Testosterone level not rising

[Droolylabradors]

Hi all,

I've been using T for 8 months, daily blob 1/8 tube of testogel, though maybe once a week I forget, usually at the weekend when I shower late after housework/gardening.

My first T test in August last year said FAND was undetectable.

When I had my bloods done after 12 weeks the FAND had risen from 'undetectable' to 0.8 and the sex serum hormone binding glob was 64.

Now, after a further 4 months, the sshbg has dropped to 58 and the FAND has gone back to being undetectable.

I am in discussions to get prescribed more oestrogen than 100mcg.

Would anyone who knows their apples have any suggestion if raising the oestrogen would help the testosterone levels and more specifically my energy levels/libido?

I don’t understand what some of the acronyms are sorry however my Testosterone level was 0.8 and I couldn’t get on with the testosterone gel. However none of this was relevant to me getting a higher dose of oestrogen, and am not on the equivalent of 125mg which has helped massively.

Thanks @RoadToPlants@RoadToPlants,@RoadToPlants

Who prescribed the 125, your GP or a consultant?

Testosterone converts to oestrogen if you are low in oestrogen, which is why having your oestrogen right is necessary before testosterone works. My oestrogen was doubled 3 months before testosterone would be prescribed - it was only 25, up to 50 - and I know it made a difference because my mood improved so much.

FWIW serum testosterone went from 0.6 to 3.2; sshbg from 65.1 to 62.3; free androgen index from 0.9 to 5.1. So my testosterone and fai went way over the normal ranges - and I certainly felt the effect of testosterone almost immediately. I haven't had them retested, this was a couple of years ago, but haven’t suffered any negative effects from the testosterone that I can detect.

@olderbutwiser thanks, yes I thought it might be something like that.

The consultant I'm seeing is keen on v high oestrogen instead of supplementing with T (not Newson, this is a private consultant elsewhere).

So I'm sort of hoping that this will be the push I need to get some more oestrogen.

GP won't go over 100 unless private prescriber had recommended it.

Having a hysteroscopy in a few weeks so assuming that's all OK, I'll push for more oestrogen.

My GP prescribed my 125 and would be happy to go higher. I’m younger than average and she has said younger women often need more. Even at 125 my blood oestrogen is quite low.

I’ve got an appointment at an NHS clinic this month where I’m hoping to get more, but in essence my GP would have gone to 150 herself.

Where are you applying it? I read that it is more likely to turn to oestrogen if it is applied to fatty tissue. I am about to start T tomorrow (v excited) and plan to put a small blob under my foot arch. I am currently on 100mg oestrogen patches with a 430 pmoll oestradiol level

@RoadToPlants that's brilliant and I hope you get the extra.

I started with night sweats etc when I was about 42, started HRT when I was 44, I've just turned 46 and the gynae keeps referring to me as being relatively young in relation to peri. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wow I hadn't heard that!

Usually my thigh or the top of my arm.

I mean it didn't actually come with any instructions 😁it was just a plain white box!

I shall try the arch of my foot from tomorrow!!

I’m 41 and so even with 125mg patches my oestrodiol levels are only 336 pmol, hence GP saying she will go higher if needed as she’d like then to be over 400.

Good luck! Hope that works for you.