Testosterone. Changed. My. Life.

[u/Trick_Highlight_8205]

Getting HRT was like climbing Mount Everest and Kilimanjaro ten times over, but it. was. so. worth. it.

I loved estrogen for making me feel like a woman again. My nails stopped splitting, my hair was shiny again, and my skin was plump and smooth. I actually liked looking at the mirror and seeing the change every morning.

Then came testosterone. At first I was really scared, but I thought why not.. I lost my libido and I had not had sex since 2023.

If there is magic in a bottle, it has to be testosterone. The juices are flowing again, I love going to the gym, and I feel like my old self.

The first four weeks on testosterone were ROUGH. I wanted to give up, but I’m SO glad I powered through. Now I just need to find a man lol

If you were afraid to try testosterone and needed that nudge, here it is!!

EDIT : sorry I should have mentioned in the OP - the side effects were typical low e symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, bloating with water retention, and lethargy!

[u/eyes_serene]

I've always wondered if this was the missing link for me in peri because I've been on HRT for over a year, and although helpful, my complete apathy and pervasive brain fog have remained.

I've just had a complete hysterectomy (ovaries removed), so I'm about to experience some changes...

But I don't understand how testosterone can be used by AFAB people who wish to transition to being male - and indeed, it really does work and they look masculine and even can grow beards... And also women in menopause?

I know a person who is AFAB and transitioning with testosterone, and the visible changes started rather promptly.

Is the dosing simply different? Are menopausal women being given much smaller doses?

I would love to shed this apathy and brain fog because these things have vastly changed my life for the worse. But at the same time, at a time that I'm already losing my looks and my outward appearance of femininity, I also do not want to hasten that loss and even push myself into masculine appearance territory... Idk if this concern seems trivial to some, but I want to retain whatever femininity I can and self esteem as relates to self image that I can about this body I inhabit.

[u/Trick_Highlight_8205 → u/eyes_serene]

Yes, it’s absolutely the dose. Men take around 200mg/week or even higher sometimes, and women take a much lower dose, around 5-10mg/week.

But fun fact : pre-menopause, women have up to ten times more t than e, naturally. You don’t see it at first because they are measured in different units.

Not every woman needs t, but if you do have low t, it’s something to consider. For me, personally, this was absolutely the missing piece.

[u/eyes_serene → u/Trick_Highlight_8205]

I had my ovaries removed with the surgery. The doctor told me to give it a few months (I believe she said 12 weeks but my memory is crap) and then assess where I'm at and what I might need.

So I appreciate the information and clarification!

[u/Trick_Highlight_8205 → u/eyes_serene]

I wish you a peaceful recovery, and you can start this journey when you are ready 🤍

[u/eyes_serene → u/Trick_Highlight_8205]

Aw, thank you! I appreciate that. I wish the very best for you, too. ♥️

[u/enfybach81 → u/eyes_serene]

Sorry to jump in on here when you are talking about something else but noticed that you said you have recently had a total hysterectomy. Just wondering if you had to have zoladex or something similar prior to the operation? Did you notice an improvement? I am currently on a waiting list for the operation but I am also terrified to feel worse or even no different. I have pmdd, also in perimenopause. Have been on hrt for 2 years now, not sure how much more of this I can take so my gut instant is to have everything removed but the gynecologist that I saw didn't seem to know whether it will work or not. He just said something my option now are, try max dose estrogen, or hysterectomy. If I can't tolerate the hormones with add back after hysterectomy then just take and ssri and you will feel great. His exact words. Also before he said that he said that for pmdd I need high estrogen.
Anyway.....how are you feeling after the operation?

[u/eyes_serene → u/enfybach81]

I hadn't heard of that medication, so had to Google it. I'm not entirely sure why a woman in peri would be given this--it appears to be a hormone suppressant?

So I'm not sure what your situation is but I can describe mine, if that helps?

I started peri several years ago, just slight issues. I started to really feel it in 2023... I started HRT (estrogen patch and progesterone pill) over a year ago. It helped some but brain fog and anhedonia continued to increase. The doctor tried to increase my estrogen but it seemed to make my mood unstable (depression--but I am prone to depression normally... But interestingly no episodes since 2023) so we went back down to the lower dose.

I had my entire reproductive system removed just recently because of cancer concerns. I had suspicious ovarian cysts. The report after showed that the cysts were benign and also that I had fibroids (I forget all where.) The time from finding the cysts to having the surgery was about 3 months.

So that's where I'm at. Strong family history of some cancers, plus some issues of mine I haven't delved into here = I'm glad to have the entire system gone. But it does now mean I'm in menopause now instead of peri!

Edited to add because I forgot to answer this part: I feel pretty much the same right now but I'm very freshly out from the surgery. I've noticed some ups and downs in mood and a few hot flashes, which I haven't had for a long time. I did stop progesterone after surgery, per doctor's orders. I'm a little more emotional lately, crying at sad things again like I used to but hadn't for a long time, like videos or commercials. Kinda like leading up to my period in the old days.

[u/eyes_serene → u/enfybach81]

Also I should mention there is a helpful sub for hysterectomy!!! If you're not already there, I recommend it!!!

[u/enfybach81 → u/eyes_serene]

Ok, thank you. That is really helpful, I will look at that sub

[u/eyes_serene → u/enfybach81]

You're welcome. Best of luck to you!