Testosterone gel.... how much is a dose, and how do you apply it?

[Dorje]

Hi all, so my GP recommended I try out some testosterone gel from a sachet.
The gel is prescribed off license to me, as it's formulated for men.
It comes in a sachet, which amounts to 5g, a single daily dose for a man. There used to be a testosterone for women but they don't make it anymore.
I'm on a bioidentical hrt and don't want to take triblone, as I'm happy with the regime I'm on.

My GP recommends a small amount every day. But how small is a small amount? It sort of melts to a liquid when I squeeze it out on my finger, and it's difficult to see how much is there. She recommends I rub it onto my lower abs, but it's all drippy by then...

So, my questions are:

If you use it, how do you do it?

How much do I use.... should this sachet last me a week or 10 days? Obviously I won't need a sachet a day, but how do you measure your amount? Have you a handy spoon, or measure?

Where do you put yours!?

What are the time scales when I could see a difference in energy levels?

Has anyone had any side effects?
Beards, acne, bulging muscles, speeding tickets, toyboys, an appreciation for sports cars
You know, am I going to be able to join a barbershop quartet with my new basso profundo voice, or will I still be able to hit the high notes of Celine Dion not that I want to sing her stuff but you get the picture

Is there a long term higher risk of cancer.... if so what kind, and does anyone know any stats?

TIA fellow vipers ladies

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If you've found this page in your search of orgasm gels and orgasm lubes that have been recommended by fellow Mumsnet users, you might find our guide to the best orgasm gels useful. Hope this helps! MNHQ

[Notimefor]

I have been prescribed testovan gel - I have been using it just under 3 months, and the results on my libido have been subtle so far. Has anyone else had to wait longer than 3 months to see a significant improvement? I am not sure if I need to use more or if it’s just not working . It has definitely helped with my ability to climax but still not feeling as switched on as I would like. I know this is an old thread so am hoping someone will come along soon😀

[60something]

I visited the menopause clinic every 3 months.. and have a blood test. After reducing my tostran to 1 pump a week my levels are within the normal range, about midway.. my libido dropped again..
I have now stopped using it for 4 weeks and will start again in hope that it boosts it again...
I am also on a Evorol patch which I change twice a week.

[slic]

I'm SO excited to have finally received my NHS referral to my regional Menopause clinic to try and sort out my hormones! At 47, peri-meno, no energy, no drive for life and zero libido I'm hoping for a minor miracle!! (As is my hubby!) My testosterone levels are "very low" so am keen to hear back from any of you as to whether you're still taking yours and did it's effects last? Thanks Sx

[Diana65]

Ladies, I have some strange experiences on Testogel and Estrogel to share.Since few months I'm using pea size blob of T every day and 2-3 pumps of Estragel daily plus Duphaston pill ( gestagen) since 6 years.
Two months ago my E levels were 1046 pmol, so my gyn said it's too high and I have to recude the E dose, or she won't give me another prescribtion anymore. So I reduced the Estrogel on 2 pumps. Two weeks ago I made another blood test on my own and my E levels were still 1835 pmol! But I didn't have any unpleasant side effect of such high E levels, I felt really good. Also my T levels were much higher then the recommended norm for women, but I neither had some negative side effects, I'm still singing soprano :-) My libido isn't really good like on the begining of the Testosterone therapy, so I wonder why those very high T levels don't work better for my libido. I mean, my libido isn't bad, but when I started with T, wow, I felt like 18 years old horny teenager and so alive and strong :-)
I wonder, where those high E levels are coming from? Does the T convert into E, if too much in the blood??
I reduced now strongly my E dose, I'm usind only one pump daily and I feel bad- moody, depressed, exhausted, craving for food all the time, nervous, poor sleep- like before I started HRT. Today I got my new blood results ( only E2) and the levels are very low- 110 pmol.
So I will rise the dose of Estroigel again, since I really feel like crap.
Did someone experience similar phenomena? Very high E levels under T replacement? And do you think it's normal that after a while the body get used on high T levels and the push up effect on libido calms down?
I wonder what the use of testosterone replacement, if there are no really satisfying results at the end :-(
I also wonder, if maybe isn't T, but high E levels, which are boosting the libido and the whole well being? I felt so much better under high E levels!
I'm so sick and tired of the hormonnal roller coaster! But I can't imagine to stop HRT completely, since I have to function, to work, to earn money for myself and my kids, and without decent E and T levels I feel like my own granny...

