current Newsletter - TESTOSTERONE THERAPY IS ALSO FOR WOMEN

Testosterone Replacement for Women: Discuss testosterone therapy with anyone and 99.9 percent will think that the reference is referring to males, this is not the truth females also require testosterone. Almost no one wants to talk about the testosterone deficient state in women, and nothing is being done about it. When women are placed on hormonal therapy, whether birth control of estrogen replacement, their testosterone levels drop dramatically. Physicians must listen to their women patients and ask them questions about their sexuality and day-to-day ability to function, and replace testosterone whenever appropriate.

Testosterone Background Information: Testosterone is recognized as the hormone of desire: it makes muscles for boys and turns them into sexually functional men, but testosterone is very important to a woman, too. Women produce increased amounts of this hormone in their puberty this is because testosterone is the precursor to estrogen.

Without testosterone, there would not be “woman."

A woman's testosterone levels are highest in the early twenties. The decrease in sex drive we see thereafter is often due to oral contraceptives which suppress all sex hormone production (testosterone, estrogens and progesterone). The treatment maybe relatively simple: add back some testosterone.

However, physicians see more effects from testosterone deficiency as a woman approaches and enters menopause. The ovaries produce the majority of testosterone and estrogens. With the cessation of 80% of hormonal production, a peri- menopausal woman suffers from estrogen, progesterone and testosterone deficiency. The replacement of estrogen alone does not correct an absent sex drive, loss of muscle tone and general lack of mental get-up-and-go.

Detecting Insufficient Testosterone Levels: The laboratory tests for testosterone are not helpful. Some women with very low levels do not have symptoms, while others do. The laboratory tests measuring total and free testosterone are rarely of assistance.

Self-Test; St. Louise ADAM Questionnaire: It is never easy to recognize testosterone deficiency in women, although this questionnaire is designed for men, women can take it too. “WOMEN,” who find the following statements true, maybe candidates for further testing and possible hormone (including testosterone) replacement!

1.      Decrease in sex drive.

2.      Orgasm less strong

3.      Lack of energy

4.      Decrease in strength or endurance

5.      Lost height

6.      Decreased 'enjoyment of life'

7.      Sad and/or grumpy

8.      Deterioration in sports ability

9.      Falling asleep after dinner

10.      Decreased work performance

Low Testosterone May Equal Negative Health in Women: Few physicians recognize the need for testosterone in women yet testosterone is superior in the treatment of osteoporosis and muscle wasting. Many patients report an improvement in clarity of thought (and sex drive) with low dose testosterone replacement. Testosterone and Tri Estrogen cream may balance the lipid profile more than when taking testosterone alone. Raising testosterone levels have systemic effects, not only improved sexual performance, but also, decreased stress, stronger muscles and the get- up and go needed for daily life.

Testosterone Therapy Benefits Midlife Crisis: Psychiatrist Dr. Susan Rako believes testosterone therapy is a major breakthrough for midlife women. Understanding that testosterone deficiency may be to blame for a loss of interest in sex in an otherwise happy relationship, she points out, could prevent much unnecessary anguish.

Dr. Rako's book, "The Hormone of Desire: The Truth About Sexuality, Menopause and Testosterone," is one of a growing wave of publications heralding the importance of this hormone to women's health. Although androgen therapy is controversial, several small-scale studies and anecdotal evidence from women and clinicians suggest that individualized dosages provide a number of therapeutic benefits.

Testosterone Fuels Desire: Just as men's bodies manufacture small amounts of estrogen, women's bodies produce testosterone through the ovaries and adrenal glands. A multitalented hormone, testosterone boosts both libido and energy, maintains muscle mass, strengthens bone and ensures the nipples and clitoris are sensitive to sexual pleasure.

