The results are in – my total testosterone is 265ng/dl. This is lower than I would have liked. I get tested again in 1 month. Two weeks of the orals clomiphene citrate and tamoxifen are left and then I take a two week break.

Depending on my next test results, I have a few options according to the Houston doctor who specializes in treating hypogonadism. I could just accept the new number, take another month of clomiphene and tamoxifen once per day as opposed to two and then re-measure after being off the orals for two weeks, or go back on Testim gel for 12-18 months and then repeat the protocol of HCG, clomiphene, and tamoxifen.

What my Houston doctor found amazing is that, when he did this, many of his patients with numbers similar to mine bounced back to 500ng/dl, which is exactly where I would like to be. I think I will be taking this approach if my results are not satisfactory in one month.

The protocol has certainly not been a failure. My original total testosterone was 185ng/dl and now I am sitting at 265ng/dl. I now understand the possible cause of my maximum heart rate drop. My maximum heart rate while on Testim gel (total testosterone around 700ng/dl) was around 182. When my testosterone bottomed out after the Testim cessation it was around 162. Now it is around 166. I believe testosterone to be the main cause of this result. The most testosterone receptor cells can be found in the brain and the heart, so it just makes sense to me. The real test will be if I go back on the Testim and my maximum heart rate increases to 182 bpm.