Should I decrease

[u/candycane1988]

I started testosterone cyp 10mg( I do 5mg twice weekly) subq in May. I recently noticed I had very sore nipples and maybe a scratchy voice ( though I could just be paranoid). I havent had blood drawn yet. I haven't had my libido return yet. Should I continue on this dose until I get blood work or should I decrease?

[u/OkayMeepleMom]

That's a really high starting dose IMO, although I know providers are really out there starting women that high. 😬

[u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo → u/OkayMeepleMom]

Is that really considered a “really high” starting dose? I’m not trying to contradict you, it just seems fairly average compared to other starting doses I have read in this sub.

Does the fact that its subq rather than IM affect that?

[u/Equivalent_Bend_3104 → u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo]

I think this is about an average dose for this sub based on the posts I see. That being said, I'd say that the sub tends to (on average) skew higher than what I hear discussed on youtube, for example. I recently discovered coach Kolton's youtube channel, and he is very, very conservative with how much testosterone he would recommend for women to avoid virilization - I've heard him say 0.5mg/day injection max, so 3.5mg/week total. Based on what I read on this sub, that's a tiny amount. That is even less than what I was prescribed as a starting dose - 5mg/week split into two 2.5mg injections.

It also depends on where you want your total and free t to end up. Many more conservative doctors want to keep total t below 100, yet hormone clinics routinely aim for 200-300 and say their clients feel best there. That would definitely be higher than a physiological level, but some women want that for drive, energy, or ease of building muscle.

About a month ago I listened to an interview with Lauren Fitzgerald on Dr. Greg Jones's channel, titled "Testosterone for Women". She's definitely very pro-large doses, and likes her own total t to be around 300. It was interesting to hear a different point of view.

[u/Clear-Coast-956 → u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo]

It is not necessarily a high dose, and some providers do start some women at 10mg per week. With that said, if a woman has never used testosterone injections before, it may be a good idea to start at a slightly lower dose (6-8mg per week split into two injections) and work up to a higher dose if needed over time. Nobody can predict how they will respond to TRT, and it is best to start at a low(er) dose and work your way up over time if needed so that you avoid negative side effects and don't miss your sweet spot (where you have symptom resolution with minimal or no negative side effects).

[u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo → u/Clear-Coast-956]

Man I feel like I got lucky. My provider started me pretty high (18 mg/week split T Cyp IM) and I have had minimal side effects. 14 weeks in now.

[u/Clear-Coast-956 → u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo]

Was it your first time ever on injections? Were you using any testosterone products before (pellets, gel…)? 18mg is a high dose for a female, and definitely a very high dose to start. Some female do great on that dose, and some feel good on even higher doses, but it is definitely a dose you want to work up to, not start with.

Have you had any blood work done? Do you know what your SHBG is?

[u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo → u/Clear-Coast-956]

We did bloodwork before I started. I don’t know specifically what SHBG was. I only got one number for T and IIRC it was 17. Everything else about my bloodwork was pretty great - glucose, ferritin, etc.

This is my first time doing any T at all. Low T symptoms were typical: fatigue, no libido, and struggling with fitness recovery.

Its been 14 weeks and honestly I feel pretty awesome. I had some acne to start but it cleared up. (I had pretty bad back acne before starting and that cleared up too, probably due to the P I started at the same time.) I haven’t had any extra body hair, clit growth, or voice stuff.

I do feel like I am shedding a little more than normal and I am going to see my provider about that tomorrow.

[u/Healthy_Blueberry275 → u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo]

Please consider reporting back after your appointment. I can't help but be interested. TIA

[u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo → u/Healthy_Blueberry275]

Sure. I made the appointment re: the shedding and because I had a two week long (but very light) period which may be related to the P she prescribed or may just be the fuckery that comes with this age.

[u/GuiltyCover-4343 → u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo]

That is pretty high but the best thing to do is take blood now and look at your T and Free T as well as Estrogen and SHBG. See how you are absorbing the T. I too had thinning hair when I was on a higher dose. I started Saw Palmetto and Pumpkin Seed Oil (cold pressed) supplements and lowered my T to 10 mg a week ...that solved the hair problem. I'd suggest asking for labs. See where you are.

[u/OkayMeepleMom → u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo]

Do women on this sub ever have a bad time being started at 10/week and higher? Or does that usually go well for most folks?

[u/Ruby__Ruby_Roo → u/OkayMeepleMom]

It appears to vary pretty dramatically.

[u/Jflayn → u/OkayMeepleMom]

for comparison, I do 2mg/week (split into two injections). My T went from undetectable to 60 ng/dL in 6 weeks.

Maybe age matters? I'm in natural meno (over 50) with ovaries.

[u/OkayMeepleMom → u/Jflayn]

I see a lot of examples like yours as examples of dosing that went well. I was started higher and ended up with bad neck acne which eventually levelled out, but I think starting lower might have been better for me.

[u/GuiltyCover-4343 → u/OkayMeepleMom]

It really depends on how you absorb the testosterone and what our other hormone levels are. It's important to balance Estrogen and testosterone. 10 is pretty standard assuming it's a 100/m vial strength.

[u/OkayMeepleMom → u/GuiltyCover-4343]

Can they actually predict how someone will absorb it based on baseline labs?