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.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Low Energy Sparked The Journey

Xander noticed long-term low energy and lethargy that traced back to post-college years.
Sobriety removed excuses and made him realize he wasn't operating at his best.

INSIGHT

Functional Medicine Finds Root Causes

Functional medicine uses comprehensive testing and lifestyle context to find root causes.
Xander's doctor ran a broad lab panel that included hormone testing he hadn't expected.

INSIGHT

Normal Vs. Optimal Testosterone

'Normal' testosterone ranges (250–1100) can hide suboptimal levels for active men.
Libido often remains until late, so low T shows first as low energy and poor recovery.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

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.

🔗 Links & Resources

✨ Your relationship called. It wants a little more… fun.

The Spark is our monthly cheat code for connection + intimacy. Connection questions, date nights, and a new position to try — delivered fresh every month for just $9!

👉🏻 Get your Spark back here: http://vmtherapy.com/spark

Stay connected

📸 Follow us on Instagram → instagram.com/vanessaandxander

💌 Get our weekly email — real talk, expert tips, and zero shame → https://vmtherapy.com/subscribe

🎧 Subscribe to Pillow Talks wherever you get your podcasts!

==========================

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

==========================

Use code PILLOWTALKS at checkout to get 10% discount of the Tabu Sex Pillow ➡︎https://vmtherapy.com/pillow