Testosterone for Women: What You Need to Know

Maintaining healthy testosterone levels is critical for any woman who wants to retain vitality, well-being, and – a robust and satisfying sex life. Although typically thought of as being the “male sex hormone,” a woman’s sex drive, fantasies, and orgasms will likely suffer if she has low testosterone. As we look at the effects of Low T on the female body, we discover that the use of testosterone for women makes perfect sense. Before we go any further, we want to point out that testosterone replacement therapy for women is still considered unconventional. Doctors who prescribe testosterone treatment for women do so “off-label” – meaning for uses other than what is currently approved. In this review of testosterone for women, we will examine the following topics:

• What testosterone does in the female body
• What happens when a woman has low testosterone
• The benefits of testosterone for women
• Possible side effects of testosterone
• The type of testosterone treatment women should use
• How to get testosterone replacement for women

Maintaining healthy levels of testosterone for women is crucial for vitality, well-being, and satisfying sex life!

What Does Testosterone Do for Women?

The function of testosterone as a hormone is similar in women as it is for men. While females do not need testosterone to stimulate sperm cell maturation, they do require it for multiple reproductive functions. Testosterone stimulates follicular development and helps increase the sensitivity of the follicles to other hormones. Androgen hormones also help prevent early follicular death.

What does testosterone do for women besides aiding fertility?

Additional functions of testosterone for women include:

• Maintaining a healthy sex drive: Because some of the excess testosterone in the bloodstream undergoes conversion to estradiol (estrogen), testosterone helps to protect critical estrogen levels necessary for a healthy sex drive. Testosterone has both a direct and indirect (via estradiol) impact on sexual functioning, including fantasies and dreams, genital arousal, lubrication, and orgasm intensity.
• Supporting Bone Mineralization: Testosterone deficiency is often linked to osteopenia and osteoporosis due to its roles in promoting new bone cell formation and bone remodeling.
• Maintaining Muscle Mass and Strength: Testosterone binds to androgen receptors in the muscles to support muscle protein anabolism. Without enough testosterone, lean muscle declines, as does muscular strength.
• Promoting Metabolism: The metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates relies on testosterone as one of the contributing hormones. Testosterone helps to support proper metabolic functions, including the conversion of food into useable fuel, insulin sensitivity for better glucose (energy) uptake by the cells, and the burning of stored fat.
• Brain Functions: Androgen receptors in the brain support cognitive health and functions such as learning, focus, drive, processing, memory, and emotional well-being.
• Hair and Skin: Androgen receptors expressed in the skin and hair follicles need testosterone to support healthy skin and hair growth.
• Circulation: Testosterone stimulates erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells for healthy circulation.

Testosterone also helps to keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in balance.

There are many essential functions of testosterone for women.

What Happens When a Woman Has Low Testosterone?

Treatment for low testosterone in women is critical to maintaining healthy functions in all the areas mentioned above. While a female in her sixties may not care about fertility, she will have concerns about bone density and heart health. Low testosterone can create problems in the following areas:

• Sexual performance
• Brain functions
• Emotional well-being
• Metabolism and weight gain
• Bone and muscle mass
• Hair growth and skin appearance
• Circulation and heart health
• Sleep and energy
• Drive, productivity, and performance
• Socialization
• Quality of life

The use of supplemental testosterone for women can help reverse issues associated with these changes, reducing risks of developing conditions such as:

• Osteoporosis
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Heart attack
• Dementia
• Obesity

Low testosterone in women can increase the risk of developing many potentially dangerous health conditions.

What Are the Benefits of Testosterone for Women?

The use of testosterone for women is becoming more widespread every day as females realize that turning to a hormone specialist is their best option for a healthy future. Doctors specializing in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) understand the workings of the body’s critical hormone levels. They know which ones women need, and in what amount. HRT physicians know how to balance hormone levels safely and accurately. As a result, the following testosterone benefits for women are realistic responses to treatment:

• Deeper, more restful sleep
• Increased energy and stamina
• Enhanced sexual fantasies, dreams, desires, and orgasms
• Faster sexual arousal and better vaginal lubrication
• Improved fertility
• Better muscle tone, mass, and strength
• Increased bone mineral density
• Sharper brain functions, including memory
• Reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression
• Happier mood and more positive outlook
• Better hair growth
• Reduction in hot flashes and night sweats
• Decreased PMS symptoms
• Increased motivation and drive
• Improved quality of life

Of all the benefits of testosterone for women, weight loss is one of the most desirable. Not only does it help a woman feel better about herself when she is pleased with how she looks, but losing excess fat helps to improve a woman’s health. Less weight on the body decreases the load on the joints, reducing body pain and stiffness. Her heart functions better, and the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease declines. Hopefully, you now see the importance of maintaining healthy testosterone levels for women.

Testosterone for women provides many benefits to the female body and mind.

Possible Side Effects of Testosterone for Women

The use of testosterone for women has been shown through various studies to be extremely safe. Females who cannot use estrogen therapies due to breast cancer or heart attack risk can often receive testosterone therapy. Staying within a normal testosterone level for women is what makes the treatment effective. If levels of testosterone get too high, the following side effects are possible:

• Oily skin
• Acne
• Fluid retention
• Increased facial hair
• Male pattern balding
• High cholesterol
• Deepening of the voice
• Clitoral enlargement
• Breast shrinkage

Side effects of using testosterone for women are rare.

What Are the Best Types of Testosterone for Women?

There have been many studies on the various types of bioidentical or natural testosterone for women. Our doctors here at Kingsberg Medical have found that low-dose, testosterone cream, compounded by a pharmacy to each woman’s needs, is the best option. Testosterone patches and gels designed for men have too high a dosage for female requirements.

What about the use of testosterone shots for women?

Doctors prescribe testosterone injections for women with certain types of metastatic breast cancer. Otherwise, as with other products, injectable testosterone is too strong a dosage for female use.

Custom compounded cream is the best form of testosterone for women.

How Do You Get Testosterone for Women?

The easiest way to get testosterone therapy for women is to contact Kingsberg Medical. Here, we provide telephone consultations with our experienced and knowledgeable medical advisors. There is no need to pay for costly and time-consuming office visits. We offer our telemedicine services at no charge. Following the consultation, the diagnostic steps include:

• Low-cost blood testing at an area laboratory
• Physical examination with any local doctor
• Completion of our online health history form

Once diagnosed with low testosterone by one of our board-certified and experienced hormone doctors, the prescription for any medication ordered is forwarded to a licensed US pharmacy for processing and delivery to your door. Contact us today to learn more about testosterone for women during your free consultation.
Brian Leeber