Female Hormone Blood Tests and Testosterone Gel Question.

[Sparklingsunshine]

I've been weighing up the merits of asking for some testosterone gel on NHS. I didnt want to proceed without knowing my female hormone status so I carried out a Randox health home test last week. I already take HRT in tablet form, my results seem ok.

My testosterone is in range but looks low, ditto free androgen index, so I wondered if I would benefit from asking GP to trial some.

Have any members found they benefitted from it?

[FallingInReverse]

Can you share your results?

I haven’t dived into HRT (yet?) but did get my sex hormones tested just to have for reference someday, and I follow related posts here with interest!

[TiggerMe]

If your results are in range then you'd struggle to get them to prescribe as they do test testosterone levels even though they show little interest in oestrogen and progesterone levels when handing out the pills etc 😕

How low is low? I keep mine at mid range with testogel

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to TiggerMe]

It was a Randox test as they were tge only reasonably priced one I could find, I had a terrible time getting the results though, note to self, stick with MMH in future.

Testosterone was 0.494

<0.1 low

0.1 -1.42 optimal

1.42 high

Free Androgen Index 0.61

<0.19 low

0.19 - 3.63 optimal

3.63 high

To my uneducated brain they look lowish in range but I await your input 😀

[TiggerMe in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

That's odd I thought their system was pretty good.. the way they make you register the kit and email out results, which are much clearer than MMH

So overall yes all at the lower end, your SHBG must be about right for your free androgen index to be lowish? Which suggests thyroid hormones are optimal?

Testosterone 0.494  (0.1 - 1.42) 29.8%

Free Androgen Index 0.61  (0.19 - 3.63) 12.2%

Are you still exercising a lot and have good muscle strength?

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to TiggerMe]

No I've quit exercise due to a foot problem. And muscle mass has never been high. So do you think testosterone gel is worth exploring?

[TiggerMe in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Sure, you could give it a go... no stone unturned and all that... just bag on about low libido and your GP would be able to prescribe if inclined

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks lol 😄. I'm glad I checked my levels as I was concerned about ending up with too much testosterone.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to TiggerMe]

SHBG was 81 < 27 low

27.1 -128 optimal

128 high

[TiggerMe in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Where are your oestrogen and progesterone levels? Adding Testosterone could boost your E levels so something to bear in mind

[Wua13262348 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I sent off my bloods for a Randox Female Hormone Test on Monday and am awaiting the results . How long did they take to process them? I don't think you are post menopausal, whereas I am. Watching your post with interest.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Wua13262348]

I'mm 55, I'm well post menopause 😆

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Wua13262348]

I had a lot of issues with them saying they'd sent out the results and I never received them. I was chasing them daily. In the end I had to supply a different email address to the one I put on my details, an old one my husband rarely uses.

I dont know what the issue was and why my normal email couldnt access them. Its put me off and I wont be using them again. Too much of a palaver.

[Wua13262348 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I sent mine off on Monday along with a Thyroid test. This is Thursday and I haven't had results yet. I went on to the site yesterday to see if they show the test received on the site and if they show the test as being "in progress"? There is nothing to show either. I can tell they got them Tuesday morning by looking at Royal Mail Tracking. It appears that they might send you an email when your results are ready? I am getting a bad feeling , in light of what you have said, that I will have a problem too getting my results!

TiggerMe What should happen to get your Randox results??? Do they send you an email with an attachment that you open up? Or do they send you an email that your results are ready, and you have to go into your account to access them? How long do they usually take? When I use Medichecks and MMH I have always had the results way before Thursday, when I post the bloods on a Monday. The prices were excellent and the trade -off might be that they are a little slower?

Was it a Gmail , email account that was problematic for you, by any chance?

[Purplesash]

I got it prescribed by NHS, my result was lowish but in range, they only tested the testosterone level, it was about 0.8 from memory. The key to getting it is very low libido (or zero in my case), I have been on it for about 9 months and it hasn’t made any difference, so I’m currently not bothering with it. I know it can make a huge difference to some and have other benefits apart the libido. I think it’s important to be on the right of oestrogen first and I suspect mine may not be optimal hence I’m not getting any benefit.

It’s definitely worth a try and GP’s seem a bit more willing now to prescribe.

[Milburn13]

I got Testosterone privately but GP said she'd prescribe it for me if recommended by private specialist. My level was extremely low. I found it really helped my dry itchy eyes and energy. however my thyroid symptoms got worse on it, so stopped it and I'm waiting until my thyroid is more stable to try it again. I've heard that the NHS only give it to people if they say they have no libido! Good luck

[Incoguto]

My level of free T was just below midrange and was prescribed low dose compounded T cream and that brought up my free T to high in range after 3 months. I feel it helps.