Martin6469 wrote:Congratulations re Saturday! I'll be interested to know if success continues. I'll try doubling my boron dose. Are you saying that reducing SHBG might bring glans sensitivity up to where it used to be? Synthetic testosterone gets me to a good level, and sildenafil+Trimix gets me a good erection. But I'm lacking sensitivity of the "special nerve endings" on the glans surface.
Just talked to my G.P.; he says he knows nothing about a remedy. I asked him "Who studies those nerve endings?" He didn't know.
Martin,
I am also on T replacement. Have been on and off for around 15 years. I have noticed that over time on TRT sexual sensitivity does decline in the penis and most definitely the scrotum if only testosterone is used.
I have written more about this in other posts I have done on FT recently. The biggest issue with TRT is the shutdown of upstream hormones. That is all the hormones that cause sexual function to occur and fertility.
They are all part of the complex process of our libido and sexual ability. These hormones are LH, FSH and GHRH. There are others, but these are the main offenders.
LH is most definitely implicated in our sexual function and it will not be quite the same without it. FSH is also important, it helps to stimulate semen production and will be implicated in the length of the refractory periods.
I have also noticed that my refractory period is much longer if only testosterone is used. It can be days before I feel the urge to masturbate or have sex, specifically the urge in the loins.
There has been some interesting research recently that has found LH receptors in the erectile tissues and glans of the penis in the human. They found this 10 years ago in the animal model, but it has only been confirmed in the human recently.
This is all I needed to see to know that LH is important as I felt this myself in my own body. I have used Pregnyl or Ovidrel in the past to substitute for the loss of these gonadotropins (GT). They help with the loss of sexual sensitivity considerably. HCG is not identical to our own GT so there will still be inadequacies. It stands to reason that if you only replace one component of the sexual milieu and shut down the rest, there will be shortcomings. Testosterone is an important part of our sexual function, but it is most certainly not the only part.
Boron does sound very interesting with its possible ability to free up more bio-available testosterone. IMO this may only have temporary effect in improving libido or sexual sensation unless SHBG is definitely excessive. Libido and sexual ability can suddenly improve when T levels go up from exogenous T. This lasts for a short period until the body adapts and the honeymoon period ends. I think this has much to do with T receptor up and down regulation. If sexual sensation or ability is being compromised by a lack of GT, nothing will fix this unless these are replaced or substituted.
In regard to estrogen levels rising in respect of taking Boron, this could happen simply from free T levels increasing and more aromatase enzyme being produced to counter what the body might see as too much T.
Hormone replacement is a tricky endeavour in the male, one many doctors are just not good at!
In my experience, I have found doctors who specialise in sexual function for the male and are on the cutting edge of this field are acutely aware of the above. Many that are not, will only just give you Testosterone and expect you to be ok with just that.