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[pepperminty]

Hi All,

I have been reading about the fact that everyone puts T in different places - feet, arms , stomach, bottom etc

Is there any data to show which area is the best? I have read arms are no good as they skew blood tests?

PMxx

[Joaniepat]

I don't imagine there is any data as it is not licensed for use in females. Nobody would fund the research to do it. I would say you are right about not putting on arms due to where the blood is drawn from, but perhaps those who rub it on wrists/inner arms will be along to comment.
JP x

[Hurdity]

Hi All,

I have been reading about the fact that everyone puts T in different places - feet, arms , stomach, bottom etc

Is there any data to show which area is the best? I have read arms are no good as they skew blood tests?

PMxx

Hi pepperminty

To add that there has been research for the formely licensed testosterone patch - Intrinsa - which compared absoprtion from application site of buttocks vs front of abdomen and found 12 % lower exposure to free T on buttocks compared with front abdomen, and though the differences are small, recommended application to abdomen.

I realise this is different from gel which is easdier to apply to all sorts of body parts, and as Joaniepat says - there is no research done.

Androfeme - the T cream produced in Aus for women says apply to outer thigh or buttock.....

The main thing is to avoid anywhere near breasts and personally I would avoid anywhere near genitalia in case of adverse effects! In addition - it doesn't really matter if there is, say, lower absorption from the foot than the buttock, provided one is consistent and then you arrive at a dose which is right for you.

Hurdity x

[pepperminty]

I don't imagine there is any data as it is not licensed for use in females. Nobody would fund the research to do it. I would say you are right about not putting on arms due to where the blood is drawn from, but perhaps those who rub it on wrists/inner arms will be along to comment.
JP x

Thanks Joaniepat,

I was putting it on my inner arms for about 2 weeks ( moving areas periodically) and then thought I will do a blood test as been on it a while, to see where I am. I remembered that topical estrogen skews  a pin prick test , so thought I would change to top buttocks then I started to think about areas of application in general. I wondered if the makers of androfem had done any research?

PMx

[pepperminty]

Hi All,

I have been reading about the fact that everyone puts T in different places - feet, arms , stomach, bottom etc

Is there any data to show which area is the best? I have read arms are no good as they skew blood tests?

PMxx

Hi pepperminty

To add that there has been research for the formely licensed testosterone patch - Intrinsa - which compared absoprtion from application site of buttocks vs front of abdomen and found 12 % lower exposure to free T on buttocks compared with front abdomen, and though the differences are small, recommended application to abdomen.

I realise this is different from gel which is easdier to apply to all sorts of body parts, and as Joaniepat says - there is no research done.

Androfeme - the T cream produced in Aus for women says apply to outer thigh or buttock.....

The main thing is to avoid anywhere near breasts and personally I would avoid anywhere near genitalia in case of adverse effects! In addition - it doesn't really matter if there is, say, lower absorption from the foot than the buttock, provided one is consistent and then you arrive at a dose which is right for you.

Hurdity x

Thanks Hurdity,

I have been moving around from inner arm, top buttocks, inner knee and arch of foot. I have been doing  fairly regular small petite pea size blob . I started with 3 days a week and now doing 5 to 7 days . My packet of testogel lasts just over 20 days , so I am using a tiny amount. But I have noticed improvement in energy and my eyes are less dry. 
I wanted to start low as I would rather be extra cautious. I had an attempt at starting previously with T but had issues with a burning Hoo Haa - so stopped.
Anyway my blood test is in a couple of weeks and I can see where I am. As far as the NHS are concerned I have been on T for over a year - but no one has mentioned testing! I am doing the T test myself.

PMxx

[Turkish delight]

Hia,

I've started to put it on my wrists, mainly because it caused stubborn increased hair to grow on my calf where
I was putting it. I laser my whole body at home and am now almost hair-free everywhere except on my calf from
previous application of Testogel.

Can someone please explain what is meant by "skewing blood tests" if on wrists? I just don't get it.
I keep reading this on this site and no one has explained why.


TD

[Tulip256]

I would have thought the only issue with wrists is becuase it is near where the bloods are taken so their may be more in the bloom stream locally. It probably depends though on how long you leave between application and the test.

I am going for the side of the foot and have not noticed any hair growth. I read it is better absorbed in areas of high vascularity and noticed a lot of small veins there. I also read in areas of high body fat (e.g buttocks, thighs) it is more likely to convert to oestrogen.

[sheila99]

Anywhere I've applied it that has even the smallest insignificant hairs has turned into a jungle. Whatever the guidelines say I'd keep away from anywhere that has hair follicles even if it means adjusting the dose. Pass the scythe...

