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[Jellyb]

Hi
I had both ovaries removed by my late 30's.  I still have my uterus.  I've been on HRT ever since and have recently also started on topic eostrogen.
However, I've seen a few posts over the past week or so, that indicate I should have been offered testosterone.  I never have and it's never been mentioned in any consultations either with my Gynae or GP.  As I don't have ovaries I must be lacking in it.
Should I be on it and what should I be asking for, is it a gel/cream/patch/pill?
Thanks, as always, for any advice.

[Joaniepat]

Hi Jellyb. Yes, you should be on testosterone. I'll bet hardly anyone is actually offered it, unless they are a private patient at somewhere like the Newson Clinic.

The NHS options are the two gels, Testogel or Tostran, both men's products and not licensed for women, although they can still be prescribed if your GP is amenable. The women's product is a cream, Androfemme, only available privately. There will be resources about testosterone in women on Louise Newson's website My Menopause Doctor.

JP x

[Jellyb]

Thanks Joaniepat
What benefits would I get from taking testosterone? What changes am I likely to feel?
At the moment I'm ok & settled with my HRT regime but I'm sure my GP will ask why i need it & what it is that I'm "missing".
Thanks.

[Joaniepat]

I think it's needed for a variety of functions. Most often mentioned are libido, joint and muscle strength and stamina. I'm sure others will know more than I do.
JP x

[vintagefiend]

hi there,

 i've just got my private script for testosterone and have begun using- realistically too early to assess
i had my ovaries remved last year and it dawned on me about 6 months later that i feel kinda dead from the waist down!! this is coupled with fatigue, just zero energy and these all seem to be reasons that women try tesosterone.
i was already menopausal and on oestrogen when i had the op so i knew it wasn't that- slight caveat is that i did switch from gel to patch some time after op so that change is the other possibility for my fatigue etc
but i thought i'd see if it was testosterone first
to be honest i want to sort out energy more than sex drive but i'd read on here that the docs tend to prescribe because of low libido- i was worried giving lack of energy as a reason might be too vague so led with low libido- which still true.
can i ask what hrt you're on? i'm just being nosy- hope that's ok! is it patch and gel?
i'm on tesotgel sachets 1 pea size blob each day- i actually found i was quite shabby and overwhelmed after 2 days so i take an even smaller blob- but that's just me!- only been on it 5 days.
there is a thread in the "private lives" section which- if you've got a couple of spare hours- is good to read through to see how testosterone has helped others- it's called "testosterone here we go" or something like that.

[Jellyb]

Thanks Vintagefiend
That's all good info.  I'm on Evorel Conti patches, been on them for the last few years, before that I had Mirena & Evorel patch.  But I do identify with everything you've said.  Hope it does the trick for you.
I'll have a look at the other thread.
Thanks.

[vintagefiend]

thanks jelly B

i should have said, i'm on estradot patch which i think is the same -synthetic- oestradiol as evorel.
i don't have womb so no need for progestogens
i think the gel- estrogel- is the only oestrogen that's bio-identical and i have been on it and, at that time, had more of a sex drive/desire to initiate!

BUT!! V important to note that that was before my oophorectomy and i guess it's far more likely that's responsible for libido nose-dive.
i should have stuck with my gel but sometimes do silly things and it's just muddied the waters.

just to let you know, last night i- ahem- had quite lurid dreams
so that suggests things might be happening- unfortunately though, it's accompanied with panic awakening around 4am! i do hope this wears off as feel quite panicky at the mo.

good luck to you!

[vintagefiend]

sorry bit more to add - i've just found a previous convo i had with someone in which she states that she was on estrogel and didnt have a sex drive then 7 months later had testosterone topically and libido returned- so in her case the testosterone, not the estrogel made all the dfference.

i think i'm saying, ignore my little theory on different types of oestrogen- i'm 99% sure it's the ovary removal that has caused my libido to drop and not the fact that i swapped gel to patch a few months ago!

[Marchlove]

Hi All
Could someone kindly explain how I can access the Testosterone here we go in Private Lives?
Been using testosterone gel for 3 months and made no difference to libido or energy, so wanted to see how others users are getting on!
x

[vintagefiend]

Hi Marchlove and welcome
are you able to click on to the prvate lives and sexuality section- blue text?
if so, the testosterone thread is about number 11 at the moment
hopefully you can get on
i never quite know where to post e testosterone cos threads in this section are obvs a bit more current and visible, but that is a purpose-built thread in the private lives section!!
if you don't get much traffic there then can always post in main section- it s a really good thread to read through anyway- so you can get an idea as to how women have found testosterone
have you had ovaries out? hope you don' mind my asking
i had mine out nov 2020 and am now trying to get to grips with testogel- i seem to be v sensitive to it and not in a good way- so am going to have to use minuscule amounts!
i think your situation- where it appears to be doing nothing- would chime with a few women and i have read that it can take 4, 5 even 6 months to become effective so hopefully you'll get there

[Marchlove]

Thank you Vintagefriend.
Only just seen your kind reply as still getting to grips with how to use mm
as I’m a bit useless with techie stuff!
No, not had ovaries removed and of course I don’t mind you asking.
The main thing I was looking for was to see if any members use a natural aromatase inhibitor with the testosterone? This seems quite common in the states from what I’ve been reading. Things like nettle root, saw palmetto and resveratrol
I can’t see a private lives and sexuality section but that may be because I haven’t done 10 posts yet.

[sheila99]

Assuming you're an nhs patient you're unlikely to be prescribed testosterone unless you have problems with libido (mine was zero) though perhaps they will treat you differently because you have no ovaries. Because there isn't a product licensed for women it usually has to be prescribed by a specialist so you could ask for a referral to a menopause clinic. Aromatase inhibitors don't seem to be used here (I had to look it up) but they won't prescribe T until your oestrogen levels are optimal by which time I think you don't need it.

[VictoryV]

Hi Marchlove,

That’s interesting about A.I’s being used. I know a few men who use them but not come across any women. Are the women that you’ve read about peri or post menopause? I’d think post as the ovaries would still be producing estrogen but I’m not 100%.
I don’t know much about A.I’s, I’d be concerned about it blocking all estrogen. However it could be good for certain Breast Cancer survivors to get the T benefits whilst avoiding estrogen. I watched an AMS podcast and in the Q&A a medic asked if T treatment was only for women taking estrogen, the answer was a definite No. Interesting stuff!

[Marchlove]

Hi Victory V.
I’m not sure if they are peri or post but I’m researching stuff on AI’s and when I have more info I will post some links x