Testosterone

[menoyellow]

I'm 53 and haven't had much of a libido for a couple of years. I'm on HRT and I'm single and hoping to start dating.

Has anyone tried testosterone and has it helped with libido problems? Are there any side effects of taking it (hopefully not growing a beard )

I'd like to know this too.
So would my husband!

It seems to be very hit and miss - no effect for some, slow burn for others, chandeliers for a few. I am one of the lucky ones swinging from the chandeliers (some of the time). You need your other HRT to be optimised first, and not all GPs will prescribe it as it’s not on licence.

Exactly what @LadyGardenersQuestionTime said.
In my area the GP has to optimise HRT then refer you to a menopause specialist. If the specialist agrees they have to do testing, prescriptions and monitoring for 6 months. If it is effective they can then ask the GP to take over prescribing (although GP does not have to if they are not confident with that), if no effect at 6 months it should be stopped. Apparently it is effective in around 45% of users

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime - I hope you don't mind me asking but did you have any side effects? I Googled them and they seem a bit scary

Only a knackered but happy husband (for the first month, settled down a bit now).

I think my chin may be slightly hairier but at my age that could just be normal for me, and nothing a pair of tweezers can’t fix. No other negative side effects that I can detect.

I would emphasise the need to make sure your oestrogen is right before you try testosterone - oestrogen fixed my flat mood as well as my UTIs; my understanding is that if you dont have enough oestrogen then the testosterone just converts to oestrogen in your body so it won’t work.

Also getting your libido back won’t fix any emotional problems or relationship problems.

I have just started testosterone so can't give you a particularly informed answer except to say no effects whatsoever - whereas I had immediate effects from both oestrogen and progesterone. I was prescribed it for my horrendous brain fog.

I’ve been on testosterone for 18 months. Wouldn’t say it’s transformed my libido but it has made me feel stronger and more vibrant. Loads more energy and stamina. I didn’t actually have any noticeable symptoms warranting oestrogen but decided to start on oestrogen and progesterone at the same time as testosterone can be converted by oestrogen by the body.

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime - thanks for your reply. My relationship problem is that I don't have one

It gave me very bad cystic acne. Didn’t notice any additional hair growth though.

I love what testosterone has done for me! But in my case, yes, there has definitely been an increase in hair growth where I apply the gel, that's on my upper thighs and belly. I recently read that you can apply it on the outer thighs where there are fewer hair follicles, so I'm trying that and hope the good effects don't diminish. The problem with testosterone is that there is so little information on how to use it and GPs don't necessarily know.
I have always been quite hirsuit, so maybe I'm more susceptible to the hairiness. I'm pretty sure there's been an increase in my facial hair too, but I am 61 and as a previous answer said, it may be age.

Hi OP i was told to put the gel oestrogen on the fatty part of the thigh, ie not onto muscle area, then the testosterone cream goes on the butt cheek as that's the only place you can't grow hair
didn't know that the wrong oestrogen level makes the testosterone convert back to oestrogen Is that true ????

I've been taking it for 2 months now. Has help with strength and my ability to concentrate. However, my libido is still non-existent. Maybe my dose needs to be higher? I take an 1/8th sachet of testosterone per day.

If oestrogen is too low then testosterone converts to oestrogen in the body. That is why they say HRT must be optimised before starting testosterone.