 $172, BB3 $186, BB4 $248
RoidSafe * A smaller set of testing compared to iMedical, but for $50, you can get a snapshot of your bloodwork. This is perfect for patients who know how to read bloodwork and just want to monitor.
Things recommended to check before starting TRT or the journey to TRT;
Semen analysis - It's important to check your sperm health and count before starting as testosterone, sex hormones and your sperm all work closely together - and if you want to have children in the future; you absolutely need a baseline
Sleep study - A very large portion of men have sleep apnea that is directly linked to low testosterone levels, it's important to rule this out as it could be a large contributing factor to how you feel and what your levels show
Full blood panel - You're not just checking testosterone levels, you're checking everything, Vitamin D, Thyroid, Testosterone, Prostate. You need a full panel to be able to tell a full story. And even then, your lifestyle can tell an even bigger part of the story to what's on the paper in front of you.
It's important to remember that TRT can be life changing for a lot of men, but changing your life even the smallest bit can help just as much, as low T symptoms can be caused by a plethora of other illnesses or issues and you need to rule out everything you can;
TRT is generally a "for life" dependant medication; meaning if you have low T and you want normal testosterone levels, you will need to be on TRT for life. You can come off at any time, but you will go back to the original baseline levels you had before starting, and in some cases, go back lower than baseline.

All these GIRLS on TikTok taking TESTOSTERONE away from ME, a REAL MAN. JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE TRENDY. I’m so tired of transtrenders. They’re the real threat to our community, not conservatives…
/uj reddit suggesting me the transmedicalist sub is literally asking me to commit digital self-harm wtf is this

I am prescribed 120mg test cyp per week. My labs came back as :
Total testosterone: 421ng/dl
Free testosterone : 9.1pg/ml
Estradiol: 30.5pg/ml
The total test kinda had me shocked I figured it would be at least 600-700ng/dl seeing how everyone seems to be near the top or over the top of the reference range on 100mg test cyp a week .
I pin mon/weds/Fri divided equally sub q with a slin pin.
My free test is pretty much on the border of low ( low end of reference range).
Is there anything you guys can suggest or that I can do to improve the free testosterone ?

Hey all, long time lurker, first time poster.
33M, SW385, CW368, GW250, 6’3-1/2”, favorite color blue, Toyota 4Runner driver… all the pertinent details!
Been on Zep 2.5 for about a month and I am really attempting to use this as an opportunity to improve my health overall. Obviously dealing with obesity, but also trying to remedy some slightly high cholesterol and inflammation that exacerbates a couple of old injuries. Zep, diet, and exercise have helped me lose about 17lbs in about a month. I should be measuring inches, but I haven’t yet, although I have dropped a shirt size in this time. Doctor is bumping me up to 5mg, but I’ve had a devil of a time finding a box. Waiting til Friday, and going compound if my pharmacy doesn’t get any. (If anyone in central Florida knows where there is a stash, let me know!)
I have cut out red meat, fried food, alcohol, and almost everything with added sugar. Lots of turkey, chicken, whole grain breads, avocados, berries, nuts, so many protein drinks (Mölk ftw!). Looking at fried food currently makes me nauseous, I couldn’t even think to eat it. At the six month mark, I plan to do a follow up blood test and see where I land. If things look better, I’ll reintroduce red meat.
Another major component is that I have been dealing with low testosterone my entire life. I check all the boxes; slow muscle growth, low energy, poor mood, poor sleep, low libido, you name it. I’m currently working through the process to get on TRT to hopefully get my hormones in check.
I have been overweight/obese my entire life, but I am built on a naturally large frame, so I have carried it well. For reference, my wrists are bony and measure 9.5”, I can’t find a watch band anywhere! Looking at me, you probably wouldn’t guess I am almost 400lbs, you’d probably just think, “that is a mountain of a man!” Most people estimate my weight around 300lbs, so I guess I’m fortunate in that regard.
My plan is to make the most of my large frame; I have been making strides in the gym to work through strength training, taking supplements to promote muscle and bone health, getting massive amounts of protein. I hope that TRT will help me continue this growth. My GW is probably much higher than most on this sub and definitely will not get me to a “healthy,” BMI. I anticipate I will experience significant muscle growth if I can stay on track, and that will keep my weight up.
My question is, has anyone here used Zep and TRT simultaneously? What was your experience like? Did your muscle growth outpace your weight loss?
Current supplements for those curious: Vitamin D Zinc Magnesium Boron Multi-V Probiotic Ashwaganda Omega-3 algae oil Creatine
Thanks all!

