Please tell me your experience of taking testosterone!

[PearlClutzsche]

Have finally overcome my (ridiculous) embarrassment and asked GP about testosterone for my disappeared libido. It has to be prescribed by specialist, so I’ve been referred and am now awaiting an appointment.
Has anyone here tried it? Did it help?

I’m 56, and on Everol Conti, btw

Game changer, fantastic, took a little while to kick in.

Unfortunately I can't take it anymore (specialist reasons I can't take HRT), I miss it more than I miss the HRT.

Via private clinic, made a huge difference. Good luck with the appointment.

Thank you both. Just not sure what to expect. I’ve already got more facial hair than I’d like!

I’d happily never have sex again, but I do have a lovely husband so I guess it wouldn’t be fair to him.

I took it for a year or so, post meno. It helped but a blood test showed my blood testosterone level had gone very high so I stopped it. I'd like to try it again but don't want the same thing to happen again, which I assume it would.

I've taken it for a year. It made absolutely no difference to my libido which remains completely absent.
The only thing it did was gave me a very hairy thigh.
I've given up on it now.

Echoing @SorrowsPrayers i'm afraid. No impact on my libido, very disappointing. I'm conituning to take it though, as it did improve my brain fog.

Picking some up later - got really for low energy but GP also prescribed for low libido though that's not my main concern... wondering if it will help my energy levels !!

Same here. It wasn't just the benefit of bringing my libido back, I felt generally better - no more brain fog, more confidence. I'm going to try it again in a few months but think the outcome will probably be the same.

Brilliant stuff. Libido back to and exceeding that of my youth. Ditto responses and enjoyment.

Just be cautious and start slow. Whatever preparation you are given it might say one pea sized blob every other day but I would suggest start at twice a week, always on a morning as it can affect sleep. So say a Sun and a Wed then introduce another day after a few weeks. It can make you feel a bit wired if you start off on the full dose.

I would also suggest omit on a day that you have an important event be it an interview or a medical appointment as, ime, it can make the nerves more extreme.

Also goes without saying on the days you have any blood checks make sure it isn't one of the days that you've used of as it will show a falsely high reading.

As an aside you shouldnt have to see a specialist. GPs have to consult with an endocrinologist but it can be do via their electronic systems, they review your history and ok the prescription.

I love it. I was crippled by fatigue and my testosterone levels were almost 0. It took a while but it restored me right back to normal. Better than the rest of the HRT tbh
I never had any side effects and I have annual blood tests and it is nice and stable and at a very good mid point level.
I take the Androfeme though not the NHS one

Wonderful stuff. Now fruitier than in my 30s.

Thanks all, the picture is looking reasonably positive overall!

@DameM maybe it’s a Welsh thing that I need to specialist memo consultant; my GP said she couldn’t prescribe it.

@Whyherewego Ill do some googling compare the difference between the versions… going private is certainly an option if necessary.

For me the best thing is not expect miracles immediately. Different for everyone but it's a slow burner like when you start HRT. You might feel a bit jittery very occasionally but it passes and before you know it you fancy your dh again .

The main difference @PearlClutzsche is that Androfeme is formulated for women so the strength per ml of product is a lot lower. But it's not available on the NHS in general although I do know 1 or 2 who've managed it.
The NHS tend to prescribe the testosterone gel which is formulated for men, this is at much higher strength than women need so you need to open a sachet and then divide the contents into smaller doses more suitable for women. This is a bit faffy so hence it's easier to overdose and then get side effects eg hair.
In any case you need to alter the location you're applying to each week or regularly too.
Nb it can only be prescribed for low libido as far as I know so you need to mention this when having the consult!

😂😂😂

I always have!

Thanks for this, very useful to know.

I use it, have the testogel sachets which last 8 days, squeezing out a pea sized blob each day. Like a PP I do have hairier thighs where I rub it on! I was using it more.. ahem.... centrally as my pubes had become so sparse I figured I may as well put it there. The hair has grown back fully so I now have a bountiful 70s bush and have had to start putting it elsewhere! The first week I tried it I had the most explosive orgasm I've had in ages. It has somewhat levelled off now but I definitely have a higher libido than before using it and better sensation too. This may be (even moreso!) TMI, but my clit had shrivelled to next-to-nothing before starting testosterone. I was hoping it would grow as one of the "unwanted" side effects was increase in size of your clitoris. Happily it seems that it has regained some sensitivity but hasn't actually grown physically at all. I'd give it a go for sure and go in with hopeful but low expectations.

@SnowflakeSmasher86
I’m hoping for that unwanted side effect, too!

This is exactly my experience.

Been using for 18 months.

After 6 weeks I had the best sex in about ten years.

Then it levelled off again, probably because I was having prolapse issues/surgery so didn't feel in the mood...

But now I'm raring to go again.

I use testogel. It has made feck all difference to my T levels, GP (who prescribes it) keeps asking if it's making any difference as my levels are so low, but they were non existent to start with.

I put it in the same place each day on my thigh, my public hair has got much heartier, whereas before HRT I barely needed to shave my bikini line, now I need to pay attention. And the hair on my neck grows faster.

That's it for side effects.

I don't struggle with dosing. Some days it's more than a pea, sometimes less. Sometimes I forget at the weekend. It all levels out after a while.

I’ve been using it for about 3 months. It’s helped with energy levels & anxiety. I’m also putting on some muscle (I weight train 3 x a week). I’m definitely feeling fruitier too. Now I just need someone to get a bit fruity with 😂

This might be a stupid question
but, can you just have testosterone only ?
im post menopause by 13yrs now 67 everyday is another ache somewhere, tiredness another and zero libido doesn’t even enter my head

No you need to be established on HRT first apparently. Something to do with testosterone turning to oestrogen if depleted of oestrogen I believe, though don't quote me.

I took it for 8 months. First month I noticed a massive increase in libido after which it dropped back to where it had been originally, as if my body learnt to compensate for the higher level of hormones. I carried on taking it for 7 months with little impact. Funnily enough after I stopped taking it my libido actually went up and is at a level I am now happy with. I notice now that exercise (in particular strength training) has a big impact on libido.