No updates yet, but for anyone seeing this can someone explain how an AI or clomid is supposed to help if you're already taking LH/FSH or HCG/HMG? Dave Palumbo and others here recommend adding clomid but how can this help? My doctor suggested it wouldn't and mechanistically I'm not seeing how either an AI or clomid could help. It could help with pituitary function but isn't that going to be fully shut down by exogenous LH/FSH anyway?
I am considering taking low dose AI again just to help with estrogen control, as long as it won't hurt anything
I don’t fully understand it either, why they would recommend clomid on top of HCG/HMG.. I think it’s typical bodybuilder mentality of throw the kitchen sink at it “just in case” lol..
To my understanding, and I’ve done as much research as I can, asked people with similar situations who’ve been successful and my own doctor;
HMG has FSH and LH in it, so ultimately it bypasses the pituitary’s need to produce these hormones.. What does Clomid do? It stimulates the pituitary to make these hormones... But didn’t we just bypass that? Exactly... lol
Now from what I researched, HMG has a better direct effect on FSH on blood work, and I recently did my own blood work (yesterday actually) and I did a shot of 75iu HMG on Monday and yesterday did bloods at about 24 hours post injection and my FSH levels were in range but on the lower end, but my LH levels were bottomed out...
From what I’ve researched, FSH peaks at a later time and for slightly longer than the LH when using HMG So some people just check for FSH levels.. For example I read that the LH peaks within like an hour but FSH can be detected at peak levels within the hour to about 8 hours and then drops off..
Also, HCG stimulates and mimics LH (from what I understand) more directly, so it works better with that combination... I didn’t inject any HCG for this blood work, but I’ll be doing bloodwork again in about 2 weeks with HCG and HMG injected before so I can see where both levels are, perhaps doing it 12 hours after injection to get closer to peak levels... I’m starting to think these medications would work a lot better with daily injections instead of EOD as many protocols suggest...
Also, if estrogen is an issue, I don’t think taking an AI will be an issue or interfere with anything.... But again, I think that comes with the fact most people do 1500-2000iu+ injections a couple times a week when maybe 500iu ED can work just fine and get levels where they need to be, causing a smaller peak and trough so reducing side effects more and getting better positive effects...
I mean, if it works with Testosterone then why not with these Meds??