Hi everyone!
I had top surgery in London with Victoria Rose on 18/03 and I thought I’d breakdown how it went for people considering her!
I first got in touch with Victoria Rose’s office in August 2023 and immediately got a date for a consultation in November. She asked for 2 references for surgery but I got away with just one because I went for a psych referral from Dr. Kirpal Sahota who works with her apparently? I have a friend who got a referral letter from Dr. Lorimer and another one from their GP so I guess that’s an option as well. The wording was “Miss Rose requires a referral letter from a recognised gender clinic, usually with a 2 signature referral, one of which has to be a consultation psychiatrist, although she will accept single signature referrals if she has worked with the referrer before.“
The consultation with Dr. Sahota was £450 - which I had to settle entirely about 2 weeks before my consult with her. I first got in touch with her in August 2023, her office got back to me immediately but didn’t offer a specific date - they got back to me in September with a date for October. The consult itself was a video consult and from what I remember I was asked to explain my whole history with gender, mental health, family, sex, chest-related dysphoria, how long I wanted that surgery, how I was feeling on T… All the questions, some really intrusive ngl. I had read beforehand on Reddit that Dr. Sahota is not particularly understanding with non-binary people (which I am) so I very much toned down the whole genderfuck aspects of me and went for a full hyper masculine narrative which worked wonders… She was very happy to give me the piece of paper I needed. I don’t really want to get into more details on what I said publicly but if anyone wants to get in touch directly about it don’t hesitate!
The consultation with Victoria Rose was £250, which I paid for a couple of weeks before it happened. It took place at the Nuffield Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon (where the actual surgery took place too!). Victoria Rose is a very energetic friendly person, she went over a bunch of the same questions that Dr. Sahota did - gender history mostly, feelings about chest, testosterone - but in a much less invasive way, she made it sound like more of a formality. Then I showed her my chest. She had a look and a squeeze (eh that’s what we were here for you know) and said there was a bit too much overhang for peri (which I was expecting anyways and I had already made my mind up to get DI). I brought up that another surgeon said I had a lot of fat around the top of my chest, she had a look and said we could do a bit of lipo around my armpits to harmonise the results. She then showed me plenty of her results. They all looked really good - she is able to do so many different scar shapes (from almost right angle to rounded scars). She really emphasised that she wanted to fit to the patient’s aesthetic goals as much as possible. Nipples looked all sorts on the weird-to-great scale, as it tends to be the case. For nipples she offers:

• no nips
  
• nipple grafts (from her document: full thickness grafts – these have dressings stitched over them for the first week. They are showerproof so you can shower during this period, but do not soak them in a bath/swimming pool/sea. This dressing is then removed by our specialist nurses at Parkside Hospital and further dressings are normally needed for 1-2 weeks. You will be given these and instructions on how to apply them by our nurses. Nipple grafts can vary in colour, shape, size and position. They are normally insensate and the nipple bud will be flatter. Very rarely they can fail and a residual scar is left that may require further reconstructive surgery or a tattoo.)
  
• nipple pedicle (from her document: in this technique the nipple is left attached on a small amount of breast tissue and button holed through the skin into its new position. This technique sometimes preserves some sensation. Dressings are not stitched on. You will need to come to see the nurses at Parkside at 1 week for a wound check. The nipple tends to be more uniform in colour and shape but the nipple bud size cannot be altered. The nipple can also fail in this technique if it does not receive adequate blood supply. It then heals as a scar which may require further surgery. In this technique the breast tissue the nipple is left attached to may produce a visible bulge in the lower pole of the breast. This may need to “debulked” in a second operation.)
  

