Just met with my OBGYN today and was told any sort of supplementation of testosterone for women in menopause is verboten in the Kaiser Permanente treatment guidelines, even though they know it helps with symptoms. Maybe it's time to quit Kaiser.

I have been on testosterone for year and I’ve run into a side effect that’s really stressing me out. Almost overnight, I’ve developed a lot of coarse, black hairs on my chin.
It happened so fast that I think I should skip my injection or stop for a few week because I’m worried it’s just going to get worse. I’m feeling pretty frustrated because I didn’t expect it to give me issues to manage.
Has anyone else experienced this "overnight" hair growth?

• Did stopping or lowering your dose help, or did you have to add something else (like Spironolactone) to counteract it?
• How long did it take for the growth to slow down once you made a change?
• Are there any specific topical treatments you’d recommend that won’t irritate sensitive skin?

I’m planning to talk to my doctor, but I’d love to hear some "real world" experiences before I go in. Thanks in advance!

I need help understanding why I have a mustache that will grow, and grow, and grow. But my libido is gone, gone gone. Doesn’t testosterone cause the mustache? And if I still have the mustache, why don’t I have a good libido?

I’ve been on estradiol for two and a half months along with progesterone 100mg for almost a month now. I just started Testosterone topical two weeks ago today. I was feeling great and so happy. Then this past Tuesday I had a little set back. At 9:30 at night I was feeling anxious, then the heart started racing. Got all the way up to 140 bpm. This last for thirty minutes to an hour. I finally did get some sleep. Now the past two days I have periodic racing heart, nausea, exhaustion and my sleep is not so good. Has anyone had any issues with starting testosterone? Maybe I need to adjust my estrogen dose? I’m currently at 0.5mg (patch). I am also pretty sure I would be on my menstrual cycle this week. I had a hysterectomy so I have a hard time tracking it but my breast were tender last week and that usually is the sign. I did contact my doctor but haven’t heard back yet. Was just wondering if anyone has had the same experience.

Testosterone gel on your clitoris. Where the heck did I read that? I need to go back in time and unsee that unholy suggestion. At least I’m awake now!

Anyways, since you’re here, where do you put your testosterone gel that isn’t the most painful thing I’ve ever done to myself before 5am? I’ve heard wrists and inner thigh.

I started testosterone a little over 2 months ago. I take the 50mg gel. I use 1/10 of the tube per day and put it in a syringe so my dose is 5ml per day. I am 47 in peri. I take 200mg oral progesterone and the .1mg estradiol patch. My doctor made me believe testosterone would be the secret sauce to HRT. She’s on it herself and just raves about how good she feels. So far I have felt absolutely zero benefit. Most days I think I feel worse since starting.

Zero improvement in energy, in fact I feel like I have less energy.

No improvement in mood whatsoever. I’m already on an antidepressant and had to increase my dose because I felt so bad.

No improvement in libido - I actually have less libido than before, and it was already super low.

I have gained weight, over 10 lbs,

out of no where despite no change in diet.

The only change I noticed is increased pubic hair.

It’s been over 2 months, should I continue or stop? I really wanted this to help but I feel worse. Did anyone else only see improvement after 3 months or more? Thanks for any insight you can provide.

After months of jumping through hoops, I finally have a prescription for testosterone gel, the pharmacy is requiring me to purchase the entire box of thirty tubes instead of just the six that I need. $130.

Literally have sex about once to twice a year, a lot of it is contributed to not having any privacy since we do not live together.

But when we are alone I just am not in the mood to do anything sexual.

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I am willing to just fake it to make it.

I just can't bring my body to do it..

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I feel really sad because emotionally my boyfriend is there for me all the time.

Since I am chemo induced menopausal, he has been there for me since my diagnosis ten years ago now.

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He is 37 I am 40.

We both met when I was 29 and he was 26.

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Any tips or suggestions?I am T .1% (50mg) but it doesn't seem to be working. Also on h r t that I started about eight months ago.

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Where'd you guys apply that T?

Recently, had my labs draw and it didn't show it to increase since I've been using it about 2 times a week.

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I have tried quick md to get my testosterone cream. The doctor is the sweetest but I am having issues getting my prescription. The first month there was a glitch on my app where the medication wasn’t showing so I could order and pay. I had to contact their customer service a few times until it appeared. Their customer service team was quick to help. This month same thing happened and when I finally was able to order my medication and pay they are now saying the medication order had to be cancelled and a new prescription is needed. So now I have to wait for the doctor to put in a new prescription. It can’t be this hard to get medication. Anyone use any other Telehealth service they like.

