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[Pollyanna]

I was just checking out the hormone blood tests I had done last June, prior to my appointment at the Marion Gluck clinic.   My Testosterone level was 0.6nmol - apparently within the 'normal' limit set by NHS.   My oestradiol was 83pmol but as I have been on bio-identical oestrogen patches, this reading would have been a false positive.   Progesterone was as to be be expected (83pmol) for my age (56), and having no uterus. 

As I've mentioned in an earlier thread, progesterone cream made me feel awful and I would never use it again.  However, I am curious about testosterone. 

I am currently seeing my NHS GP and am on 50mcg estradot patch.   I had avoided the compounded (private) HRT as my oestrogen is bio-identical anyway and I don't think it's necessary to pay that much for my own personal requirements.  I am though slightly confused about testosterone.  I had assumed that because I was getting a lot of hirsutism on my chin (awful!) that testosterone would make it worse.   But, since I've increased the oestrogen, and the hirsutism has reduced, this makes me wonder if a bit of testosterone would help my low energy levels.   

Perhaps the facial hair growth was due to the oestrogen being too low.   

Ha.. I feel I'm rambling on... menopausal brain fog.       Can anyone shine a light on the testosterone thing please? And, can you get it on the NHS?    As it's all so complex, it would help if you too have had hysterectomy but still have your ovaries.   

Many thanks again.    x

[Annie0710]

My testosterone was 0.9 but my gp emailed an NHS gynae who agreed to let me try testosterone

The gp said the T test was used as a guideline only so don't be thinking testosterone gel isnt a possibility, speak to a sympathetic gp and ask them to speak to a sympathetic/open minded gynae if they need advice

[Hurdity]

Hi again Pollyanna

The thing about testosterone levels and menopause is this: oestrogen levels fall (erratically but downward trajectory!) as you head towards menopause but this decline is dramatic following menopause and average levels reach their lowest level approx 2 years following the last period (or ovulation). Testosterone levels also decline throughout adult life (from about age 30 maybe - not sure here - can't remember!) but from what I've read the decline at menopause is not so dramatic. Therefore the natural position following menopause and in the absence of HRT, is that the ratio of testosterone to oestrogen increases and this is what is thought to give rise to more male characteristicis such as hirsutism (in the wrong place) and loss of hair (where you want it) although oestrogen levels also play a part. Our voices may deepen slightly and our body fat distribution changes so women tend to become more apple than pear-shaped.

Provided you also replace oestrogen sufficiently (say  -  to approx average physiological levels across the menstrual cycle)  then the addition of testosterone to give levels within physiological range for women, should not give rise to further androgenic effects.  The gynae I saw did no testing of testosterone - rather she went by symptoms - due to the lack of reliability of the test for T in women - as Annie0710 mentioned. If you have low libido, suffer from fatigue/excessive tiredness, muscle weakness or pain after exercise, then if other conditions have been ruled out the likely culprit could be testosterone deficiency.

Although one off measurements of oestrogen don't tell you a lot, and despite the fact that women experience symptoms at different oestrogen levels - (ie symptoms do not correlate with absolute oestrogen levels), your level of oestrogen is still low especially if you were taking HRT.

Most women would have low progesterone after menopause as it is only needed in large quantities for procreation. The levels post-menopause are similar to those found in the first part of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase).

Concentrate on increasing your oestrogen levels and see how you feel - and if necessary make another appointment to see about testosterone. Unfortunately prescription of this on NHS is sporadic as the current products (gel for men) are not licensed (for HRT).

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[Noheroicsplease]

Tovah, what should the SHBG levels be...high or low? My testosterone level is 0.3 - (range 0.29-1.67) and my SHBG is 84nmol (range 24.6-122.0)

I'm just curious. I was fully intending to start on testosterone today but I've just decided to take out the mirena coil and go back to zero for a while, so that's on hold.

[Annie0710]

Tempest posted a tables chart for hormones either today or yesterday and I'm sure SHBG was on it

[Pollyanna]

Thank you everyone.  I'm loving reading all of this.   I think it's a lottery as to how supportive and informed our individual GP's are.  Mine isn't that up to date and she's very young (that's not meant to be ageist... haha), so I think she just sticks to using her Mimms directory for advice.   There is only one specialist NHS hormone consultant in the whole of the whole of the county of Gloucestershire.  Shocking.  I saw her a few years ago and was very excited.....   But, she was so old fashioned and totally disinterested in her job.  Think she should retire actually.   She told me that at my age (duh... 56), I shouldn't be taking any HRT.   I was horrified at that.  I did think afterwards that perhaps she ought to be on some, as she was so bitter and twisted and did not like it that I was an informed women with an interest in my health.   

Oh, as I'm new, I don't know how to respond to messages individually.  Don't think it's possible, is it? 

[Noheroicsplease]

Wow, that's shocking - one menopause specialist across Gloucestershire. I'm sure she'll be slashed if May gets her way.

There is a way of sending someone a direct message. In the menu bar above, you have a message tab. But on the thread, you answer to everyone!

[Annie0710]

Pollyanna I think you can private message when you reach over 10 forum posts x

[Hurdity]

Thank you everyone.  I'm loving reading all of this.   I think it's a lottery as to how supportive and informed our individual GP's are.  Mine isn't that up to date and she's very young (that's not meant to be ageist... haha), so I think she just sticks to using her Mimms directory for advice.   There is only one specialist NHS hormone consultant in the whole of the whole of the county of Gloucestershire.  Shocking.  I saw her a few years ago and was very excited.....   But, she was so old fashioned and totally disinterested in her job.  Think she should retire actually.   She told me that at my age (duh... 56), I shouldn't be taking any HRT.   I was horrified at that.  I did think afterwards that perhaps she ought to be on some, as she was so bitter and twisted and did not like it that I was an informed women with an interest in my health.   

Oh, as I'm new, I don't know how to respond to messages individually.  Don't think it's possible, is it?

However you can answer an individual post if it's further down the thread by going to the post you want to answer and then clicking on the "Quote" button in the top right corner of the post. This then opens a new post with that member's post in quotes. You then click outside all of the quoted text and write your reply to that particular person's post. It will then appear on your post with their post quoted in blue and your answer underneath if you do it right - just like you can see here with my reply to you ( if you do it wrong your answer appears inside the blue quote box and then you can't work out who said what!). This is useful if there have been lots of posts in a thread, so that you then only reply to the one you want to

Hurdity x