Has testosterone made a difference?

[melonchunks]

My gynae is happy for me to trial it but did give me warnings about potential alopecia and that it’s often a placebo. Currently use Mirena and 50mg patches.
59, fit, and BMI 22.5 but would love the oomph that I read about.

I’m keen to read of other women of my age’s experiences

I’m sure the hair loss isn’t an issue if used in the quantities you’ll be prescribed. I’ve been taking it for a couple of years now and it has 100% helped me.

May be TMI:

Mainly sexually, in that my clitoris had completely atrophied, could barely find it by the time I realised! i had virtually no sexual feeling down there before trying it, despite using vaginal oestrogen cream directly on the area, as well as the systemic oestrogen gel.

It still isn’t the same as before but has definitely plumped up a bit, and my libido and pleasure is almost back to pre menopausal levels now, which is nice. I have noticed more body hair, especially on my thigh where I rub in it, but tbh it was weird that I didn’t have any arm or leg hair for a few years and my pubes looked pathetic! Full 70s bush back with a vengeance, which again, I’m quite pleased about having had a few years of straggly grey wisps!

I haven’t noticed any particular increase in energy or other physical improvements tbh but I do have a chronic illness that affects that too, so maybe not surprising that I haven’t benefitted in that way.

As long as you stick to the prescribed amount (a pea sized blob that makes one sachet last 8 days for me) it would be worth a try in my opinion.

Thank you @SnowflakeSmasher86
Interesting that your libido has improved, DP would be delighted

My DP was the opposite, worried he wouldn’t keep up and that I’d go looking elsewhere. Kept saying I should stop taking it and blaming me “messing around with my hormones” for any time I had a headache or felt annoyed at him etc. He is now an ex DP!

Yes it has been game changing and has restored physical and mental health almost back to pre burnout levels

It was fantastic for me. It reignited my interest in lots of things. I did find it made me feel hungry all the time though so I stopped taking it after 6 months or so, but I still feel great without it.

I would say it hasn’t made much difference to me but I want to continue taking it to replace body testosterone levels in menopause. It has maybe made a slight improvement in my libido but nothing earth shattering. I would say my energy levels are good but I’m slim, eat healthily and exercise a lot, plus I’m on max dose HRT so not sure if testosterone is responsible for my energy levels.
I’ve had no side effects at all. My hair is thicker than ever! Didn’t know alopecia would be an adverse effect at the tiny doses we use it in HRT.

It’s been transformative for me, libido and orgasm wise. Both had left the building. I only use it about twice a week.

@SnowflakeSmasher86apologies for jumping in but i have the same problem with atrophy. Waiting for a referral to someone who can prescribe T as GP can’t or won’t. Did you go private or NHS? I’m not sure how much longer to wait as my fear is it will be irreversible by the time my referral goes through.

I used to have a T implant and tbh I didn’t notice much difference. It’s been discontinued so I’m on Tostran now and it’s been great. I only use it 3 times a week and DH loves those days!

I thought it was supposed to be used daily?

Mine was just prescribed by my NHS GP after a phone appointment with their menopause specialist, but they didn’t seem to need much persuading.

I did have to push the point that it was for sexual/libido purposes, as when I mentioned the atrophy and that I hoped it would help she was quick to shut that down and say there is no evidence to show it helps with that and that any shrinking was likely to be permanent. Despite one of the listed side effects being the possible increase in size of your clitoris! Luckily for me that was bollocks and I definitely has improved (I also read that regular use can keep the blood flowing so even if you’re not finding it as fun as it used to be, one of those suction toys may help to get things working again).

Thanks @SnowflakeSmasher86 I have tried those suction things as I read it helped with blood flow, it does nothing for me so ends up feeling like a chore! My GP didn’t mention a meno specialist, just doing a referral to hospital gynae so I might call back and see if there is a specialist. I had a text from the hospital just saying there is a long waiting list, so it could be a while til I get actual help. Thinking about going private as I’m so worried about it

If you take enough testosterone you can turn your clitoris into a small penis.

It made no difference to energy levels.
But it has had a huge impact on libido.

Plus as pp said, I'd stopped shaving my legs years ago, now I have almost manly leg hair and the pubes spread down my thigh! My levels of T are still quite low and I've been taking it for 3yrs.

It’s not though is it, it’s just an enlarged clitoris. When it’s already shrunk from its normal size then a bit of growth is a bonus. If it used to be pea sized and now it’s lentil sized, it’s not going to suddenly go from a lentil to cocktail sausage without you noticing. The key again is “use the amount prescribed” which is suitable for women’s needs.

I honestly would go private if you can afford it. It’s not worth the risk that if you leave it you may never get that function back, and worse still is that for me it wasn’t just an absence of pleasure, but pain and an aching sensation in its place.

I get mine from Newson

As I understand it testosterone is now standard protocol for HRT.

I've been on it for 2 years and it's fab. As with pp my libido and ability to orgasm are back - woohoo.

It's given me more energy as well so that's good.

The attached might help. thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/08-BMS-TfC-Testosterone-replacement-in-menopause-DEC2022-A.pdf

I’m finding it helpful. It’s made a big difference to brain fog for me. I also hadn’t realise how much my libido had dropped. I haven’t had any issues with hair so far but it’s only been four months.

My doctor says it’s highly individual, works wonders for some and barely effects others.

Just get it from Superdrug online doctors, that’s what I did. It’s really simple. Costs around £50 for the initial blood test and consultation then £18 for about a month’s supply of gel. It’s working well for me libido-wise so far and I’ve been on it about two months.

@LittlePotteryBird thanks, I did think about that. My concern is that the blood test won’t show anything up, as I’ve had repeated bloods at the GP which never showed anything, and then the Superdrug doc might not prescribe with just me saying about the atrophy. I’ll have to see if my GP actually tested the T levels.

The blood test doesn’t have to show anything up - mine was apparently ’normal’ but they still prescribed. The blood test is just to check that you don’t already have a high level of testosterone in your blood. Don’t mention the atrophy, just tick the boxes for low libido. Same with the GP, just tell them you have no sex drive etc as it’s all they care about. Then see for yourself if it helps your atrophy - if not, you’ve not lost much.

I was absorbing it very well and there was some debate about whether my levels were too high (one hcp said if I had no side effects then it wasn’t too high but another asked me to reduce the dose) but it made no difference to energy or libido sadly.
No particular side effects except maybe body hair was more… robust? I applied to wrists so no hair there but body hair seemed generally slightly darker and more present, not in any way that anyone else would’ve noticed!

Ime you feel just the same as pre meno so not rampant, not bursting with energy just normal. Sex becomes a pleasant part of a relationship rather than something you cba with and response is same as before.

I highly recommend but just start low and build slowly, I only use twice a week rather than alternate days as too much makes me feel too wired and bit jittery.

I've had no hairloss or deep voice side effects. For that I reckon you must need to be getting through loads of it.

Small blob on a morning start once a week is my advice.

That's interesting @SnowflakeSmasher86 . I have a nasty clitoral achy feeling after I have sex / orgasm for a few days or sometimes a week. Is that how it is for you? If so I might see if testosterone could help.