Healthy young women secrete testosterone all day long with a peak in early morning; the ideal replacement would follow this pattern. As we age, our bodies produce less androgen (testosterone), estrogen and progesterone. By age 40, women produce about half the testosterone we did in our twenties. These levels drop further still with the onset of menopause or for women who have had their ovaries removed. Many clinicians believe that the diminished energy, decreased sexual desire and "flatness" of mood that some women experience during and after menopause are directly related to declining levels of testosterone.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Balanced With Testosterone: Doctors traditionally respond to menopausal complaints by dispensing prescriptions for estrogen and progesterone, traditional "female" hormones that address some of the discomforts of menopause and provide the added advantage of protecting against heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. But although estrogen/progesterone can quench hot flashes and ease vaginal dryness, it does little to enhance libido or energy.

Several studies suggest, however, that small amounts of androgen added to estrogen/progesterone replacement therapy can restore sexual desire, improve energy and promote a sense of well-being.

Dr. William Regelson, M.D., author of "The Superhormone Promise," argue that testosterone is the missing link in hormone replacement therapy. "For many women who feel they are not quite themselves," he says, "the ingredient missing from the blueprint is testosterone." He has found that adding testosterone to the hormonal "cocktail," even for a short period of time, duplicates our "normal hormonal state" and helps women better tolerate estrogen and progesterone.

When the Right Balance is Found: Researcher Dr. Barbara Sherwin, a professor of psychology at McGill University, conducted a study on women who had their ovaries removed (ovaries produce nearly half of a woman's testosterone) and found that when given a combination of testosterone and estrogen, these women were more interested in sexual intercourse.

They also experienced more orgasms and greater pleasure. Dr. Sherwin suggests that short-term therapy is sufficient for some women, while others may need longer-term dosages. Still, some members of the medical community have not embraced androgen therapy for women. Many physicians are reluctant to prescribe androgen because there are relatively few studies on women and testosterone. The long-term effects are unknown, but in the process women continue to suffer.

Conflicting Women’s Health Studies: With the controversial news regarding potential cancer related to female HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), many women are taking more active positions in order to find out what is the best supplementation for them. The interrelation of estrogen / progesterone, and testosterone is a complicated one that varies among all women. Doctors automatically prescribe pharmaceutical prescriptions but results can be accomplished without fear of negative effects. Nothing artificial needs to be added into your body as many prescription hormone programs require, seek a holistic physician and be tested but keep what nature gave you as natural as possible. Keep this in mind when taking prescription drugs, “what has been tested to work with animals does not necessarily mean that it will work on humans.” Would you give human milk to cows? But the pharmaceutical industry believes urine taken from pregnant mares is the correct treatment for women? Keep therapy as natural as possible, this may prevent unwanted side effects.

Critics Playing the Devils Advocate: Critics point out that without long-term studies to support its efficacy and safety, testosterone should be used cautiously, if at all. That's because it can have unfavorable effects on cholesterol levels, primarily decreasing HDL "good" cholesterol. This in turn tends to negate the positive effects of estrogen on the cardiovascular system.

Some also argue that fatigue and low libido can stem from any number of nutritional, medical or psychological conditions. If you begin hormonal therapy, be sure to report any side effects to your doctor so he or she can monitor your progress and adjust your dosage as necessary.

Safety Precautions: Even androgen's most fervent advocates agree that the hormone should be prescribed on a case-by-case basis to menopausal women who are otherwise healthy. They caution that this therapy is not appropriate for women of childbearing age. Not only do younger women produce sufficient androgen, but also excess levels can cause serious damage to a developing fetus.

In Conclusion: Testosterone therapy is not for every woman, but maybe it is for you? This may prove to be one of the most promising therapies available to menopausal women. Sexuality and vitality need not be passing pleasures of youth.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSKRA68204720070606

http://www.jeanhailes.org.au/content/view/211/376/

http://health.discovery.com/centers/womens/testosterone/testosterone.html

http://www.project-aware.org/Resource/articlearchives/dhea.shtml

http://usdoctor.com/testtwo.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041123115913.htm