Q. I am already on Elevate-T to support testosterone while preserving fertility. Can I use it with any other meds that will support fertility goals even further?
A. Yes. Low dose gonadorelin or hCG are often used in men on exogenous testosterone to help safeguard from fertility concerns. But keep in mind that gonadorelin and hCG can also be used to further support fertility in men on Elevate-T.
Q. I want to get the most out of Elevate-T. Will I get a stronger effect using it on all 7 days of a week instead of only 5 days out of 7?
A. Elevate-T may exert more favorable advantages if cycled 5 days out of 7. The key active ingredient in this formulation is enclomiphene which opposes estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus to encourage a cascade of downstream effects. However, whenever a biological signal is present for prolonged periods, it may potentially downregulate the receptors it acts upon. Cycling the Elevate-T is a best-practice to ensure the medication does not weaken over time.
Q. I understand Elevate-T is an option in men with fertility aspirations, but are there any other reasons why one would opt for Elevate-T?
A. Whilst testosterone replacement can be executed responsibly within physiologic norms, many patients are nevertheless leery of direct hormonal administration. Testosterone is sometimes associated with adverse effects such as elevated hematocrit, increased prostate specific antigen (PSA) and worse serum lipid levels. The enclomiphene in Elevate-T has not been associated with significant serum biomarker alterations. Moreover, Elevate-T tends to maintain testosterone within physiologic norms, which limits side effects such as acne or hirsutism linked to supraphysiologic testosterone levels.8
Q. You also offer a Test Booster which seems comparable to Elevate-T. Which one is better for me?
A. The SERM used in Test Booster is clomiphene, which is a racemic mixture of both enclomiphene and zuclomiphene. Purified enclomiphene is the sole SERM in Elevate-T. Whereas enclomiphene exerts desirable pharmacological responses, zuclomiphene is responsible for certain estrogenic side effects. As such, enclomiphene exhibits a more favorable adverse effect profile than clomiphene.2-4 Furthermore, literature suggests that when zuclomiphene was administered in isolation in preclinical models, it adversely affected testicular histology such as Leydig cells, seminal vesicles and epididymis.9 This is echoed in the finding that compared to clomiphene, enclomiphene not only encourages a robust gonadotropin release, but is also associated with an improvement in total motile sperm cell counts in published evaluations.4 The choice of whether to use Test Booster or Elevate-T would also factor in patient preference.
Q. Other than tracking sex steroid hormones and related biomarkers such as SHBG, is it necessary to monitor any other labs with Elevate-T?
A. Since Elevate-T carries minimal potential unwanted effects compared to exogenous regimens, monitoring blood parameters would be contingent upon individual clinical history, but it is not an absolute mandate.
Q. My estrogen labs have risen in addition to my testosterone on this med. Should I be concerned?
A. A modest change in estrogens along with testosterone is a normal physiological response. As part of normal physiology, your body will convert some testosterone to estrogen. Enclomiphene (in Elevate-T) generally limits testrogenic unwanted effects among similar compounds. It is a misconception that estrogen and testosterone necessarily antagonize each other. When testosterone and estrogen increase in tandem, it may support an array of tissue responses and libido parameters. By itself, estrogen has a weak anabolic effect. But it does play a role in muscle regulation, sensitizing it to exercise stimuli and testosterone’s actions. The balance in estrogen may also support cardiovascular and nervous system wellness, maintain bone mineral density, and aid mood and cognition parameters.10,11
