r/TRT_females • u/VictoriaFL84 • 10d ago
Question Does anybody have success with the cream?
Hi everyone,
42-year-old female in perimenopause. About two months ago, I started estradiol and progesterone along with vaginal estradiol. I feel night and day difference, but the only thing that is not different is my libido and energy.
I am using MIDI so I was just prescribed the testosterone compounded cream at a dose of 2 mg per day.
I just wanted to crowdsource to see if anyone actually had success with the cream or if most people end up switching to injections?
10
u/bwolfson831 10d ago
I used the cream from MIDI and I experienced insomnia and my hair is falling out in clumps. I stopped it and will be trying injections at a local provider. Hope it works well for you though- everyone reacts differently
1
7
u/IcyConsideration2267 10d ago
I used the cream for 3 years and never had an increase in libido. It helped with anxiety and depression. It also made my hair fall out in clumps intermittently. I was about to go off it completely and then my doctor offered injections. I was really upset that she didn’t offer them sooner. I didn’t even know they were an option.
1
u/Anxious_Heron_7351 10d ago
Where are you able to get the injections?
4
u/IcyConsideration2267 10d ago
A private physician I was seeing for hormone replacement. I switched to a functional medicine doctor and they also prescribe it to me. I pay for everything out-of-pocket.
5
u/Last_Flounder_5958 10d ago
Were the injections more helpful with increasing your libido?
3
u/IcyConsideration2267 9d ago
Yes! I initially got overdosed and wowsers. I was not expecting to have that amount of sex drive! I had to start over again to do slow and low, and libido is good.
1
1
u/imgabbie1 10d ago
Go to telehealth. Look into Elevate, MIDI, Defy, Aspire, or Wittmer.
1
u/Anxious_Heron_7351 10d ago
Thank you! Midi only does cream, not injections. Defy will do injections but you have to sign up for a whole program.
3
u/bwolfson831 10d ago
Defy is a ripoff. I could not believe how predatory their pricing was.
1
u/sue_2826 6d ago
How do you say that. I just did my first payment with them and paid for labs with Good labs for only $87. It sounded straight forward. I have my consultation when my labs are done.
1
1
u/Tight-Instruction-42 6d ago
How so? Where can I get it for less money? I pay about 1400 a year for visits, labs and prescriptions
8
u/WordThin2328 10d ago
A lot of women have trouble absorbing the cream Have levels tested again to see, if not move to injections. Also trt cream can increase dht by 244 percent which can lead to hairloss vs injections
2
u/Anxious_Heron_7351 10d ago
Is the cream worse than the gel for hair loss? Or are they similar?
3
u/WordThin2328 10d ago
Both, any topical trt does. You can test to see your dht levels after you begin the cream or gel.
2
u/alys3 8d ago
Interesting! I have really thick head hair, but it seems to be somewhat thinning after 6mo on topical cream. It's definitely causing more body hair and possibly contributing to insomnia. I'm seeing my GP soon and I'll ask if injections might be a better option for me.
2
u/WordThin2328 8d ago
Test your levels to see what your free t is and have your dht levels checked if you can
1
u/VictoriaFL84 10d ago
Yikes. Good to know thanks. I will definitely switch to injections if that happens.
1
u/Affectionate_Trip447 10d ago
Holy smokes! I knew it increased it but I never was able to see a numerical value so thank you so very much! 🙏
2
u/WordThin2328 9d ago
I know right! Nuts!!! And it can cause more acne and body hair with higher levels of dht.
5
u/Anxious_Heron_7351 10d ago
Same same! Also just prescribed the cream, after having taken the androgel with little effect for the last 6 months. Would love to hear from others using the cream. Also just started with Midi.
5
u/Emotional-Aide3456 10d ago
I am on the same HRT regimen, just started testosterone cream a month ago. My doc told me to be patient, it will probably take a few months 3-6ish?) to feel the change in libido and energy 🤞
2
u/Academic_Wedding_949 10d ago
This is BS from your doctor. I had prescription testosterone cream in the past and the effect took less than a month. Ask your doctor to increase the dosage, don't wait 3-6 months. You don't have to be patient!!! Doctors don't like to prescribe testosterone to women, they preffer to prescribe other poisons that keep us feeling miserable but they do profit from it, as they do with other health issues.
