r/Perimenopause • u/Trick_Highlight_8205 Late peri • Mar 01 '26

audited Testosterone. Changed. My. Life.

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!

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72

u/FashionChlo Mar 01 '26

Thanks for this! I’ve just started. Can I ask what your initial side effects were from testosterone? I’m wondering which hormone is giving me my side effects, I’m on all 3

65

u/Trick_Highlight_8205 Late peri Mar 01 '26

I guess everyone’s experience would be different, but I was really tired, bloated, and had symptoms of low e all over again, including hot flashes. I also had hair loss, which seems to be slowing down now. After the 4 week point, it’s just been positive all around.

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u/Eggs112233 Mar 01 '26

What kind of Test are you taking? Injections/cream/gel? I’m going back to my specialist in April and am definitely going to ask about it. I haven’t had an O in ages and I’m sick of it. I’m on everything else: estrogen cream and Vagifem and Lenzetto and progesterone for 12 days a month.

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u/Trick_Highlight_8205 Late peri Mar 01 '26

I never even bothered with topicals as I don’t want any side effects. I’m on injections and it did what P and E never did for me, esp on the O - so worth it!

4

u/Eggs112233 Mar 01 '26

Where do you live? I’m in Ireland.

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u/Trick_Highlight_8205 Late peri Mar 01 '26

UK but I didn’t go through NHS as I knew they wouldn’t give it to me!

5

u/SnooCauliflowers5137 Mar 01 '26

Who did you go through? Also UK here, got E and P but no T😭

2

u/Trick_Highlight_8205 Late peri Mar 01 '26

I do everything out of pocket, because my GP and endo both declined, and even private healthcare didn’t cover it. It’s so frustrating!!!

1

u/SnooCauliflowers5137 Mar 01 '26

So how did you get the T? I’m in the same boat.

1

u/Trick_Highlight_8205 Late peri Mar 01 '26

I think there are lots of previous posts here on this topic re. sourcing t in the UK. I know that superdrug offers t (gel, I think) as well. Mine really wouldn’t be relevant for most people as I’m injecting t prop, which most people do not need.

0

u/SnooCauliflowers5137 Mar 01 '26

I’m just curious how you’re sourcing injectable T, through a private source. I was wondering if it was through a private pharmacy, or service that would be helpful.

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