Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Bellababe on October 12, 2020, 08:03:51 PM

Title: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: Bellababe on October 12, 2020, 08:03:51 PM
Any advice welcome! Saw meno specialist consultant at NHS hospital having been referred to by a doctor who couldn’t answer my questions. This dr was not my original registered dr, who I’ve only ever seen once when I joined the practice.  The consultant wrote to my registered doctor asking to be prescribed testosterone for low labido and energy levels. But the registered dr has refused to prescribe it. No explanation given just told to speak to consultant. I know it’s an off license medication but if a specialist is advising a patient to be prescribed it surely dr should oblige???
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: Flan747 on October 13, 2020, 07:03:41 AM
I always thought your GP should follow the specialist advice! I am in opposite position my specialist won’t recommend testosterone until I have my HRT sorted which I feel is wrong! I have read so many stories that they are prescribed together! I would push for prescription if I was you
Good luck
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: sheila99 on October 13, 2020, 10:06:41 AM
So your gp thinks he knows better than the specialist? I would complain. If a heart specialist had recommended a particular medication there's no way the gp would have refused. It's all bureaucracy because there's no testosterone product licensed for women in the UK but as long as the specialist is responsible for your treatment it should be OK.
Flan747 I think your specialist is right and there's a medical reason for this. I think (but not certain) it's that if you have testosterone when you're deficient in oestrogen it gets converted.
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: Flan747 on October 13, 2020, 10:47:50 AM
Thank you for that Sheila99 I didn’t know that so that now makes more sense!
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: CLKD on October 13, 2020, 01:02:14 PM
If U saw a consultant privately I can understand a GP saying 'no'.  However, ring the Consultant and explain that for some reason your GP doesn't agree with the prescription.  They may well know each other anyway, it's a quite a closed community overall.  It may be budget restraints, it certainly shouldn't be personal preference.

Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: Bellababe on October 20, 2020, 07:18:55 PM
Thank you all for your thoughts. I spoke to the NHS memo clinic and the consultant has prescribed it through the hospital. This is good news and I’m pleased. Considering writing to the Dr to ask why he decided not to prescribe it - was it the cost to the surgery? A lack of knowledge and understanding of the medication? I can’t help wonder if a specialist had prescribed it to a man whether the Dr would have refused to authorise it? Just a thought....
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: CLKD on October 20, 2020, 08:27:03 PM
A good one but why through the Hospital ......... is that where the Menopause Clinic is held?

Is the Constant going to contact the GP? 
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: sheila99 on October 20, 2020, 09:33:01 PM
I've been in a similar situation, meno clinic prescribed the first one, gp (the meno specialist  :() then expected me to go back to the clinic for subsequent prescriptions. I'd recommend you complain about it now or you could find you have difficulty getting it again. Try the manager - gp needs to explain why he won't follow the advice of a specialist who knows more about than he does.
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: Bellababe on October 25, 2020, 05:45:01 PM
Thank you for advice I am going to write to practice manager and take it from there. I now have my prescription through the meno clinic specialist at a NHS pharmacy and feel very lucky. I also don’t want any further problems like this if it helps and I need my next prescription.
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: CLKD on October 25, 2020, 06:54:24 PM
Let the Consultant know?
Title: Re: Testosterone-specialist says yes, Dr says no!
Post by: Annie0710 on October 25, 2020, 08:00:44 PM
Why did the GP bother referring you if they were going to ignore what the Specialist said ?   Grrrrrr makes me angry things like that.  I would complain x