Testosterone is a Female Hormone

Testosterone levels in the female body, decline over years and these declining levels can affect sexual desire and arousal. These declining levels can be even more abrupt if your ovaries have been removed through surgery or affected by chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Benefits:

  • Increase in energy and decrease in fatigue
  • Increased sexual desire
  • Improved concentration and mental clarity
  • Improved skin tone and texture
  • Some studies have shown improvement in urinary incontinence

Potential side effects (usually when levels are higher than normal pre-menopause levels:

  • increased acne
  • increased hair growth on face and body
  • change in voice on very high levels
  • skin irritation at site of application if allergies to components in the cream or gel
  • Finally!! The FDA removed the warning that testosterone causes an increase in heart risk. Studies have debunked this for years!

Who can’t take testosterone:

  • Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant as increased levels could cause birth defects
  • Women with PCOS or showing signs of high testosterone levels

Dosing:

  •  Typical dosing is Testosterone 1% cream (usually compounded by a compounding pharmacy) or by prescription gel (normally 1/10th the normal dose for men)

Monitoring:

It is important to regularly monitor total testosterone levels in woman in order to avoid side effects.

  • Check level prior to starting testosterone to get a baseline
  • Re-check level in 3-6 weeks
  • If dosage is increased, recheck in 6 weeks
  • If dose is decreased because level is too high- recheck in 3 weeks
  • Once stable, check level every 6 months

So Why is it so hard for women to get Testosterone?

  • Testosterone for women is not yet FDA approved and therefore, we have to prescribe it “off label” even though it is a safe, natural and effective treatment.
  • Insurance companies won’t always cover medications prescribed “off label”

testosterone is safe

We have been using testosterone with women since 1940 and there are many studies on the safety and effectiveness in treating men with low testosterone levels. We are giving women 1/10 of the dose! It doesn’t make sense but that is where we standing at this time. 

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