OK, there's a missing piece. I have the desire, wonderful arousal, but sometimes not that Can-Do ability . Or, it's a bit disorganized in its arrival, so to speak. I use compounded T and have available Rx estradiol and estriol for vaginal use. I've been using estradiol because the estriol loads me full of energy and keeps me awake. I also have P but don't tolerate it well, although for about a week after I'm off it, there is a nice sexual-response benefit. Still, something not clicking. If estriol could be the missing element, I will ask whether it can be made into a capsule or something for daytime use.
Not taking other meds that could interfere and I'm otherwise very healthy. Help please!
GK

I'm going to answer my own question, largely thanks to JanetC's posts elsewhere. The missing ingredient is estriol. I am happy and life is good.

GK,

Are you saying that you added estriol and it's working well? If so, please do give details.

Yes, instead of my former sporadic use on just on my wrists or face. I originally tried applying it only at night, but it kept me awake no matter where I applied it. So, I stopped using it altogether or just inconsistently, Now, I use it daily on wrists/face and, for Special Occasions , rather liberally (vulvar), along with T. The Hallelujah Chorus is playing somewhere... I also have systemic (Estrogel) and vaginal estradiol (Estring) , ongoing.
GK

So in other words, you are pretty much bathing in estrogen? Are you worried about overdoing it?

So is it helping with libido, or response, or both?

I'm using a dot of Estrogel and don't feel any tell-tale OD side effects, which for me are irritability and sore breasts. Instead, I feel pleasantly energized, focused and well. I am awaiting lab test results from a draw taken on a day when I felt particularly edgy and irritable. I am especially curious because I am expecting the estradiol level to be on the high end and know I was using a full dose that week. Estriol also gives me an energized state, so I may even cut back on the Estrogel at some point. But yes, I do worry about having too much of a good thing on board.

The estriol was the missing piece wrt to response. I think of libido as the presence of desire, sexual energy, and even fantasy, all supported by testosterone. I've lately come to regard estrogen and particularly estriol as being essential for vaginal health in general and response in particular. I think of estrogen as driving my whole system, though. One of my reliable reading sources says that, of the estrogens, estriol targets vaginal tissue. And all of it holds together, for me, with adequate sunshine and regular work-outs. If any facet of this doesn't hold true over the near future, I'll post back here but for now, I have the recipe for the secret sauce.

I find that estriol cream gives me a wonderful feeling of joy and energises me on the day I use it. But then the next two days following is when I start the tearfulness and anxiety. I wonder if anyone can relate to this at all? I tried using a little every day because I thought maybe my body would become used to it but it didn't work.
janet c

I don't find using estriol cream gives me any noticable mood effects, good or bad (and hormonal fluctuation has given me terrible mood effects of anxiety and depression in the past) but I do find it stings slightly on application. When I tried using it on areas of my face a few times, it made the application sites red for a while. Does anyone else experience stinging with it? Could this be an allergy reaction?