Ladies....need some feedback on testosterone.....

[cw801]

I was hoping some of you ladies could give me a little feedback if you have used any LOW dose testosterone supplementation? I have always had a great sex drive, but for the last 6 months, it's taken a pretty good dive. So have my energy levels....to a point. After thinking it was just "one of those things" and it would come back (and it didnt'), I finally went to my Dr. and got a blood workup done.

Despite being at the gym every day (6 days a week), lifting, eating well, etc......my Testosterone levels are on the low side.

My Dr. suggested trying a very low dose shot of T, just to see if it would make a difference. He said of course there were topicals, etc.....but if I wanted to find out if boosting my testosterone would help, that a small dose in shot form would probably let me know pretty quick.

My estrogen and female hormones are very healthy, just my T is low.

I figured I'd ask any ladies who have taken testosterone if you noticed it increased your sex drive? Any other positive affects? What about negative? Let's just say it does help me.....then what are the side effects of continuing a really low dose?? I don't want to lose ANY of my femininity, and I'm not interested in it helping me with my muscle mass.....just want to get my body evened out and feel normal again and as pervy as I used to be!

 

[musclemom]

Wow, I want to get to know your doctor!!! There are an awful lot of them who think putting women on T. is the equivalent of turning them into trannys.

Go for it, if it's just going to get your doses back to PHYSIOLOGIC levels (the levels you would normally have) and you're being monitored by your physician, there should be no negative side effects. Just like being put on thyroid if you're low on that. It's just getting your body back to where it should be. It won't turn you in any way into a man

Despite a whole lot of myths and fears, EXTREMELY low dose T has virtually no negative side effects and a host of positives including a mild lift in energy, slight boost in mood, slightly easier gaining muscle/losing fat, increase in bone density and increased libido.

NOW having said that, some women are particularly sensitive to T. If your talking WORST CASE SCENARIO, the most LIKELY side effects from prescribed testosterone include chance of increased hair growth in places you don't want it in (permanent, more a few odd pluckable strays here or there) hair loss from where you want to keep it (often temporary shedding that grows back) and a bit more acne on a cyclic basis. The scarier side effects (pattern balding, clitoral growth, voice dropping, facial structural change) only happen with doses way higher than any doctor would prescribe for you or really severe hormone imbalances.

 

[cw801]

I'm glad you chimed in, Musclemom.....I respect your views on a lot of topics, and I was hoping you would comment. An initial shot would be very low dose and just to see if there is any type of improvement/difference. If there was, then we would discuss further treatment plans - and yes, ONLY to regulate my levels.

Yeah, my Dr. is awesome......I have had him for over 13 years, and he's always been an out-of-the-box thinker. He diagnosed my hyperparathyroidism about 10 years ago, when most Dr's would have completely overlooked it. Thanks to him, surgery fixed it, and I've been fine ever since.....

 

[*ebony*]

Wow, I want to get to know your doctor!!! There are an awful lot of them who think putting women on T. is the equivalent of turning them into trannys.

Go for it, if it's just going to get your doses back to PHYSIOLOGIC levels (the levels you would normally have) and you're being monitored by your physician, there should be no negative side effects. Just like being put on thyroid if you're low on that. It's just getting your body back to where it should be. It won't turn you in any way into a man

Despite a whole lot of myths and fears, EXTREMELY low dose T has virtually no negative side effects and a host of positives including a mild lift in energy, slight boost in mood, slightly easier gaining muscle/losing fat, increase in bone density and increased libido.

NOW having said that, some women are particularly sensitive to T. If your talking WORST CASE SCENARIO, the most LIKELY side effects from prescribed testosterone include chance of increased hair growth in places you don't want it in (permanent, more a few odd pluckable strays here or there) hair loss from where you want to keep it (often temporary shedding that grows back) and a bit more acne on a cyclic basis. The scarier side effects (pattern balding, clitoral growth, voice dropping, facial structural change) only happen with doses way higher than any doctor would prescribe for you or really severe hormone imbalances.

just curious when you say extremely low T dose; what does that measures to?

