This is a topic dear to my heart. I need to add to my story the fact that I am hypogonadal and my hypogonadism (low testosterone) is addressed with Testim, a gel I rub on my shoulders in the morning. When I stopped using the Testim, my testosterone is slowly recovering.

However, in an effort to “jump start” my testosterone production my primary doctor, in concert with an expert in Houston, is prepared to start me on HCG (human chrorionic hormone), Nolvadex, and Clomid. Not to get too technical, but HCG acts like luteinizing hormone (LH) which stimulates the testicles to generate testosterone. Nolvadex and Clomid are anti-estogens, and Nolvadex’s extra benefit of making the pituitary gland more sensitive to GnRH is an added bonus. GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) is a hormone release by the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland, resulting in the gland releasing LH to the testicles, which in turn create more testosterone.

If all goes well, normalization for me should occur within 1-3 months, instead of 12 months or more. However, in two weeks I will know whether my testicles are capable of producing the needed testosterone from their response to the HCG injections. If normalization does not occur, I will be back on the Testim.

This brings me to the main point of this post. Is heart disease caused by low testosterone, or visa versa? Here is an excellent interview with Hugh Jones, MD on the subject. This is an area just screaming for more study. Also, to my knowledge no study of the effects of testosterone on endothelial coverage of a stent has been done. Some snippets from the article: