Testosterone Injections
Bioidentical testosterone can be given as a weekly injection In 1/10th the dosage used for men. This is a very reliable way to increase testosterone and treat symptoms.
Testosterone is Important In Women
What does testosterone do?
Testosterone is not just a man’s hormone; it is an important hormone in women also. Testosterone has effects throughout the body, and testosterone deficiency can cause symptoms that disrupt relationships, self-image, activities of daily life, and health related quality of life.
The good news is that testosterone replacement can improve these symptoms. Unfortunately, testosterone is largely ignored in women by mainstream medicine. That’s where we come in.
The Science
Testosterone is a woman’s hormone too.
A woman’s body produces more testosterone than estrogen. And, like with estrogen, the body produces less as a woman gets older. Typically, testosterone levels start to decrease in a woman’s 30’s, and symptoms of testosterone deficiency often start before symptoms of estrogen deficiency.
Many common medications make testosterone deficiency worse. Birth control pills, for example, block normal functioning of the ovaries, and cause testosterone deficiency. Cholesterol medication, by blocking the steroid cascade required for testosterone production, also cause testosterone deficiency.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Loss of testosterone can cause significant symptoms that disrupt relationships, self-image, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life.
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EnergyLow testosterone can cause physical and mental fatigue.
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Sexual Function
Low testosterone can cause reduced libido and sex drive, and decreased sexual satisfaction.
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Body Composition
Low testosterone can cause bone and muscle loss, and midsection weight gain.
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Psychological
Low testosterone can cause anxiety, irritability, depression, and a decrease in psychological wellbeing.
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Cognitive
Low testosterone can effect memory, concentration, attention span, and focus.
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Body Function
Low testosterone can cause or contribute to hot flashes, sleep problems, and joint and muscle pain.
Indications for Testosterone Replacement
Treat symptoms and improve quality of life and health.
The rationale for testosterone replacement in women is to treat symptoms due to low testosterone, and to improve quality of life and general health. Studies suggest that testosterone is breast protective, cardiac protective, bone protective, brain protective, and anti-inflammatory.
The determination of whether you are a candidate for testosterone replacement requires an assessment by an expert to evaluate your symptoms.
Testosterone replacement can eliminate the need for other pharmaceuticals, including SSRI’s, osteoporosis medications, anxiety medications, stimulants like Adderall, and anti-inflammatory medications.
The Risks of Testosterone Replacement
Testosterone replacement is safe.
Studies over the past 80 years have shown testosterone to be safe in women. Hundreds of thousands of women in the United States are on testosterone replacement to treat symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Testosterone, in physiologic doses, doesn’t cause masculinization, voice changes, hair loss, or aggression.
Potential side effects of testosterone, in physiologic doses, include mild acne and mild hair growth.
Testosterone Replacement Options
There is no FDA approved testosterone formulation for women in the United States, so testosterone replacement is typically done off label using testosterone preparations for men in 1/10 the dosage.
Topical Testosterone
Bioidentical testosterone cream applied to the skin or the genitals is an effective delivery modality that avoids injections and the invasiveness of pellet insertion.
Testosterone Pellets
Bioidentical testosterone pellets are implanted under the skin approximately every 3 months and result in more stable testosterone blood levels.
Comparison of Treatment Modalities
Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers
Yes, we accept blood tests done within 6 months of evaluation and treatment. Lab work previously obtained is not required for your initial consultation but may be helpful if it was conducted in the past 3-6 months. Labs may be requested prior to initiating hormone replacement therapy and are routinely obtained as part of ongoing monitoring and follow-up.
Testosterone is an important hormone for women also. Women actually make more testosterone in their bodies than estrogen. Symptoms of low testosterone in women include low libido, fatigue, loss of focus, anxiety, depression, muscle pain, mood swings, memory loss, migraines, weight gain, and belly fat. Testosterone decreases in women before estrogen, typically during their 30’s. Birth control pills also cause testosterone deficiency by suppressing the function of the ovaries, which make 95% of a woman’s testosterone.
Hormones can be prescribed in many different types of formulations, some of which are better than others. For estrogen, MDTW favors using skin and vaginal formulations instead of oral formulations. For progesterone, MDTW favors oral capsules. For testosterone in women, MDTW favors topical skin creams or in-office injections. Your provider will customize a plan that’s best for you based on your needs and preferences.
Often benefits will be felt within the first week, but it can take several weeks to months to feel the full effect of hormone replacement.
Bioidentical hormones are exactly the same as the hormones your body naturally makes. This means they function in exactly the same way as your natural hormones. Synthetic hormones that are patented and sold by the pharmaceutical companies, and often favored by our healthcare system, function differently than your natural hormones, and are associated with more side effects and risks.
Yes! Bioidentical hormones are the same as what your body normally makes, and therefore function exactly the same as your normal hormones. Pharmaceutical companies make altered version of hormones (so they can patent them), but they don’t work in the same way as your body’s normal hormones. Mother Nature has provided us with the ideal hormones, and pharmaceutical companies have not been able to improve upon them with their synthetic hormones.
We use only large, US-licensed compounding pharmacies that buy their pharmaceuticals from FDA registered manufacturing facilities, and provide certificates of analysis to prove the integrity of the pharmaceuticals they use.
Compounding pharmacies offer a wider variety of bioidentical hormone formulations than pharmaceutical companies, which makes it easier to tailor medication plans for individual patients. There are FDA approved bioidentical hormone formulations (micronized progesterone, estradiol patches), but the formulations and dosages are limited. In general, pharmaceutical companies prioritize medications that they can patent, and they can’t patent naturally occurring compounds. We use both FDA approved and compounded bioidentical hormones.
Are You Ready to Feel the Difference?
Let’s do it! Feeling younger and healthier starts with a free consult and in-office testosterone test with a board certified hormone and wellness expert.
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