What Happens WHen You Stop TRT?

How to Restart Testosterone Production After TRT

Read on to learn more about what happens when you stop TRT.

What is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Testosterone replacement therapy is the process used to treat low testosterone in men who are diagnosed with hypogonadism. TRT uses external sources of testosterone to help bring testosterone levels up to natural levels based on age range. Read on if you want to learn about the benefits of this treatment and what happens when you stop TRT.

While it is usually recommended that you use testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) as a lifelong treatment, some individuals may experience side effects from treatment that require them to stop TRT. One of the common side effects of stopping TRT is having the body no longer produce testosterone on its own, or seeing reduced testosterone production.

Ready to learn more about what happens when you stop TRT?

What is Testosterone Replacement Therapy Used For?

Testosterone replacement therapy is for men who are diagnosed with hypogonadism. Men who struggle with hypogonadism will have serum testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL and will likely experience negative symptoms as a result of the condition, such as erectile dysfunction and low energy levels.¹

Hypogonadism is caused by the gonads or testes improperly functioning, causing reduced testosterone production. Hypogonadism is most common in older men, with studies showing that 38.7% of men 45 and older have diagnosable hypogonadism.²

But what happens when you stop TRT?

A Deeper Look at Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Hypogonadism?

How Long Do You Need to Take Testosterone to See Results??

Men who begin low testosterone treatment will typically see results within four to six weeks.³ However, it may take some symptoms longer to improve. Improvements in sexual functions such as erections and ejaculations may take up to 6 months to see improvement from low testosterone replacement therapy.⁴

What Can I Expect if I Just Stop Taking Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

So, what happens when you stop TRT? Coming off of testosterone replacement therapy suddenly can result in a number of adverse consequences. When you take TRT for a significant time, the body’s natural production of testosterone slows down or may even stop since you are getting it from external sources. If you suddenly stop using external sources without tapering off, you will likely experience significant decreases in energy levels, a drop in libido, or worsening of any original symptoms.⁵

Some men may also not recover spermatogenesis (production of sperm) on their own, which leads to problems with fertility if left untreated. Read on to learn more about the effects of what happens when you stop TRT.

How to Restart Testosterone Production After TRT

After coming off TRT, you should work with a doctor to receive the proper treatment if your body’s natural testosterone production doesn’t recover on its own. Men who need to recover spermatogenesis or natural production of testosterone after treatment will benefit from medications such as injectable gonadotropins, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and aromatase inhibitors that can help the body start producing testosterone and recover spermatogenesis.⁶

A healthy lifestyle and healthy habits can also encourage the body to start producing testosterone again after stopping testosterone therapy. Things like a healthy diet, exercise, and getting enough sleep are all things that support the body’s natural testosterone production.

Symptoms Can Return When You Discontinue TRT

Wondering what happens when you stop TRT? Stopping TRT can cause symptoms of hypogonadism to return. Common symptoms that can return after stopping testosterone therapy are:

Depression, anxiety, and other mood changes
Erectile dysfunction and loss of libido
Fat gain
Changes in sleep patterns and insomnia
Loss of strength, muscle mass, and energy

Studies have shown that 60.9% of men return to hypogonadal testosterone levels (serum testosterone below 300 ng/dL) after stopping testosterone therapy.⁷ This means that the majority of men will experience the return of at least some of the symptoms they experienced before taking TRT.

Ways You Can Support Your TRT And Boost Testosterone Naturally

What happens when you stop TRT and how can you naturally boost testosterone levels? There are ways you can support your TRT to get the best results or boost testosterone naturally after stopping testosterone therapy. This section will outline different elements that will be helpful to add to your TRT protocol.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to get the most out of TRT. Effects of TRT, such as increased muscle mass and fat loss, will be emphasized significantly when you implement a proper exercise program.

Studies have shown that the combination of exercise and TRT shows significant improvements in serum testosterone levels. Even after stopping testosterone, those who continue the same exercise routine tend to see well-maintained improvements.⁸

Diet

Diet can also have a big impact on the effectiveness of TRT. One study followed a 31-year-old male who was recovering from a spinal cord injury. The treatment process involved a combination of TRT and diet changes, which resulted in a 29% decrease in body fat with a 7% increase in lean mass. The study concluded that changes in diet, along with the use of TRT, resulted in a better recovery time and better results in a recovery program for a serious spinal injury.⁹

Other studies have also found correlations between diet and testosterone levels. One study found that those with poor dietary patterns consisting of frequent consumption of bread, pastries, desserts, eating out, and a low intake of homemade foods resulted in higher rates of obesity and higher odds of having diagnosable hypogonadism.¹⁰ Additionally, eating enough fat is beneficial to maintaining healthy testosterone levels.

