Does anyone take testosterone?

[Nickersnackersnockers]

Louise Newson takes the male form I think as testosterone for women is not licensed.

Heard it can be prescribed for women and can work wonders.

Who is on it here?

Been on it for 2 days so can't comment on any difference it makes!

Had a private consultation through the Newson Clinic, the total cost including initial consultation, private script and 3 lots of meds (progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone) totalled £350. Will def be able to get first 2 on nhs moving forward and in discussion with gp about testosterone too.

Worth reading the blog posts of Midlife Chic where she talks about the menopause, including using testosterone. It's a good honest insightful read. Pretty sure there's a search option on her blog. However she's a great writer so would thoroughly recommend anyway!

Thank you vipersputpaidtomylastusername
My Newson Clinic appt is in the next week. It’s £275. So I assume the other £75 was your prescription?

I have the oestrogen and progesterone already on the NHS so just need to get the testosterone as my GP won’t/can’t prescribe it.

Hi I'm in the process of getting it, phone call with gynaecologist tomorrow after lots of tests and a referral from my gp. My friend is on it and very positive. I can't take hrt because of previous breast cancer so I really need something to help with sudden menopause.
Happy to report back if I get it, which I anticipate I will.
It seems like it depends on how decent your gp is whether or not you get it. Mines a woman who clearly can sympathise with women's issues

My GP prescribed it. On Evorel and Utrogestan for c9 months. 3-monthly updates during which estrogen dose was increased as I told her symptoms were improving but libido still awol At my last review she suggested it (although I knew from my own research I wanted it and would have asked if she hadn’t). Blood tests are not necessary or recommended. Am 3 weeks in and so far it’s been a massive game changer. Feel so much more energetic and focused and although sexual desire isn’t back much, orgasms are 🎉

@DSArnott Yes, that's right. The prescription fee was £35, the rest was 1 month supply of all 3 meds.

Good luck!

@IShouldBeSoLurky

My GP prescribed it. On Evorel and Utrogestan for c9 months. 3-monthly updates during which estrogen dose was increased as I told her symptoms were improving but libido still awol At my last review she suggested it (although I knew from my own research I wanted it and would have asked if she hadn’t). Blood tests are not necessary or recommended. Am 3 weeks in and so far it’s been a massive game changer. Feel so much more energetic and focused and although sexual desire isn’t back much, orgasms are 🎉

It is not essential to do blood tests but Louise Newson recommends they should be done in her professional training course as the oestrogen levels need to be optimised before starting and it is helpful.

The BMS says "Although it is not mandatory to perform testosterone level estimation prior to or for monitoring treatment, it can be useful. A low FAI < 1.0% in women with symptoms of low sexual desire and arousal, supports the use of testosterone supplementation. Repeat estimation at the 2-3 month follow up visit can be performed to demonstrate if there has been an increase in levels, though clinical response is of paramount importance. It is also useful to demonstrate that values are being maintained within the female physiological range, typically < 5%, thus making androgenic side effects less likely."

Well I spoke to the gynaecologist and they are reluctant to recommend testosterone. All the tests came back normal so I'm not entirely sure why he's reluctant. He said there's a risk of side effects such as facial hair and baldness. I said I'm used to weighing up side effects since having cancer treatment and I still want to try it. He agreed to a 3 month trial.
I did wonder why on earth do all the tests if you didn't think it should be prescribed at the outset. Anyway, hopefully I'll give it a try and be OK, if not I've lost nothing.

I’m on Tostran gel, prescribed by my gynae. It’s amazing and I feel it kind of supercharges the oestrogen. For me it’s been the va-va-voom hormone. A pump pack lasts me just under a year and it costs around £45.

@rumred I’m a bit alarmed at what your gynae has told you as it’s the complete opposite to mine. She said that as the dose is low compared to the male dose and that it’s a replacement for what your ovaries used to produce, that there are no masculising effects at such low doses. I’ve used it for 2 years and can confirm this. My hair is lush and I don’t have a beard and I haven’t become aggressive!

It doesn’t cause more hair to grow but can cause the hair to become thicker and darker at the application site so she said to not always put it on on the same place.

@Ibizafun

I tried Testogel a couple of years back.. drove like a maniac!

👏

I used it a number of years ago (prescribed abroad) for symptoms of perimenopause and hoped it would increase libido and energy but it had no affect at all (and happily no side effects).

I have a gp appointment coming up and will be asking for testosterone off license.

It gave me very bad acne so I stopped using it. Did anyone else have this?

My feme GP refused to discuss it or my libido problems post menopause just said you can't get that here and I dont have time to discuss this. My marriage has now broken up so thanks.

Does it help with the weight gain?

Hi I posted ona previous thread following being prescribed Androfeme as a precautionary blood test I took 2 months in highlighted raised testosterone levels of concern. In the interests of hive understanding I should follow up that my menopause HCP basically poo pooed the concerns as NHS directed levels of acceptable testerone are apparently far too low. It feels a bit like marking your own homework but I have to say Androfeme has made more difference to my energy levels and brain fog than HRT alone and no beard yet!

Oh man! Apologies for stream of consciousness - hopefully you get the gyst

Thanks for posting @Puppylucky it's encouraging to hear. My GP is going to prescribe me testosterone, she mentioned the gel but maybe I should ask for Androfeme

That’s great to hear @Puppylucky. I started Androfeme three days ago. My FAI level (as measured by blood test at GPs) was 0.11. I’ve been told by Menopause Clinic that anything lower than 1-2 is too low and should aim for 3-4 (but keep below 5). I’m going to see if my GP will do the follow up bloods in a few months as I’ll need to pay privately if not which I really can’t afford!

@PuddingParty My reading was 0.3 which went up to 0.7 with three months Androfem use, at which point my dose was increased as that is still low - hoping to reach the heady heights of over 1 at some point! I have noticed a difference, just more get up and go and less fatigue.

It’s cost a lot of money so far to get private treatment, probably about £800. I have now asked my GP to refer me to an NHS menopause/gynae clinic and am hoping to get them to take over my treatment. (Three month waiting list.

Has anyone tried DHEA instead of testosterone? I've been given this to try...

I haven't tried anything yet.. What's dhea?
I'm going to have to wring a prescription out of the gynaecologists sweaty hands, no sign of him contacting my gp yet, I think he'll drag his feet.

DHEA can be converted by the body to testosterone. I got it from my gynaecologist because testing shows low DHEA and testosterone. I’ve only recently started… feeling ok, but think my dosage is pretty low so may not make a difference yet.

Thanks @BlackSwan.
I'm speaking to my gp in a few weeks so will have a look at dhea too

@BlackSwan @rumred
An NHS doctor suggested DHEA to me. Took it for a few months, no effect at all. My menopause clinic raised their eyebrows and said they weren’t surprised.

I have also used it - brand name Intrarosa - I noticed some difference but not much, so I'm going to start with Testosterone once my oestrogen levels are optimised.