[Noess]

@Bellaciao, according to someone on this thread Professor Studd ( or is it Stubb, I'm not sure) prescribes 5 to 12 mg testosterone. One pump of Tostran is 10 mg if I'm correct? If so 10 mg is not a extremely high dose.
SHBG not only binds testosterone but, to a lesser extend, estrogen too. So if testosterone lowers SHBG and SHBG is high than it's quite possible that you will have more bioavailable estrogen too. Recent research also found that women have more testosterone than estrogen in blood circulation. Maybe because testosterone is the precursor to estrogen? Men who are on testosterone therapy can convert exogenous testosterone to estrogen, that's why they take Arimdex, an aromatase inhibitor. So I suppose women can convert exogenous testosterone to estrogen too. Some women even feel better on testosterone alone
Testosterone can be converted into DHT, a much more potent androgen. Apparently DHT is the androgen that's causing side-effects like acne, facial hair and male-pattern hairloss. Some doctors even promote taking more testosterone to overcome conversion to DHT.

From experience; when it comes to hormones science is still in its infancy. As everybody's body responds differently I do believe that you can, within parameters, go by symptoms.

[Bellaciao]

Testosterone is one hormone that you shouldn't take more of depending on symptoms. This may be true for oestrogen - which is the female hormone (ie we have more than men) but not for tesosterone. Firstly because we don't want to get out of balance between O and T (because of potential androgenic effects), and secondly because some of the effects can take up to several months to take effect. Although blood tests for T are unreliable especially for women - because our levels are normally at the lower end of the range, nevertheless once you start supplementing it is vital to keep monitoring to check whether they are in the right "ballpark" and yes Noess is right about SHBG - but you can't guess this. Your doc should measure T and SHBG and work out the Female Androgen Index - someone on Menopause Matters posted about this. There's a formula for working it out. It is very scary that a doc should prescribe 1 pump per day of Tostran!!!! Most women are prescribed a pea-sized blob of T every day and that's Testim in sachets which is half the strength of Tostran. Unless you're in surgical meno then this tiny amount might just do the trick. It's not just a question of feeling fine when it comes to T! There is now guidance from the British Menopause Society on prescribing T for women (Tools for Clinicians) so no medical professional should be prescribing without at least looking at this!

[Noess]

@60something, did they check your SHBG? If you are feeling fine on a higher dose and you don't experience any bad side-effects then why change?
Blood tests aren't always reliable., especially testosterone for women. For me personally; I would go by symptoms.

[Losingthewill8]

I am on half a pump of Tostran 3 times a week. I have started to get a bit hairy on inner thighs which is a bit annoying but libido has improved greatly. Are you on oestrogen and progesterone too?
I take 1.5mg of sandrena every day (oestrogen) and a 5mg tablet of northisterone (progesterone) every day. All as advised by menopause clinic.

[60something]

Hi, I have now been on tostran for 10 months. I had extremely low/no existence testosterone level.. I went to the menapause clinic because of non existent libido. I was told 1 pump per day on inner thigh...
wow wow my libido was unbelievable... when I went back after 3 months I was told that my levels were now too high and to use the gel 5 days and have another test in 3 months .. still too high so down to 3 days a week.. another test 2 months after still high, now been told 1 pump per week.....then another test in a month. my libido calmed down very much, it’s still better than it was before, but I will now wait for my next blood test to see what’s happening.. hopefully it’s come down a lot as I don’t want to come off it altogether..

[Lizzy253]

How long did it take until you noticed any difference? Also I take hrt in form of patch twice a week, I was told to use gel every other day but some patch days fall on gel days, can I do both on the same day. Thanks

[Noess]

Wellhellothere101, thank you for your answer. I use approximately the same amount, about 5 mg every day. No difference yet but it's early days.

[Wellhellothere101]

Hi noess I was using a pea size blob of gel daily but after a few weeks I felt more angry at things and flew off the handle much more easily so I dropped my dose to a pea size blob 4 times a week. I'm never angry now-more like my usual temperament.
I go through a sachet roughly once weekly. The consultant at the menopause clinic I felt wasn't hugely knowledgeable about testosterone and she had to look for saved info on her PC to remind her of the dose. Fair enough-she was much more knowledgeable about different types of HRT.

[Noess]

@Scottishdaisy I agree, it makes a difference if I try not to take myself to seriously (if that's the right English expression)

@Wellhellothere101 If I may ask;; how much Testogel are you using each day? And which dose did your consultant prescribe?

[scottishdaisy]

@noess... I've a degree in English and used to be so picky about spelling and typing errors. I'm now secretary at a running club and make so many errors all the time ... I've chosen to just laugh about it... otherwise I'd possibly die of mortification every time some young thing points out yet another mistake....

[Noess]

@Scottish daisy I know exactly what you mean, same thing here. Some days I even have a hard time writing because I keep spelling the words all wrong. Example; I lofe you from the bottum of my hart. (I'm not kidding....!)
Because I did feel kinda awful the last three years I've been searching for answers and after reading tons of info and research I feel that science only scratched the surface when it comes to hormones.
Like Wellhellothere101 says; we also have to educate ourselves.

