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[applejack]

My libido died in February 2023 and nothing can resurrect it.  It went suddenly, like a switch, which was weird as I thought it would just tail off but whatever.

I've read quite a few threads on here regarding how testosterone has helped but I think I've pulled the unlucky bucket as it's not working for me.

I'm on an oestrogen implant and my oestradiol level has been at 430 for ages now, so pretty good.  It was about 93 four years ago, so that's great but it's not helped my libido either.

I've been on tostran since Christmas, so coming up for three months.  A lot of women on here get fruity again after a few weeks but no.  Nope.  Nada. Zilch for me.

My FAI was 4 a while back, when all was well, which seems pretty healthy.  it dropped to 2 and since being on tostran it's gone up to 3.1% which, again, seems healthy so what on earth?

I honestly never thought this would matter but it really does. It's making me feel more unhappy than I expected since I've never really been all that rampant but it's totally dead and actually makes me feel quite flat generally.

The sudden off switch coincided with having my second implant put in last Feb (the implant has lasted over a year which is quite unusual but saves me money!).  The two couldn't be linked, surely?  The oestrogen level is - good?

[Joaniepat]

So you've been on it less than 3 months? I don't think that's necessarily long enough. I've seen several posts on another group saying that testosterone can be a slow burner and it can take several months to kick in. Maybe give it few months trial before you bin it.
JP x

[applejack]

Thank you Joaniepat that’s cheered me up.

I mean, of course I only pay attention to those posts that say it works really quickly 😵‍💫

Is there a limit to how high you go? I’ve seen the recommendation for a fai of 5 max but some threads have said it’s not hard and fast. I’m already hairy so have no fear of that side of things 🤣

[Joaniepat]

I'm not sure about how high you can go with the FAI, and these days the BMS recommends only looking at the total testosterone. They like to do the bloods to make sure you don't go beyond the "normal" female physiological range, but as ranges vary from one lab to another, I don't know where that leaves us. Perhaps other members can answer that one. As long as you stick to the recommended doses and don't develop androgenic side effects (don't whatever you do grow a willy 🤣) I would just wait it out for a few months longer. I hope it kicks in eventually, good luck!
JP x

[Suziemc]

I'm with Joaniepat- give it another 3 months before giving up. I'm 6 months in, started getting "tingles" after a couple of months but my libido didn't announce its return with a big firework moment which is kind of what I was hoping for! I still only get the occasional tingle but we've learned to seize the moment!

My own testosterone level was still pretty low at the 3mth test that Newson do. Their 'normal' range shows on my results as:

Testosterone  nmol/L 0.5 - 2.6 L
Free Androgen Index  0.5 - 6.5

Hopefully you'll get your own 'tingle' or however it manifests for you!

Suzie

[Armadillo]

Applejack you wrote

" I honestly never thought this would matter but it really does. It's making me feel more unhappy than I expected since I've never really been all that rampant but it's totally dead and actually makes me feel quite flat generally."

This  this is me.  I'm just over three weeks into testostogel and so far nothing.. it makes me feel incredibly sad.  No desires, no happy tingle when i kiss my husband.. The Gynae/ Menopause specialist who prescribed it was really hopeful but did say give it three months, that it suually works quicker but can take that length of time. 

My fingers are tightly crossed for all of us waiting for the sparkle

[applejack]

(don't whatever you do grow a willy 🤣)
JP x

That made me snort with laughter.

Thanks, Suzie.  I've not had a single tingle or desire to mingle at nearly three months. I'm ok if there are no big fireworks.  A soggy sparkler would be good enough to be honest. Fingers crossed we both get some progress.

It is sad isn't it, Armadillo.  And I had no idea how much it would impact my general joie de vivre. I'm very lucky in that I've got my HRT to a much better place than it was 3 years ago, so I feel a bit guilty complaining, but it's not just libido. The whole thing is tied in with a sense of feeling grey, and flat, and unemotional.  Not depression, but not nice either.

[Hurdity]

Hi applejack  - sorry to hear this and I'm with the others - when I was first prescribed T (in 2015) the specialist said it could take 4 or 5 months to fully take effect, though I can't exactly remember. I did start a long-running thread in Private Lives ( for obvious reasons!) called Testosterone Here we Go - though hasn't been posted on much recently. Not sure when I documented when the big O came back - but come back it did - and it had completely disappeared, and no tingle.

It's important to distinuish between libido - ie desire - and response. I would say the former has not really ever returned, but the latter has completely - which is reassuring - and I've no idea if that is typical.

Also what progesterone are you taking and how often? That is a libido dampener and although I'm sure there are women taking it continuously and also taking T, personally I would not do so. If you think back to the natural menstrual cycle, our libido rises along with our oestrogen and reaches its highes around ovulation when oestrogen is at its highest and when T also I think rises somewhat. After ovulation oestrogen crashes (and then has a slight rise before gfalling again) but in the second half of the cycle progesterone rises steadily to a peak and then falls  just before the period starts.

Hurdity x

[applejack]

Hi Hurdity, sorry it took so long to respond I've been mad busy at work.

The first place I went was your big thread and it was so useful. It seemed that most people had a response more quickly than mine but I was vaguely reassured that it can take time.

I had no idea about the difference between desire and response in terms of how libido is categorised, so that was really interesting.  Response is there (as in the big O), if considerably toned down compared to before but that isn't really a problem - it's good enough.  The problem is, I have no desire to get to that point, so I don't.  Without desire I don't feel like initiating anything or responding to my partner initiating anything so that's kind of stopped and we've been celibate for the past year (he is very, very understanding and also says his sex drive has fallen off as he's aged if not as drastically as mine so he kind of gets it).

My regime took a long time to settle as tablets caused bleeding and transdermals+utrogestan just didn't work out (and also caused bleeding - I was having hysteroscopies and all sorts and it got too stressful). in the end the only thing which has regulated the hot flushes etc without horrible side effects is an oestrogen implant + mirena. I hate having a mirena as it's not something I can control (neither is the implant and I'd prefer transdermals but them's the breaks).

[Sleepy123]

I’m so glad I found this thread!

I have also been having that ‘grey, flat, uninterested in life’ feeling!

Not sure if I am post-menopausal, as I haven’t had a period for about 4 years.

My HRT in general is quite stable, but I have given up on ever achieving the ‘Big O’ ever again!

My doctor seems reluctant to put me on Testosterone as I still have the ‘desire’ but then nothing really happens.

I’m not sure if I want Testosterone as I’ve heard it thins your hair etc.. but life in general is feeling very flat. Not sure if it is worth getting a second opinion?

[applejack]

I know we’re all different but my hair has actually been slightly thicker (weird) but the texture has been different and it’s more frizzy.

So you’re the opposite - desire but no “O” whereas I have “O” but no interest in getting there.

Bloody frustrating!!