[Turkish delight]

I would have thought the only issue with wrists is becuase it is near where the bloods are taken so their may be more in the bloom stream locally. It probably depends though on how long you leave between application and the test.

I am going for the side of the foot and have not noticed any hair growth. I read it is better absorbed in areas of high vascularity and noticed a lot of small veins there. I also read in areas of high body fat (e.g buttocks, thighs) it is more likely to convert to oestrogen.

Hia,

Thanks for clearing that up, though I still don't fully understand because bloods are not taken from the wrist are they,
but from the top of the forearm/inner elbow crease area.

My feet are quite dry so can't see me absorbing anything there, even the thick emollient cream I apply regularly.

TD

[chopsuey]

I would have thought the only issue with wrists is becuase it is near where the bloods are taken so their may be more in the bloom stream locally. It probably depends though on how long you leave between application and the test.

I am going for the side of the foot and have not noticed any hair growth. I read it is better absorbed in areas of high vascularity and noticed a lot of small veins there. I also read in areas of high body fat (e.g buttocks, thighs) it is more likely to convert to oestrogen.

Hia,

Thanks for clearing that up, though I still don't fully understand because bloods are not taken from the wrist are they,
but from the top of the forearm/inner elbow crease area.

My feet are quite dry so can't see me absorbing anything there, even the thick emollient cream I apply regularly.

TD

I don't understand it either but there was a research paper on testing for oestradiol levels and if blood was taken from the elbow crease when the gel had been applied to a thigh, levels were significantly higher if a bare hand was used to apply the   gel than if a glove was worn.   

[Turkish delight]

Hmm!

I must be dumb bcz none of this is adding up to mean anything lol!

I do get that using your hands to apply would mean you absorb more than with a glove, but I'm still missing the part that connects wrists apposed to thigh skewing blood test.

Lets just say I think I'm now happy in my ignorance and put this to bed

Btw Is anyone applying gel with a glove lol?

TD

[pepperminty]

Hi All,

I use a cosmetic spatula to apply T . I squirt a blob on it and use it to rub it in. I suspect that any topical drug can spread and be more concentrated in the tissues near an application sight which would effect the readings.
I think I am going to move around application sights with lower abdomen, inside knee and mostly foot. As Tulip256 said -The area of the fat eg -on the foot arch has thin skin and correlates regarding the more fatty areas of he body may convert to estrogen, so may absorb less.
I wonder how long it takes on average for women to notice an increased hair growth at the sight of application, weeks of months?

PMXX

[Turkish delight]

Hia PMXX,

It was months before the hair growth began for me, more than 6.

Now that I have changed from calf to wrist for months the hair on the calf is
still hanging on and growing. Resistant to my laser hair removal too atm and the
wrist has not sprouted.

I reckon it will eventually get the signal not to grow on my calf now that I have moved
the site of the application and served it with the eviction papers to cease and desist

I don't think you're going to outwit the hair from growing by moving the site around, it will catch up
and become wise to your little game eventually and will grow stubborn hair where there are follicles,
but it will take a long long time to come and then go if you stop putting it in that spot.

TD

[chopsuey]

It's said that a reservoir of topical hormone products forms around the application site, so that would probably skew any blood tests taken near to that area, and as pepperminty says, it can spread. I would have thought with T though, compared to Oestrogel, it's such a small amount, it couldn't realistically spread from wrist to as far as the elbow, so probably wouldn't distort any blood tests imho.

I apply Androfeme to my upper thigh, as advised by the manufacturer, at the recommended dose. My last blood test showed slightly high total T levels but also higher than expected oestradiol levels (given all the issues with Oestrogel). So I'm happy that I'm absorbing T well ( and not getting any side effects or hairiness)  but unsure as to the cause of high oestradiol - conversion from T or skewed from applying to my arm? I will be doing a further test not applying E to my arms and see. Nothing is straightforward is it?

[pepperminty]

Hia PMXX,

It was months before the hair growth began for me, more than 6.

Now that I have changed from calf to wrist for months the hair on the calf is
still hanging on and growing. Resistant to my laser hair removal too atm and the
wrist has not sprouted.

I reckon it will eventually get the signal not to grow on my calf now that I have moved
the site of the application and served it with the eviction papers to cease and desist

I don't think you're going to outwit the hair from growing by moving the site around, it will catch up
and become wise to your little game eventually and will grow stubborn hair where there are follicles,
but it will take a long long time to come and then go if you stop putting it in that spot.

TD

Thanks,

I will check regularly for unwanted hair growth. Since menopause my body hair has dwindled somewhat, so fingers crossed. No unwanted side effects yet.

PMX