Testosterone Gel

[Sparklingsunshine]

I have been on HRT for several years, I take an oral tablets as the patches didnt suit me and I'm happy with them, but I've been wondering about adding testosterone gel. I've seen a study where Fibro patients used to the gel to good effect for fatigue etc.

I know a number of ladies here use it and I wondered if they'd mind sharing their experiences. Did you do any blood tests prior to starting to check testosterone levels, did you get it via NHS and how easy is it and what are the benefits/ side effects if any?

[TiggerMe]

Wonderful stuff if yours is on the low side, NHS will test once you are on it but I had to deal with a menopause clinic to get it in the first place and then the NHS begrudgingly continued to prescribe so again it's another one of those occasions it depends on your GP's view 🙃

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to TiggerMe]

Was that an NHS menopause clinic or private Tigger? I've seen Medichecks offer a Testosterone test for both women and men and wondered about testing.

My thinking is if its low then it might be easier to get it prescribed via NHS if I've got proof. Have you had any adverse side effects like acne or hairloss?

[TiggerMe in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

It was private but my GP was a bit hopeless with HRT, I only saw them once and then they write to your GP to continue with prescribing

Best female hormone test I have come across is randoxhealth.com/en-GB/at-h...

Only one I've seen that includes progesterone so you actually get the full view

Yes worth a try showing them a test result then the least they can do is a retest which opens the discussion 😉

No horrid side effects as long as kept within range and balanced with the other hormones

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to TiggerMe]

The whole HRT is a bit of a minefield. I did a lot of research a few years ago and settled on Femoston conti. I've been on it around 8 years now. I'm not sure if the patches were around then, I was certainly not offered them anyway.

I did try them at the beginning of the year but they were hopeless, kept falling off, even with plaster on top. So I went back on the tablets. I know oral HRT is riskier than patches but if they wont stay on there's no benefit to them anyway 😪.

The Randox test might be an idea just to see where I'm at with other hormones. Thanks.

[TiggerMe in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yes, I wasn't keen on the patches

[sparkly]

I have to say testosterone was the missing piece for me, can't live without it! Had been on estrogel and utrogestan for about 6 years with good results but when started testosterone it was amazing for me.Within 3 weeks it kicked in and was unbelievable. All my aches and pains stopped, my energy levels increased, my brain fog went, and just had a general well-being feeling.

All these issues I'd always blamed my thyroid for.

Since starting testosterone I can now exercise and go the gym 2/3 times a week strength training which was unable to before. I don't suffer my morning aches and pains or have any back issues.

I had testosterone blood test by gp and referred back to my local nhs menopause clinic. My specialist prescribed straightaway as she is a believer in testosterone and she mainly goes off symptoms and blood test is just to check your level isn't already high.

I'd say I had about 5 months of feeling fantastic and then it leveled off but still the benefit from it.

I know it doesn't work for everyone and especially if your shbg is high which seems to be big issue on how to lower.

Getting prescribed is the difficult part though which is totally wrong. Sounds familiar, doesn't it!

[CornishChick in reply to sparkly]

hi could you explain the shbg sentence for me please? Thank you.

[sparkly in reply to CornishChick]

It's said if shbg is high then you have less available free testosterone as this binds to shbg or something along those lines. Google will explain as I am rubbish at it.A lot of ladies with high shbg who start on testosterone don't get any benefit from it.

How to lower high shbg seems to be that wanted answer that no one can find.

My shbg was low so that's possibly why I had such a good response

[CornishChick]

Hi mine has been below range for over a year that I know to. I was told to try HRT first, which did nothing to my levels. I have then wasted a further year and the GP has finally referred me to an NHS menopause clinic. It’s a 6 month wait, so I’ve asked my private doctor who has been fantastic and she prescribed it immediately. I then hope to get it via the NHS.

I’m on day 3 so nothing to report just yet. Just to say though that DHEA has already got my levels up, so worth a try if you can get it. Mine was prescribed by a UK doctor, you can buy it on the net which I’ve previously done, but they’ll warn you on here it’s not recommended. I haven’t noticed any side effects at all. It is it seems quite common in the US as an anti aging drug.

My friend is a GP and said the only way to get testosterone is to say you have no sex drive even if you have!

Hope that helps!