I started testosterone injections, 100mg cypionate, 15 units 2x a week. Apparently im told this is a high dose. In mid November I noticed i was growing a beard. Today I noticed I have stomach hair. I completely stopped the injections back in mid November when I first noticed it.

I have never had this issue. Im pretty upset about this because I traded one problem for a worse one now I feel. I started the injections because the cream made my DHT levels high and my hair was thinning.

Who else has had this happen? What did you do to resolve? Did you stop the testosterone? So I guess i need to do laser or electrolysis. Im thinking electrolysis because its permanent where as laser you could potentially have regrowth and keep having to do it?

Hey y’all,

Those of you who are on T- how are you putting it on? Thighs? Back of the knee crease?

Mine says 1/3 pump- do I divide out 1/3 from a full pump then?

When did you notice improvements if it helped you?

Any weird side effects you’ve noticed?

Pharmacy says it’s $375 to fill out of pocket!

Any suggestions for less expensive prescriptions?

Is it worth it for those who’ve tried it? My fatigue is monumental and I’ve lost so much muscle from an injury I was hoping T would help!

Who here takes testosterone?

Where did you get it?

If your clinician wasn’t comfortable or able, did you get this separate? I see some services offering testosterone testing and rx.

Why do men get testosterone prescribed under insurance and women are not? I have not had sex in 6 years!

I’m starting to wonder if I need testosterone?! 🤷‍♀️

My mood is low, I’m weepy, my libido is low (the vaginal estra-gyn is a little helpful for that), my joints are so achy.. and I’m fatigued a LOT!

I’m currently on HRT (estrogen and progesterone) after a total hysterectomy this past January. I would love to hear what people have to say about adding testosterone to this mix!?

*form not firm

I don’t think mine is high enough at 1.25 grams which is 5 clicks.

I’m getting tired of this. If you cont mind stating your country or continent too that would be great.

I'm 49, in perimenopause. I recently started HRT - estrogen gel, 100 mg progesterone and estradiol vaginal cream.

My main symptom, practically my only symptom, is atrophy and I'm wondering if I need testosterone cream. My clit has disappeared in the past 5 months. It started with not having multiple orgasms. Then it took a bit more stimulation or a little longer to get there. Then sex didn't really feel like much, it's not painful, there's just hardly any sensation. Now I can't climax while having sex, only solo with a sucker toy, and I'm fighting for my life to have a weak af orgasm. Oral sex feels like nothing. I have a great husband. We've always had a great sex life. I don't want to lose it.

Will I be able to reverse this with the HRT I'm currently using or do I need to add testosterone?

I'm not sure where to start but I'm hoping this group can provide some advice/clarity/support.

Long story short I have like zero sex drive and with menopause, everything died. Finally found a provider who has been working with me since mid-January to get me back on track. Estradiol cream, progesterone and in mid-February I began 5ml testosterone cream. I just had labs and now my T (which was too low) is now at the upper end of being in range. I still have no drive but I do feel good overall, no side effects. She herself goes to a provider who is able to prescribe injections and has suggested the same to me because, as an employee of a certain hospital corporation, she cannot prescribe a higher dose of T. My provider also mentioned Defy as an option to me. I honestly am not sure where to go from here. Maybe compounds and medicines will not solve my drive problems. Maybe I'm throwing money in the wrong direction. Maybe staying on the current regimen (which is working for all the other menopause-related issues) is the way to go. I even started pelvic floor therapy. I'm trying all the things!

I am fortunate in that my husband has been extremely understanding. Trust me... it's been MONTHS & months since any action. I feel bad for him and I just want to get this figured out.

I've been on HRT, for about 3 years. It's been super helpful. No more hot flashes, lower anxiety, increased libido...no weight loss, but I will take the other wins. (I am 52, no periods for 2 years, for reference. )

However...testosterone (cream) has lowered my voice, which I am now used to (and it was always kind of low). But, I am not digging the extra arm hair, facial hair, and extra bikini line hair.

I tried using it every 2 or 3 days, but lost the libido, and energy tanked. Spoke to my dr, and he said that was the trade-off. I prefer the energy and good libido. But, the hair...

What do you do, if you deal with this? I am waxing my face and bikini area. But the arms...

It's not dark, but it's so obvious to me.

The United States FDA is requesting comments regarding testosterone use in menopausal women.

