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Menopause Matters magazine ISSUE 75 out now. (Spring issue, March 2024)

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Author Topic: Adding testosterone  (Read 2125 times)

Jasmine3234

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Adding testosterone
« on: July 17, 2018, 08:17:04 PM »

Hi, I am having a follow up in a few weeks with a menopause specialist and she had said that adding in testosterone can really help with brain fog etc.
(I was initally on Femoston 2/10 for 10 months which really disagreed with me.  I am now on Oestrogel 2 pumps and desogestrel x 2 daily)

I have read the treatment section on here about it, but I was wondering if anyone could say how they have felt having been prescribed it and also if they felt any untoward side effects.

Many thanks
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Hurdity

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2018, 07:37:03 AM »

Hi there Jasmine - have a look at this long-running thread in the Private Lives Section about testosterone - it meanders off now and again but comes back to the topic! Also if you do a search for testosterone on the home page of the forum or the All Things Menopause section you will find a lot of threads come up.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,27959.0.html

Dosage is important re the different products so here is another thread:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,39588.msg631304.html#msg631304

Also the leaflet on T produced by the Chelsea and Westminster hospital:
http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/womens-health-services/gynaecology-services/menopause-and-pms-clinics/links/Testosteronereplacementforfemaleandrogendeficiency092017CWAGREED.pdf

I'm not sure about it being prescribed just for brain fog though  ??? but I presume if your meno consultant advises this then must be OK! However if you are taking high doses of progestogens all the time then could this not also give rise to some unwanted progestogenic side effects eg brain fog? Personally i would want to be taking bio-(=body-)identical progesterone and on a cyclical basis before starting testosterone but there isn't enough research on this.

Lack of libido is the classic symptom - but maybe the desogestrel could cause this too? Not sure about that one. Also fatigue and especially muscle pain and tiredness after exercise ( more than expected).

If your consultant prescribes this though - why not go for it - once you've read up on the threads here.

Let us know the outcome :)

Hurdity x
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Jasmine3234

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2018, 12:38:14 PM »

Thanks so much for that x  I'm off for a read  :)
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Hurdity

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2018, 01:24:07 PM »

PS I've been taking it (applying it) for 3 + years  - libido or rather response, vastly improved (no comparison with before T), tiredness and muscle aches after exercise also negligible - or rather as expected for my age (mid 60's) and fitness level but don;t feel shattered and unable to move as before if I exerted myself doing fitess classes, gardening etc! No brain fog!!! However I take oestrogen on cycle with progesterone every 6-8 weeks - so that keeps my head clear :)

Hurdity x
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Jasmine3234

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2018, 08:30:18 PM »

Hi Hurdity, that was quite some read but thank you.

On my original post I did say brain fog "ETC".  I probably should have explained about the crushing fatigue, up one minute down the next - mostly the cognitive stuff.

My main worry is adding something else in after changing from Fem 2/10 to Oestrogel 2 pumps with desogestrel x 2.  I know this isn't licensed but I think I was given this I had been on desogestrel for 16 years with no problems.  In fact I am really upset that I wasn't allowed to add in the Oestrogel in the first place as this would have stopped 10 months of utter hell on Femoston for me.

I am feeling much better on this regime and I have followed you advice on my previous post about NOT increasing the Oestrogel dose until I see my Consultant in 4 weeks. 

I am not so worried about androgenic side effects, it was more nausea, headaches etc etc which has settled down quite well now.

I'm looking forward to your reply.

Thank you again  xxx   :) :-*
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Dotty

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2018, 07:27:35 AM »

Hi Jasmine I'm on 4 pumps of Oestrogel, Utrogestan and Tostran (1 pump 4 days a week.)

My main menopause symptoms were total exhaustion and nausea and I couldn't concentrate on anything . I'm now fine and don't have any side effects at all. You can increase the Oestrogel up to 4 pumps. X
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Annie0710

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2018, 08:28:45 AM »

Hi

Testosterone has really helped my brain fog, amongst other things

Give it a try, nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that jazz xx
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Dotty

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2018, 08:48:04 AM »

Hi Annie. Do you use Tostran every day? X
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Jasmine3234

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2018, 02:26:32 PM »

Thanks so much ladies, that has really given me some hope  :)
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Annie0710

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2018, 01:00:40 PM »

Hi Annie. Do you use Tostran every day? X

I did originally use it everyday but my new surgery has taken it off my scripts until he hears from the gynae so I reduced to 4x week.   My energy has slumped but libido is on a high right now and brain fog seems ok x
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Dotty

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Re: Adding testosterone
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2018, 02:12:47 PM »

Thanks Annie.  I use it 4 times a week too, but am wondering if every day will help my energy slumps.
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