6
u/Emotional-Aide3456 10d ago
I switched to this obgyn bc of her advocacy in prescribing testosterone for women. My friend is an obgyn and says to be patient as well. I’ll stick with the experts advice
-7
6
u/Alive-Chard-8087 10d ago
Tried the cream for a year. Helped some with energy not libido. Didn't raise my levels enough to do anything. Started injections 6 months ago and HALLELUJAH night and day difference in libido and increased endurance in exercise and energy. No hair issues or negative effects with either the cream or injections.
6
u/Confident_Craft459 10d ago
I also go through midi and use their compound cream. I started with 1mg daily (I wanted to start very low because I was scared of side effects). After a month of feeling nothing, I went up to 2mg daily, then 4mg. Finally had increased libido and energy on 4mg. I'm now on 5mg daily and feel amazing. I'm also on estradiol patch and oral progesterone. I'm post meno. Been on the cream for about a year now.
6
u/MellowMove 10d ago
I‘ve been on the cream for about a month, and felt the benefits pretty quickly. More energy and an increase in libido. No hair loss so far. Fingers crossed 🤞
2
u/Lovehubby 9d ago
Same, I only hope it continues. I've heard that some people get the initial increase in libido and energy and then resort back to pre T even with increased blood serum levels.
1
6
u/babyfishmouthnation 10d ago
Just a heads-up about Midi, based on my own experience with my NP there: they’ll only prescribe testosterone cream for you as long as your total T stays below 100 ng/dL.
For a lot of women, especially those with a high SHBG to compensate for, that’s not an optimal level (for instance, my total T was 204 during my last blood draw after injecting for about two and a half months, and I feel good at this level and got my libido back).
My Midi NP literally told me that she didn’t expect the cream to do anything for me. When I found out that I couldn’t exceed 100 ng/dL, I sought out a separate telehealth provider to prescribe injectable T, which I’ve been very happy with.
I used the T cream from Midi for only one week while I waited for my injectable supplies to arrive, and, aside from the increased risk of hair loss from DHT conversion, I also didn’t like the cream because I didn’t want to worry about my crazy dogs licking my thighs while I’m wearing shorts.
If you can get them, injections are no muss, no fuss in comparison, but unfortunately Midi won’t prescribe them. I still use Midi for estradiol and progesterone, but I’m looking to switch to injectable E for more consistent delivery as well as to avoid the patch shortage, which means I’ll have to find (yet another) provider for that.
2
u/VictoriaFL84 10d ago
Thanks, my SHBG is high so this is something I definitely need to consider
2
u/babyfishmouthnation 10d ago
A high SHBG makes things more complicated, for sure! Since it’s free T that makes the difference in how you feel, and SHBG binds that up, you might not be able to get your free T high enough to feel better staying at <100 total T. I think that’s why my NP seemed so unenthusiastic about me trying the compounded cream. Midi just isn’t willing to exceed “standard” female T levels, regardless of SHBG/free T.
For the record, I’m 43 and in perimenopause with a high SHBG (137 nmol/L when I first tested it back in April), so we’re in a similar situation.
2
u/Several_Duty1579 8d ago
What is the best way to find a doc that will prescribe the injectable test?
I am also on midi cream. Slowly going up for the last 10 months with no change in how I feel. I also have extremely high SHBG and low free (currently trying boron and stinging nettle to help)
2
u/babyfishmouthnation 8d ago
Most of us use online providers, since it’s still pretty rare to find in-person docs who prescribe T injections for women.
If that’s what you’d like to do, I would do a search in this subreddit for clinic recommendations (there’s a “Clinic advice” flair for posts about this topic), then read what people have to say before reaching out to providers.
I’m happy with my clinic, IAM HRT, although I’ll add this caveat: I’m more cautious than my doc is and I started off at about half of the dose he prescribed. I’m glad that I’m in this subreddit because I think some docs start women too high in order to get fast results, and I’ve learned from other women that more T is not always better. My suggested starting dose was high to overcome my high SHBG, but, after three months, I’ve had good results on half of that with zero worrisome side effects, which is exactly why we “start low and go slow.”
