I recently wrote this guide to getting Testosterone for women, as it can be a little difficult. It's a little bit of a postcode lottery, and slightly under researched (to say the least!)
In it, I talk about how it might help you, give you some pages to track your symptoms and some info that you can print out and take to your doctor, so you can advocate for yourself.
Here are the questions I get all the time around, which I recently added to my Hysterectomy + Surgical Menopause Guide, that I thought might help you.
Q. Can testosterone be prescribed on the NHS?
A. Yes, but it isn’t included in the HRT PPC, so you have to pay separately for it. Usually this will be the price of a prescription, unless you have gone privately. Some GPs can not prescribe testosterone to women, and you have to see a menopause specialist, so it really depends on your area. In the UK GPs can only prescribe testosterone to women for libido.
Q. Where do you apply testosterone?
A. Apply on your inner wrist or inner thigh and alternate areas to avoid growing a little extra hair in these places, which has happened to me. My arms a little bit hairer! It would not put me off taking it though. I switch now between my arms and thighs.
Q. Why has testosterone made me angry?
A. I felt quite ‘ragey’ when I first started taking it, and speaking to others in my community this has happened to them too. It calmed down after 2-3 weeks.
Q. Will my voice go deeper on testosterone?
A. Some may notice this but it is not thought to be a regular side effect and I do not think it is one to worry about.
Q. How do you store testosterone?
A. There is a mix of opinions on this. I store mine in a cool dry place, but some have been told to keep it in the fridge. I use the tiny testogel sachets and I keep the open one with a peg over the top. It keeps it upright and makes it easier to find. I would check with your doctor, as some say the fridge.
Q. How long does it take for testosterone to work?
A. It varies, some people report it works right away. For most people it is around 4-12 weeks for a hormone to settle in your body. If after 6 months you have not noticed any difference it might be work talking to your doctor about other options. For me, it took around 8 weeks but the impact on my libido was instant. Everyone is different.
Q. Will I lose hair on testosterone?
A. Some women have found they have lost hair due to testosterone and have stopped it for this reason. I know some women who take DHT blockers to avoid hair loss on testosterone.
Q. Will I gain hair on testosterone?
A. Some women have found they gain a little bodily hair.
Q. How long can I stay on testosterone for?
A. You should have check ups with your doctor to see how you are getting on and they should check your levels. From there they will be able to decide if it is worth you staying on it and can also monitor if you have too much.
Q. Will I gain weight on testosterone?
A. It can increase your appetite so it is a good idea to keep track of your calories. Hopefully it will also increase your motivation so you will be more able to workout and stay active.
Want to know more about getting testosterone? Here's the guide.