I decided for the nipple pedicle because I wanted to get the best chances to get some sensation back and I want a bit of a nipple bud to pierce later! She did assure me that I could change my mind about this, even on the day of the surgery… She also encouraged me to bring pictures of top surgery results that I liked on the day of the operation. And that was it! In an out of the consultation within half and hour, though she did answer all my questions. I would advise arriving with questions ready because she does not linger so it’s useful to have everything at hand!
After that I received documentation from her office reiterating everything, consent forms etc. and maybe a week later her her office sent me a date for the operation - in March 2024! I had to send in a £750 deposit. Between November and March I had a very short zoom call with Miss Rose where we went over the same things we did on the consult - felt like she was double checking that I knew what I was getting in for. I had some questions about recovery which she did not know how to answer and she invited me to ask her specialist nurses). A week later I had another zoom call with nurse Sandie… I was really taken aback because she asked me a bunch of questions about my gender; and dysphoria and everything which I am pretty angry about. I did not expect it so I kind of dissociated for the rest of the consult and got it to finish as fast as possible. But I seem to remember we went over some recovery stuff, she sent me the link to buy the post op binder, etc.
I had one final pre-op assessment in the Parkside clinic in Putney with some of the nurses from her service. They did a blood test, asked me questions about my health and waked me through was was going to happen on the day of the surgery.
Worth mentioning as well that my zoom call with Dr. Rose was rescheduled to a week earlier than previously planned; and that my top surgery date moved from the 12/03 to the 19/03 (with months notice) to the 18/03 (with weeks notice) - just so people are aware that it can happen! Also: her admin staff are super helpful, polite and responsive through email and through phone. Which is good because there was a lot of emails and I got confused a bunch of times.
On the day of the surgery I had to stop eating before 7am and stop drinking before 11am, which was also the time I was asked to arrive at the Parkside Nuffield in Wimbledon. I got shown into my room, and asked to chose my dinner for that night (they actually have a full menu it’s madness). Then I watched TV for hours with the friend who came with me. Got a visit from the nurse and from the anaesthetist, then from the surgeon herself who ironed out the last details with me. Everybody got me signing consent forms left right and centre. Then I waited some more (turns out she did 2 surgeries before me that day). Then at 5pm right when I was starting to turn crazy with anticipation and hunger nurses come in and we walk to a little room downstairs. I got cannulated in my left hand, and next thing I know I wake up boobless (and crying?, apparently that’s really common with anesthesia) around 9:30pm.
I spent the night at the hospital with drains in, a nurse came in to check my blood pressure every couple of hours and help me to the bathroom, I was very numb from the anaesthesia. I only had a paracetamol drip through the night and a couple of ibuprofens. Absolutely no pain! Very confusing night though but the hardest part wait waiting to get food (around midnight - the nurse said I had to wait to avoid nausea, and to be fair I did not feel nauseous at any point so I’m grateful for that!). The next day, Victoria Rose came in to check on me and change my nipple dressings. Then the nurses removed my drains and canulation I felt fine and everything seemed to be going all good so my friend drove me home that day!
Recovery-wise I haven’t been given much tips - I got operated on the Monday eve and I was told to stay without a binder until the Friday to avoid compressing the nipples right away. All my bandages from the surgery stayed on until my 1 week post op appointment (they changed the nipple dressing) and at 3 week post op they removed the surgical tape on the incisions. I feel like I’ve had the easiest recovery tbh, which is probably due to a mix of surgeon skills and my own genetics/health (I’m able bodied, no medical issues whatsoever, and 28 years old). I was able to move my arms loads right away, I had loads of energy, didn’t need any painkillers after the operation. My nipples never looked scary at all and I’ve had a bit of swelling but not even that much.
One spot on my incision bled for like a week but that’s it, and I had some surgical dissolvable staples resurface at week 5 which was a little bit scary. I was meant to wear a binder for 6 weeks but I stopped at week 5 because it was hurting my back too much, and I could tell that I was mostly fine swelling wise.
I'm 7 weeks post op and very happy! I'm really happy with how my results look (I posted pics in another sub if you're interested). Still a tiny bit swollen but not even that much, and I can feel everywhere in my chest apart from my nipples for now!
Cost breakdown:
Consultation with Dr. Sahota £450
Victoria Roses’ consultation £250
Victoria Roses’ fees £5000
Hospital stay fees £4600
Anesthetist £1000
Blood tests from the hospital £182

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, let me know if there’s a better sub somewhere.
I’ve been working out for about six months now and my gym has a free Tanita scale reading for this month and I’d love to get one. However, as far as I’m aware Tanita scales give results based on sex, which is fine, however, I’m transgender and have been on taking T for two months now. If I get a reading done should I still use the female measurements, ask for the male or for something in the middle (if that’s even an option)? Testosterone causes fat redistribution and muscle growth however I’m not sure if I’ve had enough changes that it’d be accurate to use the male scale. Anyone know anything about these scales?
Additional information so my post hopefully doesn’t get taken down: I’m not out at the gym and don’t really want to be if I don’t have to which is why I’m asking here instead of a personal trainer there. If it makes more sense for me to tell them male then I’ll come out. I’ve tried googling it and there’s no information online.

