Hi everyone,

does anyone have any experiance of testosterone implants? I live in the UK and this seems to be the only route we use. I have no libido, no interest, no energy and slack muscles. Has anyone had a good experiance with testosterone?

thanks Freddie

Testosterone cream helps, but I don't know about testosterone implants. Are they normally used for men?

Zelma

Hi Zelma, yes implants are used on men I think, but here in the UK they are used for women too but a much smaller dose. I would love to try the cream as it would be under my control which the implants wont, but as far as I know we only have implants approved here in the UK. I see my Dr on the 7th March so will have to wait and see.

Dear Freddie,

Since you're in the UK, you have an option we Yanks don't, tibolone (Livial). Several studies have shown that it improved both mood and libido more than HRT alone. You might ask your doctor about it. Here's an overview article about the drug: Tibolone, unique menopausal therapy

As far as I know, right now the implantable testosterone pellet is the only form of testosterone avialable to women in the UK. Since several forms of transdermal or "spray" testosterone are in clinical studies globally, so you might try to find a study that would be open to you. Good luck.

-Margo

Hi everyone

and thanks for the article Margo. I actually had a testosterone pellet implanted 3 weeks ago and it is wonderful. I now have a libido just like I used to have in my thirties.I also had lost all feeling "down there" and now it's back. Not only that but I have more energy and just feel more like myself again. I know it's early days, but there is no sign of a beard growing or anything else that is bad. I'll keep you posted.

Freddie

so please tell me what other benefits are from testosterone? Can it regulate your menstrual cycle? Can it turn you into a "normal" person again? I want to know.

Hi! I posted some stuff on the "FSH Levels" board regarding the testosterone pellets. I had that done mid Jan. and it was an amazing change for me. Is that what you mean by testosterone implants Freddie???
The effects that I have felt were as follows; normal periods (I can leave the house again), no more excruciating headaches, no severe breast pain and stomach cramping before my periods, my head feels strong again, I remember things (which is amazing to me!!!!!!!!!) and I don't have the mood swings anymore. I don't have that feeling of someone digging a knife in my guts and twisting it anymore! Plus my hubbie really likes it for other reasons...LOL
I did drop in my mood level though a week ago, which meant the pellet only lasted not quite 3 months... a little too quick for me.... I just had another inserted, but my moods have not been elevated yet. Feeling down again, and it isn't a fun place to be after feeling so awesome!!!!!!!! My estrodial level also dropped after the insertion while it had been fine before the testosterone... Haven't been able to talk with the Dr. and the nurse really had no answers for me as to why... so.. she also put a estrogen dose in... Feeling strange today, kind of dizzy and not quite with it... Just a little worried now. Hoping to find some answers soon. Anyone with any feed back???
Please keep posting Freddie! Love to hear how it works for you. I know I was just amazed, and it felt so goooood to feel human again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also would love to hear what your levels were for comparison. thanks!
Josie

Dear April,

Women naturally produce a small amount of testosterone, but about 10 times les than men do. For women, testosterone production peaks in our 20s and by age 40 is about half of that level. By age 60 it’s half of what it was at age 40. If you've had your ovaries removed, your testosterone level will immediatly drop by 50%. Also taking oral estrogens can decrease circulating testosterone levels; transdermal (patch) estrogens have only a minimal effect.

For us testosterone does the same sorts of things it does for men: increases muscle bulk, strengthens bones, drives libido, improves mood, promotes acne, grows facial hair and makes us bald, and generates increased energy/aggression. Testosterone has been used in the past for a number of menopause complaints, but the main interest in it right now is for improving libido.

That doesn’t mean, however, that every woman who uses testosterone will experience any or all of the above effects. For example, 3-8% of women taking testosterone report an increase in acne and 6-22% report increased hair growth. Plucking a few hairs on her upper lip may be fine with one woman, while it might be a reason to stop the drug for another. For some women testosterone's the best thing since sliced bread, for others it doesn't work at all.

The biggest problem with testosterone right now (in the US) is that there are no testosterone products approved for women with low libido. Proctor & Gamble’s Intrinsa testosterone patch came very close to being approved, but the FDA sent them back to get more long-term safety data. So women in the US need to use a combination estrogen+testosterone product like Estratest or Estratest HS (half strength), use a male product like testosterone injections, or find a compounding pharmacy that can make creams, gels, drops, or lozenges in the correct strength for women. Some women use DHEA from health food stores, which is converted in the body to both estrogen and testosterone. But a recent study found that what’s sold as DHEA can have from 0% to 149% of what it says on the label. Buyer beware, indeed.

But all that said, most women who take testosterone find that their libido improves modestly, they just generally feel better, and they have a mild increase in acne and/or facial hair. If that's a "normal person" for you, definitely discuss it with your doctor.

-Margo

Hi everyone,

sorry I've not been around for a while----life just seems to keep throwing more and more at me. I now have parents with dementia to look after on top of everything else. The implants are still a success for me. I can now reach orgasim
where it was just impossible before. I had disintergrated "down there" and had no feeling what so ever. The testosterone has given me back feeling and my bits have grown back and I have a libido! My husband and me are much happier.
I was worried about having the implants as I'd read that testosterone can cause hair loss but that has not happened, also my breasts are no longer bloated and painful. Hope this helps.

PS Saw my GP last week and she told me that my GYNO has just started to use testosterone gel and maybe I would like to try that as it's less invasive, has anyone used the gel?

I have used the cream but not the gel. The cream works great and you can control the amount. Hopefully, the gel would be simular!

Zelma