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[JenJab]

Hi everyone
Just wanted to post a solution that has worked for me since menopause to help with the bad stinging feeling in the bladder.  I'm on HRT (estrogen patches and the estrogen pessaries which all helped to reduce the feeling my vagina was on fire) and once I started on the progesterone tablets that had helped a lot with the bladder pain but I was still getting UTI feelings with my bladder (constant feeling like I needed to go and stinging which had improved since on estrogen and progesterone but still had stinging and urge feelings all the time but no where near as bad as I had previously before progesterone and estrogen and the estrogen pessaries).  Anyway I started on low dose testosterone (Androfeme) as I thought worth a try and after a couple of days - no stinging and no UTI feeling.  No idea this would help so much but it is has worked so well for bladder pain! It's expensive but worth it's weight in gold -can't recommend it enough if you still get a stinging bladder after estrogen and progesterone.  I don't need a lot not even the lowest dose recommended or every night now but it has worked.  It's a real relief instead of feeling pain when I had to go or relieve myself now it's just back to the old before feeling of signals saying time to empty the bladder feeling I used to have before menopause - no pain just fantastic.  No more burning 24 hrs and living for sleep now I have releif so just wanted to share as it might help someone else who's bladder has a strange need for testosterone...  Of course there's always a little break through pain every now and again but ha no issues with that totally easy to cope with now.  Good luck everyone.

[CLKD]

Hi!  Do read the 'bladder issues' and 'vaginal atrophy' threads on the Forum.  Make notes ;-).  Hopefully testosterone will help.  Causation is due to the drop in oestrogen levels which may because the body to become dry: inside and out - skin, scalp, deep in the ears, vagina, anus, eyes ................

Let us know how you get on!

[Postmeno3]

I keep being refused testosterone as not "oestrogenised enough" (determined by symptoms, not a postmenopausal blood test), so this is really interesting. Of course, on the NHS, it would generally not be the "female" version you have, but a reduced and hard-to-gauge portion of a sachet aimed at men. Can I ask if this also helps with intercourse and penetration in particular? (Sorry if tmi!) Really interesting result and so quickly! Thank you!

[JenJab]

Thanks for the support.  I didn't know testosterone could help with the pain and just wanted to share.  I've been on Estrogen patches for ages and progesterone and pessaries all which have really, really helped and reduced the pain so, so much and been on these for 2 years and I finally got the levels mostly right as I seem to suffer from allergic estrogen side effects if not balanced right.  It was just the testosterone was the only thing i've tried (always trying to get things feeling better )  that got rid of that last painful bladder feeling that was left.  The last UTI feeling and feeling that instead of the urge to go it was just pain.  Instead of the nerves sending pain messages now it's just back to the normal urge to go feeling.  Just thankful I tried testosterone.  I thought that's not for me I'm already on everything else and I don't care about helping with energy or sex drive really it's about pain management to get through the day  - testosterone wasn't something I was told about to help with pain.  Thank you testosterone!

[JenJab]

Hi sorry just read your post.  I'm on AndroFeme 1 which is made in Australia for women by www.lawleypharm.com.au and is $90 Australian per tube and taking the lowest dose for women which is 0.5ml or something... I don't even take that much to be honest as I was worried about side effects (keep getting blood results and the levels are in the normal range for testosterone) and it seems to have worked for my bladder.  The tube is supposed to last three months or two on the lowest dose.  I hate being on all the HRT but it relieves the pain and just wanted to post to the list as my GPs all think I'm crazy going on testosterone for pain.  As for the effect on intercourse and penetration sorry I don't know (maybe I'm not on enough constantly) but certainly not having bladder pain has helped things.

[Jasmine20]

That's really good news JenJab. It's amazing the Androfemme made such a difference in a few days.

Jane Lewis had talked about how the genitourinary system needs testosterone - such a shame you have to either go to a specialist clinic privately and spend £££ or wait for an NHS referral.

I've been mulling over whether to push for a referral myself and this is encouraging to hear.

[CLKD]

Hormone replacement therapy ;-).  Putting back what your body should be making .  It's lovely to find something that works!

When my bladder nips I take 2 Nurofen capsules 3 times a day to ease those feelings.

[Postmeno3]

So, am guessing Androfemme not available, unless possibly privately, in the UK?

[VictoryV]

Hi Jenjab,
Thanks for posting this. Along with other info from this forum I started on Testogel. Getting up 8 times in the night stopped in two days. Along with the anxiety, brain fog, aches, intense feeling of doom and gloom and utter hopelessness.
Libido is good too.
Testogel is available on the NHS, I got it in Scotland. My friend got it in England but she had to fight and was armed with lots of proof.

