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[smartie123]

Hey, newbie here, although I have been lurking for a while.
I’m 41 and had a hysterectomy 4 years ago but have been left with one ovary.
Menopause symptoms started a couple of years ago so i have been on the Evorel 50 now for 12 months. This helped with flushes, sleep but my get up and go has never returned. Brain fog is horrendous and I just can’t think properly. Memory is also shocking. Libido is non existent, thankful for an understanding partner. Increased patch to a 75 but suffered with terrible headache so back to 50.
My doctor has been amazing and after blood tests last week she has given me Testogel. I went to her expecting a battle but she actually suggested it first. She said my testosterone level was 2.7 ( one of the higher she has seen but she will go by symptoms not levels) and as long as we didn’t go above 5 she is happy to prescribe it.

Today is the second application of a pea size amount but I feel quite sick and jittery. Has anyone had these side effects? Should I persevere and see if it settles down? I know 2 days is nothing and it’s very early days but just wondering if this feeling will go away.

I am really hoping for a positive outcome in the brain fog area and I was so excited to start Testogel after reading such positive stories and  listening to podcasts about how it helps so many symptoms but I’m feeling a bit deflated today.

Sorry for the long post. Any advice welcome.

Thank you

[CLKD]

Hi!  MayB add it a few times a week to let the body ease into another HRT addition?

Hopefully someone who is using it will be along.  You may be able to find threads about 'testogel' by putting the name into the search box.

Let us know!

[Nicki6164]

Hi, I’m a newbie too, have just posted a heartfelt plea for advice about painful breasts in entirely the wrong place!! Ho hum, live & learn!! (Or blame it on brain fog, or what my daughter calls one of my “senior” moments - given she started doing that at least 15 years ago, puts it all into context!)
I’ve been menopausal for at least 7 years, fortunate in that my only real “symptom” was awful dryness, eventually solved with Estradiol (after I’d tried so hard to go the bio hormonal route, knowing my hypersensitivity to hormones - contraceptive pill an absolute no). Recently I went to my GP and asked for help specifically with my sex drive (it drove off round the world quite a while ago, hasn’t been seen since, even though I married the absolute love of my life a couple of years ago, what a star ⭐️ bloke). She suggested HRT, hence my extremely painful breasts (poor husband can’t get near me), and when I requested testosterone about 2 months in, she agreed. The situation is that there’s loads and loads of empirical research showing the benefits of low dosages of testosterone in menopausal women - it’s got to be pushed over the NICE hurdle.
I’ve not had my levels tested - was that through your GP? My testosterone is Testim 50mg - each tube of 5g contains testosterone 50 mg, and equals 10 - 14 doses. When I first had it, I researched it - from a very valid source, Testim 50 mg should be 10 doses, and my first tube, squeezed pea-sized onto a small spoon, lasted 12 days. For my second, and subsequent tubes, I’m going to squeeze them fully out into a small container (the little lidded thing that my razor blade came in!), easier to divide it into 10 equal portions.

I’ve not had any side effects that I’ve noticed - I do think there might be something stirring in the “va va voom” department, although it’s more along the lines of “cough, splutter, ouch”!  There’s always the possibility that, if your own levels are high, you need to maybe use slightly less to start with? I think it’s brilliant though that you and I are getting it with no problems from our doctors - I wish you the very best x

[Perinowpost]

I couldn’t use testogel as I had a reaction to it. I’m fine with testim though. You could try swapping. Alternatively as Nicki6164 says you could try less. I use a pea sized amount 3 x per week. Good luck, don’t give up and let us know how you get on x

[Diggers]

I have also just had my testosterone levels checked after asking my reluctant GP who said that most womens Testosterone levels are high enough during Menapause.
These are my results that say they are normal and no Testosterone treatment is needed.

Serum sex hormone binding globulin level 92.8 mol/L [26.0 - 110.0]
Free androgen index 1.1 [0.5 - 6.5]
Serum testosterone level 1.0 mol/L [0.3 - 2.61

Although they are still in the range I feel they are still low. Does anyone know if I would be prescribed Testosterone with these levels and is anyone taking Testosterone with higher levels than mine.

I have low libido, don’t sleep and lack energy, although I only mentioned the low libido to my GP as I’ve read that NHS won’t consider Testosterone for other symptoms. I am on Estradot 62.5 mg and Utrogestan daily, Vagifem 2 a week and 3 years post menopause.

Any advice please as I want to be armed with information before going back to my GP.