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Author Topic: Testosterone - should I give up?  (Read 188 times)

cocopop100

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Testosterone - should I give up?
« on: December 26, 2025, 11:14:42 PM »

I added testosterone gel to my HRT regime (estrogel and utrogestan) about seven weeks ago as my level was right on the lowest point of the optimal range. I felt a promising energising effect within the first couple of days and thought “finally, this is it”! I was taking a small pea-sized amount and my consultant thought it was prob too small so increased it slightly for a few weeks. I then began getting morning headaches that wouldn’t shift and also felt quite rubbish. Presumed the dose was too high so reduced back down to the small pea. However the headaches now continued on the reduced dose. After another week I stopped and the next morning woke up without a headache for the first time in weeks. My question is - does this mean I can’t tolerate testosterone and should give up? Or is there a chance things might get better if I persist with the headaches? Or has anyone experienced this but found testosterone worked for them in another form etc? Thank you
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CLKD

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Re: Testosterone - should I give up?
« Reply #1 on: Today at 08:20:31 AM »

Your body probably doesn't require testosterone.  Or mayB. not as often? 
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bombsh3ll

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Re: Testosterone - should I give up?
« Reply #2 on: Today at 10:39:33 AM »

If there was some benefit on the lower dose and the headaches only started after increasing, it may be worth having a break and then reintroducing a small dose.

It also sounds like you may be using a male product and if so the androfeme version may be gentler for you but isn't funded by the NHS

It really depends what you are hoping the testosterone will do for you.

As an alternative there is also DHEA which I take sublingually. This can be bought without prescription and converts into testosterone in the body. Because it is a pro-hormone the delivery is more slow and steady than a sudden large peak of testosterone which is seen with transdermal.

This might suit you better although my reasons for using DHEA are cost, access and safety data for use with a combined oral contraceptive pill.

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