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.

Well if you very much like him and fancy him definitely give it a go. Start low, if it says 1 blob every other day start with maybe once or twice a week and increase slowly as it can make you feel a teeny bit jittery if you start too high. Apply on a morning.

Present your GP with NICE guidelines where it states testosterone should be given when libido is an issue. They may need to speak to an endocrinologist at your local hospital but it's just a box ticking exercise, you won't need to see a specialist.

I have a non-libido related testosterone question.
Ive been getting more anxious about driving at night, and have become exceptionally cautious. I’m convinced that testosterone will give me a bit of oomph back behind the wheel too. Has anyone found that to be the case?

I found progesterone (utrogestan) helped with this. I was also getting weirdly anxious about driving.

Sorry, unhelpful from the testosterone angle.

Thanks that's all really helpful. Wish someone had told me similar when I started estrogen... I found a similar issue with starting that too abruptly.

Funnily enough I did actually buy some new underwear the other day (mainly because my physio ordered me to buy a reasonably fitting bra).

It's hard to explain but it's like it's not the whole - not feeling desirable myself thing - I have had that before and new underwear did work well then.

It's like that bit of me is just gone. There's just zero interest. Sometimes I think maybe if I just had more sex it might come back, but I don't really want to risk feeling icky about DH by just pushing myself into it when I'm not really interested.

@101trees yes I truly understand. I started to feel that way aged 41 and got it back when I was 45 and started T.

Had a rocky couple of years with a load of gynae surgery - 6weeks recovery after 4 surgeries, plus a few extra weeks of not DTD because frankly it was too scary to have sex where I'd recently had surgery!

But now, all I do is think about my lovely special lingerie and I'm up for it. Especially after a drink!

I didn't realise how good T could be.

Your username is hilarious.

Thanks for the understanding... it's kind of mad to think back on how different I used to feel. There's not even the odd flicker left now.

I think maybe I just need to start with a blood test and conversation with my GP. I'm under a menopause specialist anyway but I can't see why the GP can't do the blood test... (she says, optimistically)

@101trees deffo do that. 🤞🏻

I take it and it has helped. A bit. But enough. Also taking E P etc. I got it from BUPA menopause service (paid for one year) GP does repeats and blood test annually.

It’s also helped in other ways - more mojo and also easier to built muscle in gym. I have annual blood tests. I gave up of putting on thighs as it
made them hairy! Doctor said thighs.

Now I put on shoulders / forearms esp inner forearms and no hair issues there.

the issue with laser removal is that it would pointless as you’d keep on applying so hair would keep on coming back, hence better to apply somewhere less likely to be hairy!!

'It's like that bit of me is just gone. There's just zero interest. Sometimes I think maybe if I just had more sex it might come back, but I don't really want to risk feeling icky about DH by just pushing myself into it when I'm not really interested'

I'm not for a minute suggesting do something you really do not want but once you stop having sex it can be hard to start again. The more you have the more you want. It's like exercise, once you're into it you want to do it more!

You've only been married 5yrs and are so young to be in a sexless relationship. I'd really try and reconnect, yes ask for Testosterone but it may take a few weeks if not longer to get it sorted so in the meantime maybe try date nights etc to get the spark back.

Thanks. I think you're right actually.

You've just reminded me of the weird conversation my mum had with me as a young teen where she told me sex was 'addictive' so you shouldn't start doing it until you're married.

There are other factors... young children, both knackered and not enough space for ourselves or each other. DH had some major back surgery earlier this year which was what caused us to take a break in the first place.

But yes, we are too young to be in a sexless marriage. It's all a bit sad really. It's just easy to put it last on the list of important things to address.

Did it help with the lethargy? Because that’s what I’m feeling a lot of, along with no libido. Mind you, the lethargy could just be because my sleep is pretty poor.

Yes, but only to a small degree. It certainly wasn’t night and day.

I’m trying rubbing it on my shoulders as somebody upthread suggested to see if is more effective.

I'm really surprised more women don't get tibolone tbh. I was talking to a friend yesterday who was also on tibolone and had to ask so many qtimes to get it. As did I. Lots of doctors don't seem to be aware of it, but it's great for me because I can't tolerate progesterone at all, but it is great for libido and sexual function

If it really helps with sexual desire then it should be promoted more and women should find it easier to get it if they want to.
Who are all these middle age and old men on viagra having sex with? Because that one medication is easy to access.
My understanding us that testosterone helps with a lot of other things as well, to do with the brain function too. So not negligible.

After getting my HRT sorted, which took 3 bloody years as I don’t do well with progesterone. At 51 I hadn’t had a period for a year, by 54 sorted HRT and finally firing on all cylinders apart from no libido at all, nada. I’d look at my husband who is still in good shape, and nothing, no desire whatsoever.

Two weeks after starting Tostran it was as if someone had flicked a switch, more energy and a sex life again. I’m now 58 and enjoying sex, in fact it’s better than ever. I’m sometimes relegated to the guest bedroom as my hubby needs a rest 😝

Just returned from a week in Egypt and had sexy time virtually every night. I swear I must have been deficient in testosterone way before menopause, I’m loving it and feel closer than ever to my hubby, we’ve been together for 40 years and the spark is still there, 😬

Male ED medication doesn’t improve libido. It just enables those men with a healthy libido to make use of it.

I can tell by your username 😂

Quite!

😉

Did the hairs go after you stopped taking it? This is my fear as I have been blessed with being hardly hairy at all and really don’t want that to change!