Testosterone in Women

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Testosterone: All women are supposed to have some.

Just as men's bodies manufacture small amounts of estrogen, women's bodies produce testosterone through the ovaries and adrenal glands. A multitalented hormone, testosterone boosts both libido and energy, maintains muscle mass, strengthens bone, lowers cholesterol and blood sugar, protects from heart disease and improves immune system. A deficiency can cause many problems, among them: lack of or low sexual desire, flabbiness and muscular weakness, poor muscle tone, poor energy and stamina, lack of coordination and balance, lack of sense of security, indecisiveness, poor body image.

There are many potential reasons for testosterone deficiency. Menopause or a hysterectomy can cause it, but it can also be caused by the birth of a child, taking birth control pills or for no obvious reason at all. As we age, our bodies produce less of the hormones: testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. By age 40, women produce about half the testosterone we did in our twenties. These levels drop further still with the onset of menopause or for women who have had their ovaries removed. Lots of menopausal symptoms, like diminished energy, decreased sexual desire and "flatness" of mood seems to be directly related to declining levels of testosterone.

Typical treatment of menopause consists of prescribing estrogen and progesterone, traditional "female" hormones that address the discomforts of menopause and provide the added advantage of protecting against heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. But although estrogen can quench hot flashes, it does little to enhance libido or energy. In our Clinic we use only bio-identical hormones, which have structure identical to hormones produced naturally in the body.

In my experience even small amounts of testosterone added to bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can restore sexual desire, improve energy and promote a sense of well-being. And that's not all. Testosterone also helps prevent bone loss, improves body composition (building lean mass and reducing body fat) and supports cognitive function.

What if you aren’t going through menopause but your libido isn’t that great? You may have suppressed levels of testosterone if you take birth control pills. Oral contraceptives- which are synthetic, not natural hormones- have ironically been associated with decreased libido and hormonal problems. And those adverse effects are usually long lasting, even after the discontinuation of the “pill”. Women taking birth control who complain of low libido may consider using a low dose of bio-identical testosterone supplement to counteract this problem.

Testosterone is available in a form of pills, creams, lozenges, patches, gels and injections. While oral tablets are easy to use, they are not natural or healthy. Oral testosterone affects liver enzymes and may cause liver tumors, raises 'bad' cholesterol and lowers 'good.' It is banned in all modern countries except Canada and United States. The safest, most natural form of bio-identical testosterone supplementation is a cream form, applied to skin once a day. At Body Focus we check blood or saliva levels of testosterone and if a deficiency is detected, you will be started on a low physiological dose of bio-identical compounded testosterone which will help to improve libido and prevent from many health issues. We will recheck your hormone levels every 6 weeks until the desired levels are achieved and you feel “like your old self” and after that we just monitor them periodically.