Not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, but here it goes. My wife is 43 years old and has changed to a family practice doc that does/believes-in HRT.
After some blood work, he has put her on Testosterone Cream .2% and Armour Thyroid 120mg.
My question is; is this common protocol? What should she expect with this? Along with â??balanced hormonesâ??, she is hoping to lose weight and improve muscle tone. She has been working out and eating really well. The lack of results is why she sought out an HRT doc in 1st place.
Would a common protocol also include Estrogen and Progesterone?
Honestly don’t know the answer to that. I think that women do need some level of T, I’m assuming she was low. As to whether or not she’ll “lose weight”, she may actually gain weight. Although she’ll lose fat, her weight may not change or could even go up if she is doing significant weight training. I would at the minimum expect some body recomp, which sounds like what she is after.
I have done a lot of study and work with female hormone issues. Read some good books.
She may not have any estrogen problems at all right now. I would be interested in seeing her lab work.
Most every women in her 40’s has declining progesterone levels and that makes them estrogen dominant. That has serious implications for arterial health [aka endothelial function]. And that can lead to PMS, tender breasts, enlarge uterus, fibroids and ovarian cysts. She should try OTC 2% progesterone cream. Find KAL brand on the WWW. I have seen other brands work poorly when someone switches off of KAL, indicating that KAL formulation absorbs better.
Progesterone can resolve many of the above conditions. I think that a lack of progesterone is responsible for a lot of female cancer and heart disease. Progesterone cream can be applied to inner arms, under breasts and thighs. Do not apply progesterone and T creams to the same areas at once as the will complete and T will loose. Progesterone cream tastes bad. So she should avoid application to her nipples or other “nibbly bits”.
I think that a very large portion of the female population should be using progesterone. Note that progestin drugs in oral birth control does not have the cardio-protective properties of progesterone and that these fake progesterones cut off a women’s production of progesterone. That is very dangerous and that is the reason that there are warnings of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes for oral birth control [OBC].
I have seen specialists put take women who have low progesterone who were suffering from a spectrum of estrogen dominance issues and put them on high progestin OBC, causing serous problems, that ceased when the OBC was stopped because the women could not stand the effects. And then when some got onto OTC progesterone, the problems that sent them to the doctors in the first place were completely eliminated.
The T cream may make her more interested in sex and improve orgasms. She can apply the cream to her clitoris and labia for increased sexual response. Do not apply T to areas where increased hair growth would be unwelcome. Applying to areas that are otherwise hairless is good. Watch for increased facial hair or deepening voice and stop and consult your doc re a lower dose.
My wife had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago. Since then she has been on HRT. I’m not sure what it is other then she said it is Estrogen. I’m thinking I might start looking into it a little bit myself.
Also In the last year she went to Doctor complaining about libido issues, and she was prescribed a Test creme that is made by a local compounding Pharmacy. She originally thought it may be helping her, but now she claims it isn’t. I can tell it isn’t working for her at all as far as desire goes. She isn’t anything like she was before the hysterectomy. She does have strong multiple orgasms though. I believe part of the reason is she doesn’t have the pain from intercourse like she did in the past before the Hysterectomy. She has also been complaining being hot all the time, and sweating alot when she is up moving around. I told her she needs to go get new lab done, which she did and waiting for results.
Hot flashes: Not enough estrogens and low progesterone, find that cream.
May not be enough T.
You need to experiment. There is no such thing as a standard dose for women. If she is shorter and had full breasts when younger, she is a high estrogen type and will need higher levels than a low estrogen woman who is tall and has small breasts. If she has dark hair on her forearms, she probably had and needs higher T levels and doses than a women who does not have that hair. Hair on the upper lip is also a sign. Lack of vaginal lubrication is a sign that estrogens levels are low. When estrogen levels are low, a woman’s caring and nurturing circuits start to shut down and that can lead to intolerance and personality changes.
Thyroid levels ok?
Hysterectomy: Why was that needed? Perhaps the answer to that will be indicative of a past lack of progesterone.
[quote]KSman wrote:
Hot flashes: Not enough estrogens and low progesterone, find that cream.
May not be enough T.
You need to experiment. There is no such thing as a standard dose for women. If she is shorter and had full breasts when younger, she is a high estrogen type and will need higher levels than a low estrogen woman who is tall and has small breasts. If she has dark hair on her forearms, she probably had and needs higher T levels and doses than a women who does not have that hair. Hair on the upper lip is also a sign. Lack of vaginal lubrication is a sign that estrogens levels are low. When estrogen levels are low, a woman’s caring and nurturing circuits start to shut down and that can lead to intolerance and personality changes.
Thyroid levels OK?
Hysterectomy: Why was that needed? Perhaps the answer to that will be indicative of a past lack of progesterone.
[/quote]
She was getting cysts on her ovaries. There is a name for the disease but I don’t remember what it was called. She used to have bad PMS symptoms (mood swings). She has good lubrication but I have noticed her personality has been changing some what. Kids are also young adults (20 & 21) which might be effecting her.
I think that progesterone could have prevented her problems. But drug companies cannot patent it so they make fake progesterone.
I worked with a younger gal who tagged me here. She had a thick endrometrial layer and large fibroids, otherwise healthy and full of energy. Docs wanted a hysterectomy. We worked together on the progesterone issue and she completely normalized, expelled the fibroids. Maybe not repeatable but inspiring.
a[quote]jjjbluray wrote:
My wife is considering this as well, so I will watch this thread for any responses. [/quote]
Just talked to my trt dr for my wife as well… He said if test and est isnt correct balance they are great candidates. So goin to get her blood work monday. Test is wonderful for both. Ill come back in after test to after better explanation.