Testosterone - what benefits other than libido have you noticed

[putthehamsterbackinitscage]

Just started Testogel this week after 18 months of hrt tweaks and changes. Now on Evorel 100, utrogestan 100 continuously and topical estriol as well.

Can anyone share their experiences besides libido from a similar combination?

Hrt has helped a lot with some symptoms - sleep issues (were horrendous), overheating & flushes etc over the past 18 months but I am still hoping to resolve my remaining issues too.

Testogel has been prescribed for libido but I also have significant joint/muscle/tendon issues, lack of energy, disturbed sleep especially after alcohol, lack of motivation, some brain fog.

Is there any hope this new regime will help?

Ive been on pea sized amount of testogel for 5 months, i have increased energy levels, my sleep is better, but after drink no, but i think alcohol affects sleep anyhow, and my mood has lifted, libido, flat No No, done nothing for it. But may work better for you, because your on more Oestrogen than me, i coukdnt tolerate that amount. Makes me feel worse

Oh, freak timing... I was just about to post on here about Testogel! I'm on day 3 and it's been prescribed for exactly the same reasons. I've heard it can take a while to kick in, sometimes as long as 6 months? I'm really hoping to see some improvement soon.

The question I was about to post was more around practicalities. I've been prescribed an 1/8th of a sachet. So I have to somehow work out how much to use.
Also, the doctor said it may need to be stored in the fridge. The leaflet is no help as it's very explicit that it's not for women and the usual dose is a full sachet. What dose has your GP prescribed?

It took probably 5 to 6 months but I feel more energetic, less brain fog, I've rejoined a gym, I've got more energy. It might be nothing to do with the hormones....but I'm going to stick with it.

@JosieOhNo same dose - the pharmacy gave me a mini syringe and said to measure about 0.2-0.3 ml using that was wondering about putting whole sachet in the syringe then just dosing what I need each time. That would probably be better as if it goes in the fridge with my DH and adult DS in and out it will probably go missing...

The consultant did say should see some benefit in 3 months and if not then discontinue but have also read upto 6 months on line, so I'll probably stick with it till then if no adverse reactions.

I've got to get GP to take over the prescription yet but fingers crossed as I've seen that Superdrug charge 8.99 for 3 sachets plus appointment and testing and I'd prefer not to have to pay privately if I can.

@SamR36 that sounds promising - if I can get some energy back and improve sleep, I'll take it as that alone will probably help with brain fog too.

I have been on testogel since March. Evorel patches for a year prior to that, still continuing. The HRT helped me already with horrible achy joints and sleep issues.

Since taking the testosterone I have noticed a slight improvement to libido but also mild improvement in sleep. More noticeable has been much improved energy levels and focus/concentration. I feel like my workouts are more intense and recovery easier. At work my focus/concentration is much better and I feel more confident/less anxious (a taste of what it’s like to be a man??) insofar as I will speak up about something with less hesitation and where things have gone wrong I worry much less about the outcome than I would have done 6 months ago.

With the dose, I wouldn’t stress too much, pea size is a good guide but as long as a sachet is spread over 8 days it doesn’t matter if there’s a bit of variation in the daily amount (agreed this with my gynaecologist).

Oh that's a good suggestion, I might try and get a syringe... thanks!

I put mine into a 5ml syringe and marked off 8 sections on the side.

I was put on Testogel about 6 weeks ago because o was feeling exhausted and my testosterone levels were too low to measure.
I have been doing the peasized amount daily.

Just went back today and testosterone levels are now too high! GP advise to use every other day or half a peasized amount daily!

She also said my oestrogen levels were low so has upped me to 150 Evorel patches.

@bigTillyMint did you have any odd symptoms with your testosterone being too high?
I was told if my Oestrogen levels were too low the testosterone converts to oestrogen, but gp wont do bloods 🤷🏻‍♀️

No I don’t think so, though the GP did say if testosterone levels were too high then I might get some male side effects 🤣
Also she didn’t say anything about testosterone converting to oestrogen, and infact increased the oestrogen patches.

She has also given me a paper to get my bloods done again in 8 weeks to check hormone levels - sorry your GP won’t do bloods. I am nearly 59, so should be post menopause if that makes any difference?

