Hi shopping queen
Testosterone should normally be prescribed on the basis of symptoms rather than blood tests because the tests are inaccurate at the lower end of the scale. Once you start taking it and levels increase then tesdting can check that levels remain within the range for women Also in addition to T a compound known as SHBG shoud be measured and from this the "Female Andrgoen Index" can be calculated.
The first symptoms that indicates a need for T replacement is loss of libido and more specifically - response. If this is OK then you dont need T. The fatigue, lethargy, lack of oomph, aches and pains after exercise etc would occur well after the lack of libido I would suggest.
What symptoms do you have that led to T being prescribed?
Also what size blob are you using that means a sachet lasts of 7 days and what is the strength of the sachets? Apparently they have changed recently and are more concentrated so blobs need to be smaller!
If you have had your ovaries removed then I gather the need and dose is often higher but otherwise I would start lower than this. It can take some months for the effects to be fully appreciated.
Here is the British Menopause Society Tools for clinicians article on T replacement:
https://thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians/testosterone-replacement-in-menopause/I haven't read it in detail recently - and I see it's been updated - but just caught sight of this early on:
"Should testosterone be replaced just because levels are low?
No. Many women with low systemic testosterone levels do not complain of distressing low libido or other symptoms, even on direct questioning."
Oh I've just noticed this (further down the advice when it gives the different types of T) - the new strength of T is in smaller sized sachets so recommended to last 8 days:
"Testogel [Besins Healthcare UK] (2.5g sachets containing 40.5mg testosterone): Starting dose 1/8 of a sachet/day = approx. 5mg/day i.e. each sachet should last 8 days. (new formulation)"
My libido ( or rather response) has been restored completely, I am less fatigued and allowing for age (I'm late 60's) - I can do heavy exercise (eg digging the garden) reasonably well and my muscles can cope!
Hope this helps
Hurdity x