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[AndieKC]

Hi Ladies
Thank you so much for your kind replies - to Sheila99 - yes I was instructed to increase estrogen dose from 2 to 3 pumps for 6 weeks, then another 6 weeks of 4 pumps BEFORE starting testogel. So I was on testogel (1 sachet split over 10 days) plus 4 pumps estrogel for 6 weeks - I would like to continue and actually try an increased dose but GP told me to stop - by a text message - due to my “free testosterone levels climbing”. Have a telephone apt next week so will try to stay on T but she is quoting “guidelines” so I don’t think she will let me continue. I don’t have any adverse effects of testogel - in fact I don’t think it was even doing anything - possible 2-3 occasions of a pang of libido and occasionally better energy levels. I want to be prepared for Wednesday apt so any ideas welcome ladies , thank you so much xxx

[Marchlove]

Don’t know I’d this article might help at all? Covers men an women

https://dutchtest.com/2021/04/08/saliva-testing-model-for-transdermal-testosterone-monitoring/

[Hurdity]

Hi there - I haven't read all the thread but just glanced at a few posts so apologies if I'm repeating what has already been said.

However I would suggest it is important with T replacement NOT to adopt a symptoms only approach because we need to ensdure that T stays within the normal limits for a woman, and not only that it can take several months for some of the longer term benefits to be felt, equally longer for some of the adverse side effects ie male characterisitics.

So T levels should be measured along with SHBG to calculate the Free Androgen Index because free T is not measured - so a proxy for this needs to be calculated. T levels - total T to remain within range.

Data protection?! Theyre fobbing you off. WHOSE DATA???!!! This is YOUR data. Good that they know about data protection so they dont give it away to anyone else but you are absolutely entitled to see and have it. We have computer access to our records - blood tests, special referrals, consultations, prescriptions, everything -  you just have to sign up to their system and bingo it's all at your fingerttips any time you want to look at it.

If you don't have an patient online system then ask them to print them off - you might have to pay for the copes but they MUST  do this for you. Before our computerised records system was online I used to get mine printed out ( but we didn't have to pay).

I make a tube last about a fortnight.

Testogel pump pack is higher concentration than Testogel sachets so if you transfer from the former to the latter then you would need a slightly larger blob to get the same effect 

I would never consider accessing my GP records 

Why not?! I want to know so I can make an informed decision!! Then you can't be fobbed off....also docs can be wrong.

Not sure if I've said anything helpful AndieKC but let us know the outcome

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Of course helpful 

I expect to see my GP or Practice Nurse to discuss results face2face - that's what they are paid for!  Also results could be mid-interpreted by a patient.

If ever someone quotes The Date Protection Act I ask them a) have they read the section that relates to our discussion and b) is this Company Policy.  If they haven't read that section, they are not allowed by Law to fob someone off.  My pack of DPA was 2ft thick, cost me £72.00 for two years' cover and didn't apply to the job that I was doing anyway  (long story short).  It usually stops the person 'quoting' the Act as I haven't yet, in over 30 years, spoken to anyone who actually knows what DPA looks like  . Even the manager at our local Lloyds Bank had never read it ...........

[AndieKC]

Hi Ladies
Thank you so much for your replies. I’ve managed to get access to my records by going to a different surgery. I’ve transcribed the charts and here are the numbers - can you please help me make sense of these?

The last one - the free androgen index - was too high even before I started testogel but GP (HRT trained) was happy to let me try for 6 months as I have all the classic symptoms of testosterone deficiency, incl absolute  zero libido. But now wants me to stop as free androgen index is even higher. What I don’t understand is how can it be too high yet my symptoms haven’t changed… There were a couple of occasions when I felt a tiny improvement on the libido, and noticed slightly more energy sometimes so I felt it was promising.

Any help appreciated and thank you all xxx

SERUM ESTRADIOL:
Went from 102 pmol/L …….. to 194 pmol/L after increasing estrogel from 2 pumps to 4
Normal range: not known
Both results are considered NORMAL

SERUM TESTOSTERONE:
Went from 0.9 nmol/L (before starting Testogel) ….. to 1.3 nmol/L after 6 weeks of taking Testogel
Normal range: 0.1 - 1.42 nmol/L
Both results are considered NORMAL

SERUM SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOB:
Went from 18 nmol/L (before starting Testogel) ….. to 21 nmol/L after 6 weeks of taking Testogel
Normal range: 17 - 135
Both results are considered NORMAL

FREE ANDROGEN INDEX:
Went from 5.0% (before starting Testogel)….. to 6.2% after 6 weeks of taking Testogel
Normal range: 0.0 - 4.9%
Both results are considered ABNORMAL, before starting Testogel, and after 6 weeks on it !!!

[Marchlove]

I think you need to Google low SHBG and high Free Androgen Index x

[CLKD]

So the BMS doesn't support womens' need for testosterone  mayB read the article if it's still available though my Link may not work 

We need to CLAIM IT as a right!  If this were men 

[sheila99]

I think your gp is right to be cautious, perhaps continuing in these circumstances could damage you. Hopefully she will explain when you speak to her.

[sphere27]

Nhs don’t test FAI as far as I know.  Free androgen index. This should be between 3-5. I’ve been on testosterone for 4 months and still really low!!

[juliemargaret]

Hi all - my FAI was 4.3 recently and my specialist was happy with this - much to my alarm and little worry! She said is all good and within range! I’m on Testogel and a satchet is supposed to last me x5 days and based on the dosage my specialist has put me on (0.7 daily) but I measure it using a little scale (seems to work the best) and I get about 5 days per satxhet. I don’t feel amazing ... feel still waiting for it to work energy and libido wise. Still hoping .