Hi, I've been on testosterone for about 2 years, after originally being on just oestrogen and progesterone.
Initially I had no effects, good or bad, however about 3 months in I suddenly realised my persistent headaches that I'd had for many years, had gone! And remain so... also feel a bit stronger (legs mainly). My brain fog lifted which felt like blue sky after years of cloud. I could think more logically about things and concentrate better. It was a slow burn, and it's difficult to tease out the good effects of the right oestrogen levels however I believe I'm less anxious too. Generally anyway! It's definitely made a massive difference to me! I wouldn't be without it now, unfortunately I had to get it through meno clinic (newson health) and I use a cream called androfemme - started off with a pea size (0.5ml) then after a year or so she increased it to 0.7ml, I feel fine in it and no masculine side effects! I have bloods taken annually for testosterone, SHBG and oestrogen to check all on. 😄

Ah i was told by gp to increase oestrogen before starting testosterone, she said if my estrogen wasnt at the right level the testosterone would convert, therefore wouldnt reap the benefits of testosterone, to then be told she could prescribe it anyway as she wasnt licenced to. I had to buy it online. And wouldn't do bloods, she didnt feel the need to lol, although ive asked over & over.
But i do feel i benefit from the testosterone.

It’s mad how it varies so much between GPs

It is @bigTillyMint, some seem to know more than others, i seem to get the gps that just want to prescribe me antidepressants, im not depressed what so ever, i get low mood, not often, due to meno, i still function. Before hrt my mood was very low, obv for lack of hormones.
Im happy you have a gp that seems to be a little better informed. I feel they should all have a study day on menopause to keep them in the loop.

I feel they should all have a study day on menopause

At the very least!! It's shocking that there is still this lack of education.

I'm very lucky in that my GP is generally clued up, and willing/able to help explore options and find things that work. However we had a ludicrous situation where in my appt we both ended up on Google trying to find out enough info on the testogel. She was very apologetic and said, it's still so new, not licensed for this use etc, but in what other field of medicine would this be ok?

My GP was fantastic with the HRT but I have to get the testogel privately. I may try harder to push my case with her but even with the private prescription cost added in it’s still only about £5 a week so it’s not worth the battle and I feel like I’m in good hands with the private gynae (regular bloods etc). Also feel like I’m offsetting the cost of the medication with the NHS HRT certificate…

I started on Testosterone (Testogel) about 6 weeks ago (prescribed by GP) - not sure if I've noticed a difference yet but it's early days.

I bought some syringes and decanted the contents of the sachet as soon as I opened it to start with. This was useful to get an idea of how much to use a day but I found it quite tricky drawing the gel into the syringes and ended up with large air bubbles at times. (Aging eyes and clear gel in a very small sachet not the easiest combination!) The last couple of weeks I've just been squeezing a pea/small baked bean size blob straight from the sachet each day which seems to work out ok.

I'm interested in storage of the opened gel. I'd read on another thread that it didn't need to be refrigerated so I just put a freezer clip on the sachet and put it in the bathroom cupboard but I see some posters on here mentioning storage in the fridge? PIL not helpful - as PP said sachets are designed to be used in one go by men!

I've emailed Besins to ask.

@ILoveRevels please let us know if you get an answer.

I'm following as I was prescribed testogel this week, just waiting for the stock to come in.

I’ve been on testosterone for about 4 months now, I also had to reduce my dose slighted as it got too high (felt great though and no extra fuzz).

For me the results have been slow and subtle, but they are there. Probably most noticeable for me has been a reduction in anxiety and an increase in confidence.

Energy is up, but sometimes I can be tired still, I think that can be linked in with so many other things like stress, activity, nutrition. I’m quite active and sometimes have a tendency to train too much, which I think has more to do with tiredness than hormones. so testosterone hasn’t fixed my tiredness, but it has helped along with a reduction in my activity levels and proper rest and nutrition.

Ligaments wise it’s helped. I do a sport that put a lot of pressure on my knee ligaments and I’ve been suffering for a while. At the end of the day testosterone is anabolic so it’s going to help with healing and growing body tissue. It’s helped, but again it is part of the puzzle, along with physio, strength training, collagen, rest and making sure I don’t over do it.

Testosterone helps, but it’s not going to turn me into a 20 year old or make me bulletproof. I wouldn’t be without it though and I think over time cumulatively those effects will put me in a physically better shape in my older years than if I didn’t take it. Which being early menopause is why I wanted to take it.

Ive just stopped mine. Devastated. Did one of the online finger prick blood tests, for hormones, my testosterone levels came back ridiculously high, i honestly think it has to be wrong, 116.000nmol! Didnt think that was possible 🙈
Asking my gp tomorrow for a venous blood test.
Im hoping its a miss print..

Has it helped anyone with post Meno weight gain. I had a full hysterectomy in October 22 and I have put on three stone!

@Nightynightnight do you have enough oestrogen? I believe that the weight gain comes from lack of oestrogen?