I think I read every thread, but did not see my questions addressed:

1. It seems folks are agreeing on 1-5mg as a daily dosage, but no one has mentioned bioavailability. How much of the oral dose is lost due to the serum binding hormone? How much is lost transdermally? I have only found one article for men that only 10% of applied dose of androgel is absorbed through the skin. That seems odd to me, as I thought skin transmission was greater than orally, but I haven't seen any other literature to say the absorption rate for women. So if 1-5mg is applied, is that what the body uses?

2. Which is the more reliable indicator of effectiveness between serum blood levels and symptoms? If the applied dose is high 10-20mg, but the sexual symptoms remain, does that mean testosterone doesn't work, or should one try higher levels as long as the side effects aren't a problem? If the blood levels are above norm, but no results, does that mean it is not effective?

3. If estradiol is required to enhance testosterone effectiveness, are there any guidelines as to what that ratio should be?

4. Does testosterone build up in one's system? When used daily, I have heard of results within a week and results within six months.

Thanks in advance!

Hi,
I don't know as much about testosterone as I do E and P, so hopefully those who do will jump in here.

But one thing I did want to address. If one's blood levels of T are optimal for a woman, yet the sexual symptoms remain, that does not mean you need more, since many other things can cause those symptoms. Low E, nutritional deficiencies, poor blood flow, stress, lack of sleep. So using more would not be wise.

I believe I read that T can hang around longer in the body than the other hormones, but I could be wrong.

I do think you need levels of both bound and free T.

Anyway, I'm sure someone else who knows more about this will speak up.