Testosterone Deficiency in Women

The Safe use of Bio-identical Testosterone Supplementation

Roles of Testosterone in women

  • Improvement of mood and assertiveness

  • Reduction in depression and anxiety

  • Improvement of bone density

  • Improvement of muscle size and strength

  • Improvement of skin sebum secretion

  • Enhancement of sex drive and sexual sensitivity including orgasm

  • Maintenance of female genital system (nipples, vulva, clitoris)

  • Possible protection against atherosclerosis

Normal daily production

  • Young healthy women make approx. 250 micrograms/day

  • 20-30 times lower than men

Progressive decline with age

  • Women age 40 have less than half their level at age 21

Life Style factors that deplete Testosterone

  • Intense physical activity e.g. Marathon training

  • Intense emotional stress

  • Diet high in sugars & refined carbohydrates

  • Wholegrain cereals (lower the reabsorption of hormones in the digestive tract)

Symptoms of Testosterone deficiency

Mental complaints

  • Lack of confidence

  • Lack of mental firmness, hesitating

  • Lack of assertiveness

  • Depression

  • Excessive emotions

  • Excessive sensitivity to difficulties

  • Low resistance to stress

  • Excessive fear & anxiety

Physical complaints

  • Abdominal obesity

  • Reduced muscle strength

  • Hot flushes

  • Day & night sweat outbursts

  • Fatigue that increases with physical activity

  • Low energy, tires easily

  • Back pain

  • Joint pain

  • Decreased or absent libido

  • Decreased or absent ability to orgasm

  • Urinary incontinence

  • Painful intercourse

  • Itchy vagina

Treatment

Bioidentical Testosterone cream 1mg-10mg/day
Apply to soles of feet or inner side of arm

Balancing with female hormones

  • Most women who are testosterone deficient are also deficient in the female hormones estrogen & progesterone

Signs of Testosterone excess

  • Note: a lack of female hormones can also cause this

  • Women usually get the warning of acne & oily skin well before any body hair changes.

  • Symptoms go away with decreasing dose of hormone treatment if this is the cause

  • If you notice any of these symptoms developing on testosterone supplementation decrease your dose & discuss with one of our doctors

  • Oily hair or skin

  • Acne

  • Excessive sex drive

  • Excessive clitoral swelling or sensitivity

  • Irritability

  • Excessive muscle development

  • Excessive body hair