Restful Sleep

Sleep has been shown to have an influence on testosterone levels. A study of men who underwent a week where their sleep was restricted to 5 hours per night showed that their testosterone levels dropped by 10-15%.¹¹

While this was just a short-term study, it is likely that ongoing sleep problems will lead to lower testosterone levels. This makes it important to get enough sleep to boost the effects of TRT or to help restore natural testosterone production after you stop testosterone therapy.

Reduce Stress

Stress levels can have adverse impacts on testosterone levels. Making an effort to reduce stress through mindfulness activities, making time for yourself, connecting with others, and managing your workload are all good ways you can help TRT treatment be more effective or help the process of restarting testosterone production after stopping treatment.

Healthy Sex Life

Maintaining a healthy sex life can be a good way to manage testosterone levels and boost natural testosterone production. One study assessed the effects of sexual activity on testosterone levels in both men and women. The study concluded that for both men and women, testosterone levels were highest after intercourse and lower on days with no intercourse.¹²

Does Working Out Increase Testosterone Levels?

Maintaining a healthy sex life can be a good way to manage testosterone levels and boost natural testosterone production. One study assessed the effects of sexual activity on testosterone levels in both men and women. The study concluded that for both men and women, testosterone levels were highest after intercourse and lower on days with no intercourse.¹³

7 Ways to Raise Testosterone Naturally

Normalizing Natural Testosterone After Stopping TRT

It is important to normalize what happens when you stop TRT. If you have to stop TRT, it may take some time for natural production to begin or return back to normal. While some individuals may experience negative side effects after stopping treatment, testosterone shutdown symptoms will not be present in everyone. If you do experience testosterone shutdown symptoms, there are some steps you can take to help recover natural testosterone production, which will be discussed in the following sections.

How Long Before My Testosterone Levels Return to Normal After TRT?

For most patients who stop TRT, their testosterone levels will return back to where they were prior to seeking treatment within four to six weeks after stopping. However, for some men, it could take up to 3 months or longer before testosterone levels return to baseline after treatment.¹³

How Long Does TRT Stay in Your System?

What happens when you stop TRT and how long does it stay in your system? TRT will stay in your system for about three to four weeks after stopping treatment. However, you may see symptoms related to stopping TRT before the drug fully leaves your system. This is why it’s important to taper off of TRT so your body can begin to adapt and become used to not receiving doses of external testosterone.

What is Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)?

Asking yourself what happens when you stop TRT and what PCT is? Post-cycle therapy (PCT) is a drug and diet regimen that can help return testosterone to normal levels after stopping TRT. Post-cycle therapy was started as a way for anabolic steroid users to minimize the side effects of stopping anabolic drugs. However, it can have positive effects on those who have to stop TRT treatment as well. Studies have shown that PCT is an effective harm-reduction measure when coming off of testosterone or anabolic substances.¹⁴

PCT Treatments to Jump Start Natural Testosterone Production

The most common PCT treatments are Clomid and HCG. Working with a medical provider to manage doses and monitor progress is important during PCT treatment. Having medical supervision will help make the process as safe and effective as possible.

How to Know if Your PCT Worked?

The best way to know if your PCT is working is to get bloodwork done and have your hormone levels checked. If your testosterone levels stay within a normal range or return to normal during PCT, you will know that your treatment was successful.

Can Clomid Restart Testosterone?

What happens when you stop TRT, and how does Clomid tie into it? Clomid is a common post-cycle treatment that helps maintain testosterone levels in the body. Studies have also shown that Clomid can boost testosterone levels and help improve testosterone-to-estrogen ratios.

One study of men with an average age of 39 who were diagnosed with hypogonadism found that after taking Clomid for four to six weeks, their testosterone levels rose from an average of 247.6 ng/dL to an average of 610 ng/dL. They also saw their testosterone-to-estrogen ratio improve significantly from 8.7 before treatment to 14.7 after taking Clomid.¹⁵

Although Clomid can boost test levels, it often isn’t the best for long-term treatment when compared to TRT. The downside of Clomid is that studies have found that it can actually lower the libido in men who take it for a significant time frame.¹⁶ This is why Clomid is best suited for PCT after stopping TRT to help get testosterone levels back to normal.