Okay so, I know this is probably brought up a lot on this sub, but I’m pre-T and seriously considering testosterone. I’m terrified of balding, both sides of my family are prone to hair thinning/balding.
My main dysphoria comes from my voice, so I’m hoping to take testosterone for about 1-3 years and then stopping, and I’ve heard about topicals and Finasteride and such but it seems like a lot of them have negative side effects, which worries me a bit.
In the event my hair does thin from testosterone (even if I do decide to take hair growth pills), is it likely that it will grow back or at least thicken up a little once I stop? Or is it just over for me after that?
To clarify, there is nothing wrong with being bald but I love my hair and curls and it would kill me to have to shave it. I’m mainly asking to see if anyone has had luck with topicals or pills or if I even have to worry about my hair remaining thin after I stop T.

I know this isnt exactly TRT, but ive read HCG injections are common place with guys on TRT so i figured some people here would be knowledgable on it. im in my early 30s and have been monitoring my testosterone levels for a few years. I basically fall right on the borderline area of where its recommended to take TRT and as much as I want too Ive been holding out mainly because I know its a life long commitment, and my life generally hasnt been very consistent for a few years. my levels were around 550, i was in a serious accident and even after a little less than year of recovery I tested at around 250, then after 5-6 months of some serious weight lifting/exercise, supplementation and diet I was able to get up to about 350 naturally.
I still think I can continue getting my levels up higher naturally or at least am willing to try a little longer, but after continuing to suffer with some memory issues and brainfog related my previous accident on top of an ADHD diagnoses ive had since i was a kid, my doctor and I came to the conclusion that getting back on adderall again after 10 years off of it, might be beneficial for me. I was hesitant at first, but after giving it a try again it has made a tremendously positive impact on my life right now over all. that is besides the fact that I had to leave town for work for 3 months, which also turned into one of the most stressful periods of my life that also led to me taking a break from lifting and dieting. Im pretty sure my test levels tanked again, I have started experiencing ED which I know can be a side effect of adderall but I never had this problem while on adderall before the 3 month period of stress, which leads me to believe it is more related to my overall testosterone levels not just a side effect. I just got tested again, and waiting for the results, but I was cleaning my room and came across a vial of hCG I had gotten a few years ago and never used. Im really trying to dial down my diet again, and eating healthier after getting back home.
Im more open now to getting on TRT sooner, but probably not until the fall/winter at the earliest and I was wondering if using this vial of hCG might help give me a boost to jump start my testosterone production again. I was just wondering if anyone on this sub had an experience with just hCG alone, and if you had any thoughts, tips or recommendations., ive never injected anything in my life but ive seen on youtube some guys even just stick the needle in their belly, im not sure if thats the same as TRT. do you have to worry about air bubbles or anything like that? Id appreciate any responses, I know TRT especially at my age will eventually be the best option, but hCG is all I have for the time being and im not sure if It will even be worth it or not.
TLDR: been struggling with low testosterone levels after an accident and new medication, found a bottle of hCG in my room I bought online a couple years ago and never used. just looking for any thoughts and tips about hCG alone, as this is my only option for the moment, although i do plan to eventually get on trt asap.

Been on 100mg every 5 days for about a year. Bloods are all good.
Wife and I decided we wanna have another kid, went and saw a urologist about getting my vasectomy reversed.
He saw I was on TRT and we spoke at length about it- he said I'd need to get off testosterone and start HCG at 2500 units to get my sperms production restarted, 3 days a week, sub Q.
Took my first shot Friday, woke up absolutely exhausted with a headache today- it was hot as hell yesterday and I was working in it, so I'm not sure if it's that, or the HCG.
Any advice appreciated.

