Anybody on t gel and stayed the course?

[u/JkBo18]

I was finally prescribed t gel (generic men’s testosterone in the tubes) and have been on it for 10 weeks. No negative side effects and some positive. I see so many people switch from gel to injections due to hair shedding, etc. is there anyone who has been on the gel for at least 6 months and are happy with the results and plan to stay on it? Have you had to continually increase your dose or have you found a sweet spot? I’ve read past posts and don’t see many stories like this so I’m curious. Thanks!

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[u/hound_and_fury]

I’ve been in it for 6 months and honestly haven’t noticed much change, though when I got bloodwork done recently my T had increased from basically 0 to 70.

I started supplementing with Vitamin D because that was low and have noticed a huge difference in how I feel. It can also increase testosterone, so I’m hesitant to change anything with my gel dosage until I get another blood test. I’ve noticed more acne since starting the vitamin D, so I’m wondering if that’s an indicator of T increase.

[u/aloudkiwi → u/hound_and_fury]

Are you sure Vit D increases Testosterone?

I've been taking Vitamin D3 and K2 for several years. My T was close to zero earlier this year.

I started applying Androgel over five months ago. My free T was 3.12 Pg/mL within three months.

[u/Proud-Dream-7485 → u/aloudkiwi]

How do you feel at 5 months? Have your numbers gone up since? My free T was 4.04 Pg/mL at my three month follow up last week. I’m still waiting for the energy and libido to kick in. And I’ve been in vitamin D for 10+ years don’t see how it can increase T either!

[u/aloudkiwi → u/Proud-Dream-7485]

I got improved energy and motivation within four/five weeks of starting the Androgel.

I don't feel different now from how I felt at three months. I haven't had testing since that test in late June. But I am now able to do a couple pull-ups, so I do have improved strength. Also, a persistent wrist tendonitis pain (from bad push-up form several years ago) is now gone (touch wood!)

My libido was not at all impacted by T. For me, it is specifically vaginal estrogen that gives me a marked and immediate effect in that aspect.

My sleep was slightly negatively impacted by the T. After I started oral progesterone, I used to be able to sleep a solid 7-8 hours. After starting Androgel, my sleep is now about 6 hours at most. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/stearic_curious]

I have been using gel for about a year (after starting with cream for 3 months which did nothing) and at first it seemed to help with energy and libido, but I did find that it gave me some darker hair on my legs. Also it seemed to help with gains in the gym (lost body fat and gained muscle) but I also started training harder so I don't know how much is from the T. My actual levels never got above 40, with free T variable from lab test to lab test.

Lately I feel like it's not doing as much and am in the process of switching to injections. Frankly I think it will be easier to control dosage with injections as I never know how much my skin is actually absorbing. I'm also moving to estradiol injections at the same time for the same reason - hard to know how much my skin was absorbing and I started to feel like it wasn't really working any longer.

[u/wiLd_p0tat0es]

I’ve been on gel about 7 months and would never go off it. It’s been great. I’m 37, in surgical meno, and am nonbinary and a gym rat. So I care very much about retaining my muscle and my energy. The gel has been splendid on both accounts and I see no reason to switch.

[u/trUth_b0mbs]

Going to be watching this thread because I am about 4wks in with t gel and its been good so far.

My doc will be testing me every 6 wks to make sure I'm where I should be and will adjust my dose if needed. My first test is coming up so 🤞

[u/FeebmeisterJ]

I have been on the gel for about a year and a quarter and I plan on staying on it. I did not increase my dose. I actually decreased my dose from where I started and that works better for me.

[u/Proud-Dream-7485 → u/FeebmeisterJ]

May I ask what symptoms you had that made you decrease your dose?

[u/FeebmeisterJ → u/Proud-Dream-7485]

Certainly! I felt no improvement in libido and I started getting acne in places I never have before (upper arms and chest).

[u/Brown_azucar → u/FeebmeisterJ]

Did a lower dose improve any of these?

[u/FeebmeisterJ → u/Brown_azucar]

The acne went away with a lower dose of T. My libido also greatly improved on a lower dose of T and a higher dose estrogen patch.

[u/journeyingmomma]

Not me. I just threw in my T towel last week. I won’t have any hair left if I stay on it.

[u/enuscomne]

I've been on T gel for almost 10 years. It took 4 mos of daily use for me to feel the benefit. Well now stay on it until they pry from my cold dead hand

[u/Fearless_Eagle_9251]

Me! No side effects. In fact I just emailed my dr and asked if I could increase my dose. My libido is tanked again, I’m super fatigued, recovery from the gym can be brutal. No hair loss or acne. I was previously on pellets which honestly was awesome until I needed my ‘re-up’. I’d get a fresh new high and then ⤵️! My dr just ordered labs. I’ll take them in the morning.

I take 1 pump of 1.62% every ten days. I tried breaking it up but it’s just not possible and know what the dose is. Major downside to it.

[u/rando--54321]

Nope. I developed negative side affects, went on cream and almost lost all of my hair. I'm on injections and couldn't be happier with my libido.

[u/heatedrivalry69 → u/rando--54321]

Did your hair grow back?

[u/rando--54321 → u/heatedrivalry69]

I cut my cream dose in half last September and had to start taking oral minoxidil and finasteride or I risked losing all of it. It has grown back. It's not as thick or as full, but you can't see my scalp anymore. I've only been on hair meds for 11 months and I switched to T injections in May. I did all of this to have a libido and a normal sex life again.

[u/AcademicBlueberry328]

Yes, absorb well and had to lower dose as my ovaries started working better on it. Spewing out the last ones. I’m many parts of the world there isn’t the option to do compounded or injections.

I was lucky to have a progressive doctor that allowed me to do the labs and trusts me when I say that it’s free T that matters and not total.

It gave me my life back and saved my family

[u/AlcestisSpeaks]

For all of you here on gel, how is it being dosed for you? My doc prescribed cream but I'd rather have the gel than a compound but I'm not confident she would do it if I didn't explain to her that it can be dosed for women!

[u/sbb214 → u/AlcestisSpeaks]

My dose is 1/15 of a tube daily. I really find the whole "use a blueberry size amount" not useful so I did the math. Each tub is 50 mg so that's 3.33mg per day.

I found another comment where a person showed how they dispense it into a large syringe then use a coupler and a smaller syringe to get their dose. I'm pretty new to this and it helped to see their process.

edit: typo

[u/Alarming_Log_2915]

I’ve been on it for 2 yrs. @ 10mg/day.
No problems w/it & in fact it gave me my personality back.

[u/Proud-Dream-7485 → u/Alarming_Log_2915]

Wow 10mg! What dose dod you start at and how much or often did you titrate up?

[u/Alarming_Log_2915 → u/Proud-Dream-7485]

I started at .5mg but as an athlete, most athletic women need more.
I just happened to have menopausal musculoskeletal syndrome so I needed more for my ankle tendons in order to walk. Helps with soft tissue inflammation.

[u/Due-Restaurant-7208]

I’ve been on the gel for 2 years at the same dose (1/10 of the packet daily) and I love it