Testosterone for Women
Some commenters on the "Perfect Moment" post had questions about testosterone supplementation. Rather than posting in the comments, I'll give you the basics here about supplementing testosterone for women.
If there are no problematic symptoms (such as facial hair, deepening of the voice, enlargement of the clitoris -- which can occur with topical application directly to the clitoris), some physicians do not retest women's testosterone levels.
I prefer to play it completely safe and gather the data from blood testing with my clients. I recommend retesting of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Total Testosterone (TT), and liver function every 1 - 2 years. At this point, I am not seeing any research that recommends discontinuing testosterone supplementation (particularly if it is being applied transdermally -- which means "through the skin"). With oral testosterone, there is more potential for an effect on the liver.
The values for the TT and SHBG can then be plugged into the online calculator here. Females should have a value for their free testosterone (FT) that falls between 0.4 - 0.8 ng/dl.
Once testosterone supplementation has begun, the ovaries and adrenal glands (which are the primary sources of testosterone production in females) tend to decrease their own output. So, in order to keep the benefits of testosterone supplementation, a female needs to continue it. Adding testosterone does not "wake up" testosterone production -- if anything, it can help it "fall asleep."
Cost can be a factor in making such a decision, but supplementing testosterone via a transdermal method certainly costs much less than a cup of coffee each day.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: menopause, testosterone, hormone replacement, women's health
If there are no problematic symptoms (such as facial hair, deepening of the voice, enlargement of the clitoris -- which can occur with topical application directly to the clitoris), some physicians do not retest women's testosterone levels.
I prefer to play it completely safe and gather the data from blood testing with my clients. I recommend retesting of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Total Testosterone (TT), and liver function every 1 - 2 years. At this point, I am not seeing any research that recommends discontinuing testosterone supplementation (particularly if it is being applied transdermally -- which means "through the skin"). With oral testosterone, there is more potential for an effect on the liver.
The values for the TT and SHBG can then be plugged into the online calculator here. Females should have a value for their free testosterone (FT) that falls between 0.4 - 0.8 ng/dl.
Once testosterone supplementation has begun, the ovaries and adrenal glands (which are the primary sources of testosterone production in females) tend to decrease their own output. So, in order to keep the benefits of testosterone supplementation, a female needs to continue it. Adding testosterone does not "wake up" testosterone production -- if anything, it can help it "fall asleep."
Cost can be a factor in making such a decision, but supplementing testosterone via a transdermal method certainly costs much less than a cup of coffee each day.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: menopause, testosterone, hormone replacement, women's health
8 Comments:
Please, I need your help. I am a man, married for 28 years. I am 55 years old and my wife is 50. She looks like she is only 40 and I love her with all my heart. However, she and I are not on the same page with regard to sex and intimacy. I want to please her sexually, which I do first and foremost, but she says "no" 90% of the time. Our children are living either at college or are married. When she is in the Mood we had a good time, but love making is very last on her list, which is driving me crazy. I am in good shape and she is too.
On another note, she sometimes gets bladder infections, and someone told her that having sex or oral sex done on her can cause them.
I would like you advise.
Fred
anonymous,
Try posting this over on our Sexual Issues message board.
You might also want to have a look at Dr. Weston's Top 10 Reasons Women Don't Want Sex and the related links to individual posts within for some insight.
Take care!
Hello Louanne Cole Weston,
I am new here... webmd blogs are more popular among health blogs...I am glad to be here and got a chance to post a comment...its really good feeling .... well I am not a Doctor..but very interested in health related issues. I came across to this helpful blog while, was searching for health blogs...
Wanted to say hi...and start my journey.
Dr. Weston,
I am a 35 yr old woman with no interest in sex. As you can imagine, this causes great strain for the relationship between my boyfriend of 3 yrs and me. I have searched for causes for my diminished libido with my docs, and haven't discovered any real reasons other than I'm frequently stressed re. family/work. My OB/GYN recently had some blood tests conducted...everything normal, but I have a slightly raised testosterone level...53. My OB/GYN told me that normal levels in women are between 2 and 45. Considering the presence of higher levels of testosterone usually is linked to higher libido...I'm wondering what sort of freak of nature I am ;) I've been researching testosterone in women and read that the origin of the increase needs to be investigated...could be glandular or ovarian related? My therapist mentioned getting my cortisol levels checked. Any connections?
I'd be grateful for any sort of informed response.
Thank you,
E
I'm 20 years old and my doctor says I have too much testosterone. I figured that because I have started getting too much thick dark hair in too many places (stomach, chest, back, butt...), and I've been getting a lot of pimples, and my voice has deepened. I take no medicine other than the depo shot which I get exactly every two months three weeks, and I'm not due for another for 2 months.
Other than ghastly manly effects, which I can pretty much hide, what are the bad things about having two much testosterone and what can I do about it?
THANKS!
I'm not clear on the effects of testosterone in women. I'm a 36 yr. old woman who in the last has started growing facial hair, If I didn't pluck them daily I could almost grow a Go-T. I am on antidepressants which have completely wiped out my sex drive. I am divorced and a single parent so the lack of sex drive does not interupt my life. My concern is does low testosterone cause facial hair or high testosterone? At my age what could cause this?
Hi,
I am a 48 year old woman. I'm sure that I'm perimenopausal. I've been taking prempro for the last few years, and I'm not having any of the typical problems associated with menopause, e.g. hot flashes and night sweats. I am, however, having significant problems with my thinking. I was tested by a neuropsychologist and diagnosed with "cognitive impairment." My IQ is above average. However, it seems like it takes me a long time to complete tasks which require complex thinking. My TSH levels are normal. However, my testosterone level is low (0.6). My doctor has started me on a very low dose of testosterone cream. My questions is this: Can a low testosterone level be causing my cognitive problems? What other problems are related to low testosterone in women?
hi I wonder if you could help me i have been with my partner 24yrs,i have gone off sex when we do do it i have no feelin below iwould love to get the feeling back can you help me, i am 56 sue
Post a Comment