Clomid and Testosterone

How Long Should I Take Clomid for Testosterone?

It is usually recommended to take Clomid for four to six weeks when using it for PCT. Taking Clomid for longer durations than that timeframe can lead to adverse side effects on patients. It is also recommended to taper off Clomid to help stabilize normal testosterone levels. Suddenly stopping Clomid can have similar adverse effects on testosterone levels as suddenly stopping TRT.

What Are Benefits of Clomid Over Traditional Testosterone Injections or Pellet TRT?

One of the main benefits of Clomid over traditional testosterone injections or pellet TRT is that it can be safely taken in pill form. This is often an easier way to take and administer medication. TRT is limited for oral administration since studies have shown that oral TRT has negative side effects on the liver.¹⁷

Other benefits of Clomid over traditional testosterone are that it lowers the risk of other common side effects such as acne, testicular atrophy, and negative influences on red blood cell count. However, since Clomid can have negative effects on libido and may not have as many benefits as traditional testosterone, it’s often a better option to get traditional testosterone treatment for hypogonadism.

Does HCG Increase Testosterone While on TRT?

What happens when you stop TRT and what does HCG have to do with it? While HCG is usually taken as a form of post-cycle therapy, studies have also shown the benefits of taking HCG in conjunction with TRT. HCG can increase testosterone while you are on TRT. If you take both simultaneously, you will want to track your testosterone levels and manage doses accordingly.

The main reason that some men may benefit from HCG during TRT is that HCG can help with fertility in younger men who struggle with hypogonadism. Since hypogonadism and TRT can result in azoospermia (which is when there is no sperm to ejaculate), HCG can help re-establish or maintain sperm counts in hypogonadal men.¹⁸

How Quickly Does HCG Increase Testosterone?

Studies have shown that it may take HCG a longer duration of time to boost testosterone compared to traditional TRT treatment. It can take up to 6 to 8 months of HCG to see significant boosts in testosterone levels. However, studies of men who took HCG for those time frames saw positive results from treatment.¹⁸

One six-month study of men taking HCG found that their testosterone levels increased from an average of 361.8 ng/dL before treatment to 519.8 ng/dL after treatment.19 The men in the study also reported experiencing positive effects from treatment, such as increased libido, increased energy, and better erectile function.¹⁹

Can I Use HCG Long Term?

HCG can be a safe and effective long-term treatment option in conjunction with TRT. A long-term study of the effects of HCG treatment in 17 male patients for durations of 14-120 months found that HCG had long-term positive effects on increasing fertility in men, and minimal side effects were reported for long-term use.²⁰ This shows that HCG can be an effective long-term option for men who want to maintain or recover spermiogenesis and boost testosterone levels.

Learn what happens when you stop TRT with Immortal Male

Looking for more information on what happens when you stop TRT? If you need help stopping testosterone replacement therapy or are looking for help with the side effects of TRT, Immortal Male can help. Immortal Male has a team of knowledgeable medical professionals who are experts in testosterone therapy. If you’re experiencing any issues with TRT, we can provide you with many resources that can help.

How Immortal Male Helps with Side Effects from TRT

Service through Immortal Male doesn’t just stop when your medication arrives, we will provide you with ongoing support. If you get testosterone replacement therapy through Immortal Male, our medical staff will always be available to help with questions or concerns you may have. Our medical professionals can help adjust dosages to reduce side effects or find alternative options or resources that can help with your specific needs.

Get Started with TRT

If you believe you would benefit from testosterone replacement therapy, Immortal Male can get you started and provide you with safe and effective treatment options. The first step to get started involves taking a hormone test that is quick, easy, and mailed directly to your doorstep for convenience. Moreover, we can provide more information if you are wondering what happens when you stop TRT.

After you send back the initial hormone test, our medical professionals will analyze your results and determine if you are a good candidate for testosterone replacement therapy. If you qualify for treatment, our medical experts will then contact you about treatment options and help you get started with a monthly subscription that is conveniently sent to your doorstep.

If this is a treatment option that sounds right for you, Immortal Male is here to help you get started today. Our staff is always available to answer any questions you may have about the treatment process.

Veterans and TRT

Utilizing testosterone replacement therapy to help treat any of these symptoms can help veterans get back on their feet and deal with any adverse side effects that combat or service might have created or exacerbated.

Contact us today to learn more about the treatment process or to learn more about what happens when you stop TRT.

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