Wait! You don't have to spend $1,500!

And I exaggerated. It was only $1,425. Here's what happened. I called the doctor that Becca_Beee had recommended and he faxed me the prescription to take to a local lab to get the testing done. I called my insurance company to find out which lab they would cover and I went there. I almost fainted when the lab people said how much it would cost, but the insurance did cover it. So it didn't end up costing me anything because the insurance covered it. BUT I knew the insurance wouldn't cover the Doctor so I figured instead of paying Becca's dr (Dan) I might as well go back to my original doctor who had given me testosterone in the beginning.

Here's the interesting part. I gave him the 10 page test results and he quickly scanned it and put it in my file. He told me that because hormone levels can fluctuate wildly during your cycle and even from hour to hour that treating the numbers is less accurate than treating the patient. Your SYMPTOMS are a much more reliable guide. And truthfully it doesn't seem like rocket Science to me - if you're premenopause with no libido, mild Depression and/or apathy, lack energy and "zest" and have poor muscle tone - it's not real hard to figure out you're low in testosterone. The week or so before your period starts if you feel like your boobs are going to fall on the floor when you get out of bed, and you have to keep larger size jeans for "fat week" you know all about the symptoms of lack of progesterone. I don't lack estrogen so I'm not as familiar with those symptoms but it's probably similarly easy to diagnose, like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, etc.

So, bottom line, if you have an experienced doctor you don't NEED the tests. (My opinion anyway:) My doctor was recommended by a friend four years ago. He's been doing this for years. He's not in my insurance plan so I have to pay him myself. I believe he got about $50 for a consult. He gives me a prescription for a one year supply. The testosterone is $115 for a three month supply (with 3 more refills available.) I buy progesterone cream on the net for about $20 a month.

The only hard part is finding a frigging doctor! I called my current gyn to ask if she prescribed natural hormones and was told I needed to come in for my annual exam and could ask her then. So I did and was told "hormones cause heart attacks etc and she would never give them to her patients." AND THEN I had to pay for the stupid exam! My family doctor told me he couldn't prescribe testosterone because for women it's an "off label use" and he didn't want to expose the other doctors in his practice to the liability. There are doctors out there, you just have to look and ask the questions. And don't fall for the trick of "you have to come in for an exam and ask the doctor." Usually it will be a gyn or endocrinologist. I would think the gyn would be cheaper but I don't know for sure.

I happen to talk too much and luckily one day found a friend who had the same problems and knew a good doctor...