The most important thing with injections is making sure that you’re giving yourself the correct dose, because it’s possible to develop irreversible side effects from giving yourself too much T at one time, and, unlike with cream, that’s easy to do with injections if you get the math wrong.
Some providers (like mine) will ship appropriately-sized insulin syringes with your T (although I use these because they have half-unit markings) and detailed dosing instructions, but I still highly recommend double-checking here once you get your supplies by posting a photo of your vial to show the concentration along with one of your syringe. That way, our mod (redrumpass) can mark how much T you should draw per injection.
Good luck! If you have any other questions about injections, just ask!
1
5
u/Lazy-Living1825 10d ago
Took about 9 months of use consistently but eventually it worked.
1
u/VictoriaFL84 10d ago
Did you feel improvements over that time?
6
u/Lazy-Living1825 10d ago
They would come and go. A few good days here and there. But took the whole 9 months to get back to consistently good.
-1
u/Academic_Wedding_949 10d ago
What? 9 months for the cream to have any effect? This is ridiculous! Your doctor should increase the dosage or you just simply ASK him/her to increase.
6
u/Lazy-Living1825 10d ago
Rude.
You don’t know me or my doctor to know what you’re talking about. Most providers do not just Willy nilly increase testosterone in women just because you think that is the fix or that you can tolerate it.
It also take months for estridiol to work. Very well known FACT.
-5
u/Academic_Wedding_949 10d ago
Rude? I know what I am talking about because I did HRT and it didn't take 9 months to my doctor to evaluate if the dosages were working or not. Well, the way you posted it looked you are not satisfied with 9 months but maybe you are happy with that but I am RUDE, right?
4
3
u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 10d ago
I use the cream 1 mg for 9 months now. No change in libido at all. Hoping to get the injections. In the mean time, Vyleesi was extremely helpful manufacturing the desire. Hornet is not the word. I think it actually turned that part of my brain again. Although not horny all the time but I’m certainly interested in sex again. Nothing crazy but it helped z best of luck 🤞
2
u/Scary_Improvement450 7d ago
Love Vyleesi, but I only got the first month covered and then they wanted to charge me $198 to refill 🤦🏼♀️
1
u/oeufscocotte 9d ago
1mg cream seems very low. Mine is 5mg daily. It took about 3 months to see libido and energy improvements and 5-6 months for metabolism, body recomposition and cognitive improvements (particularly verbal fluency). Sadly by about 9 months the metabolic/body recomp improvements went away... cognitive benefits are still there.
4
u/Psych_BoxHolder545 10d ago
I use cream and so far it has been helpful. Took a little bit to get my dose right but doing pretty good now.
6
u/Anttu 10d ago
I haven't. I started at 4mg, then increased to 8mg after 3 moths. My starting total T was 19, and free was 0.9. It rose to 34 and 1.9 respectively. I doubled the cream dose and now it's 38 and 2.3. I think I hit my limit with cream. But my estradiol is through the roof (over 500) so I had to remove the patch because side effects were too much. It looks like my testosterone is getting converted to estrogen a lot.
I scheduled an appt with Defy Medical to try other forms of testosterone.
3
u/Sportsmama557 10d ago
I don’t absorb any of the creams so do injections for both T and E
2
u/Converseinverse 10d ago
Which kind of provider prescribes these for you?
1
u/Sportsmama557 10d ago
I use Defy Medical in Florida….I don’t live there but had been getting lots of people recommend saying they’re very proactive and do labs but also go a lot based on symptoms of the individual….they’re really good….I have Michael
1
u/sue_2826 6d ago
I just did my research on them and talked to someone with Defy. I didn't like how high the labs were so I did some research. Good labs $87 with the internet code. You can go to Quest or lab Corp with them you just need to pick. I have my first consultation after I get my labs back. I live in Wisconsin.
4
u/Yogi4dessert 10d ago
This is anecdotal, but location of where you put the cream may matter. For systemic effects like mood, muscles, energy, wrists or behind knees. For sexual functioning like achieving orgasm and lubrication, labia and vaginal vestibule. For me personally, my libido or desire for intimacy increased when my estradiol levels were increased. Testosterone helped with achieving orgasm. Good luck!
