I spoke with my NP this morning about my saliva test results. (previously mentioned test results were from blood test). To quickly re-state my problem: I have been on BHRT for over a year, with a Nurse Practitioner and a Compounding Pharmacy. I'm 54, very good health, weight, etc. Did not experience any severe symptoms but the most noticeable is the total lack of libido and "strut"! Strut: when you just feel "great", stand tall, music makes you move... Well, I sure don't feel like that anymore. I have enough energy to get me through the day but I don't particularly look forward to anything. Ready to go to bed early. Old hobbies don't interest me and don't really want new hobbies. no longer have any zip, no zing. Breasts & clitoris are unresponsive. I have "my" perfect lover but cannot get any desire and feel sad about that.

Anyway, my saliva test results:
Testosterone 426.7 pg/ml!!!! WAY TOO MUCH, she says so stop it for now.
Estradiol 72.6 pg/ml
Estrone 12.7 pg/ml
Estriol 34.4 pg/ml
Progesterone 2.42 ng/ml
DHEA 193.1 PG/ML
cORTISOL 6.57 NG/ML

Started out 2/08 using creams:
60 gmprogesterone 100 mg/gm
60 gm bi-est 0.625%/1.25 gm
no libido

6/08
added 30 testosterone 1% cream
libido improved but then disappeared about 8/08...NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN!!!! lol

Then, after talking with Pharmacist and NP went to:
estradiol 08% and testosterone 0.25% cream (combined)
progesterone cream 100 mg/gm.

Now.......
Vivelle Dot 0.05 mg/day
progesterone cream 100 mg/gm
NO testosterone

and.......no libido!!!!! LOL This BHRT is a challenge, but, I "read" that when it works, it's great. I have friends using the Vliet approach and even the pharmaceutical stuff and they have libido all the time!!!!!
Thanks

Well, I can tell you progesterone is a libido-killer for me and many others. Vliet also says this in at least one of her books. I wonder if it would help to try just using the estradiol and testosterone for a couple weeks or more and see what happens. P cream tends to stay around in the tissues for quite awhile, though, so it could take awhile to clear it, depending on your length of use.

deckfluff

Testosterone above normal is the real libido killer-Trust me-I have been there. If your free testosterone is above normal then you need to stop supplementing it right now.You need to look at the the transcripts on this site by Dr. Susan Rako. I have read her books and have "Testosterone-the hormone of desire". One of her biggest complaints is that women are given way too high doses of testosterone -for example in estratest- and it actually kills libido. There is a very small window in which testosterone operates positively in a woman. If your test is too high then that is why your libido is shot. It has happened to me!

janet c

I'm so sorry, I had forgotten your testosterone was way above normal, so disregard that advice about continuing to use it. Sheesh.