Menopause Matters Forum
Forum Guide and News => Podcasts => Topic started by: Emma on September 17, 2024, 11:31:45 AM
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Youtube video, 1 hour long.
https://www.youtube.com/live/At1pNcq5ky8?si=B5gpgNES_zZhgigB
Prof. Susan Davis is a world leader in testosterone research and women’s health, particularly around menopause.
There are many claims made about its benefits and being the ‘missing link’ in hormone replacement.
But do the claims stack up? Or is research simply behind what practitioners see in their clinics every day?
Here Prof. Davis talks us through what we know about the role of testosterone in terms of treatment for low libido and what the research tells us so far on other areas like heart health, cognition and brain fog, muscle mass and metabolic disorders like diabetes.
Tune in - it’s a must watch!
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This video is excellent. It has confirmed my feelings that Testosterone HRT isn't the magical wand we have been lead to believe. For libido it works a treat for me, but the brain fog, lethargy, all those things I needed help with, that I was told to take it for. It didn't do anything. When I said I was still struggling with those symptons 6 months later, I was told to keep increasing the dose if I wanted to see a result...Over a year later, it didn't work and after listening to Prof. Susan Davis, chances are it never would.
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Perhaps some claims have been exaggerated but the biggest thing I took away from it was the same attitude that runs thoughout the NHS and the bms. Lack of evidence = doesn't work, doesn't work for the majority = you can't try it even though it might work for you. Without it I'm continually pulling muscles and can't do my job. I don't really care if there are only a few women affected this way, I still want the treatment that works for me. Fortunately I had zero libido too so was able to get it but not not for the reason I needed it.
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I haven't yet watched this video, I am 2 weeks into testosterone.
David Sackett the father of "Evidence based medicine" says clinical evidence is evidence as well as randomised control studies.
While lack of sexual desire is one symptom I asked for testosterone for, it's not the most major one.
Libido is joy of life, not just sex.
Lack of motivation and lethargy and psychological symptoms not sorted by O and P are also why I asked.
I had to go private, as the NHS said my bloods were normal.
The private doctor analysed my NHS bloods on T and explained beautifully why T was not available much in my own blood.
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Perhaps some claims have been exaggerated but the biggest thing I took away from it was the same attitude that runs thoughout the NHS and the bms. Lack of evidence = doesn't work, doesn't work for the majority = you can't try it even though it might work for you. Without it I'm continually pulling muscles and can't do my job. I don't really care if there are only a few women affected this way, I still want the treatment that works for me. Fortunately I had zero libido too so was able to get it but not not for the reason I needed it.
I agree - it is lack of research - as we know you can read data or the lack of it, and manipulate/ interpret it what ever way you want. There needs to be more quality research. All drugs and life styles for that matter have risks and benefits. How do you quantify energy and muscle strength and cognition as there are so many variables with each person. Sleep, diet, movement, other medications etc. Each body has its own genetics affecting how things may or may not work for you. The placebo effect is a a well known phenomenon with every drug.
Also the NHS do not monitor Testosterone therapy adequately and the majority of prescribers do not know enough about it. I have to monitor myself. I suspect my GP would not know what a SHBG is. We are still not training GP's adequately in regards to HRT. Yes caution needs to be exercised, but just because there is no evidence because there are no decent trials - does not mean it doesn't work. We have T receptors all over our body. There are no drugs to my knowledge including HRT that are miracle workers .
PMxx