Does Testosterone really help libido?

[101trees]

Just that really. Does it work?

I'm on estrogen/utrogestan, it's been a (very) rocky road with HRT. I'm (fingers crossed) starting to feel better in lots of ways, but zero interest in sex. Can't remember what I found appealing about it.

I had lots of interest in sex prior to the crazy changes to my physical & mental health.

I have a lot of issues with hormones and migraines so not keen to mess with things unless it's actually likely to work... Just curious about others experiences, although I realise everyone is different and there's only one way to find out.

Can I ask how old you are op? im late 40s and also struggling with a very low libido. im only 4 months into a new relationship aswell with a man i find very attractive but still feel meh about sex and would rather have a cup of tea! just a few years ago id have been ripping his clothes off! I so want that back.
im not on hrt as i feel i dont have the fight in me to access it as my gp surgery is an absolute nightmare to get an appointment. last time I tried about 1 year ago I was told I couldn't have hrt as I wasn't experiencing severe hot flushes yet.
No idea if testosterone works but would be interested to hear if it does. why cant they do a version of female viagra!

It worked for me! Apparently it works for 65% of women. It took around a month to kick in.

For testosterone to work you need to be on HRT and the oestrogen needs to be optimised. If not your body just converts testosterone to oestrogen.

You need to go back to your GP armed with the Nice guidelines, a symptom checker and the BMS guidelines. Your GP is wrong and is not educated on menopause. Hot flushes are absolutely not the only indicator. I for example have never had one but I have experienced nearly every other symptom. You should complain to the practice manager if the GP won't help. It is a disgrace that women aren't getting the help they need. My GP is similar and I asked for a referral to a menopause specialist- you can also suggest the GP gets advice from a specialist while you are waiting for a referral.

I'm 40. I'm under a menopause specialist, but it was an NHS Gynaecologist who wrote to my GP and asked them to prescribe HRT.

My GP was a little weird about it and got me to take a blood test, but that showed I was in perimenopause anyway. Under 45 a blood test is recommended to diagnose early menopause as that has significant health implications, but over 45 they should just give you hrt based on symptoms.

I was having hot flushes, but my mum and her mum never got a single hot flush, never had a skipped or delayed period - but both were completely through menopause by 45. They say one day they just stopped and never returned and that was that. Everyone's different.

Thank you. 60% isn't too bad odds!

Yes it works.
I spent many years finding every reason under the sun not to have sex.

After two years on T, I only have to look at a sexy pair of knickers (and I've been buying loads!) and I'm there. DH is very happy.

My GP gave me T. Plus threw HRT at me age 44 when I went in with urinary incontinence. (estriol cream. Then full HRT).

For those of you on it, how is your hair? I’m on patches. My hair is visibly thinning at the front.
I have a low sex drive but at the moment DH and I are pretty well matched in that area so no one is complaining…

The only thing testosterone did for me was to give me very hairy thighs. I gave up.

@101trees My Gp said they've stopped doing blood tests to check if in peri as they are not reliable as hormone levels In a woman are constantly up and down so not reliable way to tell. I really feel I was just fobbed off. I have every symptom except severe hot flushes. I have noticed my overall body temperature is much hotter than usual and I am extremely warm a lot of the time which is unusual for me. maybe that is my version of hot flushes. I was previously a person that was always cold.

I’ve been on testosterone since July. Has made bugger all difference to my libido (which is totally non existent). Guess I’m in the unlucky 35% 😢

It worked for me, maybe a bit too much at first! However I’ve reduced the amount I use and I have what I would call a normal libido again. Hairy thighs are the only side effect and easily dealt with.

I’ve been on it a couple of months. No hairy bits, no man bits, no deep voice. My hair has been growing very nicely for a while now. It has helped with sleep and anxiety. Hoping that this helps libido come back from the dead. (Also using estrogen gel and suppository to protect bladder function and vaginal health.)

Yes, but it took a while to kick in, probably a couple of months, maybe 3. It was a game changer. Unfortunately….i had to come off hrt and testosterone…back to not really feeling like having sex anymore.

For those of you on T, did your GP prescribe? Mine said he wont/cant and now I have to wait for gynae referral which will presumably take ages - it’s already been over a month since the referral was made and only just had a confirmation it’s been done, not an appointment.

Reading some of these makes me very grateful for my GP surgery. They have a super menopause nurse specialist.
I’m having the same low/no libido issues, and it’s been really getting me down.
Nurse did blood test to check my overall oestrogen levels and to make sure we’d got those right. She said they can no longer prescribe testosterone within the surgery, but has referred me to the specialist menopause clinic.
So hopefully in 6 months time I’ll be in the lucky 65%

My only worry is that with thick dark hair, and a lot of money preciously spent on laser hair removal that I might have to start that all over again… at least it’s much cheaper now then 13 years ago!

I was referred to a menopause specialist. You can buy it privately at Superdrug. You need to do a blood test first.

Oh thanks @Bulbsbulbsbulbs I didn’t know it could be an option to buy it privately. I wonder if the GP meant menopause specialist when he said Gynae referral, I hope it’s not going to be a case of wait for Gynae then they’ll have to refer me to menopause anyway. I will definitely look at Superdrug.

I have testosterone on repeat prescription, after some seriously determined efforts. It was the practice pharmacist (female) who caused me the most trouble. My friend just went to Superdrug. It’s done nothing for my libido, the effects have been on stamina, energy and motivation.

It has for me, but my testosterone was basically unmeasurable (<0.4) it was so low.

I think it's worth doing a testosterone and SHBG test (GP or cheaply available online) to see whether this is actually your issue.

It has also helped massively with my poor recovery from exercise (I'd have DOMS for 5-7 days after pushing myself, don't get me started on the 'just eat less MOVE MORE' brigade!!).

I've literally just started on testosterone which I've ordered through Superdrug. My GP is lovely and supportive of HRT in general but was not convinced of the merits of testosterone, plus I didn't meet the criteria for a referral to the meno clinic ie I'm not post-menopausal/over 50.

However I've been convinced for a while that I want to try it - I'm better with HRT but there's still something missing and efforts to increase oestrogen haven't worked - it's been too much, and I get loads of headaches and other physical symptoms. I am very keen to find out if T is the missing piece of the puzzle - the thing that will hopefully restore some sharpness, energy and help me feel more like me again. And yes, restore my libido, which is very erratic and AWOL more often than not.

Even if it doesn't work, I'll be glad that I've taken matters into my own hands and tried it out. It makes me mad that it's so difficult for women to get hormone treatment, that we're not trusted to know our own bodies and want to feel like ourselves again.

It worked for me! Libido came back after two weeks. I’m v happy

so can we just order it ourselves from Superdrug? No gp required? I’m already on patches and they work well for me (55).

Wow what a mixed bag. Unsurprising I guess, given that everyone seems to suit different contraceptive hormones and HRT types / delivery methods.

Thank you for all the responses... food for thought!

Haha they sound like the same people that have said "have you tried drinking more water" for chronic debilitating migraine.

Oh wow! If only I, and the medical profession at large, had thought of drinking a glass of water sooner ! You solved it !

Or... your headache was solved by drinking more water because you have a dehydration headache, not a complex neurological condition.

Was it a game changer for libido? Or other stuff too ?

I'd settle for just the libido part to be honest. Partly for my relationship, but also partly because I feel there's a bit of 'me' missing. I feel like menopause stole it. I want it back.