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[pepperminty]

Hi Ladies,

I am 52, on Femosten 1/10 with extra Zumenon every other day. I do not want to try transdermal as my regime suits me although not perfect. And changing may open a can of worms- not worth the risk at this time.

I have tried increasing my dose of HRT severl times in the last few years and I feel worse, more achs in pains and more emotiona. This time I did it gradually by tiny ammounts and it has a substancial effect even then. My period also comes much later into the new pack and boobs painful etc.

Anyway, I am wondering if I need testosterone. Mainly because of my atrophied muscles and lack of energy. I am exercising and I eat well, take Vit D , iron( as my count is low) although that is not why I ache. So is tectosterone the missing part?

How do I go about getting it ?
I have an appointment at the meno clinic coming up in the next month or so, what do i need to ask? To be honest the meno clinic has been a bit useless really and I suspect the nurse I see is not clued up at all about it, so i want to go in with print outs and speech ready. I will probably need to tell her what to do.  .

What do you think ladies? Is it worth a try? What tests do I need as I haven't a clue where my estrogen levels are ?

Any advice and thoughts would be welcome


Pepperminty x

[racjen]

I would ask your GP to test your levels of estrogen and testosterone before you go to the clinic, so you can take them along and ask specifically for testosterone if it is low. It does help some women, so  it's worth a try.

[sheila99]

How is your libido? I wanted it for muscles and energy levels too but I wouldn't have got it based on this. They gave it to me because of low libido.

[pepperminty]

Thanks Ladies,

My libido is not what it used to be! I think I will bring it up at the next appointment. I know it can help with lack of energy, but shame that they tend to concentrate on Libido- why is that i wonder?

I don't want to end up bald with a beard though, in all seriousness that worries me!

PMx

[sheila99]

Don't worry, I haven't gone bald or grown a beard! Like oestrogen it's just replacing what your body used to produce.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hi PM, lovely to see you again.

I have taken testosterone for the last 3 years. Before that my ankles used to ache so much in the morning that I would limp. Have far fewer aches now. When Prof Studd tested my T levels it was 0.7 which he said was 'too low'. My T level was 17 last year, but I suspect my GP misread my results as that would be exceptionally high for a woman, and I certainly am not shaving yet or going bald.

My libido has improved and my response is stronger.

[Hurdity]

Pepperminty - if you are taking oral HRT then your free testosterone will be lowered because it (oral oestrogen) increases a compound called SHBG in the blood which binds up testosterone making it unavailable to use.

The first thing to do rather than look for testosterone would be to try changing your HRT regime to a transdermal one - which I know you don't want to do. However a menopause specialist such as Louise Newson would recommend this:

"Transdermal oestrogen does not worsen libido. Taking oestrogen as a tablet can increase levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) which binds to testosterone. This effect can result in a lower libido. Taking oestrogen as a patch or gel does not have this effect."
https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/oestrogen-patches-gels

The thing is if your libido is healthy then low T would not likely be the cause of your low energy levels and muscle atrophy because as I understand it libido would be the first thing to be affected. It certainly was with me - this was lost long before I ever felt any other symptoms ( than the usual flushes and sweats of menopause - cured with HRT).

Have you had thyroid function tests?

Hurdity x

[pepperminty]

Hi GRL,

glad you are still doing well. Yes I have achey ankles etc , I am hoping that a little T would help with this. Also pleased that you are not bald or sporting a beard.

PMX

[pepperminty]

HI Hurdity, thanks,

Can you take Testosterone with oral HRT, or wont it work if it is oral and not transdermal?

I would like to go transdermal eventaully but I have a tendancy to be sensitive to meds and I would loose my job if I had to take time off due to changing regime.  It took me months to adjust to Femosten and even a small estrogen increase/ change has a detrimental effect.

 I would not say my libido was healthy, infact not as healthy as I would like really.

I have had all th tests and apparently my thyriod came back ok etc.

PMX