Starting testosterone

[Hobnobswantshernameback]

So after an utter shit time with the menopause so far and seeing a very good private specialist as my health board doesn't even have one I finally seem to have got my oestrogen as good as I think it can be with patches and I have the mirena coil for progesterone.
i am starting testosterone as the consultant and I feel that is the missing piece of the jigsaw
Anyone else been on it and have any experiences
I have no idea how quickly I will really know if it helps and if there are any pitfalls or concerns to look out for
I I will need bloods in 10 weeks to check levels and am aware that it may take a while to feel effects but just wondering if any one has any experience of this

I hope you feel better. My understanding from reading threads on here is that experiences are mixed.

I had bloods at 6 weeks and my level had gone up from 0.8 to 1.48 so it lifted the level quickly (1 sachet over 7 days). My SHBG is really high though so I'm not feeling the benefit of it, my Free Testosterone is 0.01 now but that's a different issue.

I'd go for trying it and seeing how you feel, it definitely helps some ladies.

Just been prescribed testosterone also. I haven't been given any blood tests to check current levels. Do they normally check? (This is nhs.)

I was told bloods needed at three months to check that levels not too high on dose prescribed.
sadly in wales any blood or monitoring for testosterone in women has to be done privately so I will be paying for the meds and monitoring for the foreseeable but am past caring.

I've been on it 15months. Sex drive very much better than it was. Energy levels fluctuate.

But my FAND levels never go up. Every time my GP checks the bloods, they write to ask me if I want to stay on it as it doesn't appear to have any impact on me! I use a blob every day, though occasionally forget at the weekend.

Apols, it's my serum testosterone that never rises. My FAND is 'unable to calculate' because it's so low.

Appalling that they won't prescribe or test your blood though. Mine is via GP on pre payment prescription.

Hi. Also Wales here was lucky to get it through the sexual health consultant. She's increased everything and started me on testosterone in June.
Wow. Absolutely life changing. I'm me again but in a much better way. Calmer, stronger AND I have a libido again.
I'm ABUHB.

What is your SHBG? My serum level is OK (slightly high) but Free is 0.01...

It's currently 84 but bounces up and down over the last 12 months of testing. @Seasidewalker

I am seeing the ABUHB specialist but have to do so privately in CAV
Apparently new dictat that GpS cannot monitor testosterone in women so I will have to pay for my bloods privately.
depressing that women's health needs count for so little but that's a whole other thread

My NHS GP suggested testing T to get a baseline figure to consider adding T when I'd been on normal HRT about 8 weeks. With hindsight I'm pretty sure she only did it so that she could reject my request as my T was "in range" as the NHS range is so wide most of us fall within it (mine was 0.8). She wasn't at all interested in the FAI which was very low because my SHBG is so high.

I got it prescribed T privately and another GP at the practice has agreed to take it on under the NHS.

I found Testosterone transformational. I am one of the lucky ones - great GPs, optimised oestrogen, and testosterone restored my libido and oomph within days. Initially I had a startling insight into what it must be like to be a 15yo boy but that faded back to sensible levels within a week or two.

FWIW my levels were:

serum testosterone 0.6 —> 3.2
SHBG 65.1 —> 62.3
Free androgen 0.9 —> 5.1

I was advised to cut back the testosterone but haven’t been retested since and don’t seem to have any negative side effects.

Edited to add

• all my before-testosterone results were in the “normal range” but my GP prescribed anyway on the basis of the symptom of lack of libido

I'm in England and was prescribed testagel by the (NHS) menopause consultant.

They haven't given me any blood tests for hormone levels at all (I'm 49 and have been on hrt for over 2 years). Isn't there a risk I might have too much testosterone once I start using the gel, or is it too low a dose?

Yes there is..My GP contacts me to tell me to book a blood test every 6 months which is reassuring as my levels never seem to change!!

It's not about your general hormone levels, it is your T numbers that are important.

Oh no. This was the menopause clinic and they didn't do anything like that, just prescribed it. They've never checked anything with blood tests before prescribing.

@Cableknitdreams my GP only prescribed it once he'd ascertained that I was low enough to have it. If your levels get unchecked and too high, you can develop male characteristics like low voice, excessive hair etc.

I would suggest you do an econsult and ask for a blood test to check your T levels. At my surgery they put one on the system and then we use an app to book into one of the three hospitals in the county, I can usually get a same day appt for a blood test.

I had to go via a private clinic (for other health reasons) and take a low dose Androfemme. It took a few months to work but has really sorted my brain out. Feel I can think clearly again

This is the one part of menopause where blood tests are actually helpful!

I have bloods every 6 months