Talk to me about testosterone please?

[stetha]

I am getting very curious about testosterone as from research online it would seem to be the missing piece for me. I'm on 100mcg oestrogen patch and 200mg utrogestan per night. My issues are very low libido and much reduced sensation in that area as well as not able to maintain or gain any muscle so increasing weight gain, fatigue, low mood, and no drive. I have ordered a testosterone test online to see what my levels are but if it does come back low not sure what to do then. I was thinking of ordering online to test then going to my GP about a prescription?

Have you all found it straight forward to get testosterone from your gp? Seems like its at least worth a shot for those of us still struggling with menopausal issues if oestrogen is maxed out.

If you have tried testosterone how have you found it, has it helped with libido and energy?

I've just been prescribed it today, one of the women GPs at our surgery is really good and suggested it as an option at last year's review. I had my latest review last week and asked about it, had bloods taken for testosterone levels and they came back today as at the low end of normal. I did mention libido as the magic word, but to be honest I am mostly hoping it will help my driving anxiety and concentration, but we will see!

@TheSmallAssassin Thanks for replying, seems to be a crapshoot as to how likely it is a GP will prescribe it. Hope it works out for you!

@stetha , you HAVE to stress libido as your top symptom. Absolutely nuts but that’s the prescribing criteria as I understand it. My GP made me wait six months on a conti patch before she sought advice from the menopause clinic so that she felt able to prescribe. Please ask for vaginal oestrogen cream, lifesaver. Use some internally and some on the vulva, you should be able to get that now.

It’s been transformational for me. Initially I had a startling insight into how it feels to be a male teenager with a constant feeling of being half turned on, but that has settled down to a more reasonable level. I know that’s not common. I think your oestrogen needs to be just right for it to work - not enough oestrogen and the testosterone just converts to oestrogen.

Can I ask what dosage / brand you are on? I’m on Testogel from Superdrug, have been on it for about 4 weeks, and am feeling no change yet. Someone else I know is on Tostran, and is apparently humping doorknobs!!

Thanks everyone, I've been on HRT for about 5 years now with estrogen going up from the 50mcg patch to 100mcg patch in the past year, this is as high as my GP will do and I'll need to wait for a menopause clinic or go private if things don't improve. I've actually ordered a test for myself just to see if I am low and then will perhaps see if an online pharmacy will prescribe me some to try if I am low. Yeah I've head that often GP's will prescribe if women go in saying they have low libido and its upsetting their DH but if they want it for themselves its harder to get. I also just found out that when men seek TRT for themselves they get given enough to put them in the same range as a healthy young adult even if they are in their 50's but when women get any HRT we get given a tiny dose in comparison and if we want more to actually feel good we get told to accept the stage of life we are in and that its natural to slow down and feel a bit rubbish as we age. I do understand there are risks with all HRT and TRT but its the double standard that annoys me!

Does testosterone actually help with concentration? I'm at my wits end as i can't read, process or even watch a film any more.

@abracadabra1980 So I read or hear online, I don't think the GP will proscribe it for that only for sexual dysfunction and even then not always. Testosterone does have an effect on the brain though so its method of action on improving focus is plausible. I also read that women produce more testosterone than estrogen in our younger years but that man women have very little by middle age and so we should be replacing it along with Estrogen and Progesterone if we are low.