Mine is usually around 25 now, I don’t really have thoughts about it - I actually wish I had more atrophy than I do, erections are not as firm but otherwise it is about the same as before. I would prefer significant atrophy, tbh.

Though you’re right, that isn’t good for surgery, so that’s a thing.

But yeah, I’ve heard plenty of people notice some kind of dysphoria at trough. I remember feeling very clearly off if I was late by an hour or two when I was taking gel. Got worse when I was on higher dosages actually, so I suspect it’s the spikiness that does it.z

oh, interesting - that does sound similar to what I experienced … and it has gone away now post-orchi, so … I just assume I was right about it being the T.

It’s so freeing to be able to be late on a dose and not be impacted meaningfully. It was surreal cutting my dose and frequency in half, and watching the window pass for when I would have normally injected again. I had so much suspense built-up around it, and I felt completely fine for the first time. There was no building desperation for my next injection, no onset of crippling depression and worsening mood, as if the world is flat and nothing is enjoyable, no more 24/7 obsessive anxious rumination, and so on.

Now I just feel “normal” - it’s bizarre. Estrogen actually feels sorta optional now, where before I clung to it for my life - I was very sensitive to its absence before, but now I feel fine when my E is lower even if I still enjoy when my levels are higher, too.

I highly recommend for anyone like me to get an orchi ASAP. It’s more affordable, it’s an easier and less painful recovery, it’s a faster surgery, and it means you can get of anti-androgens and feel confident knowing your HRT supply isn’t the only thing preventing you from sliding into hell again.