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[Lucyjo]

Hi ladies, I am using oestogel morning 3 pumps & utrogestan nightly orally & testosterone pea size daily. I don't think I am getting any benefit from testosterone. It hasn't helped libido & not sure what else it should do. Wondering if it is aggrevating  my vaginal discomfort. Also use vagifem & vagisan cream on outside. Very sore all the time even to sit down. Does HRT cause constipation? Advice please!!

[Lucyjo]

Hi ladies, just wondering if anyone has any advice for me?? Feeling a bit desperate x

[sheila99]

Not sure I can help much but as no one else has replied...
I'm not aware of it causing discomfort. There are many threads on VA but it's not something I suffer from so can't help much. Might be worth checking you're using enough. I think you can do the initial load again?!
I have found testosterone worked (1 pump Tostran every other day). It also helped my muscle tone and low motivation. If you don't have sufficient oestrogen I *think* it gets converted, that's why they don't normally prescribe it until you're stable on hrt. The other thing that might be putting a spanner in the works is if utro doesn't suit you. It had no effect on my guts but I use it vaginally so that might be worth trying. The other thing you could do is to use it cyclically, you'll have a bleed but you'll find out if you feel better when you're not on it (it's 200mg x 12 days this way).
Hopefully someone else will be along soon, sometimes posts don't come in the Unread posts option when they should do.

[Joaniepat]

Just a thought but maybe the Vagisan is irritating you. You could try a better vaginal moisturiser such as one of the Yes products. How often are you using Vagifem? Perhaps try increasing the dose. I have not heard of testosterone aggravating VA.

JP x

[Hurdity]

Hi Lucyjo

(I never do unread posts otherwise I'd be here all day. I just go to this board, look for those with no reply or interesting title that I might help with).

Testosterone - don't expect quick results. Gynae I first saw said it would take up to 4-5 months to fully take effect though you should have had a libido effect before then. Check out "Testosterone Here We Go" thread in private Lives

If you're taking utrogestan daily then this can depress libido. I take it on a cycle (like sheila99 said) so I have several weeks of oestrogen only ( as we would do during our fertile lives). Libido is naturally at its highest around ovulation when oestrogen is at its highest (massive peak), testosterone increases and progesterone is almost absent.

I agree the VA products could be causing soreness unless your VA is sitll not controlled. Also it depends how long you have been using all of this. With severe VA it can take months of treatment. Check out Maryjane's old posts if you can find them or Dancinggirl's "Burning Club" thread in private Lives.

Hope things improve for you soon

Hurdity x

[Lucyjo]

Thank you so much ladies - I have been on testosterone for about 9 months & had no improvement!
Will increase vagifem & read old posts x

[racjen]

Hi LucyJo, I find the progesterone part of HRT most definitely makes me constipated and gives me a stomach ache.

Are you absolutely certain your discomfort is VA and not undiagnosed Lichen Sclerosis? I only ask because the latter is a little known condition that more commonly affects menopausal women and often gets misdiagnosed (many women think they've got persistent thrush at first). I have it and the only treatment is topical steroid cream. If it were LS you'd only be getting external symptoms though, ie sore and/or itchy vulva, clitoris and anus.

[racjen]

Oh yes, and I meant to confirm what Sheila said - if your estrogen level isn't high enough your body will convert any testosterone you put into it into estrogen. Conversely, if your estrogen level is too high the body produces something called SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) which will tie up the excess estrogen and any added testosterone, making them unavailable to the body. I never really got this one figured out, but had to give up on testosterone anyway as it made me depressed.

[Nik2502]

I didn't realise how much benefit I was getting from testosterone until I stopped it. My mood really dropped and I felt really lethargic. Started it again and was much better xx