Hello everyone,
I used to post on here a lot, and write reviews.
2021 was pretty crap - my husband’s father died of covid, then my mum died of cancer, all while we were trying to protect vulnerable family members and not able to meet others in the normal way - I’m sure lots of friends here have similar stories. Then my own household got covid in the new year - all ok now.
So, back to business. Libido is at an all time low, given events, and I have an understanding husband. I’m wondering about asking my GP for testosterone cream to give things a boost - apparently women have more testosterone than oestrogen before menopause but it isn’t included in hrt (which I am on). They can only prescribe it for loss of libido, not as hrt (?)
Does anyone here have any experience of using prescribed testosterone cream during menopause to boost libido? I’d be grateful to hear from others…
Nice to see you again 
Oh @MsR I’m so sorry to hear about all the horridness you had to deal with and am very sorry for your losses.
I’m afraid I have no experience of testosterone use during menopause (or any other time) but will be interested to read any responses you get as information for the future.
Welcome back though and I hope life is improving for you 
.
@MsR as all the others have said already so so sorry for your losses and for your crappy year! Good luck hope you gets things sorted.
I’m glad you are back @MsR I was not aware of the testosterone, I thought it was a man thing, so shows how much I know. I wish you good luck and hope things get back on track soon
awww bless you big 
Googled it and found some info.
If low sex drive is a problem for you, there is something you can do about it. While sexual desire is complicated, there are treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms, that can help and, if other treatments are not successful, testosterone therapy could be an option.
Testosterone is a licensed medicine although it is not licensed for use in women in the UK. It can be prescribed in low doses by specialist doctors, such as menopause experts, who are happy to prescribe it ‘off licence’. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance says testosterone can be prescribed on the NHS to women going through the menopause by a fully-qualified healthcare professional
Wow this actual sounds rather intriguing to know more about as I thought of a lady had testosterone cream it’d make her grow furry patches like a wolf 
Also I’m pleased to hear you and your family are doing well after having covid. 
I know when i had a low libido i started taking macca root which seemed to work .but it would be worth looking into as im sure i read up about good for woman with the same problem but aslo can help with the menopause 
Thank you, everyone, for your welcome and advice.
I may have to see a specialist gynae about this but it does sound as though the ‘Davina effect’ (Davina McColl has made a couple of documentaries about menopause) might be raising the awareness of GPs, too. I live in a university city, so that might bode well if GP’s info varies.
Thanks all!
Hello @GoGirl12 - I’m very interested to hear more.
I am 51 and had an early menopause, been stable on hrt for a few years xx
@rockstar hello again and thank you - that quote from NICE might carry some weight when I see my GP
When I went through menopause my interest in sex vanished. I tried prescription testosterone but it had no effect on me, which was disappointing. In fact, nothing helped and I went years without wanting sex, and then my sex drive suddenly returned about a week ago, for no particular reason. But everyone is different and it might work for you. It’s certainly worth a try. It must work for some women, or they wouldn’t have suggested it.
@SexyAucklandWidow - thank you. I had an early menopause 10 years ago and completely lost my drive. It came back unexpectedly and delightfully, super strong, which is when I joined this forum and bought a ship load of toys and lingerie!
Glad it did for you too - enjoy!
It has vanished again over lockdowns (two of us are vulnerable) and bereavements. Hard to know what is just the natural cycle of things, or if anti-anxiety meds have an effect… GP appointment tomorrow to discuss.
hello - I take HRT including testosterone gel. you need to be stabilised on oestrogen first, because otherwise your body will convert the testosterone to oestrogen and you won’t feel the benefit.
testosterone can help you with brain fog, tiredness/energy as well as both libido and response. however NICE guidelines will only allow it to be prescribed for libido, so you will need to tell your doctor that is what you want it for. it IS off licence for women at the moment, your GP may or may not be prepared to prescribe it, and this might depend on your health authority. My GP would not prescribe, but referred me to an NHS menopause clinic, and the consultant there did recommend it to me, and the GP then prescribed on the back of his letter.
you will be prescribed a man’s formulation, such as tostran or testim, because androfemme is only available privately in the UK at the moment (and costs approx £60 per tube on a private prescription). this dose not matter, because you will take a much lower dose. I use tostran and take 1 pump two or three times a week. I’ve had no adverse side effects (possibly my hair/skin are a little more oily, but is still drier than before meno).
something else that can help with response (although not desire in the first instance) is a topical oestrogen cream around the labia/clitoris, such as ovestin. have you tried that at all? if not, I recommend it.
Good luck!
not if it’s simply replacing our own hormones, that are now lacking…
also - have you seen the fact sheets on Dr Louise Newson’s ‘balance’ website? lots of useful info there.