For women, testosterone is not a reproductive hormone. Obviously, estrogen and progesterone are the main reproductive hormones. Testosterone is an androgen produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands and peripheral tissues. However, testosterone acts as more of an adrenal hormone, similar to DHEA, so the symptoms of low testosterone in women can mimic that of adrenal fatigue.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women:
What causes low testosterone levels in women? For younger women, birth control can easily lower testosterone levels. As a woman enters into perimenopause and menopause, the inevitable hormone decline can lead to low testosterone; however the most common cause of low testosterone for women of all ages is of course a high stress level.
Similar to men, as cortisol levels rise in response to stress, overtime testosterone levels will decline. Due the higher demand for cortisol, the body will divert production to maintain cortisol, leaving less for testosterone. Career demands, taking care of children, insomnia, reduced calorie diets and even over exercising are all types of stress on the body.
Benefits of Testosterone for Women:
The benefits of testosterone therapy for women can have a positive impact on both body and mind. The benefits can be an increase in motivation and overall sense of wellbeing, to a higher sex drive and maintenance of bone density. The overall impact of testosterone therapy is varied and specific to the woman.
Types of TestosteroneReplacement for Women:
There are a few different types of testosterone dosage forms for both women and men. Transdermal creams tend to be the most common and the form we prefer to use with our patients. Recently, injections and pellets have become very popular; however, we do not use or recommend testosterone injections or pellet implants for either men or women.
Women respond very different to testosterone. Some women can tolerate a higher level, whereas other women are sensitive to even small doses. For a woman, a little testosterone goes a long way and we have found that lower doses tend to be more effective overtime. The dose of testosterone administered can be easily controlled using transdermal creams.
We recommend applying cream to inner thigh or back of knee because testosterone cream can cause some hair growth and a darkening of the hair on the area of application. For this reason, we discourage you from applying cream to wrists or forearms.
Symptoms of Excess Testosterone:
Both injections and pellets flood the body with too much testosterone, which can lead to a some of the symptoms listed above and a down regulation of receptors, which is referred to as “receptor fatigue.” This down regulation of receptors is a compensatory mechanism of the body to protect against too much stimulation from excessive hormone levels. As this occurs, there is a reduction in response to testosterone, thereby losing any potential benefits over time.
Reference Range for Women:
Ideal Range for Testosterone for Women:
If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment below, you can contact us directly.
The post Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Women | PYHP 009 appeared first on .
Discover the common and unfamiliar symptoms that you might be experiencing. Get access to cases of real women with hormonal conditions.
In this episode, we discuss a question from Janice, a podcast listener’s question regarding the benefits of estrogen therapy for heart health. There is much evidence to show that estrogen has cardiovascular protective benefits. We wanted to discuss how estrogen benefits heart health and can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Janice’s Question: Are […]
In this episode, we talk about the benefits of estrogen on bones. A listener’s question (Alison) inspired this episode. Alison asked if taking vaginal biest has the same heart and bone effects that other estrogens and estrogen therapies have. So, we wanted to expand on estrogen’s role in helping keep bones strong and healthy. In […]
In this episode, we talk about hormone treatments for perimenopause and menopause. There is a vast distinction between perimenopause and menopause when it comes to treatment options. We often see women who are being treated for menopause when they are genuinely not in menopause. Meet Linda: Linda is a listener who sent us a question […]
Recently, Catherine posted a question on our website about Biest cream, and we knew this could interest our listeners. Biest is a combination of estriol and estradiol, one of the most common forms of estrogen therapy used in bio-identical hormone replacement. There are many doses, ratios, options, and methods of using Biest, so we thought […]
Welcome to the Progress Your Health Podcast! This is a podcast that helps you learn about balancing hormones, especially during perimenopause and menopause. We love hearing from our listeners. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Let’s read Brigitte’s question! I have been listening and learning […]
In this episode, we talk about the difference between perimenopause and menopause. Both Dr. Maki and I (Dr. Davidson) have worked with women in perimenopause and menopause since 2004 and sometimes get a bit myopic and technical when it comes to explaining the differences. The other day, a patient of Dr Maki’s asked the question, […]