Being an expert in one realm of science does not make you an expert in every realm. HCT is no joke that is certainly true. But on actual TRT doses, staying within the reference range, actually hydrating even moderately well the risk of “an event” or “ketchup in your blood” is massively overblown. People need to be more careful with their words and platforms. Just like being too nonchalant about compounds that have real risk is an issue, scaremongering and making something sound terrifying when the reality is highly unlikely is just as bad. Someone taking 90-180mg a week roughly and staying around or below 1000ng/dL (35nmol/L) is not going to have sludge for blood. That’s why it’s called testosterone replacement therapy. You’re replacing it to optimal but physiological levels. Now if you’re on a blast that’s a whole different story. But hydration is still the key not consistent blood donations where you’re likely going to end up with crashes ferritin, tiny red blood cells and low haemoglobin. Most of the data that thick blood causes strokes or “events” is from Polycythaemia Vera. A cancer where your body produces too many red blood cells and often also too many platelets and white blood cells. HCT is a % of red blood cells relative to volume. It's a ratio. If a guy is dehydrated, which most guys are, plasma volume drops making hct look high on paper, even if there isn’t too many red blood cells. This is why hydration is so important. And what’s not talked about enough is that a of guys who actually get "sludge blood" on TRT actually have undiagnosed sleep apnea. The combination of androgens and starving the brain of oxygen at night forces overproduction of red blood cells. Blaming TRT instead of treating sleep apnea misses the root cause. Bottom line if you’re on TRT don’t think you’re automatically going to wake up tomorrow with sludge for blood and have a stroke. And ANYONE on ANY androgens TRT or otherwise needs to hydrate better.