Zero libido - help!

[MySaladDaysAreGone]

Hi. 46, perimenopausal. Have been on hrt for 3 years due to symptoms (night sweats, brain fog etc) married 17 years. No libido - would rather have a cup of tea! Putting strain on marriage. Help! What do I need? Testosterone ? Where from? Dosage? Please help!

I got given testosterone via The Female Health Clinic triage service. Game-changer!

Have a look at Jane Pangbourne's FB page
The HRT truth collective - lots of advice and guidance

Testosterone, testosterone and testosterone.

Testosterone will do no good unless your oestrogen is at optimum levels. Are your other symptoms under control with your current HRT? If not you need to get that sorted first
A referral to a private menopause specialist is probably the best place to go if the oestrogen is all sorted

@QueenOfHiraeth some night sweats recently - will up pumps per day to 4 and see if that helps.

Everyone - how much did you pay for a phone/online consultation to get a prescription for testosterone?

About £350 for the blood tests and telephone consultation. And £50 for the actual testosterone gel.

@whateveryousay wow!

Testosterone. Ask your GP.

My GP told me that they couldn’t prescribe testosterone for women. Which I don’t think is actually the case, having read otherwise on here. I’m hoping that they will take over the prescribing at some point though.

My GP has prescribed me testosterone after suggesting blood tests and saying my levels were low. From what I read this is uncommon though for a GP to do this.

I've just had my first consultation with a Menopause nurse at the local NHS Menopause clinic. Am going for a blood test next week to check testosterone levels as libido very low/non existent. Just started on Tibolone after previous attempts on HRT gave too many side effects. When I asked my GP if they could do the test and prescribe testosterone, was advised that it's not something they are able to do and only specialists or private doctors allowed. Nurse has agreed to provide testosterone if test results come back low. In the meantime the tibolone might increase libido. It needs more time. I will and see what results say in about 3 weeks. testosterone for women is not easy to get.

Testosterone is not licensed for women in the UK but GP's can and do prescribe off licence. Whatever your reason might be for requesting it you need to say you have no sex drive. Tell them that even if it's not true to stand any chance!

Yes, have been prescribed testosterone following blood test by menopause nurse . Libido hasnt come back and 3 months in. However concentration and brain fog improved. Am on 100mg everol conti and utrogestan 100.

God the patriarchy is alive and well isn’t it?!

Yes the patriarchy is well and truly alive when it comes to testosterone. But until the dinosaurs start listening we have to play them at their own game. We produce three times as much testosterone as estrogen when we're young. Why won't they listen. It's infuriating. Louise Newson is on the case though.....

What are the symptoms of low testosterone other than lack of lobido?

Sleep disturbance, brain fog, poor memory, joint aches and pains, irritable, lack of interest in things, low mood, unable to concentrate.

@Nickersnackersnockers that describes me to a T. I've just self referred myself to mental health after a call with the GP but Ive been finding myself unable to find the right words for things for months, years probably and haven't dared look it up in case it's early dementia or something! Can I ask for my levels to be tested?

You can request testosterone from your GP. If they are willing to prescribe you may be asked to have a blood test to check your level first. Not sure about just wanting to check your levels out of curiosity, don't know if a GP would agree to that.

@Nickersnackersnockers thank you.

I'm on HRT (Mirena plus estrogel) after I rang my GP and asked for help with not sleeping. It was an easy prescription to write and it helped with the sleep overnight. I've spoken to the GP again this week and got AD to try and pick up my mood (always struggle this time of year but if I'm honest I've been off my game for months/years). I might ask if they'll take bloods before my monthly AD review

You sound like a good candidate for testosterone to me.

@Nickersnackersnockers

Testosterone is not licensed for women in the UK but GP's can and do prescribe off licence. Whatever your reason might be for requesting it you need to say you have no sex drive. Tell them that even if it's not true to stand any chance!

GPs are not allowed to prescribe it in some areas. The CCG for most areas has a list of medications called a RAG list (stands for Red Amber Green). Red is only prescribable by specialists, Amber has to be started by specialists but then GP can take over and Green can be issued by all. In addition to those there is Black which cannot be prescribed by any and testosterone for women is in that category for our area. It is up for review and I think it will change but it is simply not allowed as yet