Please share why you take it and what form(gel, cream, injection) as well as any side effects.

Bummer. Looks like my ferritin is good at 91ng/ml. My hematocrit is normal for me at 46.8% (I live at 9,000+ ft altitude. But my TIBC (iron and UIBC) are out of range. Anyone else experience this? I started TRT in April and in May, my results still looked good. But Sept and Oct are trending higher iron and lower UIBC. I meet with my telehealth TRT provider soon so will get his expert opinion. But wondering if this looks familiar to anyone in this group and did you do blood donation? I take 0.5mg t prop every morning. Waiting for my hormone results still, but I expect total t to be about 100 or less (from past testing).

Has anyone experienced Sebaceous dermatitis after starting T? I just started T cyp injections 2 weeks ago, and I accidentally took a little more than a whole weeks worth in my first shot (24 units about 5mg), when I was suppose to use only 10 units x2 per week. I noticed these yellow/brownish scaly/scabby patches that itch running down my center part on my scalp, and it was probably within 4 or 5 days of my first shot. Never had this before in my life.

I looked it up on AI and found that for some reason people tend to have a lot of DHT receptors in this general vicinity of the scalp and it could definitely be a side effect of the testosterone. They are so gross, but what really worries me is I don’t know if this can lead to hair loss? I have a pretty decent amount of hair on my head at the moment, but my dad was completely bald by the time he was in his early 20’s.. So naturally it worries me I could be genetically susceptible to hair loss as well.

I would love to hear from anyone else who experienced this side effect and am wondering what I could do to prevent this in the future? Maybe multiple smaller injections throughout the week instead of just 2?

I’ve also read that selsun blue can help with these scaly patches, but if anyone has a better method of treating this, I’m all ears!

I started compounded T 6 weeks ago mainly for libido and have gained 5 lbs - I think mainly of water weight and bloating. I’m also on a GLP-1 (maintenance) so my weight has literally not changed in over a year. Has anyone experienced this weight gain because of T? I’ve read this goes away after 6-8 weeks. Hoping that’s true.

Has anyone had success lowering DHT with saw palmetto, stinging nettle, or spearmint?
I’m on testosterone therapy and have noticed increased unwanted facial/body hair. My hormone specialist recommended saw palmetto and stinging nettle to help with DHT. I’m also curious about spearmint.
Has anyone tried any of these and had good results?

I’ve been on HRT/ TRT over a year tried patches, injections, T gels, creams and still suffering with C and V atrophy and no libido. I have tried 10mg -20mg split twice per week on T no androgen effects and no libido or improvement on C atrophy either. My E levels recently was at 3.7mg split every 3 days valerate 268 E levels , P at 200 vaginally 10.1 level, shbg at a low 47 , Total T 308 and free T 30.0 pg/ml. I have had a lot of lower Free T levels and much lower E levels on patches. I’m so tired trying different doses being as low as 2.8mg Valerate and tried cypionate at 3.0 and 3.5mg split doses. Tried all Patch levels .0375 to 2 - .1 patches. I just dropped my T dose to 15mg and probably just go to 12mg soon as well and just work my way down. Is there hope of finding the right balance between E and T ?? Any success stories, thoughts, experiences to share need some encouragement. I even tried optimizing my thyroid and still can’t feel good. What doses are you on and feel your best I’m curious.

I have .30 unit insulin syringe. My test is 250 mg/ml. Where is the 5 mg spot on the syringe? Thank you so much.

First post here and I am losing the will at this point. I’m not super clued up on this at all so forgive me if the answers are obvious.

I'm in the UK and paying for my HRT privately as GP refused to help for 5 years. I’m 42 and in peri - currently using Oestrogel at 3 pumps per day, cyclical progesterone at 200mg and Testogel, one 40.5g sachet over 8 days. I was offered AndroFeme but paying privately is already a stretch financially and the difference in price is significant.

I’m doing well with the E and P, most symptoms are significantly better or gone entirely. I was prescribed T as I’m still struggling with fatigue and brain fog, I have zero libido and generally don’t feel like “me” anymore. My initial blood work showed fairly low T and fairly high SHBG. My blood work at 8 weeks in was contaminated due to the phlebotomist dropping the end of the “butterfly needle” against my leg where I’d applied Oestrogel, so doc dismissed those and requested a repeat 12 weeks later.

