Experiences of testosterone gel for menopause symptoms?

[cellobrew]

So I have bit the bullet and ordered some Testogel from Superdrug. I did a test privately and it came back in the low normal range. I have multiple symptoms of low testosterone including low libido, fatigue, brain fog which my E&P HRT hasn't helped much.

So I am really just looking for some other women's experiences on TRT. I am quite nervous about it given some of the potential side effects but also hopeful that it will help with the symptoms I still have.

I've seen some amazing reviews from women saying it gave them their life back and others that had to stop due to hair loss or hair growth or irritability etc. What has your experience on testosterone been?

How long was it until you noticed a difference? I've seen some people say they felt better the first day and other that it took months to see a difference.

How often do you do follow up blood tests? I think I need to do another in 2 months.

The dosing says to do an 8th of the sachet every day for 8 days but I've seen lots of advice to start with a lower dose than that and increase after a week so that a sachet lasts more like 10 days or so. Any input on that?

I really don't want any virilization or acne, which I have been prone to in the past but it's only a few weeks supply for now and the other symptoms I'm having means it is worth a shot!

Any advice or experiences would be great!

Interesting - clearly NHS doctor who is more clued up. Although getting a box and not knowing to do isn’t ideal either. I have tostran, so it’s double strength (it’s a pump) so I use 3/4 times a week.

re: vaginal dryness - solution is vaginal estrogen.

re: symptoms - voice earlier in thread, I guess if you had unwanted side effects you’d want to half the dose it really is trial and error.

@Holymolyrigmorole - I take Mounjaro too, and listening to The Hunger Game podcast, it said there is evidence that it affects the pleasure seeking pathways… so people seek out less thrills, including sex.
I have an appointment next week with the specialist to talk about my libido and hopefully testosterone. But am not willing to give up the MJ, even though I’m now maintaining.

I am ordering mine from Superdrug tomorrow! Well, doing the blood test part at least!

I managed to get some from Superdrug too OP and used for about a month, with no significant improvement or changes during that time - apart from crazy palpatations. I get them anyway, one of my peri symptoms, but these were worse than ever, massive ectopic beats. I'm usually not too phased by them but they were so frequent that I felt a bit worried about continuing with something that was affecting my heart quite dramatically so stopped after just the first three sachets.

Took a while for them to settle down again, but they're just back to a 'normal' level for me now. I wish I could know whether it was definitely the T or if it was converting to oestrogen and making things worse. I'm glad I tried it as I felt like I needed to see if it was the missing piece of the jigsaw for me - but it wasn't the solution I hoped for, unfortunately.

I was prescribed it for libido. Worked like a charm and my orgasms returned to their former glory. I do think it helps with focus too, I always rub a glob in if I have a busy day at work.

No adverse side effects whatsoever.

Because knowing me I'd be touching my face and ending up with a goatee or moustache! So I just use a glove to apply and wash my hands after.
My instructions say to spread the gel over the skin and let it dry not to rub it in but if it works for you I suppose it doesn't matter!

Thanks everyone for your replies! I am on day 5 now and maybe feel a bit better energy, maybe but its early days and could just be placebo. I maybe feel a bit jittery after applying but I think my cortisol is sometimes surging a bit too much n the am as part of my perimenopausal gifts from mother nature, so will wait and see!

I’ve been on it since December. I feel so much better than I did.

Any advice on how to get the blood for the test with Superdrug? I can't get my finger to drip enough out for the rest. When I was squeezing it out the test was rejected (as the cells were all bruised).

I've been on it for 3 months. I feel a bit more clear headed and a bit more assertive than before. After being totally dead from the waist down for about 2 years, I can now orgasm again and have some days where I feel like I'm on heat! My T level has gone from rock bottom to top of the female range

I apply the gel to my lower inner arm - no increase in hair growth so far. No negative side effects at all. I'm also on oestrogel, progesterone and vaginal oestrogen, so officially on everything now!

I couldn’t get nearly enough blood from the Superdrug test! I went through a company called OneDayTests in the end.

I couldn’t do the Superdrug test so I wasted h money. I nearly fainted! 🤮

Thank you both for replying. I was literally squeezing my finger to get it out, it's so bruised now. Both fingers I tried. It was so traumatic! Even now thinking about it makes me feel weak!

I get another go for free, kit comes on Friday.

I couldn’t believe how much blood they wanted! I’m really squeamish, so found it traumatic too!

1. You need to be well hydrated,
2. your blood needs to be pumping (raised heartbeat - several jumping jacks feel a bit puffed, swing your arms in circles several times) and
3. the most crucial bit - work with gravity! Don’t have your finger /arm raised up in the air when you’re doing it.

I’ve always put my pea sized blob onto my inner wrist and then rub it in with the other wrist, no hands to worry about. I don’t refrigerate it. Been a game changer for me. I use a sachet per week and that keeps me at the top end of normal range, that’s where I feel my best.

Drink lots of water an hour before. Have a really hot bath (or go for a long run and get really hot).

Had my telephone appointment with the menopause dr this afternoon.
Interestingly, as part of some blood tests in 2007 my testosterone level was recorded. It was 1.7 then, it’s now 0.5.
Prescription on its way to pharmacy now, so watch this space!

Can I ask about 'normal' blood test results. I've just had (NHS) blood test result of 0.7 nmol/L. It's within the normal range on the lab's range, but the bottom end of that normal range is 0 ! Which I feel is probably not normal, so I'm wondering how that stacks up and if my GP (who was OK with prescribing it) will find that acceptable to prescribe, or if it has to be low (0?)

I’ve just checked and that’s in the middle of the range, ie that’s what I am aiming for WITH the gel. Before I used the gel it was always “under 0.3nml/L”

The NHS 'normal' ranges are bare minimum, not optimal. My baseline testosterone blood test was 0.5, it's now 2.7! The NHS range would say thats 'too high', but other sources would say that's just right for optimal female level. Luckily my GP isn't making a fuss about it

Mine on the last test was higher still 8.3! But no side effects and I felt great. GP did say it was “high” and I agreed to use 3 pumps a week instead of 4.

Next time I won’t use for 3 days before the test 😂

Thanks for the replies. I was a bit confused when I googled because Superdrug says 0.7 is the cut-off for normal, but NHS said that was normal. Makes sense if NHS levels are lower than private.

My testosterone was 0.3 nmol/l which is as you say still on the normal rage but its really low. I managed to find a site which gave the median testosterone of women by age and mine was almost half of women my age. I don't know your age but I think yours is above the median for a woman in her 40's but that doesn't mean it isn't too low for you. It also doesn't mean you are getting the benefit of all the testosterone you do have as it could be getting converted to estrogen or being taken up by SHBG so that your free androgen i.e. the testosterone you can actually use might be a lot less. I am not sure of this for myself either. Next test I order I will do a a fuller range so I can see what is going on!

I was taking testosterone for about 10
weeks. At first I didn’t feel any difference but after about 6 weeks I was suddenly feeling extremely anxious. I did have a thing going on in my life that was a bit stressful at that time but my response to dealing with this thing was way out of proportion, looking at it now. I’m talking waking up in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning and getting that plunging feeling of dread in your stomach and feeling sick with worry all day. I don’t know for sure it was the testosterone and I wasn’t even warned that this could be a side effect so wasn’t looking out for it when it crept up on me. However 4 weeks after stopping the gel I definitely feel calmer. I have a follow up GP appointment next week so will be discussing it then. I’m a bit gutted because I was just thinking it was starting to help with my non existent libido when it all happened.