Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below
testosterone
- Thread starter georgie
- Start date
I've been using natural testosterone creme for about six months for treatment of low testosterone. My levels were less than half the lowest normal range for a woman. I now feel like a completely new person. I have much more energy and endurance. And I have a libido again - something I'd not had for the past 7 years. I'm 39, and I think being on the pill for a mere 18 months 7 years ago totally messed me up.
Because I'm now able to train harder, I'm getting better results in the gym. However, I'm by no means packing on slabs of muscle, as I'm only using enough to put me in the normal female range. (My last hormone panel put me right in the low normal range, but what a difference in how I feel!)
Even if you're not a bodybuilder, all females need a sufficient level of testosterone for overall health. Compared to other forms of steroids, the pure test creme has lower anabolic (muscle building) properties and higher androgenic properties, which in high doses can cause sides such as voice changes, clitoris enlargement, excess hair, acne, etc. So for muscle-building, it wouldn't be a good choice, because you'd have to use a large dose which would certainly cause sides. At the dose I'm using, I haven't even gotten a pimple.
When I say "natural testosterone", I mean bioidentical in molecular structure to human testosterone. Because a naturally occuring substance can't be patented (and made $$ on), I have to get it from a compounding pharmacy, and they make it in a low enough strength for a woman. You can get test gels from a regular pharmacy, but they're made in strength for men, so you'd have to be careful w/ the dosing.
I highly recommend the book Natural Hormone Balance for Women by Uzzi Reiss. It's great for all age women, but especially those of us in our 30's and up.
Because I'm now able to train harder, I'm getting better results in the gym. However, I'm by no means packing on slabs of muscle, as I'm only using enough to put me in the normal female range. (My last hormone panel put me right in the low normal range, but what a difference in how I feel!)
Even if you're not a bodybuilder, all females need a sufficient level of testosterone for overall health. Compared to other forms of steroids, the pure test creme has lower anabolic (muscle building) properties and higher androgenic properties, which in high doses can cause sides such as voice changes, clitoris enlargement, excess hair, acne, etc. So for muscle-building, it wouldn't be a good choice, because you'd have to use a large dose which would certainly cause sides. At the dose I'm using, I haven't even gotten a pimple.
When I say "natural testosterone", I mean bioidentical in molecular structure to human testosterone. Because a naturally occuring substance can't be patented (and made $$ on), I have to get it from a compounding pharmacy, and they make it in a low enough strength for a woman. You can get test gels from a regular pharmacy, but they're made in strength for men, so you'd have to be careful w/ the dosing.
I highly recommend the book Natural Hormone Balance for Women by Uzzi Reiss. It's great for all age women, but especially those of us in our 30's and up.
newgirl-chargeback
New member
FitFossil....
I had my levels checked some time ago (3 years or more) and was told it was the low end of normal....and was steered clear of this kind of therapy.
Are doctors more inclined to now be a little shall I say "liberal" in prescribing test creams?
I had my levels checked some time ago (3 years or more) and was told it was the low end of normal....and was steered clear of this kind of therapy.
Are doctors more inclined to now be a little shall I say "liberal" in prescribing test creams?
I think it still depends a lot on the doctor, but the whole issue of women's libido, and the fact that normal women do and should have testosterone is coming more to light, so you may have better luck now.
Do you remember if they tested "total" test or "free" test? "Free" tells the amount you actually have circulating in your system that's not bound up with SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). It's a more expensive test than for "total", but if your test for total was borderline low, you'd definitely want to push to have your "free" level tested to really determine if you're deficient. It's possible to have normal "total" levels, but if you also have high levels of SHBG binding it up, your "free" levels could be quite low.
I tried having my hormones tested 3 years earlier and was told "they can't test that in women" (which isn't true, but I didn't know any better at the time), and said maybe wearing lacy undergarments would help my libido - (and this was a FEMALE doctor)!
But last summer, my doctor (this time a male) ordered a complete hormone panel after I explained my symptoms. I didn't even have to ask specifically for a testosterone check, they checked all my hormones, including DHEA, SHBG, Estrogens, progesterone, etc. Then when the results came back, there was no question I had a significant testosterone deficiency. (Sure was a validating moment for my non-existent libido!) But even with the test results, it's really hit or miss on how the doctor will intepret, which is why you always want to get a paper copy of the results for yourself. On a female board I read, one woman had a free testosterone result of 0.0 and the doctor told her it was normal.(!!)
Do you remember if they tested "total" test or "free" test? "Free" tells the amount you actually have circulating in your system that's not bound up with SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). It's a more expensive test than for "total", but if your test for total was borderline low, you'd definitely want to push to have your "free" level tested to really determine if you're deficient. It's possible to have normal "total" levels, but if you also have high levels of SHBG binding it up, your "free" levels could be quite low.
