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Originally posted by tailz:
I'm going to sneak in here and say that testosterone is every bit as important to a woman's health as it is to a man's. It's a myth that testosterone is a male hormone - without out it, all sort of health conditions surface from depression to low sex drive to brittle bones for both sexes.

I had my testosterone levels checked several years ago following my hysterectomy, and they were low. And the test in the link you posted is pretty accurate as to what women can expect with low levels, too.

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I agree. I supplement with testosterone and do feel better on it.

Tailz... I found out that the ovaries do produce testosterone. The hormone replacement therapy does NOT include testosterone replacement!

So anyone without ovaries needs the supplementation.
 

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Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
 
Dumb question,,,is it expensive to supplement it?? Does it take a Rx??

I was tested by a llmd and found low,,,BUT insurance said,at the time,they wouldnt take that test,,, IF I was going to go that route I needed some other test that is ONLY done in a hospital BECAUSE its pretty dangerous. (okay it has KNOWN risks).

BUT now I have zero insurance and just wondering if I can afford it straight out of pocket?? (Reason for asking anyway)

It would be NICE to find something I can do to make me feel some better. I have found a couple supplements that DO help,,,but more is better!!

Magic bullet??? For me??? I could only 'dream'!!!being--just don--
 

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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
Hmmm...insurance pays mine. It costs me $10 a month. It can't be REAL expensive or my ins would charge a higher copay....like $20 or $50.

That's nuts about the in-hospital testing!!
 

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Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
 
My husband had his testosterone checked prior to being tested for Lyme.

Testosterone was okay. Western Blot wasn't.

He was so sure his symptoms were from low testosterone.

(I knew differently )

Hugs,

Geneal
 

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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
Where are all the men!?
 

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Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :
 
Don, there are several ways to supplement testosterone. There are patches that you wear 24/7 (nah), gel that you apply to your skin, there are oral preparations but they have been implicated in liver tumors, and intramuscular injection. Injection is probably the least expensive and most reliable route. The usual preparation is tesoterone cypionate, fondly known as "cyp" by bodybuilders. The supply has sometimes been unreliable, as far as the pharmaceutical companies go. However, compounding pharmacies can make it. College Pharmacy is relaible and easy to work with. Sometimes they want you to say you are allergic to cottonseed oil which, I guess, is a componenet of the pharmaceutic company preparations. The last time I checked, a 10 ml vial was about $70.00 which, if you got the 200 mg per ml/10 ml. vial and used .5 ml per week, would last almost five months.
It's an oil-based preparation that doesn't sting and .5 ml. is a very small volume. I'd say the shots are pretty much painless and easy to get at home.
 

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Posted by hshbmom (Member # 9478) on :
 
Hi tree,

I wanted to chime in on the subject of ladies and low testosterone...my teen (female) is supplementing with testosterone gel on the advice of her LLMD.

I don't know if it's doing any good. It doesn't seem like anything helps her.
 

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Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
 
I want to here from Men here ? Its a man question.
Although I appreciate you girls comments.
 

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Posted by duke77 (Member # 5051) on :
 
I am a male and my testosterone has always tested low. I have had maybe three tests since being diagnosised with Lyme.
 

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Posted by DocLand (Member # 7794) on :
 
My husband was diagnosed with low testosterone when he had his CFS diagnosis. He started the gel topical supplement and needed two packets a day to maintain adequate blood levels. Now, 5 years later and with 2 years of antibiotic treatment for his correct diagnosis of Lyme, he only needs 1/4 packet a day to keep him in the normal range.
 

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Posted by johnlyme1 (Member # 7343) on :
 
Mine was also very low, felt much better with the oral testosterone. My Adrenals were also messed up, adrenals also have an effect on testosterone production, not a big one, but they do come into play.
 

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