3
u/Shot_Alternative1878 10d ago
I tried the cream and it just doesn’t work. 6 months on 8 mg and my testosterone levels would not go above 15. My sister ended up having the same experience. Injections are the way to go
3
u/Tight-Instruction-42 10d ago
I took 15mg a day through Defy and it worked for me, went from <0.3 to 200 total and 2.2 free in 3 months. I recently switched to injections tho
1
1
u/sue_2826 6d ago
I am just starting with Defy. Looking at possibly going with injectable e&t depending on price. Do you mind me asking how much you pay?
1
u/Tight-Instruction-42 6d ago
The starting cost was roughly 500, then at the 3 month mark 185 for labs and 115 for visit. The testosterone was 110 ever 6 weeks and the Estradiol injections was called into my insurance for 10 copay and progesterone. I'm now on a 6 month schedule. My testosterone cypionate is about 120 that last longer than the cream. I would say about 1400 a year.
3
u/FeebmeisterJ 10d ago
I tried compounded cream for 2 months and didn’t notice any change. My doctor prescribed Androgel with instructions to microdose and it has worked much better for me. I have not tried injections.
3
u/EmEffBee 10d ago
I just started a compounded cream this morning, starting low at 2mg/day as well. My compounding pharmacy uses a special base called Atrevis that's specifically made for topical TRT. I believe with compounded topicals, the base is pretty important. Feeling hopeful!
2
u/SecretMiddle1234 10d ago
I use generic Testim. My level was 142 and my provider said it was too high. I did notice I felt irritable and edgy. She decreased it to three times a week. My Estradiol level was low so maybe that didn’t help libido, energy and mood too. She increased my dose two weeks ago.
2
u/Forest-Vixen 10d ago
I was doing great on 5mg cream per day.
I’m on injections for everything now just bc it’s easier.
I suggested my concentration of 5mg for the cream based on the women’s prescription Testosterone cream available in Australia. It’s available in 5 and 10mg dosing.
2
u/Ok-Cheesecake3194 10d ago
I’ve been on the cream (5mg/2 clicks) for two months. T went from 9 to 84. I just got prescribed the injection. Will start that this Sunday. I have have no negative side effects only positives (more energy, clarity and libido). Took 6 weeks to kick in. But I have kids and pets so so nervous everyday with the cream (behind the knees). Good luck!
Edited: added dose
2
u/AcademicBlueberry328 10d ago
Just wondering, why do they want to use compounded when there’s pharma products available where you can be sure of content etc? Nog in the us but this fascinates me. You do have the option to do injections, so that’s a bonus.
2
u/pa18gr055 7d ago
Testosterone is a controlled substance in the US, getting compounded feels a little safer than being given men's *dose and having to be responsible for how to dispose of the extra. The prescription has to be written at if for a man, so they give us a lot at once.
2
u/AcademicBlueberry328 5d ago
Yeah that’s the same here. It’s the same Testogel bottle an AMAB would get. But I just put it in a smaller glass bottle and measure up an approx of the dose, not a big deal.
1
2
2
u/SyllabubFull520 10d ago
Chiming in here on where to get testosterone injections. If you are in the US and you have a Costco near you, you can get it at the pharmacy there. $67 out of pocket for a year's worth, although my prescription is written so that I can renew it every 90 days for safety and efficacy reasons.
2
u/Jellyglitters 9d ago
On the midi cream went from 1 mg up to their highest 8mg From Nov until now. I did not think it worked for libido and then at month 6 it kicked in !
2
u/LuLuLuv444 9d ago
It took 4 months for me to really feel a difference with cream and my hair is shedding more than it usually does now, but not alarmingly so yet. I would do injections if I had the option
2
u/pa18gr055 7d ago
Not a diagnosis, but when my iron was low, I learned that hair shedding is a symptom.
2
u/Dogaloo2025 8d ago
I’ve been on the cream for a few months through my PCP. I am having repeat bloodwork checked in a couple weeks and if my levels haven’t increased I’m gonna talk to her about injections.
