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[Jaz]

Thank you Hurdity for feedback and link.

I have had my blood test for testosterone back it was 0.7 the secretary told me.

Unfortunately the gynaecologist has not been in to explain if this is typically low or normal.

I remember on a previous thread you did some sort of calculation with SHBG levels (mine was 48.0).
Do theses two figures mean anything?

I am still having problems staying asleep and anxiety/ low mood and low libido. It's quite a big contrast to how I was 6 weeks ago.
Can't believe symptoms can just suddenly come back, all my other blood tests were fine.

Jazz

[Hurdity]

Hi Jaz - yes the female androgen index is total T/SHBG x100 so for you this is 0.7/48 x100 (if the units are correct) = 1.46. The Chelsea and Westminster give the range as 1-6 (this is on my scribbled notes!) so this means yours is low - even though tests are unreliable. If your libido is low then I would push for a trial of T replacement but don't expect overight results - it can take several months.

Good luck

Hurdity x

[Sammiejane]

hi hurdity

i've just been prescribed tostran testosterone to use 1 pump every other day ! but wondering if testogel better i want the one that is going to give me least potential side effects !

thanks

[Dotty]

Hi Sammiejane. I've used both Tostran and Testogel and I've been fine on both . There's no difference in the active ingredient, just a difference in the strength.

I think Tostran is easier to use as you know exactly how much is in a pump x

[Hurdity]

Sammiejane - great news that you have been prescribed some T! Dotty has given you her exeprience which is more than mine as I've only used the 1 % gels - Testim and Testogel. However personally I would not take 1 pump every other day to start with but take it low and slow even though you are in surgical meno. The results are not instant and can take several months to fully come into effect.  The Chelsea and Weastminster in their 2017 leaflet say twice a week to start up to a max of 3 pumps per week but that is probably not for surgical meno though.... However the BMS info says every other day as you have been prescribed. Not sure why the discrepancy.... however if you want to do as prescribed then that's OK! Just talking about what I would do and I am much older and not surgical in meno!

Good luck with it.

Hurdity x

[Sammiejane]

hi hurdity dotty

thank you for that dotty hopefully i will be ok on it x

hurdity i am glad i just hope it does improve my hair shedding and balance things out ! i'm just concerned that if it is estrogel causing my hair to thin then this will continue ? dermatology wanted me to stop the estrogel to see but menopause wasn't keen on it that theory and adviced me to try the testosterone .

have you suffered hairloss dotty ! did you find testosterone improved it !

i can but hope , thank u ladies

[Rose B]

I'm using Tostran pump and advised by C&W to use it on alternate days.  I found it took about 8 weeks to make a noticeable improvement, and that has been mainly in feeling more resilient generally, more decisive and clear headed. I wouldn't be without it now.  I just feel more like my old pre menopausal self. Not much change in libido sadly. 

I have had levels checked (testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index) and these have been OK. But also been told that blood tests are pretty meaningless, as not enough research to know what the levels should be for women, and better to go by symptoms.  Also, warning signs of too much are a spotty back and being aggressive!!

I'm now having to switch to Testogel soon as cant get Tostran. Have been told to use this daily and make a sachet last 7-10 days.  Have also used Testim in same way, when it was available.

[bear]

Hi Rose B,

I've just posted on the shortages thread that according to MIMS Tostran is back in stock.

BeaR.

[Hurdity]

Testim and Testogel are preferred  ( by the Chelsea and Westminster) as they are 1 % gels (wheras Tostran is 2 % so greater margin of error and potential side effects due to spikes in T levels). I think it is now possible to get Testim as I reported earlier but not sure if anyone has managed this yet?

Hurdity x

[Dotty]

Hi Sammiejane....no I don't suffer with hair loss. If anything, my hair has got thicker as I've got older x

[Sammiejane]

hi Dotty

can i ask which regime you are on now estrogen progesterone and testosterone! before u added in testosterone how was hair ? i concerned that as mine is shedding loads and got remarkable thinner on estrogen only that testosterone may not help ?

hurdity

my chemist have the testogel in stock do you think i would be better on this then tostran as not had it before ? my menopause gave the doctor a choice of 3 which i assume is testim testogel and tostran but i rather start of with weaker one !

[Dotty]

Sammiejane...if it's the testogel in a pump pack then it's stronger than the Tostran and not as suitable.  The Testogel in the sachet is better than the Testogel in the pump pack.  It's not as simple as one being weaker. I used to use 1 sachet of Testogel over 7 days which gave me 50 mg of testosterone over the week. One pump of Tostran gives you 10mg of gel so if you use it 5 times a week you are getting the same amount of testosterone.  Once you know how much. A pump is then you can adapt it to using half a pump. I have used both and I'm not sure which I prefer.  The sachets are useful if you go on holiday. I hope that makes sense.

I use 4 pumps of Oestrogel, 100mg of Utrogestan daily and testosterone. It works for me. I haven't had any side effects . I've been using this regime for nearly 2 years.

Try not to worry about it.  I worried like mad to begin with about all of it, but now have no worries at all. X

[Sammiejane]

hi dotty

do you use the 100mg utrogestan orally or vaginally ?

i think perhaps if i'd taking estrogen and progesterone together from day one my hair situation may of been different but as i have no womb they said no need for progesterone but the minute i've started estrogen on its own i've shed hair where as when i took the pill i never did as this was combined ! i'm starting testosterone monday and i'll try tostran and if shedding doesn't improve i can take progesterone . it's strange how some women in surgical menopause get all 3 hormones together and haven't had issues with hair loss i guess cause there all being supplemented at the same time but my concern is now because the won't give me blood test for progesterone how will i know if i have an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone . i currently take 2 pumps estrogel and if i were to add in progesterone it would be 100mg orally every day would this be ok or would i need more estrogen ? my levels were tested 10 days apart and one said 368 nmol and then the other 10 days later 113 nmol but i guess as you take 4 pumps and 100mg and your hair has been fine would 2 pumps be to low for 100mg prog does this make sense !

[Sammiejane]

hi dotty hurdity

sorry forgot to add that i'm worried as it's been shedding on estrogen only it will continue regardless of the testosterone being added !

before hrt my hair got thicker through menopause and grew quicker and yes i lost hair when i washed it but not when i brushed now i get both hairs on the floor stuck to clothes on other people we find a random hair in cuboards lol it's upsetting me a great deal and if it doesn't improve then i have to stop it as i'm not willing to loose all my hair i already feel 80 when i'm 40 !

thanks ladies so nice having you all to talk to when one is so alone

[Dotty]

Hi it's 100mg of Utrogesten regardless of whether you use 1, 2, 3 or 4 pumps of Oestrogel. There is no need to worry about the balance of oestrogen and progesterone. I take the utrogestan orally at night. X