I mentioned in an earlier thread how I was trying out a testosterone patch, and I can't believe how great I feel in just one week!

I have energy to burn, get really excited about life, and my sex drives are in high gear. I think I even look better!

Besides helping with the sex drive thing, my mood has improved twofold or more!

So, if any of your ladies are looking to try something different, you might want to ask your doctor about this hormone. :bouncing:

Hey Greeneyes that's awesome! I'm so glad you're feeling so much better. We have to enjoy these moments as much as possible. Are you on any other HRT? I'm currently on the Climera patch and feel slightly better. Sexual desire is quite not back to where it was but my problem I think is that I've been so consumed with reading as much as possible on peri menopause and menopause that I think I've kinda freaked myself out a little and haven't paid much attention to hubby anyway. Then trying to figure what to take in vitamins and what not to take etc......I would like to take my husband and go away for a weekend in a month or so and see what happens. My body just crashed last month and I've only been on the patch for 5 weeks so I'd like to give it another 3 weeks before I stick another patch on me. I need to change my name to patch woman then.lol

God Bless you and hope you continue to feel awesome!
Kathy

I also use natural progesterone cream, but no estrogen. I just try to eat a lot of soy. A lot of menopausal women are also low in testosterone, besides estrogen and progesterone. They also have something called Estratest, which contains estrogen and testosterone combined. So, if you are not feeling great again soon, ask your doc about some testosterone.

I am absolutely thrilled!

Did they take any tests on you to see what you were low on or is it just a guessing game right now? I get my vitamins from Women to Women and I tried the natural progesterone creme but crashed emotionally the next day. Tried it again a week later and same thing happened. I talked to a nurse there and she said to give my estrogen patch another week. I evidently was so low on estrogen and that when I tried to put the creme it was too much progesterone at that time. I tried soy for one week and had such awful nauseus feelings that lasted all day-to the point of wanting to loose my cookies. Once I stopped the soy the nauseus feeling went away. I go to the OB on the 7th so I'll check with her about my testosterone. Thanks for the input!!

No, I didn't get tested. My doctor just monitors me very closely to make sure I'm not getting too much. You might want to ask you doctor about Estratest, which is estrogen and testosterone. That one doesn't have any progesterone.

Good luck!

This sounds great, but my question is, do any of these patches or creams make you gain weight like the estrogen or progesterone in birth control pills?

I mentioned in an earlier thread how I was trying out a testosterone patch, and I can't believe how great I feel in just one week!

I have energy to burn, get really excited about life, and my sex drives are in high gear. I think I even look better!

Besides helping with the sex drive thing, my mood has improved twofold or more!

So, if any of your ladies are looking to try something different, you might want to ask your doctor about this hormone. :bouncing:

Greeneyes

I am curious. Did you go on this patch because of low libido or painful intercourse or both. Is it good for painful intercourse??? My problem is more pain than low libido.

SRMom,
I've been on the estrodiol patch now for 5 weeks and I've been on a low carb diet with no caffeine, soda, or alcohol and I've lost 10 pounds so the patch has been good for me so far.

Did they take any tests on you to see what you were low on or is it just a guessing game right now? I get my vitamins from Women to Women and I tried the natural progesterone creme but crashed emotionally the next day. Tried it again a week later and same thing happened. I talked to a nurse there and she said to give my estrogen patch another week. I evidently was so low on estrogen and that when I tried to put the creme it was too much progesterone at that time. I tried soy for one week and had such awful nauseus feelings that lasted all day-to the point of wanting to loose my cookies. Once I stopped the soy the nauseus feeling went away. I go to the OB on the 7th so I'll check with her about my testosterone. Thanks for the input!!

Kathy, I'm sorry that your experience with using progesterone was unpleasant, but at least I know that I'm not alone in the negative reaction that I also experienced. As you stated, I also crashed emotionally when I use the "natural" progesterone. I tried several times varying the dosage and area of application, only to have the same results. Finally I emailed a pharamacist who told me that many women can not tolerate the progesterone. After all the reading that I had intially done about perimenopause I was sure that I had found something to cure all my symptoms (NOT).

I had my testosterone level tested and although it's on the low end of the range it's still within range so my previous dr. would not give me a prescription. I have a dr. appointment Sept. 26 and I'll discuss the testosterone patch with my new doctor.

It's always good to hear and know that someone is finding relief from these symptoms :bouncing:!!!

I mentioned in an earlier thread how I was trying out a testosterone patch, and I can't believe how great I feel in just one week!

I have energy to burn, get really excited about life, and my sex drives are in high gear. I think I even look better!

Besides helping with the sex drive thing, my mood has improved twofold or more!

So, if any of your ladies are looking to try something different, you might want to ask your doctor about this hormone. :bouncing:

Hey greeneyes...

So are the NEW testostorone patches out now?? The one's made especially for us women? All last year I kept hearing they were developing them and testing them, but then I heard there was a delay, because of some probs in the testing phase. I need to know, as I'm going for my annual pap and exam on the 12th.

I'm glad to hear that they are helping you so well. A couple of years ago I was getting testo injections once a month, and like you, they made me feel terrific, and my dead libido really came alive. They just seemed to make me feel great, including a lot more energy...which I could use again. My libido hasn't really improved from being on thyroid hormones, so I think it's more the menopause that's affecting this weak sex drive more than anything.

Do you use one patch a week, or what? How long before you noticed an improvement? I would much rather go with the patches than the injections, as, I don't know...it kind of worried me getting a big shot all at once like that.
thanks...
Deda :)

No, the new ones for women are not approved. I'm using one called Androderm (which is actually made for men). It does contain natural testosterone and is not a steroid. You just use it less often because of it's strength. She started me out on one 5 mg. the first day, and then the rest of the days I used the low dose 2.5 mg. patch. AFter about a week, I cut back to a patch every other day. You don't want to use it continually. As long as you stop it for awhile and then start back up, you won't get any side effects or too much testosterone in your system.

I haven't noticed any side effects at all. I have not gained weight and think I have even lost a little. It also improves your energy levels and muscle tone. Hence, the weight loss. It actually increases muscle mass without exercising!

They also have a testosterone cream, but I don't think it's natural, called "Testim". You can more easily lower your dose on this cream, so you might want to try that, if you don't like the idea of a patch.

I started using it for low sex drives, but also noticed an improvement in my mood and energy levels. It's fantastic! :bouncing:

Sorry I took so long to reply, and say thank you, greeneyes, for answering my questions...I was away on vacation. Went to my GYN annual check on Monday and she wants me to see another Dr. there, (the one who prescribed the injections for me), as he's the "Hormone Guru" over at this particular Kaiser clinic. I just hope he will agree to a little testo cream. (They gave it to me there before [years ago], but I didn't stick with it long enough to see if it worked, but I think it would have) :)
I just hope he doesn't push me to get those shots again...altho they were great, (worked a little too good for my libido!), they scare me.
Thanks again...
Deda

Greeneyes100, :wave:

Did you have any hot flashes or night sweats before trying this? And if so did it help for that also?
Thanx :bouncing:

No, I've never had a lot of hot flashes. Most of my symptoms were depression, fatigue, and zero sex drives.

AFter starting on the testosterone patch and using some natural progesterone cream, I feel fantastic. I even get more looks from men and I'm 50 years old!

I also exercise a lot, including doing cardio and weight training.

But ever since I started using the Androderm patch, my mood has improved immensely, as well as my energy and, of course, my renewed sensuality. :D