Today is day 12 on T, I also increased Oestrogel from 2 pumps to 3 on first 3 days although I cut back to 2 pumps on day 4 with no side effects.
I read Dr Lewis’s opinion that the urinary tract needs T too.

I appreciate that I’m early days and this good feeling might not last but 12 days has given me respite and I’ve caught up with work.

I hope this helps someone.

How are you feeling now Jenjab?

Victoria.xx

[CLKD]

I believe that a Consultant has to advise a GP to prescribe testosterone in England?

Let us know how you get on! 

[VictoryV]

It seems many need a consultant to persuade their GP but I didn’t and my friend didn’t either. I was surprised with my own GP as they’re in Scotland and I’ve read, on here, that obtaining HRT is harder there.

[Wrensong]

Hi JenJab, great to hear testosterone has helped your GSM symptoms    I remember posting on this elsewhere but can't recall which threads it was on, so here are a couple of links, with extracts, documenting the association between testosterone & urogenital health & validating your experience!

https://dralicescott.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Testosterone.-BJGP-March-2020.-Scott-Newson.pdf

"EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT TESTOSTERONE
USE IN WOMEN
Numerous studies have shown that
adding testosterone to hormonal therapy
can improve sexual function and general
wellbeing among women during their
menopause. A recent systematic review and
meta-analysis of testosterone treatment in
women has provided robust support for
a trial of testosterone in women when
clinically indicated. In postmenopausal
women, testosterone supplementation
improved several domains of sexual
response, including sexual desire, pleasure,
arousal, orgasm, and self-image.4
It has also been shown to have additional
benefits including the improvement of
urogenital, psychological and somatic
symptoms an increase in bone density,
and enhancement of cognitive performance
when combined with oestrogen as part
of HRT. Many women notice that taking
testosterone improves their mood,
concentration, motivation, and energy levels"

http://www.bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/GSM-BSSM.pdf

"Testosterone is one of the sex hormones that women produce that is often overlooked. Women actually produce 3x as much testosterone than oestrogen before the menopause. Levels of testosterone gradually decline due to increasing age or reduce abruptly following oophorectomy.  Testosterone as a gel or cream can also be very effective to improve symptoms related to GSM."

Postmeno3

So, am guessing Androfemme not available, unless possibly privately, in the UK?

  Yes, Androfemme is available in UK but I believe as yet only privately.  Many of us use Testogel/Tostran successfully.  Easy to use & available on the NHS, though as you mention earlier, being intended for male use we have to use a very small dose - petit pois is often cited as approx size to aim for with Testogel! 

Blood testing before initial use is recommended & again after starting T replacement, to ensure levels are within range.  The usual indication for prescribing is sexual dysfunction (low/absent libido, poor/absent sexual response, decreased sexual pleasure) so for anyone who feels they may need testosterone, it may be necessary to give this as your reason.   The wider effects of T on women's health seem to be less well known.  Its lack may especially be felt by women who've had oophorectomy.

VictoryV,

Getting up 8 times in the night stopped

  There are studies showing that the decline in testosterone with ageing increases nocturia (in men) so what you're finding about getting up in the wee hours  also makes sense.

There are also articles citing T's role in pelvic floor health & the prevention of incontinence.
Wx

[VictoryV]

Thanks Wrensong, I’m reading your links on my lunch break. This is a real game changer for me, I so hope it continues; I am feeling better than I’ve felt for years. I can’t pin point exactly when peri started but I think it’s around 5 years ago yet I only ‘woke up’ to it in August. 
For the first time in 5 years I am sleeping without medication.
Without this community’s kindness and knowledge I would be on my way to bankruptcy and an early grave.
I hope we all get well and stay well and I’m so grateful this forum is here.

VictoriaXx

[Wrensong]

Hi Victoria, yes, sadly so many of us go a long time feeling very under par before realising peri/menopause could be the cause.  Pleased to know you're feeling so much better now.  The sleep improvement alone must be a huge relief - you must let me in on your secret  .  I hope you continue to do well with your HRT & I second the value of this forum  .  It's a fab resource for us all.
Wx

[VictoryV]

I agree Wrensong, I put feeling depressed/mega stressed to rotating sleep medications, work being so busy and probably Covid. I now think my body was struggling with depleting hormones for years and went into panic mode in August causing all the ghastly meno symptoms.

A week before I started HRT I went to see a friend who is a holistic healer. I didn’t know she was a healer and had booked my normal facial! She took one look at me and the treatment was totally different and I didn’t get a facial!
I was very cynical about Holistic therapy but I left that appointment with strength, confidence, a smile and hope. She strongly supports HRT and she gave me enough strength to continue on the journey of discovering how to manage. Then I found this community.

I know this is going to be a bumpy road but it’s not so bumpy together.

V.x