Female Testosterone Replacement Users

[radd]

My endo has suggested I replace very low levels of testosterone with Androfeme, to complement my existing HRT package of Lenzetto and Utrogestan. After learning Androfeme costs £150.00 upward, and that my NHS GP already has female patients supplementing testosterone, I approached him to take on my prescription.  

It transpires that Androfeme is a female specific low dose 1% testosterone cream only licensed in Australia. This is because although other authorities recognise the benefit of testosterone to females even with a lack of long term safety data for cardiovascular and breast outcomes, it is the pharmaceutical industry reluctance to finance further clinical studies that are disrupting further licensing at this moment.  

My GP has suggested Testogel has a suitable replacement. Having researched Testogel it is much more concentrated and there are various options of dosing it, one option being every three days!  Through our years of imbalances, hormones can be fragile 😔and volatile 😳, with less window of tolerance and often little manoeuvre room. Is this inconsistent dosing how all females dose testosterone or have others been given alternative methods such as a weeny bit every day? 

TiggerMe and anyone else, what brand are you taking, how much and how often?

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Hi Radd,

I opt for a weeny bit most 🙃 mornings unless forgotten and then I might do it in the evening... I've not heard of anyone suggesting skipping days as like you say you are looking for a low constant rather than a bumpy ride but I suppose the body is good at self regulating to this small extent?... the new Testogel sachets are more concentrated and with less gel so one now lasts me 8 days (previous sachet 10 days - pea size)... so being scientific a petit pois.

I used to be a bit more accurate and have got a little slap dash these days

It is remarkable how they are so uptight about somethings and then give you a box of testosterone that will last you months and off you jolly well pop 🙄

My bunch are so clueless I could have a box every month!

[radd in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes, have just come off the phone with GP who also advises 1 sachet to last eight days, thank you. I don’t know what planet endo is on 🤷‍♀️ but my prescription is waiting and it will be the petit pois dose 😊

Do you apply it in a different area to Lenzetto? 

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to radd]

That’s good to know I got it right 😉

I do 3 Lenzetto daily alternate fore arms

Testogel alternate inner or outer thigh, I think the recommendation is for below the waist? Whereas boys rub it on there arms

Sorry out walking perhaps check here…balance-menopause.com/menop...

[radd in reply to TiggerMe]

Eeyore100,

I found the source of the 3 days only a week dosing regime.

‘The desired female testosterone replacement dose is approximately 5 mg a day. This can be provided using Tostran® 2% gel, in a pump dispenser, given as one measured pump (which contains 10 milligrams of testosterone) usually used three times a week. Alternatively, Testogel® a testosterone product that comes as a gel in a sachet can be used by applying the gel in a sachet usually over the course of 7-10 days (given as a daily dose of a small portion of the pack).’

somersetccg.nhs.uk/wp-conte...

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to radd]

Well done, this makes more sense than the every 3 days they suggested...I have enquired about Tostran as it at least gives a measured dose but they look at you as if you have two heads! It is double the strength of Testogel so every other day would be the only options as it dispenses 10mg. The sachets are a fiddle but you soon get your eye in 🤗 and everyday is more likely to happen 🙃

They aren't very good at keeping up to date with the changes manufacturers make to their products as this would be based on the old 50mg Testogel sachets rather than the more concentrated 40.5mg which they are now.

You would think when they changed things the GP's system would point them at the replacement product but no they just say discontinued we can't dispense! Thank goodness for switched on pharmacists who tell them how to prescribe correctly 🙄

[FancyPants54 in reply to radd]

You will never make one of these sachets last 8 days! They are tiny. The sachets used to be 50mg and I could just about get that to fit 7 days. Now, on the smaller amount of 40mg I don't count the days, just use the blob. Don't be afraid of it. You will know if you are over-doing it because you will start shouting at strangers in car parks (oops!) or being ratty at home.

[nightingale-56]

I have just found out that there is no Testosterone Gel available in UK at the present, only if pharmacies already have some in stock.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to nightingale-56]

Really!! What do they blame that on frenzied females again 🙄🤣

[nightingale-56 in reply to TiggerMe]

I was told it is because it comes from Ukraine and, of course, Brexit. My son needs 50 gm each day otherwise his voice could reverse and bones and heart suffer, so I'd welcome a specific female hormone.

[Aunds in reply to nightingale-56]

I am prescribed testosterone gel in a pump by a private endo and it comes from Roseway Pharmacy, it’s a compounding pharmacy see link below. I don’t know if this is any help to you.

rosewaylabs.com/patients/or...

[radd in reply to Aunds]

Thank you Aunds,

I‘ve just started getting Armour from Roseway Labs. How much are you paying for private testosterone and for how long does it last?

[Aunds in reply to radd]

Hi. It costs £90 for 3 month supply, but always last 4 months, I checked with Roseway to make sure I as going it correctly and they said yes there was actually four months worth in each pump they dispense.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Aunds]

Ouch, think I'll stick with the free sachets from the GP 🤗

You could refill the pump with the sachets?

[radd in reply to Aunds]

Aunds,

Yes, I miscalculated as had an invoice with the thyroid meds on to but just had a look and mine would have been cost £90 too from Roseway.

So if it lasts for 4 months thats only £5.63 a week which sounds much better than a whole £90 🤣.

Anyway, I have the same as Eeyore hopefully waiting at the chemist (although nightingale says there's a national shortage now 🙄!). I wasn't expecting to go on it so am not too bothered if I have to delay the start.

Have you find it useful?

[nightingale-56 in reply to Aunds]

Thanks for this information Aunds . Good to know alternative sources.

