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[Emzib0b]

That price sounds expensive to me! I would wait until you see Dr Paula Briggs. She is ( in my view) one of the best menopause practitioners out there ( I am under her also). When I saw her in June last year, she prescribe Tostron, which lasts a year. I saw on the NHS after a private appointment about a year previously. She is great at email correspondence and she arranged my NHS appointment within a few weeks, after I mentioned i was experiencing issues.

I wouldn’t buy testosterone online personally. Can you afford to see Dr Paula privately at the Sefton suite, aintree?

Hi Nas,

I have a private appointment booked with Dr Briggs at the beginning of April. I was wondering if I could ask you a couple of questions if it’s not too much trouble?

Hope you feel better soon x

[Nas]

Hi Emz,
Yes go ahead, you can ask any questions ( I hope to be able to answer them!) x

[Emzib0b]

Hi Emz,
Yes go ahead, you can ask any questions ( I hope to be able to answer them!) x

Thanks Nas 

I haven’t seen a specialist privately before so I don’t know what to expect. I phoned the Sefton Suite to book my appointment about five weeks ago. I haven’t had a letter or email to confirm the details of my appointment. Is that normal and will I receive anything closer to the time?

I realise Dr Briggs won’t have any access to my NHS medical records so I don’t know what to bring to the appointment. I was wondering about printing out the NHS referral letter my GP wrote in November, my Medichecks blood results and any NHS hormone blood test results I’ve had in the last year or two. I was also going to make some notes about my symptoms and frequency of cycles. Do you think that will be enough?

I’ve reached the three month mark on my new dose of Evorel (50mcg). I don’t know whether to go back to my GP for another review or hang on until this appointment. I don’t know if I’ve replaced sufficient Oestrogen yet to be considered for Testosterone!

[Nas]

Hi Emz 😀
Don’t worry about not having a letter, but maybe give the Sefton suite a call and request a confirmation email, for piece of mind?

I think bloods test results are key, as is a summary of your existing symptoms and any HRT you have gave been taking previously ( which is evorel 50?) 

What I would consider doing, is to try and request an oestrogen blood test ASAP. Then, you can explain that you have been on the 50 for 3 months but still remain symptomatic? This will either be because you aren’t absorbing or you need the next dose up ( 75). If you feel the symptoms are largely under control, then just request testosterone ( Dr Briggs is all for testosterone for low libido!).

She isn’t a fan of large oestrogen doses ( but that could be just because I’ve had breast cancer in the past  and she’s erring on the side of caution).

I guess if you feel that your only remaining symptoms are lack of libido and/ or cognitive function, then you could just ask for testosterone and continue with the 50 patch? If you feel that there’s still room for improvement oestrogen wise, then perhaps ask your GP to trial you on the 75 patch?

It’s all about how you feel at the end of the day. Dr Briggs would prescribe testosterone no issue if that’s all you wanted.

Good luck 🤞😀

[Emzib0b]

Hi Emz 😀
Don’t worry about not having a letter, but maybe give the Sefton suite a call and request a confirmation email, for piece of mind?

I think bloods test results are key, as is a summary of your existing symptoms and any HRT you have gave been taking previously ( which is evorel 50?) 

What I would consider doing, is to try and request an oestrogen blood test ASAP. Then, you can explain that you have been on the 50 for 3 months but still remain symptomatic? This will either be because you aren’t absorbing or you need the next dose up ( 75). If you feel the symptoms are largely under control, then just request testosterone ( Dr Briggs is all for testosterone for low libido!).

She isn’t a fan of large oestrogen doses ( but that could be just because I’ve had breast cancer in the past  and she’s erring on the side of caution).

I guess if you feel that your only remaining symptoms are lack of libido and/ or cognitive function, then you could just ask for testosterone and continue with the 50 patch? If you feel that there’s still room for improvement oestrogen wise, then perhaps ask your GP to trial you on the 75 patch?

It’s all about how you feel at the end of the day. Dr Briggs would prescribe testosterone no issue if that’s all you wanted.

Good luck 🤞😀

Thanks so much for the info and suggestions. I had a Medichecks blood test about six weeks ago, so I was about eight weeks in on the 50mcg dose of Evorel. My Oestrogen was 260, Free Androgen Index 0.6%. I wondering whether Dr Briggs would ask for more bloods when I had my appointment?

I’m at the point where I really can’t tell if how I’m feeling is down to needing a bit more Oestrogen, having low testosterone, or just a continuation/exacerbation of problems that were already present before perimenopause? Increasing to 50mcg in Nov definitely helped as the horrible mood rollercoaster has more or less levelled out again.

