Ladies....help me out on this one UPDATE

[lorihadams]

I have been on the pill off and on (had 2 pregnancies) for the last 8 or 9 years now and my libido has steadily gone down the drain. After fighting with my doctors I finally had one do some bloodwork and test my hormone levels a couple weeks ago and it came back that my estrogen was normal but my testosterone was low. Low enough to "probably" destroy my libido. I have decided to go off the birth control pills and hubby has decided to get a vasectomy (if we have anymore children we want to adopt). What can I do to help my desire come back and raise my testoterone levels? I also take Cymbalta for depression and anxiety (60mg once daily).

Thanks!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

ask him to do the dishes and vacuum the house.
;-)

 

[miss_thenorth]

After the birth of my second, I had the same thing, --I thought I was depressed, b/c, along with no libido, I was blah all the time. Went to the doctor and he tested my levels. I was low on testosterone too. I started taking andriol, and things picked up.

I was not on BC pills, and hadn't been for over 4 years.

Flash forward to today. It might be coincidence, it might not be, but since stopping gluten products, the only pill I take is my thyroid pill. I stopped, b/c i had no need for anymore--my pariet for gerd, celebrex for RA, (still take on occasion for flareups, but not needed every day), nor my andriol.

I have not had my levels checked since making the change, but I'm sure they are (not perfectly up there) close to in range.

 

[PunkinPeep]

ask him to do the dishes and vacuum the house.
;-)

that would sure do it for me!

sorry i don't have a serious answer for you, miss_thenorth, but i'm reading so i can learn what answers you get too.

 

[Wildsky]

Interested to see the answers!

I know the anti-depressants can kill all those kinds of feelings.

I stopped taking the pill in my 20's after a few years of taking them, they totally messed up my system.

 

[curly_kate]

I took BCP for about 15 years, and I learned HERE that they can seriously mess up your system, even after you've stopped taking them. Ovarian cancer is a major killer in my family, and I was taking them mainly to reduce my risk of the disease. Had the genetic testing done, and found that I am not a carrier of the mutation celebrate, so I dropped the BCP several months ago, but I'm still feeling blah. I'm going to a new homeopathic DR on Monday, and if he gives me any suggestions on that front, I will be sure to let you know!

 

[TanksHill]

ask him to do the dishes and vacuum the house.
;-)

Did you watch the today show this morning??? They said the very same thing. The FDA rejected the new Viagra for women. Said the side effects outweighed the benefits.

CurlyKate.. After your appointment please let us all now. I am sure we could all use a bit of help.

I use fennel in my spaghetti sauce, and I read once that Zinc helps in that department. Not sure though.

Figure it out for us!!! I am sure our husbands would be more than grateful.

g

 

[Javamama]

It's probably just going to take time for your system to normalize - I was messed up for years after I stopped taking them and docs just wanted to throw more drugs at it. However, the Cymbalta could still affect you and I don't know what can be done about that.
I am now feeling hormonally right thanks to T-Tapp, improved diet and progesterone cream when I need it.

 

[freemotion]

Soy products can REALLY mess with your hormones, too. Read labels carefully and avoid it like the plague. It is in almost everything processed, including breads and other places you wouldn't expect to find it. It takes at least six months for the effects to clear your system once you clear it from your diet.

It is especially harmful to growing children and babies. Yeesh. :/

 

[Mackay]

Hi Lori,

If this were me I would really honor my husband for taking responsibility.

I have had many patients over the years on Cymbalta, It does seem to help them but withdrawl can be difficult for some with severe depression resulting.

Getting off the pill is the best thing you can do for your body. I have no doubt about it.

I have been on natural hormonal replacement therapy for about two years. I decided that If I never see menapause it will be too soon for me.. I have been really pleased with the outcome. These products have been used in Europe for a long time. My prescription is compounded for me by a pharmacy specifically for my needs.

Now I am sure that you won't need all the hormones that I do at my age but you certainly can take testosterone. After you are off the pill for about 4 months find a doctor that does natural bio-identical hormone replacement and get some lab work done. The 4 months is to give your body some time to even out. Its usually enough but not always. Stay away from soy products.

Sometimes adding testosterone is enough for many cases of depression for women. What is more depressing than a low sex drive when your partner is still amped up?

Also, cymalta may be up for black box warnings... another good reason to dump it. Apparently it can cause some liver problems.

At the very least you can take testosterone. Many women get great benefit from it. Its in my prescription and it has helped to make sex life much better. I don't feel dead inside anymore and thats where I was heading when perimenapausal symptoms started.

A compounded prescription will not be paid for by insurance. Unless you are lucky enough to need just the amount that the premade pills are I would go with compounding. My prescription is about $62 a month but its got a lot of different stuff in it that you probably wont need. You may also think about getting your DHEA levels checked cause sometimes they go way down too early on some people and a supplement of that can be helpful too. DHEA can be supplemented with out a prescription. I would use a Life Extension product of that one if you choose to do it. But you can also get DHEA and testosterone in one pill if you go the compounding way