How did you get your prescription for testosterone

[Davinasimpson]

One of my reasons for starting HRT was lack of libido. I’ve been on it for 6 months and an now on 3 pumps of oestrogel as well as Utrogestan for 12 days but no sign of my libido returning. This makes me really sad and is effecting me quite a lot. It makes me feel old and past my prime. I think I might benefit from testosterone but have no idea how to get it. How did you manage to get your prescription if you’re on it?

@WombatChocolate I have testagel in a sachet.

I'm on Androfemme one .
I went privately for it

Just posted on the tEstogel/Tostran thread.

I but the bullet and had a GP appt to discuss testosterone after having 4 months of HRT and improvements of some symptoms but not libido.

On one hand it was good. GP (woman) open to idea when I talked about lack of libido after several months in HRT. Said she had orescribed it before not not regularly so would look it up and tell me risks and dosages. All good.

BUT, then she went onto tell me the male doses. I’d been expecting Tesogel but she was giving me Tostran, so when the quantities sounded surprising, I wasn’t sure it wasn’t me not knowing, so said nothing but loooke Deere and on the British Menopause Soc website after. I’m pretty sure she prescribed me male quantities - said take EVERY day and take 2g (4 pumps per day). When asked how long the prescription would last, she looked and said about a month - return after that.

Now I look I can see women should have it roughly 3 times a week and only 0.5G or 1 pump. That bottle should last well over 6 months. So I’m a bit shocked.

On one level I’m reluctant to write to GP about it, because it could make them even more reluctant to orescribe T off licence and women find it even harder to get. BUT, if I took what she prescribed, I’m sure I’d get the bad effects that are possible from women having male quantities - and that’s serious. She clearly couldn’t easily or quickly access the right info or didn’t know where to look and was basically looking at general licenced prescribing for men.

So, I’ve got it and will start on the correct dose today (is morning or evening best?) and report back on how I get on. Shocked by my experience though!

I was told evening for Tostran.

Can anyone recommend a private clinic in beds Herts or Essex or Cambs please Thanks.
I'm going to go private I think

Newson clinic does virtual appts - phone or video.

I've been on 3 pumps oestrogel per day plus cyclical utrogestan (12 days per month) for 3 months now. Extreme fatigue has lifted a bit but I'm still feeling weak, tired, low/flat, unmotivated, frequently weepy and craving food - am about 6kg heavier. My energy has vanished. Have dark moods and am suddenly (for the past year) unhappy in marriage of 24 years. My libido is non-existent which doesn't help. Pinned all my hopes on testogel which I started about 5 weeks ago but it's made no difference? Please give me some hope or advice.... Should I give it longer to take effect? Or ask doc to increase the dose? Or perhaps add setraline (anti-depressant) to the mix? I took sertraline back in 2019 without HRT and it def lifted my mood. I'm 51 with a lovely 16 year old daughter.

Just following with interest

Depends.
If your practice has a GP with extra qualifications in the menopause
If your local area allows testosterone prescribing (which is all unlicensed as there is currently no licensed product in the UK)
Start by ringing your practice, asking who is the GP who has the most interest in the menopause and going to see her (will probably be a woman!)

Superdrug seem to be doing it now without doctors prescription l. They sent me an email offering to do a test for it the other day. The test was £50 if I recall. I am thinking about doing it when a bit more flush !!!

onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/testosterone-for-women.html

Thanks Passport123. I've found my GP people to not be that amazing with my menopause issues... everything they prescribe seems to be like a stab in the dark.... have trued so many things. They did at least (after years/numerous appointments) refer me to meno clinic which was how I got testosterone prescription. Maybe I could try them - no idea if they'll talk to me without a formal appointment but I cd try....

I got mine after a menopause clinic referral on the NHS. Many GP’s are nervous about prescribing it as it not licensed for women or it wasn’t a couple of years ago. From reading other posts here it seems like that might be changing and some GP’s are prescribing it, possibly from the publicity on TV etc. I can’t remember how long it took to work I think a few weeks. I was using HRT patches for quite a while before I started testosterone.

After various appointments and one specifically bemoaning my lack of libido my gp clinic finally referred me to meno clinic and about 5/6 months waiting list.

@Franchannie is your doctor or clinic doing regular blood tests to monitor your levels of oestrogen ? I would definitely call the meno clinic. I’ve found my consultants secretary very helpful and understanding and had been fitted in for a blood test etc.

@Franchannie also five weeks Is not that long. I would speak to you doctor and ask if they can do a blood test or if you can increase it

I had a similar experience with my GP, when the testosterone product I had been prescribed (testim tibes) wasn’t available, my GP put the make dose on the instructions. I took it for a few weeks I think but I don’t think there were any major side effects other than a hairy patch where I had been applying it! My consultant said it is best to take a small amount every day rather than a bigger dose twice a week etc as this keeps the levels even.

Have you found your testosterone to help?? My mood is so low...

@667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast Hi! No... have not had any blood tests to monitor hormone levels.... sounds interesting and I'll try to hive them a call on Tuesday! Are u thinking my orstrogen might be low despite me being on 3 pumps per day?

My mood was low too and I was initially offered anti depressants, which I refused as I had read up a lot on menopause symptoms and I knew that’s what was going on despite not having hot flushes. The oestrogen has been what has helped my mood, the testosterone helped with libido. I have a Mirena coil so I was given oestrogen only patches but it took a long time to get the dose right and my dosage needs changed over time so I’m on a much higher dose now than five years ago when I started. I also had problems absorbing the oestrogen after being on it for a while and they switched me to another brand of patch. I hope you get it sorted as it’s awful feeling like that. I would cry at the drop of a hat and also felt very angry and irritable. I ended up having a road rage incident in the high street which I have never done before in my life I’m quite a patient driver. The guy was very surprised at the language!

@Franchannie sorry didn’t answer your question directly, yes it’s possible your oestrogen could be low despite the three pumps as you may need more or may not be absorbing it all. I was on a dose of 150 mcg patches but my levels were low so the clinic have just increased it to 200mcg.

Thank you for the advice - will see if they can offer a blood test😊

I had to wait 7 months for an appointment with a gynaecologist as my GP practice would not prescribe testosterone. so a 5 minute chat with the gynae got me my prescription.

it has transformed me. Brain back to being sharp (I have a VERY technical job, so this is essential), and my libido, which had fallen off a cliff, is back to normal. Most importantly, my ability to have quick and repeated orgasms is back.

Gosh that gives me hope.... Maybe I need a patch w gel top-up... I'm glad things have improved for you. 😊

@DillDanding Sounds amazing! How long did it take for the testosterone to take effect?