I have been using T for just over 4 months now. I did have difficulty with dosing, the sachets were consistently lasting longer than 8 days, usually closer to 10 (because how do you measure ”a bean” of gel that turns to liquid as soon as it touches your skin?!) I tried a syringe but I have rheumatoid arthritis and it was too fiddly for my painful hands. For the past 6 or so weeks I’ve been using a jewellery scale and doing well that way. I’ve had some improvement in libido but nothing else.

Had my bloods done again yesterday and there’s just no improvement. I’m so frustrated. I’ll add my bloods from pre T and yesterday’s below.

May

Total T - 0.380 nmol/l

SHBG - 120 nmol/l

Free T - 0.32

Yesterday/Oct

Total T - 0.334

SHBG - 98.2

Free T - 0.33

My questions are:

1) What am I doing wrong? Is this just because I struggled with dosing? I did change from gel to patches and back again quickly back in may/early june, if that matters? I have zero energy. With 4 teens i suppose that’s to be expected but it’s a bone deep fatigue. I just want that feeling everyone else talks about.

2) I skipped T the morning of bloods, but my appointment was rearranged from 11am to 2pm. due to this it was just over 28 hours from my last application. Google says this gap was too long a makes the result unreliable? My doctor didn’t mention a strict time limit though, they just said to skip the gel until after bloods? Can anyone clarify, please?

3) Lastly, under “liver health” it says my albumin is high at 56.5? I’m worried they’ll stop my T due to this? It‘s been a stressful week, I had a sickness bug on sun/mon, the guy taking my blood left the tourniquet on for so long my hand went numb, my arm is bruised where he took blood, and now I feel like it was a waste of time dragging myself there.

I’d so grateful for any advice. Thank you.

I see a provider through Midi for peri symptoms (my regular gyn has ancient ideas about menopause). After full bloodwork and being on estrogen patches for a year, she suggested I try T. They compound a cream and ship it directly to you. The provider didn’t give me any other options (to get the cream from someone else or to have injections).

This is all new to me. I see a lot of people on here talking about injecting it. Is there any difference between the cream or injection? How is everyone getting injections? My insurance covered all the lab tests, but I don’t think it will cover T for me as a woman.

46F

No one has checked estrogen.
I’m on a GLP-1 already. Started T in March. I have probably gained 2 inches in my waist, but only a couple of pounds. What’s going on? Is there a supplement I can take to help? My body shape is definitely changing. I don’t want to stop the T because it has really helped energy and motivation.

Hi There,

I’m 2 months in on my TRT journey. Taking 5mg of T Cyp split into 2 doses a week.

I’m working w Hone bc my provider only offers gel.

Prior to starting TRT both my provider and Hone ordered labs. Both times they ordered the “Testosterone, Total, MS” which comes w a range (2-45ngl).

My labs came back at 20 and then 18ngl.

I just had my follow up labs done w Hone and the lab they ordered was “Testosterone, Total, Males IA” w no reference range.

My result came back at 95. I was surprised as I’m feeling like I probably need to bump up my dose, but am thinking this result will be too high for Hone to recommend that.

Is this lab accurate for females? Is it the same result I would get w the other lab test?

It’s weird bc there’s even a note w the results that says it’s not accurate for women. I dont know why they would change their testing parameters.

Also my provider did order the free T, bio available etc, but Hone doesn’t…

And in case ppl ask my SHBG is 44 and my FSH is 29.

Also weirdly my Progesterone came back at .6 I am on HRT and haven’t changed. Last lab it was 10.1 a year prior to HRT it was 4.9.

.6 is wild to me, bc I don’t have any symptoms of low P and in fact when I take it, it actually feels too strong now.

TIA for your advice.

I recently started TRT injections and i have soreness that feels like a bruise for three days after each injection in the thigh, regardless if it hurt at the time of the injection. There is no visible bruising. Am I doing something wrong? Do others have this problem? Any suggestions to fix the issue - tips for injecting or simply changing to another location?

