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Testosterone Therapy for Women - Orange County
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for women, playing key roles in energy, mood, libido, and muscle maintenance. Women’s bodies actually produce more testosterone than estrogen, and similar to estrogen and progesterone, levels decline with age. Most testosterone is produced in the ovaries, with a smaller amount from the adrenal glands.
Low testosterone in women can lead to symptoms akin to those in men, such as fatigue and reduced quality of life – testosterone therapy can effectively resolve these issues and enhance overall well-being. Despite its benefits, testosterone therapy for women remains underappreciated and underutilized in our healthcare system.
To learn more about bioidentical hormone therapy, including testosterone therapy for women, schedule a comprehensive consultation at MD Total Wellness in Brea, CA, with our menopause-certified provider Allison Mollet, PA-C.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women
Low testosterone levels in women manifest in various ways, impacting daily life and health. Common symptoms include low sex drive (hypogonadism), persistent fatigue and lack of energy, loss of muscle tone and strength, mood changes such as irritability or depression, and cognitive issues like brain fog (citation #). Other signs may involve vaginal dryness, irregular periods, thinning hair, sleep disturbances, and reduced bone density, which can increase fracture risk over time (citation #). These symptoms often overlap with menopause or perimenopause but can occur earlier due to factors like ovarian issues or stress.
- Low sex drive
- Persistent fatigue and lack of energy
- Loss of muscle tone and strength
- Mood changes like irritability or depression
- Cognitive issues like brain fog
Other signs of low testosterone may include vaginal dryness, irregular periods, thinning hair, sleep disturbances, and reduced bone density, which can increase fracture risk over time. These symptoms often overlap with menopause or perimenopause but can occur earlier due to factors like ovarian issues or stress.
Benefits of Testosterone Therapy for Women
Testosterone therapy offers numerous benefits for women with low levels, including:
- Increased energy and vitality
- Improved libido and sexual satisfaction
- Enhanced mood and cognitive function
- Better sleep quality
- Relief from migraines and menstrual headaches
- Maintenance of muscle mass and bone density
- Support weight management by boosting metabolism and reducing fat accumulation
History of Testosterone Use in Women
Testosterone therapy for women began in the late 1930s, shortly after the hormone was isolated in 1935. Doctors first used it to treat menopause symptoms, boost low sex drive, and treat certain conditions in women who had hysterectomies. By the 1950s, slow-release testosterone pellets became popular for symptom relief. In Europe and Australia, testosterone therapy has been a standard part of HRT for over 60 years to help with perimenopause, menopause, and low libido. In the US, however, it has never been FDA-approved specifically for women, so it’s prescribed off-label or compounded; use rose in the mid-2000s but dropped sharply after 2017 due to safety concerns and lack of official products.
Over the decades, global consensus has evolved to recognize testosterone as an essential female hormone, with ongoing calls for women-specific treatments. Today, experts worldwide agree that when properly dosed and monitored, testosterone safely improves sexual desire, energy, mood, and muscle/bone health in many postmenopausal women.
Risks of Testosterone Therapy in Women
Studies suggest testosterone therapy is generally safe when administered in physiologic doses, with adverse effects uncommon if levels stay within the female range. Even in women with a history of breast cancer, evidence refutes myths of increased risk, showing no significant association with cancer recurrence. Oral forms of testosterone may adversely affect lipid profiles and liver health, so non-oral forms are favored. Possible risks include acne, hair growth, voice deepening, or mood changes if doses are too high, but these are rare with proper monitoring. Long-term data is limited, so individualized assessment is key.
Options for Testosterone Therapy in Women
Treatment options include topical creams or gels and injections. Topicals are applied daily to the skin but can have variable absorption. Injections provide more reliable delivery, administered weekly or every other week, either intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Injections often yield consistent symptom relief, especially for energy and libido, compared to topicals. At MD Total Wellness, we offer the following:
- Bioidentical testosterone injections
- FDA-approved men's topical formulations administered in appropriate doses for women
- Compounded topical formulations
Summary
Testosterone therapy for women is a powerful, underutilized tool for restoring balance and enhancing quality of life. From alleviating symptoms to preventing age-related decline, it offers significant benefits when managed properly.
About MD Total Wellness
MD Total Wellness specializes in women’s hormone health, offering personalized care with bioidentical hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Unlike synthetic pharmaceutical products, which carry higher risks (such as breast cancer with synthetic progesterone), bioidentical hormones mirror what the body naturally produces, promoting safer, more natural outcomes.
Schedule a comprehensive consultation with menopause-certified provider Allison Mollet, PA-C, to learn more about bioidentical hormone therapy, and whether it is right for you.
References
- Donovitz GS. A Personal Prospective on Testosterone Therapy in Women-What We Know in 2022. J Pers Med. 2022 Jul 22;12(8):1194.
- Scott A, Newson L. Should we be prescribing testosterone to perimenopausal and menopausal women? A guide to prescribing testosterone for women in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2020 Mar 26;70(693):203-204.
- Low Dose Testosterone Therapy for Females: Benefits, Risks, and ... - https://www.healthline.com/health/low-dose-testosterone-for-females
- Britton RC, Beamish NF. The Impact of Testosterone Therapy on Cardiovascular Risk Among Postmenopausal Women. J Endocr Soc. 2023 Oct 25;8(1):bvad132.
- Uloko M, Rahman F, Puri LI, Rubin RS. The clinical management of testosterone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a review. Int J Impot Res. 2022 Nov;34(7):635-641.
- Testosterone replacement in menopause - https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/08-BMS-TfC-Testosterone-replacement-in-menopause-DEC2022-A.pdf
- Glaser R, Dimitrakakis C. Testosterone therapy in women: myths and misconceptions. Maturitas. 2013 Mar;74(3):230-4.
- Davis SR, Baber R, Panay N, Bitzer J, et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Oct 1;104(10):4660-4666.
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