Testosterone Total: 127 L (Reference Range 250-1100 ng/dL) Testosterone Free: 19.8 L (Reference Range 35.0-155.0 pg/mL) Weight: 136 Age: 30
I get more test results later to see if I have any other issues, but I have no vitamin deficiencies.
So the thing is, I heard low testosterone can make some people tired, but the real question is how tired do you become?
I take like 4 hours to wake up. I have to force myself out of bed. I feel weak the entire day, and I struggle with exercising because of how weak and out of breathe I am. It takes a lot of energy to do basic physical activities for me.
2 years ago I wasn't like this, I could lift weights, run around and more. Has anyone else on this sub had fatigue as bad as mine? Did taking testosterone fix it? It seems like my fatigue is way worse than other people who had low testosterone, so it makes me think this fatigue isn't caused by having low test.
But doctors haven't diagnosed any other issue (yet). I get more tests next week. Right now I am having doubts that taking testosterone will fix my fatigue cause I never heard of anyone with fatigue as bad as mine from this sub.
In fact, this sub says that fatigue is caused by many factors. The problem is I been trying to figure out why I'm tired for 2 years now, and the only thing that looks bad on the test is my testosterone.. I bought a cpap and my doctor said my apnea is under control. I diet, avoid alcohol and don't do drugs. Nothing has fixed my fatigue.
Over 10 doctors said they don't know why I am tired. From endocrinologists, pyschiatrists, sleep doctors, dieticians. None of them know why I am tired. TRT is my last hope but reading this sub has discouraged me from trying when I started reading posts here.

I’m in my mid 40s with classic perimenopausal symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, etc. Mirena IUD so no periods but my monthly “fake” period of cramps, bloating, and fatigue hasn’t been as regular the last year or so.
I recently started hormone therapy with 0.05 mg/24 hr Dotti patch changed twice a week and 1 mg/day of testosterone cream. I specifically asked my gynecologist when she prescribed the hormones if they would interact with my bipolar meds or cause mood problems and she said no.
I noticed the first day that I felt a little jittery but people on this sub have said that starting estrogen made them jittery, so I didn’t think too much about it. After a few days, though, it was clear that what I was experiencing had ramped up to hypomania. After some reading in the scientific literature, I found that testosterone can induce mania* so I stopped it and made an appointment with my doctor. After about a week, I feel back to normal. My doctor didn’t think the hypomania was due to the testosterone and said I can try it again once I’m stable for two weeks, but I’m nervous about doing so.
I’m curious if other perimenopausal women with bipolar (or not!) have experienced this.
If so, did you try again after adjusting your mood stabilizing meds or just give up on testosterone?
*In men at higher doses because of course no one has studied this in perimenopausal women with bipolar disorder.

X-Post from /Infertility
Hi everyone,
I'm a long-time lurker and very grateful for the Reddit community - and this sub in particular (as well as /infertility) has been a huge support when searching for information, ideas and hope (I have read so many old threads and looked up your profiles to see where you've gone on to in life!).
I am currently going through my 3rd consecutive loss in a row. I have no LC. I guess I'm just looking for commiseration, ideas on next steps and to contribute to this community, as I feel like every anecdotal story adds to our group understanding of RPL.
I'm a 33F in Canada, my partner is 36M. We don't drink (alcohol/caffeine) or smoke and are fairly active. We TTC 8 cycles over the past 13 months and were pregnant 3 times (try #1 - #4 - #3). I have a cycle length of 31 days and typically ovulate on CD 18 but it varies +/-4 days, depending on the month. I get EWCM before I ovulate and have regular periods. My luteal phase is 12-13 days long. For all of this genetic luck I'm grateful. We can get pregnant quickly (to date). <3
Pregnancy history:
Pregnancy #1: LMP 2023-02-26, light red bleeding at 7w4d (ovulation), presented to ER, embryo measuring 6w2d FHR 128. Spontaneous abortion at 8w3d. The bleeding progressed from light bleeding to heavy + clots in 2 days and then I passed the embryo 4 days later at home. I had no nausea, but was really tired. HCG peaked at 120,000.
Doctor said, "bad luck".
Pregnancy #2: LMP 2023-10-08, dating US at 8w2d (ovulation), embryo measuring 6w3d FHR 0. I even had a bit of nausea this time! HCG peaked at 75,000. Missed miscarriage diagnosis at 10wk follow-up US, mifepristone/misoprostol at 2023-12-22. POC tested Trisomy 22 male. It took 1 day from taking the medication to pass the embryo at home.
Doctor said, "bad luck again", but was really supportive in referring me to the local Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic and issuing many diagnostic blood tests.
Pregnancy #3: LMP 2024-03-01, light red bleeding at 6w5d (ovulation), presented to ER, embryo measuring 6w4d FHR 144. Started progesterone (Prometrium) suppositories (200mg twice per day). Dating US at 7w4d, embryo measuring 7w4d FHR 158, indeterminate finding of an echogenic 4mm yolk sac. They said I had a SCH and to expect more bleeding. Continued intermittent bleeding & spotting. I was hopefully because of the strong growth and HB and the fact that I conceived within 3 months of a miscarriage (apparently statistics say this leads to a higher % of live births... ha!). Follow-up US at 9w, embryo measuring 9w1d, FHR 0, yolk sac collapsed from 4mm to 2.1mm and echogenic. HCG got to 80,000 at 7.5wks. Stopped progesterone and now waiting (expectantly) to have my miscarriage. I might have a D&C depending on how things go.
Doctor said, "this is out of my scope/knowledge" so I'm now waiting to be under the care of the local RPL clinic.
Here are my labs:
Hormones