[Margo]

Curious about this gel, do you take it Nightingale? I think I definitely need something and was thinking of writing to my G.P. surgery, (pointless phoning) and asking for a try. Is it easy to obtain through the doctor?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Margo]

I think  nightingale-56 only gets it for her son but either way the actual content is the same, it is just the labelling and a pink box that differs from Androfeme.... if you fancy trying it you need to make a thing about low libido as these are the magic words that allows them to prescribe 😉

[Margo in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you so much, low libido is more like no libido these days...Will give it a go.

[radd in reply to Margo]

Margo,

Are you already on HRT? I think they like you to be on O & P before they offer you T.

[Margo in reply to radd]

I take natural progesterone Radd, and have taken that for 28 years. I did give HRT a go but it had a terrible affect on me, so have never wanted to use again. I think I am fine on the progesterone, but was looking for something to give me a bit of oomph. I might try finding a secret lover....😉😀

[radd in reply to Margo]

🤣 well you will need a bit of testosterone then!

[Margo in reply to radd]

My thinking was, mind over matter.....but yes you are probably right Radd 😉😬

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Margo]

Every little helps 😏

[Margo in reply to TiggerMe]

👍😅

[nightingale-56 in reply to Margo]

No Margo , I don't take it. All the while I can get NDT I'm happy without. I think if you need it a GP can prescribe, but women need a very much smaller amount than men and there is none to be had (very easily) at the moment.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to nightingale-56]

Has your son tried Tostran 2% or Testogel in a pumped bottle? Seem more sensible for larger doses...

[nightingale-56 in reply to TiggerMe]

The amounts are much too small for my son's needs, which would cost too much. Not to mention all the messing about. He needs at least 50 mgs.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to nightingale-56]

Oh, I thought he used the testogel sachets? So now has to use 1 and a 1/4? The pumped one that Tostran make is 2% so 5 squirts a day

Does the NHS not supply?

[nightingale-56 in reply to TiggerMe]

The testogel sachets now do not seem to be enough and his level is below range. |He has recently been changed to Testim which has been used before to good effect. Now we can't get that. I don't know how big the pumps are, but if they only hold 60 gms then he would need approx 30 per month. Not sure GP would go for this, even if they were available. I hate to think it, but the answer may be injections again.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to nightingale-56]

By my reckoning a 60g pump would last him 24 days at 50mcg a day?

.5g per pump = 10mcg so 5 x 0.5g = 2.5g (50mcg) per day… I see they recommend 60mcg as a minimum dose?

The sachet only gives 40.5mcg so would leave him short, he needs to add another 1/4 sachet

[nightingale-56 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks for explaining  TiggerMe . Obviously maths is not my strong point! I did put 50 mg per day though and not mcg, so it would be one pump per day, with a small bit over. Good to know that other makes exist though.

[FancyPants54 in reply to nightingale-56]

Testogel has recently been changed from a 50mg sachet to a 40.5mg sachet. The surgery didn't tell me this and for weeks I kept getting my prescription request ignored. Eventually I found out and requested the 40mg sachets and Bingo! So make sure you are not having your request rejected because the prescription is for the old amount of 50mg. They don't make those anymore.

[nightingale-56 in reply to FancyPants54]

GP realised this, but my son's blood levels are still low. Now they can't get any at the moment.

[FancyPants54]

I started on Androfem through a private clinic but it cost £80 then. I stopped when the price climbed. I use Testogel. 40.5mg I think the sachets are. I use a blob the size of a Birds Eye frozen garden pea every day. It's great because it's effectively free now due to the hypo diagnosis.

[radd in reply to FancyPants54]

Where do you apply it?

[FancyPants54 in reply to radd]

on my hip or bum. They often recommend lower stomach but we have a lot of hair follicles there and it can encourage hair growth. I mentioned this to my HRT specialist doctor and she recommended I use the hip and bum as ver few hairs there.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to FancyPants54]

Top tip 🤗

I've not really noticed any great sprouting on the inner thighs but there's a bit more fat on my butt to aid absorption 😏

[radd in reply to TiggerMe]

Right, I've picked up the T so will be spraying O on inner arms and spreading T on me bum tomorrow morning 😬. If I end up with hairy bum I'll blame you 🤣

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to radd]

You'll have to post up a before and after pic 🤣

[radd in reply to TiggerMe]

🤣👏

[sparkly]

I'm on testosterone and couldn't live without, missing piece!! I'm on tostran 1 pump every other day. Had bloods done after 8 months and in normal range. Tostran lasts 9 months and no fiddling guesstimating what a pea size is like with sashes. Sadly all testosterone seems be be difficult to get hold of on nhs because of demand I am will be over the moon when the UK finally give license for females to be prescribed and every woman can at least trial it. It doesn't work for everyone and definitely shouldn't be prescribed just for low libido. Can't tell you the difference its made to my life.

I have read this morning on the Daily mail that a female testosterone patch is being worked on at the minute.. Hallelujah!!!

[FancyPants54]

Like all hormones, some people absorb them through the skin better than others. I seem not to be good at it! So I use a Bird's Eye frozen pea sized blob of testogel every day. My levels are checked at my review appointments with the meno clinic and so far my measurements are good on that amount. I started life using Androfem but the cost was ridiculous and it was only £85 per tube then.

I have noticed no difference switching to Testogel. I open the sachet and fold the top over securely with a paper clip. One sachet lasts about 4 days but I get the same daily dose.

I know this is an old post. But thought it worth mentioning my experience with it.

[FancyPants54 in reply to FancyPants54]

Oh dear! Ignore me. I now see I responded to you at the time of posting. So I've just repeated myself. Hope you are getting on well with it.

[radd in reply to FancyPants54]

Yes, am good thank you FP’s. Just had my six weekly labs, so waiting on results.

Better to answer twice than not at all 😊