[scottishdaisy]

@noess... fingers crossed! My husband is bored to tears with me tying everything in to hormones. But I'm so convinced it's true... At first when I started forgetting names... words... tasks.. I thought it was early onset dementia but every older woman I mentioned it to laughed and said it was hormones.. then increasing anxiety and inability to process information that I would previously have understood in a few moments... I'm not feeling awful but I do think things could be better...

[Noess]

Scottish daisy, I really hope you'll manage to convince your physician. Maybe it isn't such a bad idea to give the libido- angle the most attention. I find Dr's are still
very reluctant in prescribing testosterone. From my own experience I'm 100% sure now hormonal imbalance affects every aspect of our bodies and our minds. From those little annoyances like curling toenails or serious illnesses like fibromyalgia or bipolar disorders ( like Prof.Studd mentioned). Unfortunately I'm self-prescribing as no Dr. in the Netherlands will prescribe it to me. I'm baffled by physicians, not so much the lack of knowledge, but the unwillingness to keep an open mind or at least attempting to learn more. At least my Dr. admitted he just didn't know enough about testosterone and the benefits or side-affects
I hope you will get your prescription. And I really, really wish it will be life-changing for the both of us! And of course for all those struggling women out there.

@theladyisoke, glad you found the right physician and you already feel the benefits. Encouraging...!

[Wellhellothere101]

Good articles linked. I need to spend some time on these. I posted much further down the thread but my GP referred me to the local menopause clinic to discuss testosterone replacement therapy and the consultant there was happy with me starting testosterone. She initially suggested tibilone to replace my current HRT as there is evidence this increases libido but I was less krem on this as my current HRT suits me really well. I felt the consultant at the clinic wasn't too knowledge about testosterone therapy in post menopausal women which is a shame as I think the benefits are overwhelming! Anyway I started testosterone gel (1-2 sachets per week) abour 6 weeks ago and I feel good on it. My libido has definitely increased, I have more energy and I feel generally happier. My GP will check my testosterone levels every 3 months initially then 6 monthly.
We need to educate ourselves on medical treatment as not all doctors are experts in these matters.

[scottishdaisy]

Oh!! Just starting to read the articles, Noess.. marvellous... just at the list of benefits in the science direct article. Perfect!! I hope you find it as life changing as it sounds it could be...

[scottishdaisy]

Thanks so much! Noess.. it'll be fascinating to see how you get on... How did you manage to get it? I have to say I've seen Heike Gleser at Ninewells in Dundee - she seems fabulous. Although she did focus on the libido benefits of testosterone. After I stopped crying yesterday I gave the clinic a call and am going to see them on the 20th Feb. Just not sure if I can say I'd like testosterone to see if helps with energy or if I need to bang on about sex. I'd prefer to be honest but I'll fib if it's the only way!!

I had no idea how difficult this stage would be... am convinced that hormones are the reason for pretty much every issue I have. Apart maybe from my achilles injury. But even then I wouldn't be surprised if hormones have something to do with it!!!

[Theladyisok]

Oh and I was seeing another gynecologist in the clinic whose response to lack of libido was well just do enough to keep him happy! Wasn't interested in my bladder problems told me to get referral to a urologist! So glad I decided to go back and see another Dr. This has cost a fortune mind. However GP now prescribes teston gel, patches and pessaries so I am happy with current improvements.

[Theladyisok]

Noess
I've read through them and wish more doctors would learn about womens health related to hormones and the impact of the menopause. However not sure about the bio balance article lol. If I looked like the woman he describes bald, flabby and with lots of wrinkles oh not forgetting flaccid beasts.... I don't think I would want to leave the house... 😂

[Noess]

@Theladyisok, found this regarding bladder issues/ incontinence:

www.renalandurologynews.com/aua-2017-annual-meeting/low-t-ups-ui-risk-in-women/article/661477/

[Noess]

Hi Scottish daisy,, just started Testogel a week ago, 5 mg a day but no results yet. Will let you know if anything changes. Can't wait...

Found these posts;

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512213000121

www.restartmed.com/low-testosterone-women/

tctmed.com/resource/symptoms-of-low-testosterone-in-women/

Not sure about this one but who knows..:-)
www.biobalancehealth.com/women-physical-signs-testosterone-deficiency/

[Theladyisok]

Hello Scottish daisy. My libido is marginally better. However I do have more energy and more importantly for me it seems to have brought back my confidence and ability to get out there and do things. My menopause specialist felt my estrogen was too low and has upped that. As I have said the vagifem has helped my bladder control lots. So 3 weeks into testosterone gel I am doing much better. Hoping to get a balance of my hormones that gives me a much better life. I gave up my job as I just couldn't do it any more and haven't found another yet