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[Zoe]

Hi all and hope these strange days between Christmas and New Year are going well! 

I have an HRT review in a few weeks and am thinking specifically about changing from Androfeme to a gel type of testosterone. The chief driver is the ongoing cost of Androfeme. I need about 6 tubes of the stuff a year since I am on 0.75ml a day.

So, my questions...

How easily did your GP prescribe it (or not)? I am pretty sure I am going to face 'computer says no' again even though the private menopause specialist will say it is necessary. But worth a try.

If you have used Androfeme and another type of testosterone, did you find the other type was stronger than Androfeme?

Lastly, if you had to buy testosterone gel (eg Testogel) privately, what was the rough cost?

Thanks!

[sheila99]

Yes you will have problems getting it from your gp. Androfemme isn't available on the nhs but you can get Tostran or testogel, both much stronger as they are designed for men. If your private doctor had prescribed one of them you might have a chance of a gp prescription but I can't see them substituting a different and much stronger product. You can ask for a referral to an NHS menopause clinic and get it that way. I couldn't find a way to buy it online as it's prescription only.

[Zoe]

Thanks Sheila, I am pretty sure my private menopause specialist will be happy prescribing Testim or Testogel or similar and so I could buy it privately.

However, since testosterone is as important to me as utrogestan and oestrogel (which I get on NHS), I feel the GP should be willing to prescribe it on the NHS with the menopause specialist's say so. But I suspect they won't.

Waiting list for NHS menopause clinic is over a year long!

[sheila99]

It isn't the gps fault. Because there is no product licensed for women they have to take personal responsibility if anything goes wrong so you can't really blame them for refusing. As long as a specialist takes responsibility for it they should prescribe so perhaps your specialist could write to the gp, it shouldn't make a difference that they're private not NHS. My Tostran lasts about 8 months and I think testogel is similar so even if you have to pay for it it should be much cheaper than androfemme.

[Zoe]

The GP knows I am on Androfeme and the menopause specialist writes a letter after every review. I should have said that the review, sorry, is with the specialist not the GP. The GP also has all blood test results used to monitor testosterone levels and can see that there are no issues.

There was never an issue before since Androfeme is not available on the NHS but if I switch then I think the GP should at least consider prescribing a different type of testosterone (at an equivalent dose) on the specialist's recommendation. My point is that I am pretty sure they won't, even though the rest of my HRT is on the NHS.

I just wondered if anyone had any experience of getting it on the NHS. Particularly anyone living in Scotland.

My other questions are about strength of equivalent doses, and cost to buy on private prescription.

[Dotty]

Hi my GP won’t prescribe testosterone even though my private specialist will.

I get a box of Testogel or a canister of Tostran for £60 and it lasts me a year. x

[Zoe]

Dotty- thanks. That is a considerable saving on Androfeme. I think I will go the private route and avoid the NHS though will still sound out the GP just in case.

[Dotty]

Hi if I could get it on the NHS I could get a canister of Tostran for one prescription charge. But I don’t think £60 is too much to pay. X

[sheila99]

Dotty would it make a difference if it's an NHS specialist from an NHS meno clinic? I get mine on the nhs though I have to remain on the meno clinic's books.

[Dotty]

My GP said it was practice policy not to prescribe testosterone to women . This was a few years ago and the policy may have changed but I’ve never gone back to it. xx

[Clarella]

It appears Superdrug will assess you and sell you a test and a prescription if you’re passed. As you’ve been on it before you may find they’re happy to make the switch. I think the test is mandatory.

[Zoe]

Thanks Clarella. I will also have a chat with my pharmacist to see what it would cost from him if I get a private prescription. He and I have been on a learning journey together since he had never dispensed oestrogel or utrogestan prior to my prescription. Before I had these on NHS prescription (free in Scotland), I could get oestrogel for £7 a bottle on private prescription from him.

I think we are just caught in the middle of a shift in thinking around HRT and so there is not a consistent approach nationwide.

I have no problem with a GP carefully considering a recommendation for testosterone from a specialist and then, based on their own medical research and judgement, saying 'no' they wouldn't be comfortable prescribing it, and explaining WHY. But have real issues with those who just say 'no' because it is not on a list on their computer screen! (Like mine.)

What about women who just can't afford private treatment?

Anyway, rant over. 

[Cobweb4moth]

Hi Zoe, 3 years ago i  approached my gp for testosterone,  they were jot keen as I was not on hrt however  they wrote to the meno clinic who gave the go ahead, I didn't go ahead with it however over the last year I have been on both hrt and testogel which my gp in oban has prescribed,  I will move back to Edinburgh  soon and am hopeful  they will continue  my prescription.

[Zoe]

That is helpful to know Cobweb4moth. Thank you!

[SarahtheFlower]

Hi, Reading this with interest as have an appointment with a GP about getting prescribed testosterone later this month. 

I had a quick look at the Superdrug website.  It says you need to have a GP prescription for testosterone and then "Once you’ve started your treatment, and you’ve been using it for 6 months without any problems, you can then reorder your treatment from a service like Superdrug Online Doctor."  But I think this is for men's problems anyway.   It's annoying how when you search for anything testosterone related online it comes up with erectile disfunction.   I don't suffer from that haha....

It's reasuring to read that a private prescription might only cost £60, i would't mind that (not forgetting the c.£200 for the private appointment of course!).

I've had a few rather negative experiences with doctors and I really don't like having to go and see them! I'm not really sure how to handle the appointment...    I believe they will only prescripte T for low libido, but it's actually for the other benefits that I want it - I still get brain fog and lack motivation and struggle with my weight and (might sound silly) but my creativity seems to have evaporated.   Hoping  T is the missing piece of the puzzle.....

Sarah.