Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: lisalashes on October 31, 2015, 11:06:58 PM
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Hi
I am 44yo and in surgical menopause, (have had oophorectomy)
Ive been prescribed testogel by my consultant for low libido but haven't really got a clue about the dosage....my prescription said to use half a sachet each day but i think that seems a lot...can any of you lovely ladies advise please? x
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Nope. Your Consultant/GP should have discussed the dosage with you. Do you have a pharmacist close by?
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I'm sure someone who is using testogel will be along soon to help lisa.
Taz x
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I was told petit pois size when i had.the tubes if that helps
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Anyone had testogel prescribed by their GP. Mine told me it wasn't available via the NHS ??
I agree, the amount I was told was a small pea size blob.
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Hi lisalashes
I was told the same amount - ie petit-pois although the difference between that and an ordinary pea when you squirt it onto your finger is anybody's guess!!
Half a sachet (ie 25 mg testosterone in 2.5 g gel) sounds like rather a lot unless it comes in different doses. My sachets are 5g gel containing 50 mg testosterone.
Also it may well depend on your situation ie as you are very young and in surgical menopause you will only be producing a small amount from your adrenal glands whereas I am early 60's post-menopausal and still have my ovaries - although the amount we produce does decline with age. Unfortunately it does seem that the dose is guesswork to some extent and there simply isn't enough research on it using the preparation made for men, and the testing of natural T levels in women, I gather (from gynae) is also problematic because at the lower end of the scale (which we are, compared with men) the test just is not sensitive enough.
Perhaps contact your consulatant again and query this if you are concerned? Personally I would want to start low and gradually build up although my gynae said it can take 4-5 months to achieve its full effect - (and maybe for some side effects eg undesirable male characteristics - to become apparent?).
As for being prescribed by GP - I think this is probably well nigh impossible unless you've had a hysterectomy. However with the new NICE Guidelines coming out, it will be interesting to see the first few cases of women being prescribed it off licence by their GPs ( as the guidelines suggest consideration should be given to prescribing T for women with low libido). I got a huge box of it with my first prescription in May - contains 30 sachets and I've still got half of them left! Probably much cheaper than on NHS but of course I did have to pay for the consultation.
Hurdity x
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I have just noticed that I have been prescribed Testim and not testogel........is that the same thing?
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They're essentially the same, Meeka. They're both testosterone gel (just different brands) and they're both the same strength. I've used both and have found no difference in them except that Testim has a scented smell which I don't like, so I prefer Testogel for that reason only. Otherwise there's no difference.
lisalashes - half a sachet daily seems a lot for a woman. A usual dose for a woman is about a tenth to a fifth of a sachet daily (or a quarter of a sachet every second day). Start with the smaller dose and adjust it to what feels best for you. I use a lower dose - a sachet lasts me for two weeks and I'm quite happy with that.
Thanks Joyce, I have been informed it will help my bone density as well as libido....
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Thanks everyone, i knew i could count on you girlies! ::)