Buddha belly be gone, weight stopped increasing- Miracle testosterone

[Peribuddhabod]

Ive been reading all your stories in desperation to manage Peri and its evils better, but had to join mumsnet today, to share my experience, there may be some hope still ladies! 😀

Peri since 40 (2 years), multiple GPs appointments and tests, HRT for 14 months, estrodiol and progesterone. 2 stone weight gain, particularly abdo and a myriad of typical and stranger symptoms (sensitive teeth, seriously, wtf is that one about?). Max Estrogel dose eventually fixed most bar weight gain, Buddha belly, hair loss, dry skin and muscle weakness (and libido if anyone asks 😜). All Health tests normal - and I had a laundry list, some of which GP was surprised at. I was unashamedly a 'Karen'!

Ordered testosterone via superdrug despite not being particularly low (0.8 to 1.2 ish from multiple bloods), had to quote libido to get it, and within a week or so of using it the fat has redistributed, stomach almost back to flat - it's amazing, I feel like a woman again!! Hair loss stopped, energy / zest back and I've stopped gaining weight, which was happening despite eating healthily, limiting carbs, and regular exercise!

I know everyone is different and it might not work for all but if my experience helps just one person in the torment of Peri I'm happy!

Thank you all for your insightful posts, they've helped inform my discussions with multiple doctors, to get me to this point 😀

Note, I'm really shit at replying, but will try to remember to check!

was unashamedly a 'Karen'!

You lost me at this misogyny.

Ditto 😡

That's incredible! This has been persistently described as "male pattern weight gain" which, along with the "male pattern" loss of hair from the temples/crown and gain on the chin/lip, has made testosterone the LAST thing I'd hope to fix them!

I need to start annoying my GP again ... call me Karen, I don't care 😉

My post wasn't intended to offend, I'm clearly fighting for the same cause as many other women. I'm sorry that you've picked out one flippant phrase from what I thought would be useful info for other women going through this. I don't want to turn the thread into a discussion about how appropriate my word choice is, so I will delete the post if your views reflect the majority - this isn't the place for me in that case.

I'm focusing on the part where you ordered from superdrug, are you in the UK? Thank you for sharing your post. X

Yes, it's been a huge surprise to me too, so pleased to have finally found a/the missing piece of the jigsaw. I hope it helps you, I'm honestly feeling wonderful, back to normal, with a new found optimism that I can shift the extra weight now..... Definitely quote libido though, they'll only prescribe for that reasons, annoyingly! Good luck 😀

So they only prescribe if you're not wanting to satisfy a man (in most cases) Brilliant.

I have suddenly developed sensitive teeth, had no idea that could be menopause related. Has the testosterone helped with teeth too?

Yes, uk here - you have to be on HRT already and they want a test to make sure you're not already high in testo, then plain sailing, they prescribe it. Best decision I've made, fingers crossed for you too 🤞😀 x

Thank you, I'm already on HRT, I'll go and have a look.

That explains why it’s a man’s world! They get all the good hormones naturally.

Yep, @Withswitch. It was Mumsnet that told me vaginal atrophy can cause incontinence - all the focus is on dryness, suggesting it only matters if it's interfering with sex.

I have no prolapse or pelvic floor issues - and no dryness - so have been left hanging (and leaking!)

The teeth improved once my estrogen level was right rather than the testosterone - this was my worst symptom as I'm petrified of the dentist! Good luck 😀

@Peribuddhabod
Why do you need to be on hrt? Possibly a silly question!

I'm mostly symptom free but do suffer from the Buddha belly and hair loss 🙁

Not a stupid question at all - apparently if you are lacking in estrogen the testosterone converts to estrogen first so estrogen has to be optimised before you'll see a benefit from testosterone - worth exploring, the 2 main things I saw an immediate improvement in were the hair loss and belly. It's been refreshingly lovely to not have to clean the shower every time, hardly any hair loss now - love it 😊 x

I also find Karen a very offensive term - both sexist and ageist. Often used by people (mostly men, but, sadly, also some young women) who want to shut down older women who aren't afraid to speak out.

I hadn't realised that testesterone was prescribed for the menopause. I'm lucky enough to have had a very easy menopause but if I did have symptoms, I would be reluctant to take it because I have read so much about the awful side effects.

My reading is in the context of young women who identify as trans and are trying to look like men
Maybe it's different for older women.

This was so useful thank you.

There's a great explanation of why Karen is problematic in Hags by Victoria Smith if you're interested. Basically the othering of middle aged women with legitimate complaints.

@cariadlet testosterone for menopausal women is just a tiny amount, typically a pea-sized squeeze of gel every three days. It's literally just to replace the naturally occurring testosterone that reduces in women in menopause.

In contrast girls who are confused about their gender can take a huge dose which very rapidly causes irreversible side effects.

@Peribuddhabod this is very interesting. I’m on patches but the last few months I’ve gone back to that aching, tired, meh feeling all the time.
on Superdrug website they come as sachets of 40.5g x 3- how long does one of these last? Do you use daily or just ‘as and when’?

Thank you for this information OP, I don't have the energy (you know peri etc which is the whole point of this thread 🙄) to get remotely worked up about you mentioning Karen.

I am going to use the info you've given and see if it works for me as as I have very similar symptoms but currently not on any HRT and a bit older than you (and likely less hair than you too 😅

@Peribuddhabod I've been on testosterone (on top of my HRT) for about a year now and I have never felt so well. It's absolutely restored my va va voom.

My consultant said it only works for around 50% of women - but I personally think those are pretty good odds!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_health/5044808-testosterone-supplementation-and-tummy-fat

just as a word of caution though ladies, if it’s the belly fat issue you are concerned about, a very quick search suggests it’s not always helpful in that area.

It's simply not appropriate to use someone's name as a nasty slur - here or anywhere else.

Ok, I’m interested! But are you self-prescribing OP? Are there risks associated with this?

Thanks. That's really useful.