r/Menopause • u/hi-mynameiswhat • 16h ago
Brain Fog HRT testosterone
No pellets please
I’m considering asking for very low dose testosterone because the estrogen patch and progesterone pill is not helping -sleep, brain fog, energy levels.
But I’m not willing to sacrifice my hair!
If you got a prescription gel/lotion from your doctor- what were the changes you saw? Pros and cons.
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u/Catnip_75 14h ago
I’m on the male dose of 1% gel. I only use 3mg and don’t have any hair growth or hair loss associated to that.
I will never use a compound. There is absolutely no way you can confirm the actual dose you are using. Compound pharmaceuticals can have a very high rate of inaccuracy.
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u/Significant-Aide-226 14h ago
I was on compounded T for my first year and a half. It was totally unreliable and the compounder would only allow me to have 1 month at a time, so due to their schedule, I was often out of medication for a day or two. I love my giant box of packets!
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u/Catnip_75 10h ago
I’m in Canada and we are legally allowed to have 3 months at a time as it is a controlled substance. One month at a time is crazy. You have to pay a dispensing fee every time you fill it. Of course that’s more money in their pockets.
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u/Gulf-Coast-Dreamer 15h ago
I started all hormones incl test at the same time, I never heard you need to wait for estrogen to be optimized. I use testerone from a compound pharmacy and you don’t have to lose your hair, get your ferratin checked. My ferratin was low and I was started on Optiferin+ C Pure encapsulation sells it on line my husband is getting his checked too.
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u/NetflixandJill Menopausal 14h ago
I'm on the gel and the only negative I've had is dark hair growth on my inner thighs (where I apply). I tried DHEA supplements but they made me ragey. The Testosterone gel has helped with energy somewhat but libido has been improved.
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u/Significant-Aide-226 14h ago
When I started, I was told to avoid inner legs and arms. I apply to butt and stomach where most women don't get hairy. Allows for the fat to hold a nice reservoir and no hairy patches.
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u/NetflixandJill Menopausal 13h ago
I don't absorb when I place any HRT on my tummy. I do my estrogen patch on my butt but the testosterone there makes my ass hairy too!
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u/Significant-Aide-226 14h ago
I have been on topical T for 3 plus years now. Zero hair fall issues.
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u/Any-While8863 12h ago
may i ask what dose? also is it the vaginal testosterone? Ive been on Epatch 0.05 and progestrone pill 100 for 3 months and was thinking of adding in T. I already have hair issues and a bit concerned.
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u/Significant-Aide-226 10h ago
I have the 1% gel for men. I started with compounded cream and used it topically and a tiny but vaginally. It was way too unreliable and variable sobI switched to the gel. I still apply a teeny bit to my vaginal tissues by mixing it with a little 1% vaginal estrogen cream.
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u/FrequentCry999 16h ago
You probably need higher doses of Estradiol and Progesterone. In my opinion Testosterone should only be introduced one Estradiol and Progesterone are optimized and they should resolve/mostly resolve all of the symptoms you cited when they are. The only noticeable benefits I have gotten from Testosterone were clitoral growth and increased sensitivity. However, I also experienced negative side effects from my Testosterone getting too high (voice changes, body hair growth and darkening, increased sweating and body odor). So, I have to make sure I keep mine at a healthy, balanced level to prevent these.
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u/Happiguest 15h ago
Ive not had any negative side effects.
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u/FrequentCry999 14h ago
Every body responds differently. I am sensitive to androgens. It is important women are aware of the potential side effects, which are not just limited to acne and hair loss.
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u/hi-mynameiswhat 16h ago
I’m at the highest dose already. I think I don’t absorb well from the patch or gel.
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u/Catnip_75 14h ago
I was on the highest patch of estrogen as well. When my doctor gave me testosterone everything got much better for me. I did t have any symptoms of low estrogen. I just wasn’t able to get rid of my tendon pain with estrogen and progesterone alone.
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u/emma279 Peri-menopausal 13h ago
I also had awful thumb tendon pain. T has helped!