I tried having my hormones tested 3 years earlier and was told "they can't test that in women" (which isn't true, but I didn't know any better at the time), and said maybe wearing lacy undergarments would help my libido - (and this was a FEMALE doctor)!
But last summer, my doctor (this time a male) ordered a complete hormone panel after I explained my symptoms. I didn't even have to ask specifically for a testosterone check, they checked all my hormones, including DHEA, SHBG, Estrogens, progesterone, etc. Then when the results came back, there was no question I had a significant testosterone deficiency. (Sure was a validating moment for my non-existent libido!) But even with the test results, it's really hit or miss on how the doctor will intepret, which is why you always want to get a paper copy of the results for yourself. On a female board I read, one woman had a free testosterone result of 0.0 and the doctor told her it was normal.(!!)
newgirl-chargeback
New member
Thanks that additional info was usefuel to me.
My wife is on T replacement. We did a HELL of a lot of research on the subject and settled on the topical natural T gel. She takes 2.5 mg per day on the inner forearm. Her T level has gone up from 27 to 50. She feels better and looks better and her sex drive has improved. Her lifting has improved too.
Don't do T IM because in order to maintain a level of T that is NOT above the normal range for women you need to do frequent low dose shots ...like 5-10mg every third day even with an ester like cypionate. Also there is some evidence to suggest that the synthetic T(esterfied T) is not healthy if taken over years.
Most MD's Know next to nothing about Testosterone when it comes to women...sad but true.
Here is a good tip......if your total T level is below 30 and you have symptoms of low T then you need replacement. The range for normal T is wide and ranges from 20-80. Some women do very well with 25-30 but many do not.
SYMPTOMS......#1. Low to no sex drive. Some cannot climax even with direct clit stimulation. #2. Fatigue easily. #3. A hell of a time loosing body fat even with plenty of cardio, lifting and lowish cal diet. The last two can be symptoms of other problems like hypothyroidism....the dead give away is the low to no sex drive.
Uzzi Ries has a good book on hormone replacement for women.
RG
Don't do T IM because in order to maintain a level of T that is NOT above the normal range for women you need to do frequent low dose shots ...like 5-10mg every third day even with an ester like cypionate. Also there is some evidence to suggest that the synthetic T(esterfied T) is not healthy if taken over years.
Most MD's Know next to nothing about Testosterone when it comes to women...sad but true.
Here is a good tip......if your total T level is below 30 and you have symptoms of low T then you need replacement. The range for normal T is wide and ranges from 20-80. Some women do very well with 25-30 but many do not.
SYMPTOMS......#1. Low to no sex drive. Some cannot climax even with direct clit stimulation. #2. Fatigue easily. #3. A hell of a time loosing body fat even with plenty of cardio, lifting and lowish cal diet. The last two can be symptoms of other problems like hypothyroidism....the dead give away is the low to no sex drive.
Uzzi Ries has a good book on hormone replacement for women.
RG
what percentage?
Realgains, What percentage cream is your wife using. I am thinking that if she is getting 2.5mg of test/per 1 gram dose , then she is using 1/4% creme. Is this correct? In a previous post you said 2% creme was a low dose, but that would be 20 mg/1gram. I have been rx'd 2% creme but am only using it twice a week. Maybe I should use a lower dose more frequently?
Realgains, What percentage cream is your wife using. I am thinking that if she is getting 2.5mg of test/per 1 gram dose , then she is using 1/4% creme. Is this correct? In a previous post you said 2% creme was a low dose, but that would be 20 mg/1gram. I have been rx'd 2% creme but am only using it twice a week. Maybe I should use a lower dose more frequently?
Each 1cc dose is 5mg...she takes .5cc. Sometimes she uses 1cc on days that she thinks will be mentally and or physically quite stressful.
She will be using the full cc for a couple weeks after she finishes with her current cycle, which is 20mg of anavar per day. She stopped the test altogether while on the var as 20mg is a fairly decent dose of androgen on its own and she didn't want to push it.
It is best to use the test gel every day as it has a short half life in gel form. If you are only using it twice per week than your T levels will yo-yo a lot and I thats not best for your health or gains.
RG
She will be using the full cc for a couple weeks after she finishes with her current cycle, which is 20mg of anavar per day. She stopped the test altogether while on the var as 20mg is a fairly decent dose of androgen on its own and she didn't want to push it.
It is best to use the test gel every day as it has a short half life in gel form. If you are only using it twice per week than your T levels will yo-yo a lot and I thats not best for your health or gains.
RG
Similar threads
