testosterone only Options

[kackle]

Does anyone here take testosterone only with no progesterone or estrogen. If so, how do you feel.

[janet c]

Does anyone here take testosterone only with no progesterone or estrogen. If so, how do you feel.

Hi kackle

I have posted lots on this because I use topical testosterone without any other HRT.
It is very difficult to get a low enough dose without estrogen but it is possible. It has taken me a long time to get it right and if you put in a search for my previous posts you will be able to read about my ups and downs. well you know what I mean!

It is ok and I do feel quite well on it but although it gives me energy and of course sexual feelings it can also make me feel a bit "hard". I miss the lovely nuturing feelings that estrogen brings but trying to use it makes me feel really ill so I can't.

I recently posted a link to a study done in Australia on this subject so here it is again.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stor...008/2413463.htm

If you want to ask me any other questions please feel free but dont ask me exactly what dose I am on because I couldn't say-only that it is miniscule

janet c

[janet c]

Oh I see you have already read that link before and replied to my other posts about it.
I don't think you will find many other women -if any -here that use just testosterone because I have posted about it a lot. I am always told it is not approved of and it doesn't work unless there is estrogen on board but- as you read in that study it seems to work without E and it certainly does for me.
janet c

[CarolH]

I just started doing this in the past 2-3 weeks. I actually feel quite well although no noticable testosterone differences to speak of. Maybe a tad more energy, I don't have the desire for sex but I do have deeper longer lasting orgasims.

I'm taking 0.5 of 1% compounded cream and again.. I'm not sure how much of this I'm absorbing because I don't get the extra hair growth, or husky voice etc... not even if I add a dab more like today. It could be that I'm just wasting my money.

[janet c]

Are you using it alone too without HRT ?
I am exactly the same-no desire for sex but once I get going orgasms very powerful. I miss those "mushy" feelings though.
janet c

[Pete Hueseman Ho...]

It's not uncommon for women to use testosterone alone - but keep in mind - the hormonal shift / imbalance is that all your hormones have changed - not just testosterone. They work all together. Now with that being said...some women do well on testosterone alone if their body produces more aromatase enzyme that is responsible for converting the testosterone into estrogen, but generally, women have the best results when their hormones are evaluated and "re-balanced" in whole.
Paul Hueseman, Pharm.D.

[CarolH]

Are you using it alone too without HRT ?
I am exactly the same-no desire for sex but once I get going orgasms very powerful. I miss those "mushy" feelings though.
janet c

Yes, Janet and it's really working much better for me. E & P were just too hard to balance. I tried for 2 years and it was always up and down, never feeling quite well and often times feeling miserable. So far, and it hasn't been an entire month yet so the jury is still out, but I feel good.

[CarolH]

It's not uncommon for women to use testosterone alone - but keep in mind - the hormonal shift / imbalance is that all your hormones have changed - not just testosterone. They work all together. Now with that being said...some women do well on testosterone alone if their body produces more aromatase enzyme that is responsible for converting the testosterone into estrogen, but generally, women have the best results when their hormones are evaluated and "re-balanced" in whole.
Paul Hueseman, Pharm.D.

Thanks Pete, I have tried BHRT for 2 years but it wasn't working for me. I feel quite well on just the T, at least for now. But I don't think I have an imbalance anymore. I think my hormones are low, but low in a balanced way.

[kackle]

Hi Janet and Carol, testosterone should convert to estrogen?? Does it not for you two. I have not used estrogen yet. My levels are also very low. What happened when you took the estrogen?

[janet c]

I don't know how we find out if has converted without a blood test. I haven't had one. All estrogen when made naturally in the body starts off as testosterone, so it should. When I try to replace estrogen -( estriol cream which is the weakest), I feel depressed, anxious, foggy headed and tearful.It also knocks out the good effects of the testosterone.

I feel great with just testosterone. It improves my mood, makes me feel more sociable and gives me more energy as well as giving me libido. I also sleep well. I guess it must be converting for me.
I would recommend you try it but if you overdo it you will HATE it. Less is definitely more!

I think because I am not supplementing with estrogen I don't need to use T very often. I top mine up about once a month and that is fine for me. If you were on estrogen it would have to be much more often-maybe every day or three times a week.

janet c

[CarolH]

Hi Janet and Carol, testosterone should convert to estrogen?? Does it not for you two. I have not used estrogen yet. My levels are also very low. What happened when you took the estrogen?