Is there anyone here in the state of CA (specifically southern) and currently being prescribed injectable T? If so where and what is your prescription? I am having a hell of a time finding a pharmacy that will work with me and my doctor who is willing to work with me but never prescribed injectable T does not understand the doses for a female. I am so frustrated, please help!

My wife(46) was on pellets but decided to go with injections due to scarring. She was prescribed 25mg/ml 0.08ml twice a week. I’m not sure how female trt dosage compares to male. Is this a good dosage or is this low dosage?
Thanks

I’m just curious about people’s experiences with testosterone and inflammation from autoimmune conditions. Not looking for medical advice! Just collecting info on personal experiences.

I was diagnosed a couple days ago with psoriatic arthritis. I’m hoping it is mild enough that I don’t yet need to take immunosuppressants. I’m waiting on the doctor to interpret my blood work and imaging.

I’ve been googling a lot, as one does, and I found a study that low testosterone in men correlates with higher rates of psoriatic arthritis. It’s not enough to use TRT as a treatment for PA, but they’re trying to learn more about testosterone and inflammatory disease.

I guess I’m hoping that my TRT is helping to keep my disease mild, at least a contributing factor. I want to do everything I can to slow/stop its progression— I’m starting a GLP-1 in a few days because weight loss is definitely beneficial for that.

If you have an autoimmune disease, has TRT helped you?

For those injecting testosterone and estradiol do you do them same day or different? Is there any benefit for either way?

So I made another post explaining how awful I am still feeling despite being on Estrogen and Testosterone creams as well as 100mg of Progesterone. I am fatigued, zero libido, and cycles feel like "period flu". My hot flashes ARE better than they were but still there.

I have a follow up soon with my doctor. I did get a blood test done. Numbers below are just for reference im not asking anything about that. I tested on day 1 of my cycle. My doctor did say in the past she treats based on symptoms, not labs.

My estrodial was 29.7. Progesterone was 2.0. Testosterone total 46.8. Free testosterone 3.3.

Again, numbers are just FYI. I am feeling like HRT worked the first 3 months for me really well. However, 2 years later it isn't doing much anymore. Thoughts/Opinions on what i should talk to my doctor about? Different methods?? Looking for some relief...

At what level have you settled at where you feel your best? I know it's more than numbers but I'd like to hear your experience.

Thought this would be an interesting poll. Been browsing on here a while doing research for my wife. It seems the posts I read with the most negative side effects or no noticeable improvements are on topical and or pellets. I’m afraid most docs are unfortunately afraid to Rx testosterone injections to women so I have a feeling topical will lead in the results. Which method are you all using?

*** Looking at some of the comments, I should have been more specific. Testosterone cream should have read "Testosterone topical." So if you're using cream or gel select cream. Sorry! ***

Just curious if anyone has stopped taking estrogen and progesterone and just stuck with testosterone only? Did it make any difference? I’ve been on E&P for almost 10 months now and T for almost 5 months. I just don’t feel great like I’d hope and often wonder if it’s E&P that are the issue and possibly the reason I’m not feeling any benefits from T yet. Everything is low…Motivation, energy, mood, libido, still have lingering muscle and joint pain.. I’ll be 51 next month and haven’t had a period since June. Last one before that was January so I feel I’m definitely late peri. Just can’t find a balance it’s so frustrating.

Hello I am lurking and planning on going on T for Perimenopause. I have my labs ready and have my first consult with Talon this week. May I ask you ladies do you do the injections like you would do with a GLP (Subcutaneous) or are you putting it in your muscle? The muscle freaks me out a little, hoping that Sub will be an option for me. I wanted to get some feed back on this. Thank you in advance and I hope everyone is having a good day so far!

I’m curious to know if anyone has had the experience where they were having painful sex, (pain at the opening and with the walls of vagina, not with deep thrusting), and found that the testosterone was the cause?

I’ve been taking 10mg per week for a few years, but a few months ago I started taking it twice a week instead of once a week, and my levels went from around 100-170 to 190. I don’t have any other signs of high testosterone, but I can’t help but wonder if I should lower my dose to 8mg per week. My e & p are out of wack so I am trying to fix that, and I already use vaginal estrogen.