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[Blakeygray]

As I discussed earlier, my libido improved on Tibolone and orgasms, but then the orgasms faded after a few months.  In July I contacted my GP because of sensitivity/irritation round my clitoris.   She advised using the ovestin externally (while still on the Tibolone) round there and after a while the soreness has improved and I was very happy because I was able to orgasm again.  But as the GP was reluctant to give me too much Ovestin in conjunction with Tib. I have used very little of it the last couple of weeks, and guess what, I can't orgasm again.  I'm sure this must be because of the ovestin.  I'm back at the hospital for routine gyn appoint and want to carry on using the two together.  Anyone have any thoughts or experienced the same.  I was so much happier when I could climax.  It seems the Tibolone is not enough.  Really fed up .

Same here Tib on its own didn't help with sexual arousal and pleasure but coupled with a blob of T a day and it's all good.

[suzysunday]

So how long could tibolone and ovestin be used together as a treatment, how long have you Annie been on your combination?  I increased my usage of ovestin slightly recently and it seems to do the trick with the tibolone.  Seeing the gynaecologist tomorrow and hope she/he (never see the same person) lets me use both.  Otherwise my libido is not so good and don't see the point of taking the tibolone if my sexual response and orgasm is not so good.

[Annie0710]

I came off Tibolone but used vagifem and ovestin with it

Now I've been on oestrogel, testosterone and vagifem since May.  I use vagifem most days and have ovestin to hand if I feel sore externally

[Blakeygray]

At last! I have finally been told I can try testosterone on the NHS.

I saw another female in the practice, who' was more in the know about all things menopause. I quoted success stories from the women on here and the British Menopause Society paper again.

The gp had just been to a menopause conference herself and I think this helped her persuade the practice manager too.

So have to have blood tests to measure my T levels in a few weeks and then they'll be measured again after 6 months on T.

My personal supply of T finished a few  months ago and I was prepared to get some more but was never 100% comfortable going 'off piste' so to speak. So this is a huge relief.

On a separate note, I've been taken off tibolone and put on Everol 50 patches, which will give me the oestrogen I need. I had a hysterectomy in my thirties and don't need progesterone and the tibolone wasn't doing anything for my libido.

So once again I'd like to thank everyone who's shared their experiences on here, I've found it invaluable and has given me the courage to keep going at times.

I'll share my experience of Everol and T on a separate thread in due course.

[suzysunday]

Can someone please explain what it means for testosterone to be prescribed off licence?

[Dotty]

Hi testosterone is not licensed for women in UK so GPs do not have to prescribe it.

[suzysunday]

Ok.  So how is it prescribed off licence for women as it has for some on the forum?

[Hurdity]

Hi there suzysunday - the NICE Guidelines make provision for it to be prescribed off licence for women if symptoms warrant it.

If you look at this link it tells you about off-lcinece drugs:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medicines-information/

Unlicensed medicines

Sometimes a healthcare professional may recommend that you take an off-label or unlicensed medicine.

Off-label use means that the medicine isn't licensed for treatment of your condition. But the medicine will have a licence to treat another condition and will have undergone clinical trials for this.

Your doctor may recommend an unlicensed medication if they think it will treat your condition effectively and the benefits are greater than any risks.

Here is what it says in NICE Guidelines:

Altered sexual function
1.4.8
Consider testosterone supplementation for menopausal women with low sexual desire if HRT alone is not effective.

With a footnote:

At the time of publication (November 2015), testosterone did not have a UK marketing authorisation for this indication in women. The prescriber should follow relevant professional guidance, taking full responsibility for the decision. Informed consent should be obtained and documented. See the General Medical Council's Prescribing guidance: prescribing unlicensed medicines for further information


At the moment the testosterone products on the market have only been formulated and licensed for men. There used to be products available for women - Intrinsa patches and testosterone pellets. These were withdrawn for commercial not safety reasons, although there is no detailed long term research on testosterone replacement in women as part of HRT. This means that those who prescribe it decide for themselves to do so and work out the dosage for women. This has led to some quite scary dosage regimes by some GPs so it's not all good letting them loose on this stuff!!

The Chelsea and Westminster hospital has produced a leaflet on it  http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/womens-health-services/gynaecology-services/menopause-and-pms-clinics/links/Testosteronereplacementforfemaleandrogendeficiency092017CWAGREED.pdf and My Menopause Doctor has also a section on this. https://menopausedoctor.co.uk/news/testosterone-for-women/  https://menopausedoctor.co.uk/early-menopause/testosterone/

Also there is info on this website https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php

I am lucky enough to get it from my enlightened gynae specialist GP on NHS and soem women also get it from NHS menopause clinics. Sald many have had to resort to private treatment to get it - I had to for the first consultation but this wasn't expensive, and then got the prescription on NHS when the gel had run out.

Hope this helps.

Hurdity x

[suzysunday]

Thanks for your reply and help.