TRT Dosing: Minimum Effective Dose vs Maximum Tolerable Dose, with Dr. Andrew Winge
Healthspan Podcast | Episode 3 TRT Dosing: Minimum Effective Dose vs Maximum Tolerable Dose, with Dr. Andrew Winge How much testosterone is enough? How much is too little? And at what point are you no longer doing replacement therapy… ? In this episode of the Healthspan Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Andrew Winge of Man Medicine to discuss one of the most debated topics in testosterone replacement therapy: Minimum Effective Dose vs Maximum Tolerable Dose. We break down what realistic dosing looks like, why free testosterone is more important than total, the significance of SHBG, insulin resistance, the significance of genetic variability, anabolic resistance, aromatization, estrogen myths, body composition as a key metric, metabolic health, and why the “right” TRT dose is highly individual. We also discuss why many men fail TRT despite “normal” lab values, the limitations of current guidelines, why symptom resolution matters, and the growing divide between conservative TRT philosophy and the increasingly common “TRT+” approach seen online and in some clinics. If you’re on TRT, considering it, or trying to optimize your protocol, this episode will help you think about dosing in a much more nuanced and individualized way. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Why “Safe” TRT Often Fails Men 00:18 Introduction to Dr. Andrew Winge 01:34 Dr. Winge’s Personal TRT Story 05:40 How Testosterone Changed His Medical Practice 08:46 Why Most Providers Don’t Understand TRT and why you shouldn't expect them to 11:44 The Problem With Modern Primary Care 13:35 Why Muscle Mass Matters for Longevity 18:20 Minimum Effective Dose vs Maximum Tolerable Dose 19:18 Why TRT Guidelines Fail Many Men 21:57 Why Many Men Quit Testosterone Therapy 26:06 Free Testosterone vs Total Testosterone 28:45 Why Some Men Need Higher Testosterone Levels 31:49 Why Out-of-Range Labs Aren’t Automatically Dangerous 35:04 Testosterone Safety and Higher Dose Studies 38:19 Testosterone, Muscle Mass, and Metabolic Health 40:42 When Higher Testosterone Doses Stop Helping 41:23 Why Lifestyle Still Matters on TRT 43:35 Optimal Free Testosterone Ranges 45:20 Why Broader Medical Experience Matters in a TRT provider 46:47 The Big Rocks of Health Still Matter Most 49:03 Estradiol, Aromatization, and Obesity 51:20 Why Estradiol Is Protective in Men 56:31 Why Adiposity Is the Real Problem 57:58 The Problem With Aromatase Inhibitors 59:01 DIM, Estrogen Myths, and Bad TRT Advice 01:02:12 The Business Side of TRT Clinics 01:05:12 Why Estradiol Labs Often Mislead Doctors 01:07:18 Estradiol, Nitric Oxide, and Erectile Function 🎙️ Guest: Dr. Andrew Winge | Man Medicine Website https://www.manmedicine.com/ Instagram / manmedicinemd YouTube / @manmedicine 📌 Need expert HRT guidance? At Men’s Healthspan, we fix hormones and metabolic health so you can feel better, look better, and live better. ➡️ Book your free consult here: https://MensHealthspan.com 📩 Newsletter + Free Diet Templates 👉 https://subscribepage.io/mpnLIn You’ll get occasional emails with real-world tips on HRT, diet, training, and improving healthspan — from a healthcare provider who practices what he prescribes. 🔢 Free TRT Tools Free Testosterone Calculator https://menshealthspan.com/free-testo... Testosterone Dosage Calculator https://menshealthspan.com/testostero... GLP-1 Dose Calculator https://menshealthspan.com/semaglutid...