Testosterone deficiency

Hi,

My testosterone wasn’t tested but I was told by a dr that she would issue it to me on a return visit after introducing estrogen patches for a few months. I tried to see the same dr but she had left the practice so I saw another who told me testosterone couldn’t be prescribed without a gynaecologist letter. Luckily I was already seeing one for another issue but my appointment was months off. I did talk to the gynaecologist at my appointment and he said he would write to the Drs to ok this. It took almost a year from being told to ask about it at next appointment to getting the prescription and even now I have to order 6 weeks in advance due to delays in getting the supply. It hasn’t made any difference to my tiredness but I’m told I’m much happier. I’ve lost a few pounds but nothing major. My hair is slightly thinner on top but that is listed as a side effects as is extra hairness elsewhere on the body.

If you still want to try it get an appointment with a gynaecologist to ok it. Good luck

I don't know enough about testosterone to comment properly but i would challenge the doctor because that result is below the reference range, which suggests to me that you need to be supplemented with testosterone, but maybe someone with more insight can advise you better.

of more concern to me is that the doctor put your low testosterone down to your age. Not investigating further because of your age is direct discrimination and contrary to the Equality Act 2010.

Age is a protected characteristic and public body's cant treat you less favourably because of your age. When the doctor says s/he wont investigate your low testosterone, fatigue and flushing because of your age, s/he is treating you less favourably than other patients because of your age. See section 13 of the Equality Act 2010. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/20...

Also see "Implementing a ban on age discrimination in the NHS - making effective, appropriate decisions" gov.uk/government/uploads/s...

it says "From 1 October 2012, it will be unlawful for service providers and commissioners to discriminate, victimise, or harass a person because of age. A person will be protected when requesting, and during the course of being provided with, goods facilities and services. If a member of the public aged 18 or over believes that they have been treated less favourably because of age, they will be able to take organisations or individuals to court - and may be awarded compensation."

i would write a letter to the surgery outlining the discrimination, what the law and the NHS say and request a further appointment probably with another doctor at the surgery and insist on a proper investigation of your low testosterone.

its up to you if you go further, but I personally would advise them that if they don't stop the age discrimination, then I may take court action.

Good luck!!

Doesn't make any sense. Oestrogen levels also drop when you get older, but she is quite happy to give you more of that (which you probably don't need). You might be able to raise testosterone by taking DHEA, but technically DHEA is prescription only in the UK and is a class C drug so not supposed to be imported for your own use without a prescription. So it's as illegal as testosterone. Why did you say it was an online test not a private test? You probably need to pay privately (a hormone specialist) to get hormones treated correctly.

I have actually had good luck with topical Dhea cream (which is an androgen). Estrogen and testosterone are used to treat hot flashes. If I'm not mistaken, Dhea can convert to either. (You would just be using this in addition to the estrogen you are already on for an estrogen/ androgen balance.) Dhea has really helped reduce my number of hot flashes down to 1-2 a day. And, they are not as severe. Some days I don't have any I was having several a day before starting Dhea cream. I use Life-Flo which comes in a sealed pump with metered doses. There are other good brands, though. 10-20 mg daily is standard dosing. Start with a small amount and increase as needed up to max dose. Maybe it could work for you, too😊

[Angel of the North stated that Dhea was prescription only. Oral hormones (tablet form) here in the states are Rx only, too. But hormone creams can be bought over the counter/ online. Is it not that way for you guys, too?]

As for that doctor (and I use that term loosely:)) I wouldn't waste any time booting that one to the curb.....but, that's just my opinion😉

Hi I have tesosterone def - oestrogen - progeserone - pregnenalone and dhea - DHEA can supply Testosterone and oestrogen but not progesterone - it can be purchased quite easily - I am not a Dr this information is offered on an advisory basis.

You're not taking statins, are you? That would lower testosterone. How are your thyroid levels?

Hi Kanga my GP offered me a testosterone blood test, so they can do this. I told him about professor stud who recommends this with HRT. My levels were below 0.6 and test only shows from 0.6 upwards, he said for my age then 51 should be around 2.00 or 2.2 can't quite remember, but there ate recommended levels for various ages. I was prescribed testogel, I put a pea size amount on wrists in morning, thus in conjunction with oestrogen, Utogesterone has made massive difference. Had alopecia areata, weight gain, fatigue and no motivation. I know some of the symptoms cross over with thyroid, but both are interlinked anyway. So GPS can def offer this test.

Also I watched truth about menapause presented by Mariella Fostrup and I think she was on testosterone and also has Oestrogel and Utogesterone, Carol Virderman has the Oestrogel too. Read recommendations of Prof Stud to Gynae. I get all mine on prescription.

Hi, Kanga,

I hear you and I empathize strongly! I was completely out of hormonal balance until about three years ago, not only with lupus (long time having that) but then menopause and hypothyroidism (probably Hashi's or at least an autoimmune attack that started in 2002 with hyPER, then was treated with methimazole, and went hyPO). Was awful, really bad for a long time with symptoms like what you describe. But since then, things have gradually and greatly improved, so hang in there and don't give up working to get it all balanced properly.

I have been given oestrogen-progesterone combination sublingual compounded tablets plus a testosterone cream, this in addition to my levo 100mcg and T3 (liothyronine) 25mcg. What a huge difference having it all in balance has made for me! Energy levels, mood, physical strength and stamina both, libido, and skin tone all restored. (I do also supplement D3, B-complex, magnesium, and a multivitamin for seniors.) 59 years old and don't look or feel it. Before finding this fairly complicated plan of balance, I was really quite ill, with both lupus and hypothyroidism. So how did it all work out?

I had started getting it all in order in the US about four years ago, starting with the levo-lio combination, but then moved from the US to the UK, during which time I had to sneak in my T3 from Thailand until I could get an endo appt with NHS and persuade them to prescribe it, which they finally did but only near the end of my time there; worse, I had to fly back to the US to get my HRT creams and tabs, as no endo or gyn would continue what had just started to work for me in the US, and no compounding pharmacies were in my area of the UK. I just recently have moved back to the US, and while I miss the UK terribly and will always love it, I have to say that getting the hormones all balanced and prescribed has been a major, major improvement in my quality of life. Also nice being able to pop into the compounding pharmacy and have him work up the right stuff for me; nice to phone up the doc and get labs, refill prescriptions, physical exams, or tweaks to the formulations, as needed. The addition of balanced testo/oestro/progest really made all the difference; the rheumatologist added low-dose naltrexone recently at 2.5 mg, which seems to have now put the lupus in its place for good. I have not felt so healthy in decades.

I believe strongly in socialized medicine and have worked for the US to improve its unfair system to aim for universal health care for all, which to me seems like the only civilised way to go. But I must say that on this question, my experience has been that it's much, much easier to get seen, tested, diagnosed, and treated over here in US. You just find a specialist you like and make an appointment; if that one doesn't work out for you, find one who does (in days, not months). Of course I am v.v. lucky that my insurance doesn't require referrals--not everyone has this option as easily. But coming from outside you would: you could see anyone. So come on over and we'll fix you up, then you can fly back here annually for checkups and refills! <smiles> Not expensive at all, right.

Seriously, don't give up. This forum is great support and has top information and can find you good referrals. While in the misery of it, one thinks it will just never end or never get right again, but really, that individual balance IS somewhere for you, and the right combination for you *can* be found, with some trial and error. Good luck and good health to you. --A.