• AMH: 4.1 ng/ml.
• Hormones (LH 6.8 IU/L, FSH 5.4 IU/L, Estradiol 25 pg/mL, Testosterone 1.4, Progesterone 15 without pregnancy / 17+ in all pregnancies, Prolactin 17.7 ug/L): within normal/optimal lab ranges.
• Vitamin D: 125 nmol/L.
• Ferritin: 94
• B12: 412

Thyroid

• TSH: Slightly elevated (3.3) and T4 borderline low at 10.2 pmol/L (+ clinical symptoms cold/tired) without Levothyroxine medication. Started 25mcg levothyroxine before the 2nd loss and my TSH is now 1.98 and T4 is normal at 14.2. I feel better too.
• Thyroglobulin/TPOab/ThyroglobulinAb: Negative.

Blood SugaMetabolism

• A1c: 5% (normal 4.5-5.9)
• Glucose Fasting: 4.6 nmol/L (normal is 3.3-5.5)
• Insulin Fasting: 28 pmol/L (normal is 20-180)

Autoimmune

• ANA: Negative.
• Homocysteine: 6.9 umol/L (normal is 5.1-15.4) - can be a marker for MTHFR if elevated
• Tissue transglutaminase Ab IgA (Celiac): Negative

Blood clotting

• CBC: Normal - no elevated white blood cells while pregnant, normal platelet count and hemoglobin.
• Lupus anticoagulant: Not tested.
• Antiphospholipid Antibody (Beta 2 glycoprotein, Anticardiolipin Ab): Negative.
• Protein C/S deficiency & Factor II/V: Negative.
• Thrombophilia profile: Normal INR, aPTT with Fibrinogen slightly below range. I hypothesize this is because I take fish oil religiously.

Other

• Karyotyping: Normal female 46,XX + Normal male, 46,XY ("normal" is the report's wording, not mine).
• Male Factor: Partner has normal sperm parameters, good count/concentration/volume and motility. His morphology is 2% but his Urologist said (twice) to not worry about this.

Structurally:

• I have a partial bicornuate uterus; I have had over 8 ultrasounds, all label my uterus bicornuate with a fundal indent of ~2cm. I am still trying to rule out septate with an MRI.
• Two working ovaries (I was pregnant from both) & clear fallopian tubes.
• My left ovary has polycystic morphology (20+ follicles), the right has between 10-20 follicles. The doctor was using the latest criteria to diagnose me and said that I have no other biochemical or clinical markers of PCOS so I don't qualify.
• I have no fibroids, scarring, polyps.
• I never asked about endometriosis or endometritis due to lack of symptoms (period are fine, no cramping, no foul discharge).

