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[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hi Hurdity, I haven't posted for a while but as someone in your age group felt I just had to say thank you for your informative and heartening post.. Dr Annie Evans sounds great.I will be especially interested  to learn how you find the addition of the testosterone into your regime and look forward to your updates.Hope it works!
Diamonds and pearls x

[Jenna]

Thank you for your very interesting post, Hurdity. I hope you achieve the desired effect!

[Hurdity]

Thanks for all your replies everyone! Will answer them later if I need to! 

Evey - I'm not sure what you are asking? I take 200 mg Utrogestan vaginally for 12 days in every 5 - 8 week cycle (instead of 200 mg orally for 12 days in every 28 week cycle as licensed). This needs to be done with medical approval for your particular case and where you are in menopause - I have had gynaes say this is OK for me as no uterine problems and no serious abnormal bleeding at the wrong time. I vary the cycle as I said depending on when I'm going away as at my age I don't want to be doing the vag Utro nor bleeding (well at least not the first 3-4 days) while I'm away.

Hurdity x

[Night_Owl]

Hi Hurdity

Thanks for posting the useful update/information from the Consultant.  Reassuring that the long cycle is acceptable. 

Are you also now on Vagifem 10mcg x twice weekly? (or Orthogest)

I've used Testogel (in a tube before) lentil sized amount - recall it was very highly scented - it took me a while to pluck up the courage to use it, kept putting it off!  Don't think I persevered long enough to wake up the T receptors.

I hope it works for you, please let us know how you get on with it.


Night_Owl
x

[Night_Owl]

ps -  just remembered, it was Testim that I used (with the strong cologne smell) - not Testogel. 

[Cassie]

Thankyou for posting Hurdity, really informative...sorry for being a bit slow, but can you explain the sentence below, as I started HRT @ 40 due to Prem Men....was just wondering about this.... Thankyou.


The starting age of HRT relative to menopause was the crucial thing regarding risks, rather than age per se.

[Hurdity]

Hi Night_Owl Thanks - yes it's Testogel and it doesn't smell (well my sense of smell has declined but I think I would  smell that!). I started it today because I was so tired after working this morning and exercise class last night I thought I've nothing to lose, even though I'm still on the Utrogestan! Yes a very small amount - haven't started feeling weird yet! Not sure when side effects might start.... Yes I am still using either Vagifem twice a week or Orthgynest ( still got some left!), as well as everything else!

Cassie - this was just in relation to the caution about starting/taking HRT at a late age eg over or nearing 60. It is the time since menopause that is the crucial issue re stroke/arteries thickening etc. The damage to these (blood system ) occurs gradually over the years following menopause and the research shows that HRT started after the "window of opportunity" - eg 5 - 10 years since menopause, is more risky in terms of heart etc because of this. HRT started before menopause or before 10 years has elapsed does not carry this specific risk - according to research,

Ju Ju - sorry to hear about the sdie effects of the T - especially as you had no noticeable difference  - this is what worries me especially as I never had acne as such, but I wouldn't want a return to the menopausal "acne" or rosacea I experienced before starting HRT - although this particular complaint disappeared swiftly after starting oestrogen. I would be concerned also about hair loss as my hair is still pretty thick and don't want to lose it! Well I can only try - and will have to see how it goes.... I know what you mean about the age issue - but presumably if any GPs you have to see about something, mention HRT - you also have the info on file where the consultant is happy for you to be on it - so they can't argue with that?

marras - lucky you with no libido problems at 65  . The lovely female part-time gynae GP ( not the one that disapproves - my actual GP) at thew practice says this happens in women where more T production is adrenal led rather than ovary led (as in my case). T is still produced by the adrenal glands. Not sure why you take a tablet too - my preference would be to be on a 50 mcg patch rather than the patch and the tablet???

warwick - I've never heard of T implants for pmt - but then I don't know what the treatments are for this. I like the sound of the side effects though!!! Sorry about your husband though. You are under a meno consultant aren't you? Maybe you could suggest that maybe you need a bit of T in addition to the HRT?

CLKD - your GP was not well-informed ( years ago they knew little about T for women). As I understand it, T should not lower your voice as it is hopefully being given in doses that are within our natural range - ie just reolacing some of what we have lost! I would certainly be worried if my voice went deep!
I'll let you all know how I get on!

Hurdity x 

[marras]

Thanks Hurdity, so kind of you to reply  . No, I don't really know why I'm on a patch as well as tablet but I'm doing so well on this regime that I don't want to rock the boat! My gynae consultant has signed me off for a year so am not due to see her til then. As I still have a womb I am due to take progesterone every three months starting in August and she has given me Cyclogest and told me that if I get any really nasty side effects then just throw them away and phone her! Can't say I'm looking forward to it; I can put up with anything except a return of migraines but I shall have to 'suck it and see' as they say! I hope you get the desired (excuse the pun) result from your testosterone!

[Cassie]

Thankyou and pls keep us posted. I too was offered Testosterone but up until now have not taken the plunge, so am following your post with interest x

[Ju Ju]

Hurdity, I had no problems with losing hair, just a few stray hairs growing on my chin, which have stopped making their presence so obvious since stopping T. I would have carried on had the acne become more than I was prepared to tolerate. I hope you have more success. Had my libido returned it would have been rather frustrating with things going south down below!   

[dogdoc]

Congrats Hurdity and way to go. Still here and still researching the crap out of all this hormonal stuff. I too plan on taking testosterone ( or it's precursor DHEA) in the very near future, and I'm still perimenopausal. Libido is in the toilet and THIS IS NOT OK BY ME. I think if your middle aged and your libido goes and you're a woman and you're OK with this ( I think a lot of women are) then power to you, but if you're not ok with it then we need treatment!!

I think doctors are terrified of HRT to begin with ( even the 'womanly hormones') of progesterone and estrogen let alone the 'manly' hormone testosterone. But If a 40 something year old man went to his doctor and said "I'm incapable of having sex, or my sex drive is completely gone" you better believe he'd be getting some help super quick. !!!

I have read that acne is a possibility on testosterone but in many cases it resolves after a few months...so even if you break out try to hold out to see if it will resolve. I think some increased greasiness and oil production is pretty normal on testosterone, but it doesn't mean your body won't adapt. And a little oil is great for dry and aging skin
I have been reading a fair bit about testosterone as far as libido, energy levels, muscle tone and bone density. It can help all these things at the right dosage.

I'm glad Annie told you you can keep your HRT over 60 if you want. For me life is about QUALITY of life and if I know my risks then let me do what I want with my own body!
If my choices are " possible increase risk of breast cancer" or "for sure you're going to lose your hair, your skin, your energy, your sex life, your sharp mind, your eyesight, your bones, your very essence" due to lack of estrogen...then give me the estrogen. Thank you.

Vent ended   Congrats Hurdity. I have all my body parts crossed for you. I think it's going to work!!
Tara

[Hurdity]

Bumped for Estelle.

Estelle - my report about my visit to Annie Evans is the first post in this thread - it's not the Private Lives one as that was about testosterone! I'm not sure if it is relevant or helpful to you as it was mainly about my age and HRT etc but anyway it might be of some use since you asked and this will be more accurate than my memory now!

Do pm me if you want to talk further - if I can remember!

Hurdity  x