 

[musclemom]

I'm glad you chimed in, Musclemom.....I respect your views on a lot of topics, and I was hoping you would comment. An initial shot would be very low dose and just to see if there is any type of improvement/difference. If there was, then we would discuss further treatment plans - and yes, ONLY to regulate my levels.

Yeah, my Dr. is awesome......I have had him for over 13 years, and he's always been an out-of-the-box thinker. He diagnosed my hyperparathyroidism about 10 years ago, when most Dr's would have completely overlooked it. Thanks to him, surgery fixed it, and I've been fine ever since.....

Lucky girl, I can't find a doctor, other than my chiropractor, who seems to have two neurons to rub together.

I'm not sure if you'll see much difference with just one shot. It usually takes a while (usually minimum of two weeks) to start to notice any psychological/physiologic changes with hormone manipulation (unlike the thyroid, that stuff you feel immediately).

Funny how thyroid problems and reproductive hormone issues almost always go hand in hand.

 

[cw801]

Yeah....he tested my thyroid levels, too. Since they had to basically pull my thyroid off of my esophogus to get to my parathyroid glands when they performed my parathyroidectomy years ago, he wanted to make sure nothing was damaged as far as my thyroid goes......but it's fine.

Ebony, I'm not sure as to exact dosage numbers, but he said he'd have to give me just a very small fraction of what he'd normally give to a man who was needing testosterone supplements. I wanted to ask around and do some research, then if it's something I decide to try, I will go back in to see him and we will discuss dosage, etc......

 

[deestar]

I'd be curious to know what your doctor's definition of 'low dose' is. As this would presumably be prescribed test, I'm not sure if you'd have any control over the flavor of it (attached ester) - longer esters will take a number of weeks to feel any effect from (2-5), while propionate should have you feeling something within a week (based on what I've read, no first hand experience with prop).

My comment on the dosage comes down to this - you don't want to lose any femininity or gain lean muscle, the two things testosterone can be very good at. I'm not sure what the ceiling should be for your goals. You should definitely discuss this with your doctor and I'd highly recommend seeking additional input here after that discussion. It's bizarre but I would trust many of the people on this forum before a medical professional when it comes to hormone replacement.

Lastly, it's not a sure fix. My girlfriend has been on test for several weeks now and her libido is unchanged. There have been subtle changes in her voice and her lifting performance in the gym has already improved dramatically, but libido and energy levels are as they were before. Everybody reacts differently.

D

 

[cw801]

Thank you for your input, as well! Yes, I believe he mentioned 'propionate'.......he also said it is not a guarantee fix.....we could very well get my levels up to a normal level and I could still have the same issues......another reason why I'm not jumping right into trying it. And I told my Dr. I was going to ask around on this forum before I made any decisions.....I think you all have a lot more experience than most people, and I definitely value your advice!

 

[musclemom]

Thank you for your input, as well! Yes, I believe he mentioned 'propionate'.......he also said it is not a guarantee fix.....we could very well get my levels up to a normal level and I could still have the same issues......another reason why I'm not jumping right into trying it. And I told my Dr. I was going to ask around on this forum before I made any decisions.....I think you all have a lot more experience than most people, and I definitely value your advice!

Frankly, I'd try to get a bioidentical topical cream down the road.

I've never tried injectible forms, can't speak for that.

Again, I can speak only from my own experience. I've used a very low dose topical (about 1.25 mg/day), that's it.

 

[*ebony*]

Yeah....he tested my thyroid levels, too. Since they had to basically pull my thyroid off of my esophogus to get to my parathyroid glands when they performed my parathyroidectomy years ago, he wanted to make sure nothing was damaged as far as my thyroid goes......but it's fine.

Ebony, I'm not sure as to exact dosage numbers, but he said he'd have to give me just a very small fraction of what he'd normally give to a man who was needing testosterone supplements. I wanted to ask around and do some research, then if it's something I decide to try, I will go back in to see him and we will discuss dosage, etc......

def a good idea to get some feedback from other women who've used tests in the past. if you decide to go through with it, id be curious to read about the specs though. that is dosage, any mental and physical changes.