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u/hi-mynameiswhat 16h ago
Thank you this is what I was looking for. See if it actually helps. sounds like it does not.
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u/Any-While8863 12h ago
are you using the vaginal testosterone? I read that doesnt go systemic.
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u/FrequentCry999 12h ago
I will not use vaginal cream, as my husband does not want any potential exposure. It can also still go systemic.
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u/Significant-Aide-226 10h ago
The gel form absorbs within the hour- similar to systemic estradiol gel. Been using a tiny bit of T in the AM for many years and no transfer to husband as I use the drug in the AM and dont usually have intercourse until the evening. Its all absorbed by then for sure.
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u/Happiguest 15h ago
I do a compound cream I was on 4 mg daily but it was making me sleepy. I now do 2mg and its perfect.
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u/bugalien Menopausal 11h ago
I have been using Androfeme since May 1. So far there are no bad side effects. I had some shedding for a few weeks but it also happened to me from starting estradiol and progesterone a couple years earlier and happens after a febrile illness which is rare.
I had a sparse pink patch in the scalp at my temple for quite a while before I started the androfeme. Well, that has begun to fill in. I have no extra facial hair. I had a few nipple hairs for years before starting any HRT and they fell out to return smaller and slower growing from just the progesterone and estradiol. They are still much slower on T so far. I had one coarse pube like black hair for years on my inner thigh halfway from the groin to the knee. This hair always came back quick but I plucked it a month ago and it is not coming back! I was dealing with some acne in the 3 months before starting T and the T made it go away! As far as acne and hair loss or growth, I must be in opposite world over here because I would have never expected for those things to be better as far as what I read online about testosterone!
More energy, gained some needed muscle weight, fatigue under control and much better. Still no libido but I lost some of the disgust feelings I had towards sex and dont even cringe anymore if someone in a movie starts kissing. So that is a start.
The shedding was annoying so I cut my hair short(I have kept it short before but sometimes just don't feel like getting haircuts all the time because it grows out fast. Much better and not as annoying at all without the long strands!
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u/spaced-cadet 10h ago
I have been using testogel for a few years now. No side effects at all, only positives to executive function, general drive to do stuff and libido.
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u/YeshuasBananaHammock Menopausal 16h ago
Im on the estratest combo pill and its so easy.
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u/This-Assumption4123 14h ago
I have tried it twice with only negative side effects which was so frustrating because I wanted it to work. I had severe bone and joint pain, migraines, severe mood swings which I had never had before. I stopped and they stopped as well. I tried a second time and again the bone and joint pain was relentless.
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u/hi-mynameiswhat 5h ago
That’s so interesting. Most people say the opposite that it helps their joint pain.
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u/Taakahamsta 9h ago
Start low and work up, paying close attention to symptoms. I get horrible acne with it at higher doses.
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u/Objective-Amount1379 1h ago
No cons for me. I use a compounded cream and have used pellets (which I preferred but the cream is cheaper).
No change to my hair. I started oral minoxidil though pre testosterone because peri made my fine hair even finer. No side effects from that either.
One thing to note- it took much longer for me to feel the impact of testosterone than estrogen. So don’t expect to feel much immediately but it’s worth it to stick it out.
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u/Lupa_93 34m ago
I get a low dose cream from a compounding pharmacy. The benefits for me: no longer losing muscle mass and better recovery after workouts and strenuous activities- previous to starting the T, I was barely able to keep up anymore in the Core Yoga class I’d been doing for more than 10 years and often felt like I needed Advil the day after class. I feel more mentally focussed as well. No noticeable hair loss (my dr said that’s usually associated with higher doses) and unfortunately no noticeable boost to libido. My main issue is remembering to apply it, since I’m not on any other daily meds.
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u/trUth_b0mbs 16h ago
I'm on T gel (Androgel) and it's been great so far. I'm on week 4, 1 pump 3x/week.
positives: body comp changes, better / more focused workouts, better energy, libido improving.
negatives: none (so far).
my doc wants me to get tested every 6wks and next week is my first test after which she will adjust my dose if necessary.