We often think of testosterone as a predominantly male hormone but women need testosterone too!
While we only need 1/10th what a man needs, it’s essential for our well-being. As is the case with many of our hormones, testosterone levels in women decline with age. Most often levels start falling after age 40 with steep drops around menopause but even women in their late 20’s and 30’s sometimes have low testosterone levels.
What can healthy levels of testosterone do for you? It can increase your sex drive but there are many other benefits, if you’re wanting to increase your sex drive, you may want to try different types of medications, for this reason you may end up asking is Provestra safe. You can build muscle easier, increase your strength, help prevent osteoporosis, increase your energy level, improve your mood, sense of well being and even help prevent your skin from becoming thin and less elastic. There is research underway looking at testosterone as treatment for different types of heart disease and its efficacy at reducing Alzheimer’s disease.
Testing for testosterone levels can easily be done with a blood test. The test should focus not only on your total testosterone level but on your free and bioavailable levels. Most of our testosterone is bound to other proteins in our bodies and is not able to act on our tissues. By also looking at your unbound levels (free/bioavailable), you can more accurately tell if your testosterone levels are at an optimum level for you. As with all hormones, there are ranges of normal. Some people feel great with lower levels while others need their hormone levels in the upper range of normal to feel their best.
If you feel like you have symptoms of low testosterone (low sex drive, fatigue, depression, loss of muscle strength, loss of energy) and you have a blood test that confirms your levels are low- there is an easy way to correct your deficiency. In women, our testosterone is made in our ovaries and adrenal glands but as we age, our ovaries and adrenals function less efficiently leading to decreased levels. The good news is that testosterone can be replaced by using a transdermal cream on a daily basis. Many women worry that using testosterone can lead to side effects such as oily skin, acne, facial hair, or a deepening of their voice. These side effects can happen if you are using too high of a dose and they happen in just that order. If you start to see oily skin or acne, then your testosterone dose needs to be decreased. This can be accomplished by using a less concentrated cream or by using the cream on an every other day basis.
Testosterone cream made at compounding pharmacies can be specially formulated for just the levels women need. The cream is applied to the upper inner arm, inner thigh or shoulder (hairless areas).
Testosterone is available by physician prescription and your doctor should monitor your testosterone levels on a regular schedule.
Rejuvenate your life by optimizing your hormone levels!
-Kristin Pressman, MD
(As with all new medicines, talk with your doctor especially if you have a history of breast, gynecologic cancer, vascular or liver disease.)