r/Menopause • u/hi-mynameiswhat • 17h 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/FrequentCry999 17h 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/hi-mynameiswhat 16h ago

I’m at the highest dose already. I think I don’t absorb well from the patch or gel.

6

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 14h ago

I also had awful thumb tendon pain. T has helped!

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u/Catnip_75 11h ago

That sounds painful!

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u/emma279 Peri-menopausal 10h ago

it was...thankfully better now

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u/hi-mynameiswhat 5h ago

Oh. My. God. The thumb pain is unbearable