E245: What It’s Really Like to Start TRT: Xander’s Testosterone Journey

Jan 29, 2026

A personal testosterone journey that covers why low energy became impossible to ignore and how sobriety revealed a new baseline. They walk through functional medicine testing, confusing “normal” ranges, and lifestyle tweaks that fell short. Treatment paths are compared—creams, Clomid, injections—and the realities of injections, costs, fertility risks, and mood and body changes are discussed.

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INSIGHT

T To E Ratio Matters More Than T Alone

Adding testosterone often raises estrogen via aromatization, so balance matters more than raw T.
Regular blood tests and possible aromatase inhibitors are essential to maintain a healthy T:E ratio.

ADVICE

Manage Estrogen With Careful Dosing

Do discuss and monitor estrogen suppression using aromatase inhibitors like anastrozole if tests show high estrogen.
Use precise dosing and lab follow-ups because common pills require quarter-doses for men.

ANECDOTE

Found Personal Optimal Range

Xander found his ideal total T around 900–1,000 ng/dL where benefits outweighed estrogen rise.
Overshooting T increased estrogen disproportionately and negated positives.

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Testosterone is one of those topics that feels loaded.

It’s tangled up in masculinity, aging, sex drive, energy, mood… and a whole lot of misinformation. Because of that, many men quietly wonder if something is off — but feel embarrassed, unsure, or afraid to even ask the question.

So today, we’re having a very real conversation.

In this episode, Xander is sharing his personal testosterone journey — what made him start asking questions, the concerns he had before doing anything, what the actual process looked like, and how it’s impacted everything from his energy and mood to sex and our relationship.

💛 In this episode, you’ll hear:

The early symptoms that made Xander realize something wasn’t right.
Why sobriety played a surprising role in recognizing his baseline energy.
What functional medicine actually is (and how it differs from traditional care).
Why many men never get tested for testosterone through primary care.
The problem with “normal” testosterone ranges in the U.S.
What lifestyle changes he tried first — and why they weren’t enough.
The different treatment options (creams, Clomid, injections) and how each felt.
What it’s really like to inject testosterone.
How his testosterone levels changed over time.
What it actually costs — and whether insurance covers it.
Honest answers to the most common fears and side effects.

We get into the stuff men are usually too embarrassed to ask out loud.

This isn’t medical advice. It is one person’s honest experience navigating low testosterone, functional medicine, and treatment options — the good, the uncomfortable, and the unexpected.

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