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[Mich10a]

Hi all,
I have been on hrt for a few years and am still trying to get it right. To cut a long story short, most recently I have been on 1.5mg Sandrena gel and have a Mirena coil fitted. But i was still having some symptoms of menopause, and a distinct lack of libido. As a final resort i went to a private menopause gp and she has put me on 4 pumps oestrogel (2pumps twice daily) and 0.5ml testosterone cream. Ive been on this for a month now, but my symptoms seem to have got worse. The sweats have calmed down but i have got very emotional and anxious and my vagina has lost all feeling and is as dry as a bone. And my libido has gone even lower (i didnt think it possible). Any advice  that anyone can give would be much appreciated. I am nearly 50 by the way.
 

[paisley]

They do say give any HRT at least 3 months but I tried oestrogel 4 pumps a day & it just gave me too many spikes & I don't think I was absorbing it well. The patch works better for me but we are all different.

[Mich10a]

Thanks StellaJane and Paisley. Over a number of years I have tried all different types if hrt, this is the latest. I have had to go private because I knew myself that I wasnt getting enough oestrogen even with 1.5mg Sandrena gel but my NHS gp wouldnt go higher and she wouldnt test my blood levels of oestrogen either. The private menopause doctor im now seeing did bloods and yes my oestrogen levels are low, as are my testosterone levels. So she put me on the pump gel as its easier to increase and alter the levels. She put me immediately on 4 pumps a day which I think is equivalent to 3mg oestradiol, and she put me on 0.5ml testosterone cream. Im wondering if I should change to applying them on my arms instead of the thighs.

[BlueButterfly]

When I used testosterone cream before, I had best luck with it absorbing where I had less fat. I'm not sure if there was a reason or not, but I would apply that to the upper under arm or even my lower stomach( yes less fat there for me but higher is another story!). It took about 4-6 weeks to really feel it working. I could tell it didn't absorb as well in fattier areas. Could be the same for estrogen maybe? I know every body is different. But that worked for me.

[Hurdity]

If you absorption does not improve then maybe try a patch? I wouldn't apply the gel to inner upper arm as that is not far from the breast. Sandrena is supposed to be applied to lower body anyway as are patches. Are you using the imported ( expensive) Androfeme cream? This has been tested on women but perhaps you are not absorbing this either. Maybe ask for one of the testosterone gels eg Testogel if the sachets have come back in yet?

Hurdity x