In the end - It seems like I'm an individual not experiencing any metabolic, hormonal, blood clotting, autoimmune, thyroid, MTHFR or chromosomal rearrangement issues. I do have a structural issue but my doctors have said this presents as an issue in the third trimester, mainly. And I can't fix it, can just live with it.
Am I really just experiencing bad luck??
Solidarity to all of you here who are going through this awful experience. Infertility is not for the weak. Every day we have to put our heads up and be grateful for the little things in our bodies that do go well, be happy for our pregnant friends/family and keep showing up at work. It's so hard and I just wish you all good luck and all the best. I'm rooting for you!

hey yall! i’m about 3 weeks on T and been having some fun side effects, i’m wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience. for context i’m at 30mg subQ once a week. ive been feeling pretty tired ever since my first shot, and ive had a real hard time lifting and climbing. i’m normally able to curl 25lbs with ease and now i am struggling with 20s. i’ve noticed a slight increase in muscle definition, but god i am so deeply tired after a lowkey workout session, which is pretty unlike me. i’ve increased my food intake (specifically protein) but the fatigue has made meal prepped kinda exhausting. i’ve also had some nasty heartburn, which isn’t out of the blue for me but i’ve never had it this severe before.
on the other hand, i’ve been having some some doubts as to whether testosterone is right for me. i currently identify as a nonbinary butch lesbian and i use they/them. people don’t really understand my identity or respect my pronouns, which i am sure adds to the doubt. right now i am loving the changes on T - the muscle definition, the confidence boost, the bottom growth. it feels like this is what my body has been waiting to do. i guess im just nervous for some of the other changes, like facial hair and hair loss and acne. i’m not sure if those things are for me, but i also feel like i wont know until the changes happen. i’m just nervous that those things will happen and it will be irreversible and ill be stuck in a body that really doesn’t feel like mine. i would love any guidance!!

I don't need like... advice or anything, but I can't think of anywhere else to post this where people might understand.
TL;DR is that I finally went to an endocrinologist to get properly tested for PCOS and to rule out NCAH and I've gotten everything except the testosterone results back and it's looking like I may not really have either based on hormones, and I'm terrified that I'm going to get told that I have to start my search over from scratch.
The actual vent:
I've had issues that have been attributed to hyperandrogenemia since puberty. My puberty came at what I consider a normal time, around when I was... 10, probably? I quickly gained weight around my midsection, grew very tall very fast, had horrendous acne that continues off and on to this day, became quite hairy, and most impactful to my life, my periods started irregular and continued to be irregular, unpredictable, and debilitatingly painful. I could have no periods for spans of months (8 months being my record), I could have two periods in one month, I could havr no period but extreme cramps for two months straight. No notable pattern, no rhyme or reason.
When I was 16, I ended up in the ER for extreme sharp pelvic pain. The ER doctor palpated the area, did a quick ultrasound, then said it was very likely an ovarian cyst bursting. The pain had subsided before she even got into the room.
After that, my mom and I tentatively raised the idea of PCOS to my GP, who didn't know what it was at the time. On my next appointment he had looked it up and said "that sounds right". So the condition has been on my chart for 16 years now. No testing of any kind was ever done, and he stated it was likely caused by insulin resistance.
Over the years he had me on various birth controls (hormonal daily pills did nothing. the depo injection made my suicidal mood swings so much worse. the iud was so extremely painful that i had to have it taken out after only two weeks because i could barely even walk and it was affecting my ability to function.) and metformin (it made me crave fish for some reason). They did nothing for the weight, the hairiness, or most importantly the irregular extremely painful menstrual 'cycles'.
At 22 I briefly went on subcutaneous testosterone injections through an informed consent clinic. They started me out on 20mg weekly, saying the changes would be very gradual, as it was a very low dose. I saw changes within the first three weeks- when I went back for a monitoring checkup, they halved the dose, saying that while I was seeing results faster than they were used to, they were also seeing a strong increase in my estrogen levels, likely due to aromatase interacting with the testosterone and converting it to estradiol. (I quit the injections after three months and did not go back on them.)
All of this made me recently think, you know, my body's been so strange for such a long time, I should actually see someone who knows about this stuff who may be able to provide some help for my issues. So I went to an endocrinologist. She ordered the blood tests, and the way my health system works allows me to see the results as they come back.
Everything except the testosterone (so Prolactin, FSH, SHBG, 17-OHP) has come back well within the normal range. The last time my testosterone got tested by my GP, it was on the high side of normal, but still normal. If NCAH is indicated by high 17-OHP and PCOS is indicated by high testosterone, and I don't have either of those, then what's actually wrong with me? And if I have only the clinical but none of the hormonal signs of PCOS, how do I treat it?
Again, no answers necessary, and I know this sub disallows medical advice and armchair diagnosis (and rightly so). I just don't have anyone in my life I can talk to about this who doesn't think I should just grit my teeth and deal with the lot I got stuck with.