[SWJ]

Hello,

I have just read this post with interest and I wondered what the results were with Superdrug? 

I am currently trying to decide whether to go back to my private menopause specialist for testosterone or get it via Superdrug.

The specialist (who is amazing but v pricey!) has said she is happy to prescribe me testosterone for low libido. Unfortunately it will cost me a lot of money for that consultation. She said I need to speak to her so she can explain everything to me and monitor me.

I'm 48 and currently on HRT - one pump of Eostrogel daily and 100mg of utrogestan vaginally very day (I am super sensitive to and intolerant of progesterone, I wish I didn't have to take it), even though I still have periods as I am very sensitive to hormonal fluctuations and suffer from terrible migraines (so she put me on this continuous regime to try and prevent any large fluctuations).

Anyway, I have just sent a request for Testogel to Superdrug and I'm wondering if they will A. Just prescribe it to me without the blood test and B. If they do prescribe it to me, do they monitor you? Do you have to have blood tests to check your levels?

I am beyond confused and I just want my mojo back without spending several hundreds of pounds if possible!!

If anyone can let me know how they got on with Superdrug that would be very helpful!!!

Thank you.

[Emzib0b]

Hello,

I have just read this post with interest and I wondered what the results were with Superdrug? 

I am currently trying to decide whether to go back to my private menopause specialist for testosterone or get it via Superdrug.

The specialist (who is amazing but v pricey!) has said she is happy to prescribe me testosterone for low libido. Unfortunately it will cost me a lot of money for that consultation. She said I need to speak to her so she can explain everything to me and monitor me.

I'm 48 and currently on HRT - one pump of Eostrogel daily and 100mg of utrogestan vaginally very day (I am super sensitive to and intolerant of progesterone, I wish I didn't have to take it), even though I still have periods as I am very sensitive to hormonal fluctuations and suffer from terrible migraines (so she put me on this continuous regime to try and prevent any large fluctuations).

Anyway, I have just sent a request for Testogel to Superdrug and I'm wondering if they will A. Just prescribe it to me without the blood test and B. If they do prescribe it to me, do they monitor you? Do you have to have blood tests to check your levels?

I am beyond confused and I just want my mojo back without spending several hundreds of pounds if possible!!

If anyone can let me know how they got on with Superdrug that would be very helpful!!!

Thank you.

Hello SWJ,

I didn’t end up going down the Superdrug route and opted to have an appointment with a private menopause specialist. After chatting with the ladies on this forum and giving it a lot of thought I decided I didn’t feel comfortable trying a medication without being assessed and monitored by a GP or consultant. I have a prescription for Androfeme but we are trying to get my symptoms under control with a higher dose of Oestrogen before adding in Testosterone.

Superdrug won’t prescribe testosterone without a recent blood test to show what your baseline level is. You can order a test kit from Superdrug (I think it’s £50) or perhaps if your GP is willing they could test your levels? If you went down the Superdrug route I imagine they would insist on seeing blood results at certain intervals in order to continue prescribing it.

Best of luck whichever route you pick!

[SWJ]

Hi Emzib0B

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. The Superdrug route does seem all very easy and very cheap, wishful thinking perhaps that a 50 quid test and an 18 pound prescription could potentially be the answer to the baffling, sudden and thoroughly depressing disappearance of my libido. And I can't drink wine anymore, this all seems like a shit joke that nature is playing on me and it's really getting me down 

I'll wait and see if any other lovely MM members have any light to shed on the Superdrug conundrum but I'm veering towards the private meno Dr at the moment $$$$$$$$$  .

Thanks again.

SWJ

[Perinowpost]

Re cost of testosterone my GP pal told me a full box of testim is very cheap, costs only £30 (from memory). A full box lasts me over a year. Charging more is just money making.

Apparently a new testosterone patch designed specifically for women is on its way on the nhs. Can’t wait x

[Taz2]

Can you share any info about this patch Perinowpost? I hadn't heard that. Sounds just what is needed!

Taz x

[Perinowpost]

Hi Taz2

It was on the news just over a month ago.  Here's the link: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/03/first-testosterone-patch-for-menopausal-women-to-begin-clinical-trials-this-year. I hope I've done it right x

[Taz2]

Yes you have. Thank you. Fingers crossed that the first trial is successful. Wonder how many years it will take. I notice it's for post meno women only which is a shame as libido can disappear before becoming post meno but it is a step in the right direction. British company too!

Taz x 

[Emma]

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