|
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
|