Hi Kackle,

I'm not sure that T should convert to Estrogen. My thinking (which can be dangerous at times) is that because I am post, my natural E and P have settled into a comfortable low balance. Which for me, means that I no longer have the roller coaster rides that cause hot flashes, anxiety, weepiness, nausea, lethargy, moodiness, brain fog etc... now I get a comfortable existence. I have 'enough' energy. Not an abundance, I have train of thought, but would not say I have the same drive to clean house and do the 'chores' of daily living that I use too although I do have drive to do the things I enjoy.

I don't have the optimum levels that Suzanne Somers speaks of that will give me the zeal of a 20 year old yet I'm also not accepting the idea of growing old. I'm determined that with good foods, and exercise I can still be vital and kicking for another 30 years or so. It beats having to take progesterone. P really messed me up. I was miserable for well over a week when taking that. I won't lie though... I still think of my boobs falling and my crows feet dangling and I give E a 2nd thought.... it's not easy being a woman. ... but it's worth it.

[janet c]

Carol I am not sure if mine is converting because I am not using enough of it to make much difference now! I was using it more often at the start but once my levels came up I found I didn't need it too often
janet c

[kackle]

Thank You ladies. I am currently using the testosterone only ,i recently went off both progesterone and testosterone and started the testosterone up again alone. My dr. uses estriol and he may want me to try this. I had terrible side effects from progesterone and am afraid to introduce the estrogen. My level of testosterone is undetectable even when I use it daily.

[fauxfini]

8 months ago I started using Sottopelle hormone pellets. These are bio identical implants that are inserted in the butt area and you go every 4-6 months for them. The first time I did it I felt alot better, libido was strong and had arrived. The next time I went I had blood prior and showed quite a drop in testosterone. Bottom line is that I went to another doctor after feeling horrible, facial hair, deepened voice and weight gain and found out by saliva test and extreme bloodwork that they had implanted 8 times what I should be. My testosterone level was 345 and should be under 50. The estridial was out of site too. No estriol which is the good hormone no DHA and no progesterone. They do the same for everyone and no very little of what they are doing. I will never go back

[JZZ]

8 months ago I started using Sottopelle hormone pellets. These are bio identical implants that are inserted in the butt area and you go every 4-6 months for them. The first time I did it I felt alot better, libido was strong and had arrived. The next time I went I had blood prior and showed quite a drop in testosterone. Bottom line is that I went to another doctor after feeling horrible, facial hair, deepened voice and weight gain and found out by saliva test and extreme bloodwork that they had implanted 8 times what I should be. My testosterone level was 345 and should be under 50. The estridial was out of site too. No estriol which is the good hormone no DHA and no progesterone. They do the same for everyone and no very little of what they are doing. I will never go back

So sorry to hear about your negative experience. Thanks for sharing the info. Boy, this just shows again how we can all respond so very differently. Jzz

[janet c]

8 months ago I started using Sottopelle hormone pellets. These are bio identical implants that are inserted in the butt area and you go every 4-6 months for them. The first time I did it I felt alot better, libido was strong and had arrived. The next time I went I had blood prior and showed quite a drop in testosterone. Bottom line is that I went to another doctor after feeling horrible, facial hair, deepened voice and weight gain and found out by saliva test and extreme bloodwork that they had implanted 8 times what I should be. My testosterone level was 345 and should be under 50. The estridial was out of site too. No estriol which is the good hormone no DHA and no progesterone. They do the same for everyone and no very little of what they are doing. I will never go back

Can you get a bioidentical gel (I get one for men from my doctor) or maybe you could get a cream made up for you?
That was unacceptable to give you an overdose like that-and a pellet is a bit scary as you cannot remove it yourself. You are obviously ok now but I must just say that a large OD of testosterone can be life threatening for a woman!

I have found that a gel is great for me. It is still way too strong as it comes but I mix a little in a pot with a cream or vaseline to get a really tiny dose. Testosterone is one of the hormones we women do not have to have on a regular basis necessarily-unlike HRT. Once the levels build they can stay there for quite a while so I like the feeling of being in control of my dosage. I can go for weeks without using it without any drop in libido.
You can add but you can't take away and once its there it can cause havoc for ages.
I still get it wrong even now and use a bit too much. Last week I got two enormous spots as a result of a little too much as well as feeling very hyped!

janet c