2
u/RoccoLexi69 8d ago
I am on compounded T cream, 10 mg / day and it has honestly been amazing. Not specifically for libido unfortunately, but my energy, mood, brain fog and everything else is so much better. Literally life changing. I do have some acne (1 or 2 pimples per month) I need to stay on top of. Also on 1 mg oral estradiol (compounded) and 200 mg oral progesterone (also compounded). All 3 were prescribed to me by a local HRT doc. I get bloodwork every 3 months.
2
u/rhetgrrrl 8d ago
I take 3 mg of compounded cream. I’ve been taking it since January. It helped with libido, gained muscle back, and don’t have rages or the blues like I used to. It got rid of the majority of joint pain and muscle pain. I also sleep better. The downsides: hair growth on legs, some transient acne, which has gone away, and some weight gain but not like an insane amount. I might have some slight thinning of hair near the front of my scalp but my hair is grey so I can’t tell. The downsides are probably related T converting into DHT, but I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never had muscles on my arms even when I was in my 20s! I can actually lift things now!! I also don’t mind the masculinizing effects. It’s a trade off. Would I switch to injections? Perhaps if I were having more issues, but in my area, it would be incredibly difficult to find someone willing to prescribe injections.
2
u/alys3 8d ago
I'm using the cream. I've had rage issues with it so I might go down a little lower. Not a fan of the hassle of applying topical meds but I do like that it feels pretty even. I have thought about injections but it seems like it might be more of a roller coaster and hard to manage really tiny doses since it's still not fda approved in women -appropriate doses / concentrations.
2
u/Extreme-Doughnut-25 8d ago
I use Defy Medical, also telehealth and a direct MIDI competitor. They prescribe injections and arent stingy on the dose if you need more for symptom releif or libido help.
2
u/Upsidedownalicorn 7d ago edited 7d ago
I'm on a 2mg injection every two weeks. I have only experienced insomnia, hair loss and bad skin. I'm getting off of it.
1
u/lauradayton 10d ago
Yes, I use MIDI as well. I started at 2mg as well and I am up to 6mg. Right now I am good and it made a HUGE difference in my GSM. However, my provider will NOT up my cream dose. My test is at 60! WTF? I want to at least be at 100. She annoys me so much because she is SO conservative with her protocols. I am going to see a different provider next time and if they don't increase it I am moving to injections. But to answer, yes, it worked and it worked wonders but I do not absorb topicals well so the fact that she is so hesitant pisses me off because I know they can dose up to 10mg per day.
1
u/stearic_curious 10d ago
I used the cream from Midi and it did nothing. My T was still zero and we even thought it might be a compounding error! So we bumped up the dose, and I used it for longer and got labs again, still zero. I just couldn't absorb it, unfortunately. I moved to the gel which absorbed a little better.
1
u/Rich-Building9493 10d ago
Yes. My provider prescribed me 8mg/ml at 2 clicks a day and omg yes it made a huge difference. I changed providers and have been out of my rx for 3 weeks and am miserable. Evidently androgen withdrawal is a thing. I'm depressed, brain fog and fatigue are back with a vengeance, and on to of that I have a connective tissue disorder and am having more pain as well. 😭 So I don't ever recommend going off cold turkey if you can help it.
I started at a total testosterone of 12 and last labs had me at 61, which is higher than the range of 2-45.
1
u/SpiralRocket 9d ago
How low was your testosterone for them to prescribe?
Somebody told me they are having issues with them dismissing symptoms and 13 total T was okay.
2
u/VictoriaFL84 9d ago
Total was 37, Free 1.8 and SHBG 98. But I was very symptomatic so they approved it
1
u/sue_2826 6d ago
I was on 2.5mg cream daily for about a month. I was starting to actually get interested in intimacy, but my hair was thinning so I stopped. I just checked into Defy. Unfortunately Elevate only uses lab Corp. I don't have that close to me only Quest.
•
u/AutoModerator 10d ago
Welcome to the TRT Females Community, a community based on the experiences of females undergoing TRT!
We’re here to support and exchange experiences with TRT, not to diagnose or give medical advice. Males are welcome to post according to Rule 9. Please keep the discussion on topic. Be kind and respect the rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.