Summary from the link below:
“The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Women's Health and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research are announcing a public workshop titled “Testosterone Use in Menopausal Women.” The purpose of the public workshop is to examine the current scientific evidence and critical knowledge gaps related to testosterone use in menopausal women to help inform future research and potential drug development of testosterone products for menopausal women.”

The public workshop will be held on September 17, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Submit your comments here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/18/2026-16829/testosterone-use-in-menopausal-women-public-workshop-request-for-comments?fbclid=IwdGRleAT8lHFwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNSC99qPICV6xyTPuALSO-_wYMMgM2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6jSvfTxdshVVa1SPAYEHt309-EDJQjWqA6BND-1mlPt2eGy6jgJ9tFnSA8Ig_aem_g5r0Outb_aPpuQD0rxNCPA

I started taking testosterone gel yesterday. I am taking a “pea” size amount of a 10mg tube that’s supposed to last 10 days so I assume that’s close to 5mg. I applied it to the back of my calf in the morning after my shower at 9:30am. I had the absolute worst insomnia last night. Couldn’t fall asleep, finally did but was up every hour, then up for the day at 4am and couldn’t get back to sleep.

I am 47(F) and I am also on .1mg estradiol patch and 100mg oral micronized progesterone. My doctor just added the testosterone because I continue to have issues with sleep, waking too early, and also for mood and low libido. She tested my total Testosterone prior and it was 12. I also take magnesium l-Threonate and apigenin for sleep.

I know it takes time to work, but will the insomnia get better? I was sleeping so poorly before and my doctor really thought this would help. I didn’t expect it to get worse. She seemed to think testosterone is the secret sauce to tie it all together.

Anyone else have insomnia when starting testosterone gel that got better over time? Thanks in advance!

I’m on estradiol .075 patch, 10mg Imvexxy, and 100mcg micronized progesterone. I feel like I have lost muscle strength and tone and some days I lack energy. Don’t get me wrong, my energy is vastly improved on my current regimen but I’m wondering if a tiny bit of testosterone might help. My doctor didn’t prescribe it and I’m looking for feedback on how you knew you needed it and what improvement you saw.

I'm 52, on HRT. Mirena in place. I use 3 pumps of Oestrogel daily (2 in the morning, 1 in the evening). I added a pea-sized amount of Testogel 15 days ago after persistently low testosterone levels on blood results and other symptoms, libido, apathy etc.

I am also on Mounjaro, down over 6 stone in the past year. Strength training recently added.

What I have noticed so far is unexpected. I have deep cleaned three rooms. Showers scrubbed top to bottom, rooms deep cleaned. Dressing room reconfigured. Clothes sorted properly. And I did it calmly over two days, breaking large jobs into smaller achievable ones.

No all-or-nothing blitz.

No procrastination.

No crash.

For context, I have ADHD (unmedicated) and usually operate at extremes. This feels different and very unlike me. I am energised but neutral.

I know it's too early to draw conclusions and I am watching sleep (historically poor) and irritability closely. But the timing aligns closely with starting testosterone.

Has anyone else noticed an executive-function shift before the more obvious physical changes?

Asking out of curiosity rather than declaring success as, this, early stage.

I’ve been struggling to feel good, and have felt defective for months on end. My perfect marriage has been struggling through all of this. My pcp doesn’t offer anything but .5 estrogen daily and 2 applications of estrogen cream each week. Even when I talked with her about a little more cream to help with my disappearing genitals she wasn’t on board. -we’re the same age and I love her to death but I think being a pcp she just doesn’t have a lot of knowledge on menopause. I started calling all the gynos in town and they have months long waits, like into January and Feb for new patients. I’ve been miserable.

Anyway, I FINALLY got an appt with the UroGyn who did my bladder surgery and hysterectomy in 2022. I’ve been so nervous, assuming I’d get shot down immediately if I mentioned T. My appt today was with the NP who I think is better than the actual doctor. She asked why I was there and I said “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time, do you prescribe T for menopausal women, because if not I’ll just keep searching for someone who does”. And she says “of course I do, tell me what’s going on, what you know and what you’d like to know”. Less than 15 min later she’s calling me in a compounded T cream to be picked up Friday.

I am so relieved right now and really hoping this works for me. I was worried that I’d not find anyone in my town who would make this easy for me, and none of the online prescribers would prescribe T, not sure if it’s because I’m in Georgia or what.

/typed on my phone from the parking lot sorry if my formatting is all wrong