Testosterone not helping libido

[TheOGCCL]

I’m on testosterone which has had a really positive effect on me. I have more energy, stamina and tolerance for exercise, also more motivation generally. It hasn’t done all that much for my libido.

I have a check up coming up with the menopause clinic and obviously want to keep taking testosterone. As it’s primarily given, under NICE guidelines, for libido, should I lie and say it is having an effect, or would other benefits be sufficient to continue to have it prescribed? TIA

Searching posts for ‘menopause clinic’ and came across yours.
Can I ask how you got on? I’ve been waiting a year for an appt at my nearest meno clinic, hopefully to try testosterone. Thanks

not done anything for mine either, i put a tiny pea sized blob on when i remember in the mornings, but i do think its good for retaining muscle mass, focus, etc. dont think im as weepy as i used to be. (private prescription, UK till we get the patches approved) and save me £90

Were you prescribed it for low libido? Are you also on HRT? I’m not aware of any other treatments that might be prescribed for low libido so if you want to stay on it and can live with the status quo then I would lie. If it’s a big issue for you though, you probably need to say so (whilst making the case for staying on due to other benefits you recognise).

what is your dosage. I found a massively different impact on libido at different doses.

Just been prescribed this after 6 months of hoop-jumping with the GP. But I'm sure I've been given the wrong dose: 40.5mg sachets of Testogel to use over 10 days - but I thought the guidance was to use over 8 days?

Trying to get an even dose out of the sachets is a bit of a mare - what do others do to achieve this?

Dosage of testogel for women is a nightmare - its obviously designed to be used all at once by a man.; and you are right, it should be over 8 days for the new 40mg sachets; it was 10 days for the 50mg sachets.

Someone here did a really good measuring job and worked it out, but I just note the day I start the new sachet, do a little blob every day, and make sure it’s all gone on day 8. Bring on the testosterone patch.

I’ve taken the plunge and ordered a month’s worth (3 sachets, I think) from Superdrug for £18. I can’t go on like I this till July when my appt is at the meno clinic.
I’ve also spoken to PALS who are going to ask on my behalf why my appt has been cancelled 4 times.

Are there any plans to produce a patch?? That would be great if so.

I've bought some 1 ml syringes and drawn up 2 or 3 doses of about 0.3ml into each one - at least it gives me an idea what size of blob the dose looks like. It's not that easy though- quite hit and miss. But, judging by how hard it's been to get this from my GP, it seems to be very much the exception to prescribe it. GP was quite happy to prescribe me anti-depressants without any mention of side effects, but reeled off a long list of side effects associated with testosterone - apparently I'm going to end up with a deep voice and male pattern baldness, among other things

I’m the OP, this was a while ago now but just to update and give a bit more background for anyone searching this topic. I’m 47 now and this all started when I was 44.

I went private to get testosterone. In fact the private clinic offered me the option of only having testosterone as all my symptoms could be put down to that and my levels were measurably low. It also, as far as there is evidence, carries no risk. But as I was entering perimenopause, and testosterone can be converted to oestrogen if those levels start falling I went the whole hog and got all three hormones.

This was after a very unsatisfactory NHS experience where my GP, though very sympathetic, didn’t know what to do and sent me to an endocrine clinic who also had no idea what to do with me. I know now that I should have asked my GP to refer me to a menopause clinic.

Once privately prescribed, I asked for a referral as it’s expensive (probably spent about £1k and am very lucky to have had the means). It was about a six month wait but obviously I’d already started with HRT and they did then agree for me to transfer to NHS prescribing. Oestrogen and utrogestan no issue. Testosterone I had to ‘see if the GP felt comfortable prescribing it’ despite the clinic being the specialists and recommending it. Luckily they did (young, male doctor so that was more positive). Same as pp, he did over prescribe, giving me a box of 30 tubes of Testim gel and telling me it was a month’s supply. That’s the male dose.

I didn’t really like the idea of giving up the private Androfeme but at least Testim comes in tubes not sachets so you can put the cap on each time, strongly recommend if you can deal with the fragrance. I use one tube over 10 days. So the box lasts most of a year. The dosage doesn’t have to be completely exact each day. I use it every day without fail.

As for my libido it’s still not amazing but definitely better than it was, and its other effects have been amazing. I am much stronger, have more stamina and motivation.

TheOGCCL thanks so much for coming back and updating us! Glad it’s doing something for you!

I’m two weeks in starting testosterone so fingers crossed. I’d be pretty happy with a bit of increase in libido, with extra stamina, motivation and muscle gain!

I asked my nhs GP for a testosterone prescription for all the benefits it would give, but the reason I gave the GP was loss of sexual function. I then made it clear that it had improved and was able to get another 12 months prescription. I feel a lot better in all areas. This was after nearly a year where I got my oestrogen dose to a therapeutic level.
OP, are you also using a topical oestrogen? The NHS guidance is to make sure the skin of the genitals is in tip top condition before the libido returns. It can also help with sensation, I wonder if this would help you?

@TheOGCCL - thank you for coming back with an update; it's reassuring to hear from others who have managed to have testosterone prescribed. It's still early days for me, but would certainly welcome increased motivation - will wait and see if there is an effect on anything else in the meantime

I have androfeme through a private clinic. The consultant recommended I get jewellers scales to weigh it out, as too much can be expensive and cause side effects. I think it has made a massive amount of difference for me physically but not so much the libido. I wonder if that's more of a mental thing?